Cause and Effect – Backswing Length

By | on October 9, 2014 | 11 Comments |


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Paul Wilson is the creator of Swing Machine Golf and founder of Ignition Golf. Paul's golf swing technique is based on the Iron Byron swing machine. YouTube Channels: Paul Wilson Golf and Ignition Golf Tips. Please Join me on Google+

11 Responses to “Cause and Effect – Backswing Length”

  1. October 10, 2014

    RonCalabrese

    Hi Paul. I had the opportunity to practice the full swing today with the speed radar device. It’s obvious my technique is very inconsistent because swing speeds ranged from 83 to 97 MPH. There is a very subtle difference between the “no arms” feeling which produced 97 MPH and the more effortful 83 MPH swing. Many swings felt like they were very fast, but the result was 83 or 84MPH. On the higher swing speeds, I allowed my head to move back and stayed back, keeping some tilt, but it’s definitely a work in progress. Watching your swing, which easily reaches 116 MPH, is absolutely astounding. You hardly look like you’re trying and I’m working up a sweat. Your results prove the validity of your technique.

    Thanks, Ron

    • October 10, 2014

      Paul Wilson

      Ron,

      Funny how the speed goes up with powerless arms. Now you are a believer keep doing the legs and hip drills and get good at it. They are your power source so say focused on the lower body. If you are using the lower body you have a chance of powering your swing with it. If you are not even working on it you only have your arms to hit the ball with. So stay focused. Keep doing the lower body drills. For me, it is UNMISTAKEABLE that I am hitting it with my legs. You need this feeling too! If you do, you should easily be able to get it to 100mph.

  2. October 10, 2014

    JoseCarceller

    Paul, I almost have the same position with every club at the top. I thought it should be that way because with the same turn (almost 90 degrees) and the same wrist hinge every single club should be parallel to the ground. I see that with a wedge one should not hit as fast as with the driver but my position at the top it is very similar and almost parallel. Could this be because my swing plane is too flat? Or is it a question of wrist hinge? Should I reduce my wrist hinge?

  3. October 10, 2014

    Roy

    Paul,

    Should you actively hinge your wrist at the top of the backswing or let momentum do it. In watching the video it seems like the club position at top of the backawing is dependent on both the the shoulder turn and amount of wrist hinge.

    I know your are going to say passive arms, but I thought I would ask anyway. (ha)
    Enjoyed this tip and your resent 4 or five tips. What we should feel is a big part of our learning and thanks for addressing that aspect of the game. Your tips are very pertinent to us trying to improve our game.

    • October 13, 2014

      Roy

      Paul

      At top of our back swing should we actively hinge our wrist. It seems like it is easier to get the club parallel?

      • October 14, 2014

        Paul Wilson

        Roy,

        You would actively hinge your wrists if you were working on hinging them. I am letting momentum hinge my wrists. They are loose and the club is swinging back. The momentum created plus a loose hinge would hinge them perfectly every time. A lot of people have tight wrists so they have to work on hinging them fully. This usually takes about 2 weeks. Once you get it, then you are not really thinking about it. Instead, you are thinking about coiling knowing full well your wrists will hinge because they are loose.

        Here is how to work on it:

        3 Ways to Set The Top of the Backswing: https://ignitiongolf.com/backswing-top-3-ways

  4. October 14, 2014

    JuneBigge

    YOU OWE ME!!!!

    you owe me three golf balls!! I went out by myself to try the ‘feeling series and the tips about thumb pointing to ear at top and push the hips around. I hit my balls so far that they were completely lost!!!! Never hit them so far. Not necessarily straight but sort of straight and far!!! into the woods and bushes!!!
    So much fun!!!

    After you reviewed my video, I have been working with a coach to watch me try your techniques. Her observations and your last set of tips have been just what I needed!!! Thank you.

    • October 14, 2014

      Paul Wilson

      June,

      That’s great news! Now you are getting it. You need to fully hinge going back. Then you need to hit it with body rotation NOT the arms.

      Keep up the good work and stock up on golf balls.

  5. Hello Paul,

    First of all great tip. I have an over the top and a flipping at impact problem.
    I have watched the cures/tips on these issues multiple times.
    After recording my swing I noticed my back swing is really long. The club shaft is behind my head (not above) and the club head actually ends up lower than my lead shoulder.

    I find when I do powerless arms and turn my shoulders like a spring my arms just want to wrap around my body. The club shaft is not naturally going above my head. My wrists break and let the club head drop dramatically low and behind me.

    How do I have the club shaft go above my head and just above parallel, without using my arms? And do you think solving this problem will help my over the top and flipping issue.
    BTW, my ball flight is very high and pulls right. I would like a much lower ball flight. 9 iron goes only about 130, 7 iron 150 and so on..I would like about 20 more yards per club (which I had at one time).

    Thank you in advance.
    Javier

    • Javier,

      Glad you liked it. Thanks.

      There are times when your arms are not powerless. This is when you are working on specific positions. To get to the top you get to halfway and lift it up into my position. After you do this for a while it will go up there on its own. I do not think about this. I have done it for a long time. So you can get it up there with powerless arms but you have to train it to go up there. I would have thought people would figure this out after watching me swing. I guess not.

      Your backswing length should be dependent on your coil. You coil your shoulders back until you feel the tightness. Once you feel tight you are at the top. This means you are starting the lower body the other way. If you are long you are moving your arms more than your body rotation is tell them to move.

      Watch:

      Connection: https://ignitiongolf.com/connection-backswing
      DRILL: Use Your Shadow to Check Your Backswing Length: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-shadow-backswing-length/
      Backswing Length: https://ignitiongolf.com/backswing-how-long/
      How Long Should The Backswing Be With Different Clubs?: https://ignitiongolf.com/backswing-how-long

      Get this first then you can work on lowering the ball flight.

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