Assuming a solid setup, posture, and takeaway, the rest of the backswing should really be quite simple and consists in essence of a horizontal turn of the body around the spinal axis, combined with a simultaneous vertical upward swing of the arms. This combination should set the club perfectly on plane without any conscious effort to do so.
Full Answer
What makes up a backswing in golf?
What makes up a backswing in golf Every backswing in golf begins with a golf swing takeaway. This is the commencement of the golf swing until the golf club gets approximately parallel to the ground. Next, involves hinging of the wrists and the bending of the right elbow as it slowly moves the club to the top.
How can I improve my golf backswing?
Use the golf tips below in order to improve your golf backswing. The backswing is a swing sequence that takes place immediately after the takeaway and will bring your club up until it reaches the top of the swing. From the moment you address the ball to the moment you reach the top of the backswing your left arm should remain straight.
What are the most common mistakes in the golf backswing?
There are three very common mistakes that occur in the golf backswing. The first mistake is opening the clubface during the backswing. This move sets up a golfer’s followthrough to fail by creating an open clubface at the top of the swing and an open face at impact most likely causing the ball to slice.
What is a poor golf swing takeoff?
A poor golf swing takeaway is when either the golf club moves too far inside or outside the target line resulting in the need for compensations when the club arrives at the top of the backswing.
What is the most common mistake in the backswing?
The most common error is a grip that is too weak, or turned too far to the left on top of the club. Another common error is a grip that is too strong, or turned too far to the right on top of the club.
Do hips and shoulders turn together in golf swing?
The hips control the shoulders both on the backswing and the downswing. Constricting the hip turn will also constrict the shoulder turn. With a restricted shoulder turn, the golfer is likely to stat the downswing with the shoulders unwinding ahead of the hips. This will produce pulls or pull slices.
Is it important to keep your elbows close together at the top of the backswing?
6:2514:53GOLF: Elbows Closer + Squeeze The Arms | MORE CONSISTENCYYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd if you have it properly together elbows say eight to ten inches the wrist hinge is proper. AndMoreAnd if you have it properly together elbows say eight to ten inches the wrist hinge is proper. And if you keep that together coming down and you keep squeezing the elbows.
Should clubs be parallel at top of backswing?
0:072:40How to Find Your top of Backswing Position - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's going to be parallel to your target line and the top of the club. Can be anywhere from pointingMoreIt's going to be parallel to your target line and the top of the club. Can be anywhere from pointing straight up just slightly.
Do the hips start the backswing?
3:074:58Right Hip Movement In Backswing Make A Full Turn - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe're just going to make a backswing. And we just don't want to touch that CH it's really thatMoreWe're just going to make a backswing. And we just don't want to touch that CH it's really that simple we can see there my hip has moved to back if I was to sway or a laterally shift off the ball.
When should hips start turning in backswing?
Ideally, you want your hips to be around 45 degrees open in the backswing, and 40 degrees open at impact. Too much hip turn in the takeaway will make it difficult to get your hips open enough when it comes to striking the ball, which can hurt your swing.
Should the club face be open or closed at the top of the backswing?
1:073:24Clubface open or closed at the top of your backswing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo a closed club. Face means that the club. Face is pointing up towards the sky. Now if the clubMoreSo a closed club. Face means that the club. Face is pointing up towards the sky. Now if the club face is open what that means is as the club swings up to the top of the backswing.
How important is the V in golf swing?
Instructors sometimes differ on the value of a one-piece takeaway, but golfers from Ben Hogan to Annika Sorenstam all stress the importance of "maintaining the triangle" or "maintaining the V" during their golf swings. Doing so gives you a wider arc and keeps you from twisting the club with your forearms.
Should your arms be close to your body in the golf swing?
1:056:22HOW TO KEEP YOUR ARMS CLOSE TO YOUR BODY BUT STILL ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPosition I got no problem with the left arm staying nice and close to the body mainly. Because IMorePosition I got no problem with the left arm staying nice and close to the body mainly. Because I think it helps everybody get a feeling of comfort.
Should you pause at the top of your backswing in golf?
1:486:18GOLF BACKSWING: Should You Pause At The Top? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou need a little more time to make the switch in your mind. From set the top to down here to fireMoreYou need a little more time to make the switch in your mind. From set the top to down here to fire your body. So i would suggest pausing or hesitating for a little longer.
How do I get my club to point to target in the backswing?
0:081:37Top of the Swing Drill - Where to Point the Club at the Top - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo just lay the golf club down to the side a second feel what your left thumb is going to do duringMoreSo just lay the golf club down to the side a second feel what your left thumb is going to do during the swing. It's going to start off in an address position pointing down towards the golf ball here.
