Before the start of the 2025 season, I wanted to look at my swing and evaluate some of my checkpoints. In looking at myself from down the line, I noticed that I was a little steep on my downswing (yes, I do a bit of swing analyzing in my free time). Golfers can be steep for any number of reasons, but what stuck out to me was my trail (right, in my case) shoulder.
What I see a lot amongst friends, and throughout online, is really an over the top swing and a bit similar to what I was trying to fight. The one thought that clicked for me was “EXTERNAL ROTATION OF THE TRAIL SHOULDER”. Pushing the shoulder out and AWAY from you, rather than pulling it in closer to you. For a right-handed golfer, try this:
1. Stand straight up with your arms at your side
2. Make a 90 degree angle with your arm
3. While keeping your elbow tucked in, move your arm to the right, away from your body.
This is EXTERNAL ROTATION, it almost feels like you are opening up your shoulder, moving your bicep away from your body. The opposite of this movement would be INTERNAL ROTATION, almost like bringing your bicep in to your body.
Now what I did is I started to have this kind of thought at the top of my backswing, externally rotating my trail shoulder, and noticed much more consistent contact at the point of impact with the ball. My plane also became more neutral and even more on the shallow side. This, paired with the Pump Drill, really helped me get my sequencing back after a long offseason and I feel confident heading into the 2025 season. Every swing is different and will need a little bit of analysis to really identify the main issue, but this could help you become more on plane if you are struggling with an over the top movement!
Mark Roberts Golf 