The 3 Best Golf Swing Moves of 2023 to Change Your Game

Every golfer reaches a point where their swing feels stuck. You practice for hours, buy new drivers, and watch endless tutorials, but your scores refuse to drop. The problem usually is not your effort. The problem is that you are practicing the wrong mechanics for your specific physical tendencies.

If you want to find the best-golf-swing-2023-moves-change-your-game, you have to match the technique to your biggest weakness. You need raw power, consistent ball striking, or accurate visual feedback. Let us look at three specific moves backed by biomechanical data that can actually lower your scores.

The Data Behind the Three Priority Paths

Golf is a game of cause and effect. If you lack clubhead speed, you will hit shorter approach shots. Shorter approach shots statistically lead to higher scores. If you lack accuracy, you will miss greens and find hazards. If you do not know what your swing actually looks like, you cannot fix either of those problems.

Trackman data shows us exactly where amateur golfers lose strokes. The average male amateur swings the driver at 93.4 miles per hour. The average LPGA Tour player swings at 106 mph. That 13 mph difference accounts for nearly 40 yards of distance. Meanwhile, the average amateur misses the sweet spot on the clubface by almost three-quarters of an inch.

To fix these specific statistical gaps, you must choose a focused path. You can focus on the Ground Force Transition for speed, the Shallowing Move for accuracy, or Smartphone Video Analysis for feedback.

Move 1: The Ground Force Transition (Adding Raw Speed)

The Ground Force Transition is a mechanic focused entirely on creating maximum clubhead speed. Amateurs often try to create speed by spinning their upper body or pulling hard with their arms and hands. This actually ruins your sequencing and drains your power.

Instead, professional golfers use the ground to generate force. They push vertically into the turf during the downswing. This creates a “snap” effect where the clubhead whips through the impact zone at incredibly high speeds.

The Physics Behind the Push

When you push against the ground, the ground pushes back with an equal and opposite force. This is Newton’s Third Law. Ground reaction force (GRF) sensors show that professional golfers push with up to 150% to 170% of their body weight into their lead leg just before impact.

Amateurs rarely peak above 110% of their body weight. By learning to spike that vertical force, you can add 4 to 8 miles per hour to your swing speed in a matter of weeks. That translates to roughly 10 to 20 extra yards on your drives.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Ground Force

Follow these steps to integrate vertical force into your swing:

• Step 1: Set up with 55% of your weight on your lead leg. At address, lean slightly toward the target. This pre-loads your lead leg for the impact spike.
• Step 2: Shift 70% of your weight to your trail leg in the backswing. You have to load up the right side (for right-handed golfers) to create a spring-like effect.
• Step 3: Stomp your lead foot to start the downswing. Do not spin your hips. Stomp your lead foot straight down into the dirt. This vertical spike begins the kinematic sequence.
• Step 4: Extend your lead leg fully at impact. Your lead leg should be completely straight when the club hits the ball. This transfers the energy from the ground directly into the club shaft.

Who Should Use This Move?

Choose this move if you have a smooth tempo but have hit a “speed ceiling.” It is perfect for golfers who make consistent contact but get outdriven by their playing partners every week.

Skip this move if you struggle with basic balance, have chronic knee or hip pain, or lack lower-body mobility. The downward spike places a high physical demand on your lead knee and ankle joints.

Move 2: The Shallowing Move (Finding Consistent Accuracy)

The Shallowing Move is a technique designed to optimize your attack angle. It prevents the club from chopping steeply down on the ball. When you shallow the club, the shaft drops onto a flatter, more horizontal plane during the downswing.

This shallow angle of attack allows you to sweep the ball off the turf. It promotes a sweeping draw or a high, soft landing fade. Most importantly, it practically eliminates the dreaded “over-the-top” slice motion.

The Attack Angle Data

According to launch monitor data, a steep angle of attack with an iron is the number one cause of heavy chunks and thin blades. Amateurs often approach the ball with an attack angle of -5.0 degrees or steeper (downward).

