Thanks for the instruction. Due to bad advice in the past, I concentrated on keeping my lead arm straight in the back swing instead of getting maximum wrist hinge on the top to lengthen the back swing. After seeing the video, I practiced keeping my lead arm loose to hinge my back swing to parallel. Not only does it loosen me up and feel good, it makes rotation with my legs and lower body easier. I can’t wait to practice the technique on the range and in play.
I really don’t like this locked lead arm. I creates way too much tension. Jack, Freddy an any others bend the lead arm. The things is it is not bend through and past impact though. This is the key.
Paul,
When I lengthen the backswing, I have more trouble with casting. The shorter backswing seems to allow me to focus on wrist hinge and not arm swing. Assuming I can only work on one at a time, is this the right order – practice hinge and then add more backswing?
This may very well happen because you are thinking of your arms and doing a longer swing going back. Once set you need to be thinking legs and hips to power your swing. This will flatten the club allowing you to swing out at it. So don’t stop working on lengthening the backswing. It should only take 2 weeks to get used to it. Once you do starting thinking of the lower body again. If you never change anything you will keep doing the same thing you have always done. In changing you can’t expect to be great right away. Work on the pieces. Put all the pieces together and you will see the results.
Apart from the two keys you give -Thumbs towards rhe ears and see the clubhead from the corner of the left eye- I consciously “feel ” my right wrist hinging ,by keeping the right wrist very ,very loose .
This gives a lot of “whip “to the swing .
A question :at adress, should the shaft of the driver be in straight line with the arms (MOE NORMAN position ) or should there be an angle between the arms and the shaft :arms hanging straight down from the shoulders ,club shaft angling with the arms
The driver position would be relative to how the driver sits on the ground. Some drivers have your hands even or ahead. Others have them even or behind. Just let the sole plate of your driver sit flush then gently place your grip on the club. That is where the club should sit.
Paul ,The following question is not specifically related to this present instruction video.
I ‘ve come across JOHN NOVOSEL ‘s book on the “TOUR TEMPO “,with the 3:1 ratio backswing/throughswing .
Quite a number of golfers claim they have speeded up their clubspeed following this “direction :”21:7 or 24:8 ,etc..
Is there some truth in this teaching ?
It’s quite the opposite of what I do myself :I say to myself “LOW AND SLOW “in the takeaway ,then I don’t think any more ,I just let the club swing by itself ,propelled by the legs and the lower body thrust and turn …
The golfers speed up their swing from this tempo would be those taking the club back real fast with the arms. The faster you pull it back the tighter your arms. Slowing down the backswing to a 2 count would keep the arms from tightening. If you want to try it go ahead. I just don’t see this as a miracle cure because the great majority of pros never specifically worked on this yet they have the ratio. How about working on the fundamentals. If you get them you would in turn look like a better player thus you would have this ratio.
Paul,Am I right to have a slow takeaway and say “LOW AND SLOW ” ,which is close to YOUR suggestion of counting to a count of two ?How do I know m’y tempo is all right ,except feeling comfortable with it !
You don’t really have to think low if you are doing the putting stroke one piece takeaway I suggest. In doing so you wouldn’t pick the club up. So slow back is a great thought. This stops your arms from turning on.
Your body rotation should be moving your club. Your body moves slow in life. If your slow moving body is moving your club why would your swing look fast? So to get consistent tempo base your swing on body rotation NOT the arms.
Paul,Would you recommend working on the wrists flexibilty ,a softer version of JAMIE SADLOWSKI and JOHN DALY ‘s position at the top ,to improve the distance the CLUBHEAD has to travel and thus accélérate ,to impact ?
If So what exersises JEREMY KINKHAMER would suggest ?
Regarding YOUR above suggestion ,all m’y move forwards of the club is driven by the core rotation ,as you teach ,not on the Arms ,I don’t know what they do!
I saw a video of my swing with a 7 iron, and my hands only went to about shoulder high. Needless to say the club was almost pointing to the sky. I’m not sure if I should even try to make my backswing longer, as I still feel the coiling and the tightness even with the short backswing. The only reason I’m considering a longer backswing is for the distance, but while trying to make it longer, my timing becomes off, and my rhythm and tempo seem affected too. I’m hopeful that I can make it to LV this year so you can see in person, but should I continue to work on a longer backswing, or leave well enough alone, as I was happy with the direction my game was headed before trying a longer backswing. Thanks, and sorry for the ramble.
This is way too short. You need a ton of energy in your legs to get any kind of power with this short of a swing. Yes, you will not be good at it at first but as you keep doing it you will get the consistency back.
Okay, thanks. Played and was focusing on getting my hands higher, but of course with that focus I wasn’t keeping my lag angle and touching my knees. Will continue to work on the backswing until I get some consistency back.
If you are working on this especially on the course there is no way you are going to play well. Work on it on the range and at home. As you keep doing it you will get it when you play.
Paul, one more note. I looked at the images on the dashboard of your swing and the first image at the top has your club at about 2:00 compared to my swing which is barely reaching 1:00. Maybe it’s just a matter of getting my hands higher? I don’t have any physical limitations turning. As a matter of fact, if you told me to make a turn without a golf ball in front of me, I could easily get to 2:00.
