Stay Connected For A Solid Backswing Position

By | on August 29, 2011 | 28 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+

28 Responses to “Stay Connected For A Solid Backswing Position”

  1. October 11, 2012

    AdamLenford

    Paul,
    This is the tip that helped me finally put it all together. I was doing a good job of turning the arms off, but because they were disconnected and powerless my body was rotating and it felt like I was leaving the arms way behind the body in the downswing. The result was a nasty block slice. After I made the change in this tip I instantly started hitting it straight and with incredible distance (290 yards with driver). Not sure how I missed this tip the first time through, but I’m glad I found it.

    I am still occassionally hitting high fades and low cuts on my mishits with driver and 3 wood, but the result is not terrible. This doesn’t happen with my irons. Any thoughts? I suspect you’ll say that I’m not getting the weight off of my right foot soon enough with these longer clubs.

    • October 12, 2012

      Paul Wilson

      Adam, I’m glad you found this one. Yes, you can drive the lower body too hard and become disconnected.

      Low fades and cuts you are trying to hit it too hard. This locks your wrists and leaves the face open. So roll the wrists over a few times, loosen up and focus on the body to hit the shot. Stay within yourself. If you play with fire you have to expect to get burned.

  2. October 27, 2012

    HarveyFederman

    When I stay connected I find it difficult to maintain the powerless arms & wrists…tendency is to tense up slightly…any suggestions on staying connected with the arm pits against side of chest & keeping arms & wrists powerless?

    • October 28, 2012

      Paul Wilson

      Harvey, If you are finding it difficult to keep the arms powerless when trying to stay connected you are trying to connect too tightly. It is a slight pressure. If you jam this into your side you may lock up. Check your pressure and don’t force it.

  3. October 27, 2012

    mikeplummer

    Hi Paul,
    Great tip, I have seen it about 4-5 times before and I have to agree with one of the two comments above and dis-agree with the other (not saying he was wrong, just different for me). First off when I finally stayed connected it also came together for me. Secondly for me, when I stayed connected it was much easier to turn off the arms. It is funny how many times I have seen this video, yet managed to continue swinging with the arms. After viewing it last night, I went to practice this A.M. And had the best session ever! I think of it as opening and closing a door with my upper body while using the lower body for power.
    Thanks for the review, it made all the diifernce in the world for me!
    Mike

    • October 28, 2012

      Paul Wilson

      Mike, I wondered where you went.

      This is a huge part of the swing. People often try to over do it and keep it too tight. Doing so will certainly affect their swing.

      Keep at it. I like breakthroughs.

  4. November 4, 2012

    BarryFidelman

    Paul, which swing is preferred the, higher or flatter one?

    • November 5, 2012

      Paul Wilson

      Barry, I like the swing which is slightly above the shoulder line at the top not flat. Why? Because the best players of all time used this type of swing.

  5. December 31, 2012

    KevinWarnett

    Hi Paul

    You mention in the above video that if you have a higher plane (two plane)swing that the arm slides up a little.

    In the downswing does that mean the left arm slides backdown on the inside but still stays connected? Also is that dependant on whether you have a one plane (lower) or two plane swing?

    Hope to hear from you soon.

    Kind regards

    Kevin

  6. January 1, 2013

    KevinWarnett

    Many thanks for the quick reply.

  7. Hi paul, I’m trying to get my swing above the shoulder line like you mentionned, but every time I do (its fell wrong)and i get a wrong swing, those that mean I’m more comfortable on a flatter swing or I’m a just doing it wrong. I’m not a tall person will that effect the swing plane?

    • August 11, 2013

      Paul Wilson

      Dany,

      This is a major change and will take time. It took me 2 weeks. All I did to get it was nightly practice swings watching for the whole clubshaft above my head from the front view while looking in a mirror. I also felt the right arm untuck from the side of my body. If you do this too for 2 weeks or so straight you should become comfortable with it.

      If you still can’t get it just just be a little flat. You can still do a great swing being a little flat. I just don’t see any long drivers doing this swing plus my experience doing this swing had me losing power, hitting pushes and duck hooks. I prefer the lead arm to be slightly above the shoulder line. I would keep at it if I were you but you will have to make this decision.

