- Increase your hip turn. When you tell amateurs to increase their hip turn, often they’ll shift their weight away from the golf ball in their takeaway – otherwise known as ...
- Make a bigger shoulder turn. Shoulder turn is the next crucial element to lengthening your backswing, however it’s something a lot of casual players or beginners struggle with.
- Be sure to hinge your wrists. Adding the right amount of wrist hinge can add an extra lever in your backswing that will add length and extra clubhead speed.
Full Answer
How do you achieve width in the golf swing?
For example, many golfers think that width in the golf swing is achieved by extending the club as far back and away from them as possible. But in doing so, they create too much separation between the arms and body, which creates a lot of forward swing problems.
How can I shorten my golf swing?
If you stand a bit closer to the ball, your golf club more naturally swings back at a steep, vertical angle. Thus, you get a longer backswing. In other words, if you need to shorten your golf swing, put a little more distance between you and the ball at setup.
Can I make my swing shorter or longer?
Not only that, but the length of your swing is influenced by multiple factors. Simply trying to “swing shorter” or “swing longer” won’t help you. The good news is that once you recognize the elements that effect your swing length, you discover that adjusting is way easier than you thought. With that in mind, give these three suggestions a try.
Does your golf swing shape affect your backswing length?
Sure, a remarkably agile golfer might be able to swing at that low angle and still get a good backswing length. But the vast majority of golfers are going to find that a flat swing shape limits their range of motion considerably. Now, if your swing shape is more vertical, you likely have a longer backswing.
How to play baseball on the backswing?
Address the ball with a 5-iron, then raise the club directly up and lay it across your right shoulder, as if you were resting a baseball bat across your shoulder. Raise your hands up until your left arm is fully extended as far as is comfortably possible . That’s the position you want to achieve on your backswing before you transition to the downswing.
What should your hands be before you downswing?
For a casual player, your hands should at least reach the level of your head before you begin the downswing. If your hands aren’t reaching that level, you’re cutting your backswing short and sacrificing power.
Why is my backswing short?
When you’re tense your muscles tighten up and inhibit your flexibility, which can cut your backswing short. Hogge suggests performing some type of relaxation technique during your pre-shot routine, which may be as simple as taking a deep breath, and making sure that you’re not squeezing the club too tightly when you address the ball.
Can you rotate your hips and shoulders?
Some players may lack the flexibility to rotate their hips and shoulders sufficiently to take a full backswing. Such players may benefit from a stretching routine before each round. Additionally, Hogge advises players to match their stance with their flexibility level. Taking a narrower stance will typically help you rotate farther ...
What is swing width?
Swing width is defined as the radius of the clubhead from your sternum, or how far the clubhead is from the center of your chest throughout the swing.
How many degrees does a full swing go?
A full swing, with the shaft of the club reaching a point where it is parallel with the ground, goes approximately 270 degrees.
How to widen your backswing?
Shoulder Rotation — A more level rotation of your shoulders will widen your backswing arc. Understand that the shoulders are not precisely level in the turn simply because the right shoulder is lower at address due to the right hand being lower on the han- dle. However, the feel is that the shoulders remain level. This is accomplished when you do not tilt them by dropping the left shoulder down when drawing the club back from the ball, or raising the right shoulder as though you were trying to lift up the club. If you swing the club back with the left arm fully extended (but not rigid) and hinge your wrists late in the backswing, your shoulders will almost surely rotate on the level you want. The overall effect of making a wider swing is a flatter plane than you may be swinging on now. By flatter, we mean the shaft of the club at the completion of your backswing is even with your shoulder line, perhaps even a bit below it. It’s a good position — one by which power is not lost and flight control is enhanced.
How many degrees does a golf club go through?
A full swing, with the shaft of the club reaching a point where it is parallel with the ground, goes roughly through 270 degrees . To put a more common picture on this, imagine a golfer at address with the club behind the ball and at 6 o’clock. If he swings the club to parallel, it is at 3 o’clock and has moved 270 degrees. If the club swings to 1 o’clock or 2 o’clock, it is short of parallel. If it has moved beyond parallel and has tipped to where it is pointing at or almost at the ground, it is past paral- lel. That is where John Daly swings it, which is about 300 degrees. Golfers should not strive to get the club to a parallel position at the comple- tion of their backswing unless they have the strength, flexibility and technique to control the club so solid contact is made with the ball and accurate shots are played. If that is the case, more clubhead speed is generated and you will hit the ball farther and straighter than if you don’t get to parallel. You can get the club to parallel in ways that are not going to bring you added distance and will dimin- ish flight control. One is by bending your left arm to complete your back- swing. That may get the club to paral- lel, or past it, but not in an effective way. Keep in mind that the club does not have to get to parallel to achieve maximum length.
Is the width of a swing a backswing?
The width of your swing is not only a backswing concept. There is a forward swing component that is related to the backswing. It has to do with how you use your elbows. The distance between your
Where to transfer weight on backswing?
Weight Transfer —To achieve maximum width on your backswing, it is impor- tant to transfer weight to your right side. However, you don’t want to exaggerate this. Don’t shift all your weight to the right, but instead transfer it to the inside of your right foot, not the outer edge.
Which arm should straighten out in the backswing?
Left-Arm Extension —The left arm should straighten out almost completely in the backswing. The arm doesn’t get stiff, and the elbow doesn’t lock. There is just the slightest bit of give in the elbow, but overall the arm is straight.
How to shorten your golf swing?
In other words, if you need to shorten your golf swing, put a little more distance between you and the ball at setup. If you’re looking for a longer backswing, get closer.
What happens if your golf swing sequence is too long?
If your golf swing sequence is too long or too short, you can’t hit a quality golf shot. You’re going to lose some fundamental element of an effective shot, whether you lose swing speed, distance, tempo, balance, or solid contact. But as important as backswing length is, many golfers struggle to find the sweet spot.
How to fix backswing in golf?
Depending on what you learned from your golf shot tendencies, you could try fixing your backswing by making your swing shape a little steeper or a little more shallow.
What does swing shape mean?
Swing shape refers to the angle of your golf club as it moves throughout your swing. If your golf club moves around your body at a low angle, you’re going to get a shorter backswing . . . especially as you get older. It comes down to flexibility, especially in the hips.
Why is my lead arm shorter?
If your lead arm is parallel to the top of the ground at the top of your swing, you’re going to get a shorter distance than if you lifted your lead arm higher in the backswing. In other words, if you feel like you should be getting a longer ball flight, it might be because your backswing is too short.
Why is the backswing important in golf?
Second, your tempo may be off. You see, the purpose of the golf backswing is to build energy that you can then transfer into a nice, smooth downswing. If your backswing is too short, you’ve lost the opportunity to build up that energy.
Why is my backswing shorter?
This is because the very nature of your setup already has your club positioned at a shallow angle. As a result, you produce that flat swing shape mentioned above, ultimately creating a shorter backswing.
