A poor backswing can set us up for disaster in the downswing. It is important to avoid any separation of the left arm out and away from the body. Assume your address position without a club or ball. Got that? Countless amateur players use their hands and wrists during the @takeaway, a mistake which causes plenty of problems. But if a person has poor mobility they cant just suddenly rotate more and have good mobility. Of course, if you are a left-handed player, you will want to get things started with the right arm. Poor body rotation can be an issue in many ways. The club head is coming off the ground too soon and pulling to the left. But how does the backswing have so much effect on what happens in our downswing? Does having a glove under the right arm also work. When I start to yank it inside, I remember this tip and it gets me back on plane. How do I go out and shoot 85 one day and 95 the next? This is to help focus the mind on the left hand and arm. The more the core was stretched in the backswing, the faster it will unwind and rotate towards the target, creating faster club head speed. Fortunately, the following drill will show you right away if youre letting that trail elbow work away from the lead elbow. Take your posture and let the left arm hang down as it would normally at address. The thumbs push down and out towards the ball. Left hand major alignment point Place the ball between your arms right at the elbows. Instead of running into that problem you can address it now on the range and forget about it moving forward. Best regards, Peter. If the golfer has a really flat and laid off backswing (meaning the club shaft is more horizontal at the top of the golf swing), the player will cast the club over the top of the swing creating a vertical shaft, cupped left wrist (which opens the club face) and a leftward swing path. Ill certainly keep this article and video for future reference. Although this article is about. But have you been paying attention to the angle of your clubface at the top of your swing? Here are two drills that will help you achieve it. How do PGA and LPGA golfers warm up for a round? You probably already know that a good shoulder turn is essential for a quality golf swing. Take your set up with a mirror to your right side and holding the 5 iron at the bottom of the grip. This drill forces you to keep your elbows the same distance apart in your golf backswing. Thefollow throughis a continuation of thepushingaction of thumbs down where the locked in hand and arm positions continue to approximately chest level before the arms fold. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a63d7294fedbf76db50075e91098b4f0" );document.getElementById("i3761488d9").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); I have been teaching the game of golf for over twenty years. Silva operates Movement 3 Golf at Highland Park CC on Chicagos North Shore. With some practice, youll see how much easier it is to make consistent swings by perfecting your pivot. Without understanding how the club face can open in the backswing, it will be hard to recognize if this is occurring in your golf swing. Only players who are willing to put in work on this point on the practice range will be able to improve their takeaway consistency over time. You only want it to bend enough that your hands can move slightly above your shoulders. . Now watch my video on using the stretchy band to help you become a more consistent ball striker: excellent tip- increased my distance by almost 50yards. You'll often hear pro golfers and instructors refer to "keeping the clubhead outside the hands" on the . 1. Sit into your left side at the start of the downswing. Poor rotation can also be caused by a lot of other things going on in the backswing such as poor loading and separating elbows. Good question. Its a simple training aid that gets huge results. All of the content below is based on a right-handed golfer. When the arms bend in this manner, it promotescutting across the ball with an out to in path. Now take some slow and small swings. You probably dont need me to tell you that your clubface should be square at the moment of impact. The second mistake is separation of the elbows during the backswing. Invest some time and effort into the way your swing starts and better golf will be soon to follow. You seem to be confusing terms. The left arm acts as the swing 'guide' and the right arm supports the club at the top of the backswing. You want it a little higher than in the previous drill, but still below your elbows. And today we're lengthening that relaxed swing. However, you are going to want to allow one arm to take the lead, while the other just goes along for the ride. The @takeaway is incredibly important because it sets the stage for everything to come later in the swing. The thumbs push down and out towards the ball. Spend a few minutes working on your takeaway during your next trip to the range and you should notice an immediate difference in your performance. What's the difference between the two turns? You should immediately work on determining a yardage for the shot, and you should also be looking up toward the target to spot any hazards or other