Thanks for the tips, Paul. Backswing is getting a little longer and higher, but of course there is a sense of power with the longer backswing that makes me want to hit with the arms. Gonna have to learn to fight that feeling again. Thanks, again.
Paul. I have been trying to master the full shoulder turn and longer backswing. I am convinced that the longer backswing allows me to better square the club in addition to more power. It seems that when I shorten my backswing with the proper hip rotation my club gets to the ball too soon and I hit with the clubface still open for a push. My problem is that a longer back swing feels that my swing is out of control, so into the round I will revert to a shorter Backswing for the feeling of club control. Unfortunately, I get that control with my arm muscles, which for me also includes tightening my grip adding to the tendency to push or even push slice. It is getting better and this tip confirms my approach.
Thank you
I hope you’ve been well. I’ve been working on my arm extension after contact, which seems to really help especially with the longer clubs. My backswing apparently became quite short while working on this extension, so I tried to lengthen it as a good habit.
When I lengthened the backswing, though, I started to top the ball. I don’t want to go back to a shorter backswing – what’s going on and how should I correct it (consistent with my newly acquired post contact extension).
If you are topping the golf ball then you could be doing 1 of a few things; looking early or standing up when hitting the shot. Stay looking down at the ball a little longer. You could also be creating a chicken wing, keep feeling like your arms are extending. Or you could be going way too fast for right now.
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24 Responses to “Good Habits Series – Lengthen Backswing”
December 24, 2014
PeterEspositoPaul,
Thanks for the instruction. Due to bad advice in the past, I concentrated on keeping my lead arm straight in the back swing instead of getting maximum wrist hinge on the top to lengthen the back swing. After seeing the video, I practiced keeping my lead arm loose to hinge my back swing to parallel. Not only does it loosen me up and feel good, it makes rotation with my legs and lower body easier. I can’t wait to practice the technique on the range and in play.
Peter
December 24, 2014
Paul WilsonPeter,
I really don’t like this locked lead arm. I creates way too much tension. Jack, Freddy an any others bend the lead arm. The things is it is not bend through and past impact though. This is the key.
Extended But Not Locked: https://ignitiongolf.com/extended-but-not-locked/
December 24, 2014
JOHNROTONDOPaul,
When I lengthen the backswing, I have more trouble with casting. The shorter backswing seems to allow me to focus on wrist hinge and not arm swing. Assuming I can only work on one at a time, is this the right order – practice hinge and then add more backswing?
John
December 24, 2014
Paul WilsonJohn,
This may very well happen because you are thinking of your arms and doing a longer swing going back. Once set you need to be thinking legs and hips to power your swing. This will flatten the club allowing you to swing out at it. So don’t stop working on lengthening the backswing. It should only take 2 weeks to get used to it. Once you do starting thinking of the lower body again. If you never change anything you will keep doing the same thing you have always done. In changing you can’t expect to be great right away. Work on the pieces. Put all the pieces together and you will see the results.
December 25, 2014
TIMADAMSPaul
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year
December 25, 2014
Paul WilsonTim,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too.
December 25, 2014
RaymondCHASTELApart from the two keys you give -Thumbs towards rhe ears and see the clubhead from the corner of the left eye- I consciously “feel ” my right wrist hinging ,by keeping the right wrist very ,very loose .
This gives a lot of “whip “to the swing .
A question :at adress, should the shaft of the driver be in straight line with the arms (MOE NORMAN position ) or should there be an angle between the arms and the shaft :arms hanging straight down from the shoulders ,club shaft angling with the arms
December 25, 2014
Paul WilsonRaymond,
The driver position would be relative to how the driver sits on the ground. Some drivers have your hands even or ahead. Others have them even or behind. Just let the sole plate of your driver sit flush then gently place your grip on the club. That is where the club should sit.
December 27, 2014
RaymondCHASTELPaul ,The following question is not specifically related to this present instruction video.
I ‘ve come across JOHN NOVOSEL ‘s book on the “TOUR TEMPO “,with the 3:1 ratio backswing/throughswing .
Quite a number of golfers claim they have speeded up their clubspeed following this “direction :”21:7 or 24:8 ,etc..
Is there some truth in this teaching ?
It’s quite the opposite of what I do myself :I say to myself “LOW AND SLOW “in the takeaway ,then I don’t think any more ,I just let the club swing by itself ,propelled by the legs and the lower body thrust and turn …
December 28, 2014
Paul WilsonRaymond,
The golfers speed up their swing from this tempo would be those taking the club back real fast with the arms. The faster you pull it back the tighter your arms. Slowing down the backswing to a 2 count would keep the arms from tightening. If you want to try it go ahead. I just don’t see this as a miracle cure because the great majority of pros never specifically worked on this yet they have the ratio. How about working on the fundamentals. If you get them you would in turn look like a better player thus you would have this ratio.
