Shallow the Golf Club Correctly with Tyler Coonts

In this deep-dive episode of the On The Mark Golf Podcast, host Mark Immelman welcomes golf instructor Tyler Koontz to demystify the often-misunderstood concept of 'shallowing' the golf club. The conversation unpacks what shallowing truly means—how the club head's relationship to the handle changes during the downswing—and why it's not a one-size-fits-all fix. Koontz emphasizes that shallowing is natural and necessary for most golfers, but must be balanced with proper rotation, side bend, and body mechanics. He debunks myths, clarifies that shallowing doesn't mean going under the plane, and explains how elite players like Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Tiger Woods, and Tommy Fleetwood use shallowing strategically within their unique swing patterns. The episode stresses that the key isn't just shallowing, but understanding how much, when, and why—depending on individual swing mechanics, depth at the top, and rotational ability. Koontz advocates for a 'big to small' approach, focusing first on body movement before fine-tuning wrist and hand actions, and champions long-term consistency with drills over quick fixes. The discussion culminates in a powerful message: golf instruction should focus on impact feel, not just backswing perfection, and true improvement comes from understanding the entire swing as a unified, athletic motion. Key takeaways include: 1) Shallowing is real and essential, but must be matched with rotation and side bend to avoid over-shallowing; 2) The amount of shallowing depends on your backswing depth and body rotation—there’s no universal 'correct' amount; 3) Players should train impact position first, then work backward to build the motion; 4) Drills like Tommy Fleetwood’s plane alignment stick should be practiced consistently, not abandoned after a few attempts; 5) Flipping the club at impact is not a flaw but a recovery move—understanding it prevents overcorrection; 6) The best golfers (Hogan, Player, Woods) use shallowing as part of a larger, coordinated sequence, not as a standalone fix; 7) Avoid chasing social media trends—focus on your own swing pattern and feel; 8) Use the '50/50 rule' in practice: 50% on mechanical changes, 50% on impact feel and repetition.