trouble spots to avoid. Backswing to the Top - When the Takeaway and Low Loading are done correctly, the club head will 'sling back' to an ideal back swing position.. Top of Backswing. Notice how far your left shoulder moved. https://usgolftv.com/golf-pro-tips/pushing-way-better-golf/. Many golfers keep the right elbow too close to the body on the backswing, (left elbow for the left-hand golfer). Don't feel completely locked in to your position. Continually working on, and solving, minor issues in the swing will make your game significantly stronger in the long run. Where can I get one of those training aid balls? When you try it for yourself you will feel how the hands are locked in to a solid impact position. Improve your swing with the key move. If you have ever seen a professional golfer staring up at the target while holding their stance over the ball, this is exactly what they are doing. With the right elbow connected to your body and staying close to your lead elbow, the left hand has an easier time staying where it is instead of cupping and opening the club face. And for helpful video tips, subscribe to our YouTube channel! Yet we can improve our striking technique, improve results, and get better scores with sensible guidance such as that provided by Peter Croker. The more you turn away from the ball, the more you have to rely on your timing to get the clubhead back to impact in a consistent solid position. . On the flip side moving the right elbow away from the body on the takeaway to the outside disconnects the arms from the body weakening the golf swing. If youre sick of slicing the ball, this advice is for you. This is the premise of the content. A flared right elbow also causes steep angles in the swing. While you need to use your shoulders to make a big turn going back, it can be hard to think only about a shoulder turn when it is your hands that are holding on to the club. There is nothing left to do but hit the shot, and one of the best ways to get started is to think about. Our primary goal is always to help you play better golf. When done correctly this uncocking action of the hands sets the club on the correct in to out path with the handle leading the club head. Early hip rotation along with the ball work will allow for a better, more connected pivot. At setup should there be a bend at your left wrist or should there be a straight line from your left arm through your left thumb? Instructors that talk about shoulder turn to describe the amount of body turn during the backswing are hurting their students. How can I hit the ball straight every time ? You shouldn't expect to hit the ball a long way but by hinging the wrist correctly a good contact should be possible. I would know. This uncocking action (thumbs down) locks the hands, arms and body into a solid impact condition as you arrive at the bottom of the . Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment Kent! 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. But that may never be possible, like John Rahm, so maybe give alternatives to the full rotation to help us limited mobility people get a good swing with what our bodies will allow. The following step-by-step guide is going to walk you through a thought process you can use to get from club selection all the way through to a confident swing. How we start our takeaway will dictate how our body moves and will set the tone for the entire swing. Because the club will be coming less from the inside and will be slightly on top of the initial setup plane, your lower body will be more encouraged to turn constantly through the whole swing and not have to stop to allow a club too far inside to catch up. This mistake is as difficult to self-diagnose as wrist-cupping. Stefan (Ottawa, Canada). If you lose the ball, you know your technique needs a tune-up. No tensiondebunks golfsbiggest myth of keeping the front arm straight. It isimportant to make sure you are always pushing the club away with your hands and arms. But the video is no longer there, why? Wrap a belt or strap loosely around your stomach so that you can slide your right arm through it. So where do the primary push actions occur in what we might describe as the Push Golf Swing? Ive used this same approach with a lot of my students, always to the betterment of their game. The training aid ball helps with separation of the elbows in the golf backswing. There are three very common mistakes that occur in the golf backswing. Today's breaking news and more in your inbox. The best way to implement this is to have: steady feet placement; uniform arm movement; and use the whole lower body as much as possible by moving it forward as you swing. How to use your bank card to improve your putting at home for free! Does it work now? As a result, this increases the stretch in the abdomen. What this means is if you start your backswing by pulling the club away with your hands, you may be hurting your swing right at the start of the backswing. As you stand over the ball, you should focus your mind on the task of turning away from the target. Keeping your arms connected to the chest helps with maintaining balance, which is essential for a successful swing. One of the biggest challenges in teaching the golf swing is properly teaching rotation of the body otherwise called the pivot. 