PGA Tour professionals average a much shallower attack angle of around -2.0 to -4.0 degrees with their short irons. They achieve this by keeping the clubhead behind their hands for as long as possible. This creates a larger margin for error. Even if you mis-hit the ball slightly, a shallow angle will still produce a usable golf shot.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Shallowing

Follow these steps to flatten your downswing plane:

• Step 1: Pause at the top of your backswing. You do not need an actual physical pause, but mentally check your transition. Do not rush the change of direction.
• Step 2: Drop your hands straight down. From the top, your first move should be pulling your hands down toward your back pocket. Do not push them out toward the golf ball.
• Step 3: Keep your back to the target for one second longer. This prevents your shoulders from spinning open. Spinning open throws the club over the top.
• Step 4: Let the clubhead pass your hands through impact. Because you dropped the club on a flatter plane, the clubhead will naturally catch up and pass your hands right at the ball. This creates maximum speed exactly where you need it.

Who Should Use This Move?

Choose this move if you struggle with inconsistent ball striking, heavy divots, and a steep attack angle. It is the ideal fix if your typical miss is a weak, high slice that curves to the right.

Skip this move if you are a natural hooker of the golf ball. If you tend to over-correct your swing easily, trying to shallow the club too much can result in a smothered hook that goes dead left.

If you are not ready to spend $150 to $300 on a private lesson, smartphone video analysis is the most effective alternative. You cannot fix a swing flaw if you do not know it exists. What you feel during a golf swing is rarely what is actually happening.

Research in motor learning shows that humans have a massive “proprioception gap.” Proprioception is your body’s ability to sense its own position in space. In golf, 85% of what you feel is an illusion. Video feedback bridges that gap immediately.

Equipment and App Costs

You do not need expensive equipment to do this. The camera on your current smartphone is powerful enough to capture high-quality swing data. An iPhone 13 or newer, or a modern Android equivalent, shoots slow-motion video at 240 frames per second.

You will need a simple tripod to hold the phone. You can buy a lightweight aluminum tripod with a phone clamp on Amazon for $15 to $25. Do not try to have a friend hold the phone, as a shaky camera ruins your ability to check your swing angles.

For software, the free “Hudl Technique” app or the $4.99 “V1 Golf” app work perfectly. These apps let you draw lines on your screen to measure your shoulder plane and shaft angle. You can also scrub through your swing frame by frame.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Filming Your Swing

Set up your filming station using these exact steps:

• Step 1: Position the camera for the “Down the Line” view. Place the tripod 5 feet behind you. Point the camera directly at your target line. Set the camera height exactly at your hand level when you are standing upright.
• Step 2: Hit 5 shots with your 7-iron. Do not try to hit hard. Make smooth, normal swings. Save the two best videos.
• Step 3: Position the camera for the “Face On” view. Move the tripod 5 feet to your side, perpendicular to the target line. Set the camera height to your chest level.
• Step 4: Hit 5 more shots. Save the two best videos from this angle.
• Step 5: Draw lines on the still frames. In your video app, pause the video at the top of your backswing. Draw a line down the shaft of your club. See if it points at the ball, inside the ball, or way outside the ball. This will instantly tell you if you are steep or shallow.

Who Should Use This Move?

Choose this method if you are a beginner, a budget-conscious golfer, or someone who wants to start improving immediately. It forces you to confront your actual mechanics rather than your perceived mechanics.

Skip this method if you find yourself constantly making the same mistake despite watching the footage. If you can see you are coming over the top, but cannot physically stop doing it, you need a physical drill or an in-person coach.

For more detail, see 2nd Swing Golf 5 Wood Review and Fitting Experience.

Comparison Table and Decision Matrix

Below is a data matrix to help you decide exactly which method to prioritize. Review the numbers and match them to your current physical capabilities.

Use this decision matrix to make your choice based on your biggest on-course problem:

• Scenario 1: The Distance Shortage. You are a mid-handicapper stuck at a speed ceiling wanting more distance. You hit the ball straight but short.
  • Recommendation: Use the Ground Force Transition. You have the coordination to hit the sweet spot, you just need vertical force to increase clubhead speed.
• Scenario 2: The Inconsistent Ball Striker. You have a fast swing but struggle with inconsistent contact. You hit behind the ball and have steep attack angles.
  • Recommendation: Adopt the Shallowing Move. Optimizing your attack angle for cleaner contact will save you more strokes than adding 5 extra yards.
• Scenario 3: The Blind Spot. You are a budget-conscious player unsure which specific swing flaw to address first. You have no idea if you are steep or shallow.
  • Recommendation: Start with smartphone video analysis. Filming your swing is free, and you must diagnose the disease before you can prescribe a drill.