December 28, 2014
RaymondCHASTELPaul,Am I right to have a slow takeaway and say “LOW AND SLOW ” ,which is close to YOUR suggestion of counting to a count of two ?How do I know m’y tempo is all right ,except feeling comfortable with it !
December 30, 2014
Paul WilsonRaymond,
You don’t really have to think low if you are doing the putting stroke one piece takeaway I suggest. In doing so you wouldn’t pick the club up. So slow back is a great thought. This stops your arms from turning on.
Your body rotation should be moving your club. Your body moves slow in life. If your slow moving body is moving your club why would your swing look fast? So to get consistent tempo base your swing on body rotation NOT the arms.
Tempo: https://ignitiongolf.com/golf-swing-tempo/
How to Get Consistent Swing Tempo: https://ignitiongolf.com/consistent-swing-tempo/
December 30, 2014
RaymondCHASTELPaul,Would you recommend working on the wrists flexibilty ,a softer version of JAMIE SADLOWSKI and JOHN DALY ‘s position at the top ,to improve the distance the CLUBHEAD has to travel and thus accélérate ,to impact ?
If So what exersises JEREMY KINKHAMER would suggest ?
Regarding YOUR above suggestion ,all m’y move forwards of the club is driven by the core rotation ,as you teach ,not on the Arms ,I don’t know what they do!
December 30, 2014
Paul WilsonRaymond,
I have already shown you the wrist drill I want you to do. Watch it again here:
DRILL: Lag Ear to Ear: https://ignitiongolf.com/lag-release-drill
This takes at least a month of working on it. Maybe 2 months but it’s well worth it.
June 28, 2015
tedvernonPaul,
I saw a video of my swing with a 7 iron, and my hands only went to about shoulder high. Needless to say the club was almost pointing to the sky. I’m not sure if I should even try to make my backswing longer, as I still feel the coiling and the tightness even with the short backswing. The only reason I’m considering a longer backswing is for the distance, but while trying to make it longer, my timing becomes off, and my rhythm and tempo seem affected too. I’m hopeful that I can make it to LV this year so you can see in person, but should I continue to work on a longer backswing, or leave well enough alone, as I was happy with the direction my game was headed before trying a longer backswing. Thanks, and sorry for the ramble.
June 29, 2015
Paul WilsonTed,
This is way too short. You need a ton of energy in your legs to get any kind of power with this short of a swing. Yes, you will not be good at it at first but as you keep doing it you will get the consistency back.
Here you go:
Is Your Backswing Too Short?: https://ignitiongolf.com/backswing-too-short/
And:
3 Ways to Set The Top of the Backswing: https://ignitiongolf.com/backswing-top-3-ways
Why Hinge The Wrists At The Top?: https://ignitiongolf.com/why-hinge-at-top/
June 29, 2015
tedvernonOkay, thanks. Played and was focusing on getting my hands higher, but of course with that focus I wasn’t keeping my lag angle and touching my knees. Will continue to work on the backswing until I get some consistency back.
June 30, 2015
Paul WilsonTed,
If you are working on this especially on the course there is no way you are going to play well. Work on it on the range and at home. As you keep doing it you will get it when you play.
June 29, 2015
tedvernonPaul, one more note. I looked at the images on the dashboard of your swing and the first image at the top has your club at about 2:00 compared to my swing which is barely reaching 1:00. Maybe it’s just a matter of getting my hands higher? I don’t have any physical limitations turning. As a matter of fact, if you told me to make a turn without a golf ball in front of me, I could easily get to 2:00.
June 30, 2015
tedvernonThanks for the tips, Paul. Backswing is getting a little longer and higher, but of course there is a sense of power with the longer backswing that makes me want to hit with the arms. Gonna have to learn to fight that feeling again. Thanks, again.
June 30, 2015
Paul WilsonTed,
Think of the backswing as setting it up to go the other way.
May 27, 2022
JeffreyGardinerPaul. I have been trying to master the full shoulder turn and longer backswing. I am convinced that the longer backswing allows me to better square the club in addition to more power. It seems that when I shorten my backswing with the proper hip rotation my club gets to the ball too soon and I hit with the clubface still open for a push. My problem is that a longer back swing feels that my swing is out of control, so into the round I will revert to a shorter Backswing for the feeling of club control. Unfortunately, I get that control with my arm muscles, which for me also includes tightening my grip adding to the tendency to push or even push slice. It is getting better and this tip confirms my approach.
Thank you
Thanks
May 29, 2022
MarkHelmanHi Paul,
I hope you’ve been well. I’ve been working on my arm extension after contact, which seems to really help especially with the longer clubs. My backswing apparently became quite short while working on this extension, so I tried to lengthen it as a good habit.
When I lengthened the backswing, though, I started to top the ball. I don’t want to go back to a shorter backswing – what’s going on and how should I correct it (consistent with my newly acquired post contact extension).
Many thanks,
Mark
July 25, 2022
Paul WilsonIf you are topping the golf ball then you could be doing 1 of a few things; looking early or standing up when hitting the shot. Stay looking down at the ball a little longer. You could also be creating a chicken wing, keep feeling like your arms are extending. Or you could be going way too fast for right now.