How far back should your backswing go?
The Normal Backswing A club in the “normal” position has reached about parallel to the ground and you can see that the shoulders have turned around 90 degrees. As the upper body turns, you must make sure that your foundation is solid or “receiving” the turn.
Do the shoulders start the golf swing?
The shoulders begin the backswing by turning away from the ball until the hands are at waist high. This movement is called a “one-piece takeaway” and, because the shoulders move so early in the backswing, the arms are able to remain straight without tensing up until the hands reach that waist-high position.
How should your hips move in a golf swing?
2:5410:18How to FIRE the hips in the GOLF SWING - Game Changer MoveYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLike you simply put your trail foot back to get the sensation of that hip being where backwards.MoreLike you simply put your trail foot back to get the sensation of that hip being where backwards.
How do you rotate your shoulders in the golf swing?
3:148:24How to Make a Proper Shoulder Turn in Your Golf Swing (Golf ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWork along that same angle see that as i'm working through the strike. Notice from down the lineMoreWork along that same angle see that as i'm working through the strike. Notice from down the line there my shoulders are still on that red line so i'm back up my shoulders rotate on that. Line.
How do the shoulders move in the golf swing?
3:098:52How to Turn the Shoulders in the Golf Swing (Golf Shoulder Turn)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWork along that same angle see that as i'm working through the strike. Notice from down the lineMoreWork along that same angle see that as i'm working through the strike. Notice from down the line there my shoulders are still on that red line so i'm back up my shoulders rotate on that. Line.
What is the backswing of a golf club?
The backswing in golf might be the most important part of any player’s swing. It is what gets us into position to deliver the golf club to the ball. If we are out of position in the backswing, it is very hard for us to swing the club on plane and deliver a square clubface at impact.
What is a golf backswing?
The golf backswing is one of the most scrutinized aspects of any golfer’s technique, and for good reason. A quality golf backswing sets you up for a powerful follow-through . . . and a poor golf backswing can alter your clubface angle, weaken your downstroke, and cause you to slice the ball. After all, nobody has a perfect golf swing by starting ...
What are the common mistakes in golf backswing?
There are three very common mistakes that occur in the golf backswing. The first mistake is opening the clubface during the backswing. This move sets up a golfer’s followthrough to fail by creating an open clubface at the top of the swing and an open face at impact most likely causing the ball to slice. The second mistake is separation of the ...
What does it mean when a golfer gets into the correct position at the top of the swing?
A golfer who gets into the correct position at the top of the swing due to a solid backswing will be able to deliver the golf club in a much more consistent manner. I have been teaching the game of golf for over twenty years.
How to open the club face in golf?
The only connection we have to the golf club is where the hands grip the handle. With this, the only way we can rotate the club face or open the clubface is by rotating our hands or changing our lead wrist angles.
How to know if your elbow is right?
To better visualize the correct position of the right elbow at the top of the backswing, take your golf stance and rotate to the top of your swing. Now imagine from this position you were holding a large pizza in your right hand. If the right elbow folded correctly and stayed connected to your body, you should be able to hold the pizza and avoid the pizza from sliding off the pan. If the right elbow separated from the left arm and body, the pizza would slide off the pan and onto the floor.
Why do golf clubs have side bends?
Vise versa, if the club works steep in the takeaway due to arms lifting and poor body rotation, it will want to shallow in the downswing. This causes a lot of side bend instead of rotation in the downswing. This side bend also promotes early extension and a flip of the hands at impact, which promotes a swing path that is too far from the inside. All of this creates inconsistent ball striking and ball flight.
What is a backswing in golf?
What makes up a backswing in golf. Every backswing in golf begins with a golf swing takeaway. This is the commencement of the golf swing until the golf club gets approximately parallel to the ground. Next, involves hinging of the wrists and the bending of the right elbow as it slowly moves the club to the top. ...
How to break your wrists in golf swing?
As your takeaway is finishing when the golf club is parallel to the ground next comes the wrist hinge in the golf swing. This should be a natural movement with your wrists hinging up and keeping the golf club in front of your body. It’s important you let the wrists break naturally by feeling the weight of the golf club.
What is the takeaway in golf?
The takeaway can often make or break the entire golf swing so it’s extremely vital to performing a proper golf backswing. The arms/shoulders all move the golf club together in one piece until the golf club gets approximately parallel to your target.
How to keep your golf club in front of you?