  8. Thank you for the reply Paul, I will for sure work on it until I get more comfortable!

  9. September 1, 2014

    terrybadger

    As many others have stated this is a great lesson. My question is not with the shoulders and arms being connected in the back swing (this i could follow and execute fairly well and consistently), but with the downswing. Are the arms lagging the shoulders, or are they connected?
    thanks,
    bear

  10. Avatar photo

    September 30, 2014

    Martin Barry

    Hi Paul great tip. I was wondering if you could help me at the set up of the club with a driver where is the best position to have the club face at the adress as I hit the ball sometimes in different spots on the face and not in the centre

  11. January 6, 2017

    StianOttersen

    Paul. Was just wondering, when you fire the lower the left hand compresses against the left pec? Should it continoue to be compressed throughout the swing until the follow through?

  12. Hi Paul,
    What do you think about using the headcover connection drill with your recent “wider arc” up in the air drill? (5/7/17)

    I’ve been working on the up in the air wider arc drill but I’m starting to look like I’m starting a lawnmower! (disconnected) on the course this is translating to some low hooks. When I do stay connected and rotate the ball striking is awesome w just a little bit of shape (3-5 yards) like we’ve talked about.

    It’s just a hiccup I think in trying to be/maintain a wider swing arc but still stay connected through rotation. Hence my question at the top of my comment.

    Thanks as always and hope you guys are doing well!

    CS

    • Craig,

      Which armpit?

      I did a tip on this here:

      Headcover Under Which Armpit?: https://ignitiongolf.com/headcover-which-armpit/

      When you try to wider the arc you cannot disconnect. This would be a huge problem. I really think you just had to widen in the past impact and through swing. This shouldn’t even be that much effort.

      We are good. Slowing down now due to the heat.

  13. September 1, 2017

    terrybadger

    Hi Paul,
    This tip helped me more than anything you have preached when i saw it a few months ago. i am now very straight and fairly consistent. There are a few things that cause me problems. i would like to know how i can get consistent at hitting off my left foot. i may be trying to use my arms but i don’t think so. i believe it is from starting my downswing too early and not getting over to my left side. The result is the club just barely hitting the turf before the ball. Sometimes i hit it thin, but then i know i haven’t maintained my spine angle – that one i got. The really interesting problem is that i can’t seem to hit the ball any further with my 3 – 6 irons, than i do with my 7 iron which is about 140 yards. i hit my driver about 200 and my hybrid about 170. i can’t speed up right now because when i do, i do everything wrong. What tips should i be looking at?
    thanks,
    ter

    • Avatar photo

      September 1, 2017

      Paul Wilson

      Terry,

      If you are hitting behind the ball (even a little bit) you are hitting it fat. This is too much weight on the back foot at impact. You need to get the weight shifting off of this foot. Do it too much though and you will hit it thin. Do practice swings. Feel the back heel coming up at impact. 3-4″ with irons 5-6″ with driver.

      As much as you think you are not using your arms you are only hitting driver 200 yards. I guarantee you are using your arms. I say this because I can do nothing and hit it this far. So if I can do nothing and hit it this far I am way, way, way loser than you in my wrists. I gently turn my body and easily get it to 200+. If can do it this way it cannot be that I am stronger than you. I am doing it a different way than you. Plus, I have a seen literally tens of thousands of students in your shoes and they are all hitting (even though they swear they are not).

      So you need to be working more on the lower body. I would be hooking it first then adding way faster lower body rotation. I show how to do this here:

      DRILL: Golf Swing Timing For More Distance: https://ignitiongolf.com/timing-more-distance/

      If you just increase your lower body of course you will be inconsistent because you are only speeding up one part of your swing. You need to speed up the release first. Then you speed up the body to match it and get the ball straightened out.

      This second step will also get you off of the back foot faster eliminating the fat shots. So if you really want more power you need to take a hit on consistency right now. Hook it first about 5-10 balls in a row. Once you can do this you drive the lower way hard than you currently are.

      Watch:

      2 Power Sources In Your Swing: https://ignitiongolf.com/2-power-sources/

      Here is the feeling:

      I guarantee you are not feeling this:

      How Much Legs (jump): https://ignitiongolf.com/jump-feel-legs/

      Also, you need to be doing this every night in the backyard with driver:

      DRILL: Listen to Club Swinging: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-listen-to-club/

      DRILL: How To Really Increase Power: https://ignitiongolf.com/how-to-really-increase-power/

      I tell everyone to do this and show them how to do it and they do not do it. You need to do this tens of thousands of times until you are good at it. Then you get the legs as the power source.

      So if you follow what I am saying you are going to lose consistency for a while but the payoff is much longer shots. Once the norm becomes 30-40 yards longer you then switch the focus to perfect positioning. This will get the consistency back.

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