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After all, you really don't have much time to think during the swing itself, as it is over in just a second or two. Only when you have settled on a yardage and a target can you pick the club that you will be using. It is what gets us into position to deliver the golf club to the ball. The problem isn't so much in the backstroke, but rather what happens when you move the putter toward the hole. Pushing the hands away from the body creates more body torque between the upper and lower body. As the left arm swings the golf club away there are a number of different check points players can use to ensure a successful backswing. In making a full and powerful backswing, your arms lift about 90 degrees, swing across your chest about 15 degrees, and rotate open (clockwise) 90 degrees more. I am going to share with you three simple drills to help you correct these three common errors. . Or in other words, you should focus on not letting your left elbow bend during your backswing. Of course, since both hands are on the club, you will technically be using both of your arms to start the swing. In fact, I went over these exact same tips with a student just the other day. But how should the elbows work during a proper golf backswing? This causes a lot of side bend instead of rotation in the downswing. Getting the elbows to work more together can be difficult without any training aids. Then we started using the L-to-L drill to create that extension with relaxed arms and wrists. The clubface is directly related to what our hands do in the golf swing. He did it by learning what some players call 'pushing the club away at the top of your backswing'. Here is a drill you can use to help feel the left arm is taking the club away during the back swing. . You'll notice that your arms and chest moved together. The Finish Here the momentum of the released club head along with a continued positive pushing action from the hands has the club, hands, and arms fire up and over the left shoulder to a complete and balanced finish position. If you want the ball to curve to the left, you need to hit through to the right. Low Loading At the end of the Takeaway, the momentum of the swinging club, assisted by pressure of the right heel pad against the left thumb, and pressure of the left hand heel pad and against the grip of the club, will put the club in such a position that it is parallel to the ground and target line with the end of the grip pointing towards the target. On down swing hips move toward the ball, I lose my spine angle, shoulders slow down and hook drives and fat my irons! Drill Skills | wall trick for better shoulder rotation, A swing feeling you can try at home to improve your backswing turn, 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational: How to watch, TV schedule, streaming, tee times, Absolutely horrendous: Xander Schauffele explains Bay Hills juicy rough, How LIV Golfs ratings fared in its network TV debut, Meet the new GOLF Top 100 Teachers of America, Celebrate the Kings legacy with these cool umbrella-logoed items, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. As you change directions in your swing, feel the left side of your body starting with your feet, knee and hips pull and begin the motion. Yes, arms should remain connected to the chest throughout the golf swing in order to maintain proper form and avoid any potential injury. All of these movements are ways we can open or close the clubface during our backswing. To understand how the thumbs down action works view the video below. In making a full and powerful backswing, your arms lift about 90 degrees, swing across your chest about 15 degrees, and rotate open (clockwise) 90 degrees more. It is nearly impossible to make a great golf swing if you get off to a poor start. Pushing the hands away from the body creates more body torque between the upper and lower body. We started with Annabel Rolley's drill to improve extension. $1 for 7 days. In reality, there are some golfers who open their clubface on the backstroke and get it back to square by impact. Drop us a line in the comments. You want to maintain that sense even when you remove the ball. Put the band around your back, under your arms and wrap the ends of bands around your thumbs. A good shoulder turn is the biggest key to making a powerful golf swing, and your success or failure on this point will largely be determined right at the start of your motion. Im over 40, and I find that this is a pretty easy mistake to make if I dont pay attention. Hope it helps! The drills I provided not only help you correct the mistakes you might be making. One of the causes has already been discussed, which is the separation of the elbows. You can add the club later by holding the ends of the bands in your thumbs and the club in your fingers with your normal grip. 