Your wrists should turn slightly to the right opening up the clubhead and you’ll start to feel your weight slowly move to the rear leg as your hips begin to open up. Try to keep your right arm as straight as possible, not letting it fold too soon which helps keep the golf club in front of you.
How many degrees do the hips rotate in golf?
The hips will rotate approximately 45 degrees and the shoulders about 90 degrees as the golf club moves to the top of the golf swing. Depending on your flexibility the left arm will remain mostly straight right through to the top and the left hand will be relatively flat parallel to the swing plane.
What does a flatter wrist do in golf?
A flatter wrist will make it easier to bring the club down on plane in the downswing.
How many degrees should the right arm fold?
Next, the right arm needs to fold about 90 degrees with the left arm remaining relatively straight.
What is the backswing in golf?
A great backswing in golf starts with a perfect takeaway because the backswing is just a continuation of the same movements you initiated the takeaway with.
What About the Arms in the Backswing?
If the body is moving correctly, then and only then do we ever worry about what the arms are doing in the golf swing. You see, most golfers have it completely backwards, the only thing they care about is what the golf club is doing, but that's the just the tail wagging the dog!
What is the takeaway on the right?
In the golf takeaway on the right he's simply pulling his right shoulder behind his head, which prevents his head from moving and helps keep his lower body rock solid. So, just by focusing on a few simple keys, you to can build the perfect takeaway in golf, now let's take a closer look at the top of the backswing.
How to do a golf takeaway right handed?
Yep, for right handed golfers, to initiate the perfect golf takeaway, all you need to do is pull your right shoulder behind your head. Get up and try it now!
What does elevation mean in golf?
Elevation refers to "arm elevation", in other words, how much your arms raise vertically from your shoulder socket during the backswing. Most golfers completely botch this move in the golf swing by swinging their arms across their chest instead of raising them in a vertical plane.
What is the pull slice in golf?
The dreaded over the top pull slice. When you swing the golf club over the top, it is being swung on a steep swing plane that in many cases is near vertical.
Why is it important to keep your head centered when hitting a golf ball?
Keeping your head centered is critical for becoming a consistent ball striker - golf is hard enough without your head moving all over the place! The golf ball might as well be rolling while you try to hit it if your head is severely moving off the ball like it does in most golfer's backswings.
What is the motion of a golf swing?
Put simply, the overall motion of a good swing is push-pull: You push the club back, and you pull it through. The opposite move—a pull-push—is a common amateur fault. So a lot of golfers have the fundamental motion ...
What is the first move down in golf?
The first move down should be a pulling motion initiated by the left leg ( pictured above ). From the top, the left knee shifts toward the target and starts pulling the rest of the lower body into its forward rotation. If the lower body leads the downswing, the club drops to the inside, and you can sling it out to the ball.
Why do golf clubs move so quickly?
A common fault is pulling the club back with the right hand. A lot of right-hand-dominant golfers do this, it causes the club moves quickly to the inside. From there, you have to lift it to get to the top, and that reduces body rotation and saps a lot of energy out of the swing. You lose all of that torque that's produced when the upper body turns against a stable lower body.
What happens if you push the club down from the top?
On the fault side, if you push the club down from the top, like a lot of right-hand-dominant golfers do, the club moves out and away from you. From there, you're going to make a steep swing that cuts across the ball from out to in. That swing has no power and produces a lot of pulls and slices. A Drill to Help.
What is the benefit of push back?
Another benefit of the push-back is the wide takeaway that it creates. A wide takeaway helps shift your weight to your right side. With the weight back and your upper body fully coiled, you're ready to reverse those actions and start the downswing.
How to do push pulls without a club?
Try this drill to help you feel the pull, then a square face. Without a club, take your setup with the outside of your left foot against a wall. Mimic your backswing, then swing down slowly. Make sure: (1) Your left leg gently bumps the wall as you start down, and (2) the back of your left hand faces the wall as it comes down in front of you. Now you're ready to put the push-pull to work for you.
How to do push back swings?
Here's a good drill to groove the push-back move. Grip a short iron in your left hand only, and make some chipping swings. Without the right hand on the club, you isolate the pushing motion of the left hand on the backswing. Re-create that feel when you go back to swinging with both hands.
How to do a backswing pivot?
As you simulate a backswing pivot while maintaining your shoulder tilt, make sure your right hand moves up your right leg as you rotate right side behind you. Your left hand should move down your left pant leg toward your left knee as it works inward.
How do ball strikers make a strong body coil?
All great players, especially the ones known for being consistent ball-strikers, make a strong body coil as they move toward the top of their swing. They do this by pivoting their right side behind them and less to the side, thereby reducing any excess slide away from the ball.
