Backup Light Switch or Just Column Slop?

[Christiansok]

It seems my backup lights only work half the time while in reverse. I have a good amount of play in the column shifter while it is in reverse. If I move it to the far right they work, the far left they don't work. What I'm wondering is whether or not to replace the backup light switch on the column or if the real problem is the amount of slop in the column...

I don't want to buy and install a new switch to find out the root of the problem is the column slop.