Red flags to look for in your trail shoulder in the downswing
Top Speed Golf instructor Clay Ballard explains the critical role of the trail shoulder during the downswing. He highlights common mistakes—such as kicking out over-the-top or dropping stuck underneath—and demonstrates how using an alignment stick plane check helps golfers hit squarely on plane.
Kicking the trail shoulder out toward the ball creates a steep over-the-top downswing resulting in a slice.
Dropping the right shoulder low late in the swing leads to getting stuck under, causing blocks and snap hooks.
Pause halfway down in practice swings to ensure the club shaft matches your target swing plane angle.
Set up balls two clubhead widths inside an alignment stick to practice swinging under the stick on plane.
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