Do not try to learn all three moves at the same time. That is a recipe for frustration. Pick the single move that matches your priority from the matrix above. Commit to a 30-day cycle.

If you chose the Ground Force Transition, do 50 slow-motion rehearsal swings in your living room every morning. Focus only on the feeling of stomping your lead foot into the ground. Take your practice to the driving range twice a week to test the mechanic with real golf balls.

If you chose the Shallowing Move, buy a $25 alignment stick. Place it in the ground behind your ball at a 45-degree angle. Practice swinging underneath the stick to force a shallow angle of attack. Do this drill 30 times before you hit a single ball on the range.

If you chose Smartphone Video, film every single range session for 30 days. Do not worry about fixing your swing immediately. Spend the first week just drawing lines on the video and learning what your baseline swing looks like.

Pair your chosen physical move with visual feedback. Film yourself doing the drill to verify you are actually making the physical change. This prevents “swing creep,” where you slowly revert to your old habits without realizing it.

Recommended Next Step

Choose the single technique above that matches your current priority. Avoid the temptation to bounce between different tips from different instructors. Once you pick your path, use the Golf Improvement Hub to build a structured practice plan around it.

If you need more specific guidance on fixing your current swing flaws, check out these resources:

Start Here

• Golf Improvement Hub, Start Here for Better Practice and Equipment Decisions

Decision Pages

• Golf Swing Over the Top What Causes It and How to Fix It
• Swing Zone Golf Simulator: Full Review and Pricing (2026)

Use Cases

• Boost 9 Iron Accuracy Drills for Distance Control
• Golf Swing Rope Trainer How to Groove Smoother Rhythm
• Golf Swing Frame by Frame Visual Breakdown of the Perfect

Install our Golf app to improve your swing. This matters because the next step should connect the advice to a measurable outcome. Use our free swing-check tools.

Decision Pages

• Beginner Golf Swing Advice Reddit’s Top Picks

• Golf Swing Over the Top What Causes It and How to Fix It

• Pure Your 5 Iron: Mid-Iron Swing Tips to Crush Approach Shots Like a Pro

• Boost Golf Torque Master the X Factor in Your Swing

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ground Force Transition in golf?

It is a technique where players push vertically into the ground with their lead leg at the exact moment of impact. This action creates a physical snap effect that transfers kinetic energy from the ground, up through the body, and directly into the clubhead for increased speed.

Why is the Shallowing Move considered best for accuracy?

The Shallowing Move optimizes your attack angle by preventing a steep, chopping entry into the back of the golf ball. By dropping the club shaft onto a flatter plane, you create a much larger margin for error at the bottom of your swing arc, leading to more consistent ball striking and directional control.

Can I learn these 2023 golf swing moves without expensive equipment?

Yes, you can use simple smartphone video analysis to study these moves for free. By filming your swing from down-the-line and face-on angles using a $15 tripod and a free app, you can track your vertical ground force and monitor your shaft angle without buying expensive launch monitors.

How long does it take to add 5 mph of clubhead speed using ground force?

Most amateur golfers can add 4 to 8 mph of clubhead speed within 21 to 30 days of dedicated practice. You must perform at least 50 slow-motion rehearsal swings per day focusing entirely on the vertical stomp of the lead leg to reprogram your motor patterns.

Why do I slice the ball when I try to swing harder?

When you try to swing harder with your arms and shoulders, your upper body usually outraces your lower body. This causes your swing path to cut across the ball from outside to inside, imparting slice spin. You must use ground reaction forces to generate speed so your arms can remain passive and shallow.

What camera settings are best for filming a golf swing?

You should always film your golf swing in slow motion at a minimum of 120 frames per second (fps), though 240 fps is highly preferred. Standard 30 fps video is far too blurry to capture the fast movements of the downswing, which takes less than a quarter of a second to complete.