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. This one change in your swing will create more distance with less effort. At the top of the swing, the left arm remains extended, guiding the club into a position where it is again parallel to the ground. When the right elbow flares out like a batter hitting a baseball, the club tends to go across the line at the top of the swing. Time and again, Ive seen how a players backstroke technique can make or break their scorecard. Both wrists should remain relatively flat throughout the first foot or so of the takeaway. To practice the tips I am about to teach you, you will need three things: A training aid ball goes by different names, depending on who sells it . The instruction (and motion) for the backswing should instead be to move your right hip back in a straight line away from the ball (as if you were stepping backwards). Using the demonstrations above with the bands, work to keep your arms pushing away from your body. Then, when you start down, that trailing elbow starts the downswing by straightening out. Now, you may be opening the clubface without intending to . https://usgolftv.com/golf-pro-tips/pushing-way-better-golf/. The instruction to "turn" your hips is confusing golfers, particularly in the backswing. When the swing transitions into the downsing, the hips rotate towards the target first. Take your backswing to the point where your arms do not collapse. Proper body rotation can also lead to a quick improvement of clubhead speed in the downswing. 10. When the right knee holds in place, your body will be forced to turn through the backswing, and everything will stay on track for success. Or maybe you go through spells of a few great shots in a row followed by some really poor onesagain, all with what feels like the same golf swing. the problem might be related to your pivot. This is done by the direction of turn in the backswing and from an efficient Set-up position, creating what is called "Shallow Space". Are you trying to hit the ball low to stay out of the wind? If it was me, I'd say to stop when your hands are only about chest high because it's easier that way. If the left arm stays connected to the body, the hands work inside and the club stays outside the hands. It is not the end all of the golf swing, because there is more to controlling your movement, but it is one of the most common mistake I see that many instructors miss during their lessons. As a result, the golfer is forced to make last-minute adjustments as the golf club reaches the top part of the backswing. With a subtle clockwise rotation of your left forearm, start the clubhead away from the ball, without moving your hands from . In this case, we are looking at a question that seems pretty minor in the grand scheme of things but these minor points all add up in a big way. That simple action will set your stroke in motion, and if you rock your shoulders back the other way for the forward stroke, you should roll the ball down the line time after time. This thumbs down action produces a solid compression on the ball as the hands lead the club head through the impact zone. For the average person, rotation of the upper body with limited rotation of the hips is very difficult due to a lack of flexibility. When a golf club works improperly in the backswing, it tends to want to do the opposite movements in the downswing. Swing to the top as normal, and hold the position. Left arm tight with no hand manipulation (as far as face angle) on the backswing, and keeping the elbows close has worked very well. It will maintain the arms/body geometry and increase your chances of an on-center strike. At the top of the backswing, the left arm should match the angle of the players shoulders which should be parallel to the swing plane. Proper rotation in the backswing will lead to great arm structure and club positions at the top of the swing. Many thanks for straightening out my game. As mentioned before, the separation of the elbows during the backswing will create a poor club position at the top of the golf swing and set the golfer up for failure during the downswing. Now try a new experiment. But what is causing this poor backswing technique? CLAW GRIP Take your regular gloved-hand hold but place the webbing between your trail thumb and forefinger against the side of the handle, almost like the putting claw grip. Thank you for reading, commenting, and working on this drill. Once the club gets farther into the backswing, your hands and wrists will need to get involved in order to set the club properly. When it loses focus, however, it can cause all sorts of trouble. Start the backswing by turning your shoulders and hips, set the club at the top of your backswing, then begin the swing by shifting your weight to your left while bringing your right elbow to your side. Ball A small sphere used in playing golf, which is intended to be struck by a player swinging a club. Improve your putting at home for free arm supports the club head the... Too close to the left, you will want to get things started with Annabel Rolley 's drill improve! Yardage and a target can you pick the club head is coming the. Are a left-handed player, you may be opening the clubface is directly related to our! You achieve it this one change in your golf backswing top part of the swing transitions into the your. 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