Shorter swing

**RIduffer** · December 5, 2009

Has anyone here improved their ballstriking by working on a shorter swing? My swing gets long and sloppy, so I'm thinking more 3/4 lately. In actuality I'm close to parallel, but it feels 3/4 to me. I definitely hit the ball more solid (and surprisingly longer) with this swing, but I'm struggling to get comfortable with a new tempo. That old waggle at the top became part of my rhythm I guess.

**deronsizemore** · December 5, 2009

Yep. It's something I've worked on every year for the last five years or so. Used to have a really long swing, i.e., like John Daly. My goal is to have more of a Davis Love type swing. Not perfect yet but it's getting better. I always know when my ball striking goes South, my swing has likely gotten a little long and loose.

For me I actually try to feel like I'm making a half to 3/4 swing although I'm still going back farther than I feel like I am. But, as we all know what it feels like we're doing and what we actually are doing is usually completely different.

**RIduffer** · December 5, 2009

But, as we all know what it feels like we're doing and what we actually are doing is usually completely different.

Yep. Very hard for me to trust that a controlled swing is going to get the desired distance. But when I make a compact swing, I'm actually getting more distance due to better contact.

**deronsizemore** · December 5, 2009

Yep. Very hard for me to trust that a controlled swing is going to get the desired distance. But when I make a compact swing, I'm actually getting more distance due to better contact.

Trusting it is a big part of making the change. Gaining the trust is a matter of seeing your ball flight and distance not affected by the shorter swing. Same with this or any swing change I think.

I typically make much better contact with the shorter swing as well as have a slight draw on my ball with the shorter swing (which I prefer) so my ball goes as far or farther than when I overswing. If I get too long I tend to get over the top slightly and as a result I start missing shots to the right.

**James_Black** · December 5, 2009

For me if I do a shorter swing I don't close the clubface in time and I slice it.
I bring the club back to parallel with my irons.
Maybe a small bit more with my woods.

***iacas*** · December 5, 2009

I think this is as close to a universal truth as it gets in golf: your swing is always, always, always longer than you think it is.

**deronsizemore** · December 5, 2009

I think this is as close to a universal truth as it gets in golf: your swing is always, always, always longer than you think it is.

I've had a friend watch me swing in the past when I was working on a shorter swing (who also is a very good golfer). I'll swing and tell him what I felt and every time he'll say "you were at parallel or a little past." I keep thinking that he's out of his mind and there's no way I'm going that far back. Sure enough on video, my backswing is much longer than it feels to me.

I think that's why it's so hard to fix swing problems because almost always what you feel is different from what you're actually doing.

**right handed phil mickelson** · December 5, 2009

It took me 4 months of arguing with my instructor about this to realize I was wrong and owed him $20. Anyway....Iacas is right here. I used to have a John Daly swing as well, and would think that would get me more distance. But then I shortened it up with the help of my golf instructor and now I'm hitting it even longer because of a bigger shoulder turn. My irons are much better too because I can get a consistent swing with a shorter backswing.

It's sometimes even as exaggerated as being able to literally take it back halfway, and hit it as far as I would with my long swing.

**James_Black** · December 5, 2009

I think this is as close to a universal truth as it gets in golf: your swing is always, always, always longer than you think it is.

that's why you should swing in front of a mirror.

**RIduffer** · December 5, 2009

I used to have a John Daly swing as well, and would think that would get me more distance. But then I shortened it up with the help of my golf instructor and

Interesting. So were you essentially getting the club past parallel with a hands/arms dominated swing before? I think this may be my issue, learning to make a full shoulder/hip turn without letting the hands/arms get out of control.

**deronsizemore** · December 5, 2009

Interesting. So were you essentially getting the club past parallel with a hands/arms dominated swing before? I think this may be my issue, learning to make a full shoulder/hip turn without letting the hands/arms get out of control.

I can't speak for him, but assume so. That's what I used to do. I would feel like I had this big powerful swing but it was mostly arms and wrists at the top. I just make an attempt to turn my shoulders now and my arms stop when my shoulders stop. Swing looks a lot shorter but it actually allows me to get a fuller shoulder turn thus the same or more power.

**RIduffer** · December 5, 2009

I can't speak for him, but assume so. That's what I used to do. I would feel like I had this big powerful swing but it was mostly arms and wrists at the top. I just make an attempt to turn my shoulders now and my arms stop when my shoulders stop. Swing looks a lot shorter but it actually allows me to get a fuller shoulder turn thus the same or more power.

Thanks. If your handicap is any indication, this must be an important part of hitting consistent shots.

It hasn't been mentioned yet, but I think my short game would also benefit from a more compact motion. Even my chipping and putting strokes get long and loose which causes deceleration.

**hipcheck4u** · December 5, 2009

Every time- and I mean EVERY time- I hit a ball completely flush, I do it with a shorter swing. I agree about the chipping and putting strokes benefiting from a shortened backswing as well. If I swing shorter, I have a much more secure feeling throughout the swing- when it's really good, the clubhead feels like it's on rails and I have no choice but to hit it on the sweet spot.

Now if I could just do that every time...

**deronsizemore** · December 5, 2009

Thanks. If your handicap is any indication, this must be an important part of hitting consistent shots.

Yep, you're exactly right. For me, I've practiced hard on taking my hands and arms out of all shots. Even chips and pitches and shots all the way up to around 70 yards. For me, I get the feeling of just turning my shoulders (think Steve Stricker). Most people will simply raise their arms with no shoulder turn and that leads to a lot of inconsistencies.

Of course, this is simply what I feel like I'm doing. On video, it may look quite different.

Honestly, as far as how I hit the ball, I hit it flush more often with a shorter swing, but my handicap is more of an indication of how my short game has improved over the last few years.

hancho · December 6, 2009

shortening my swing was the best thing for me. I didnt know i had an overswing until i recorded myself. After that it took me a while to get used to the short swing but it is all worth it. Accuracy and more solid shots and I dont lose any distance.

KJstriker77 · December 6, 2009

I think this is as close to a universal truth as it gets in golf: your swing is always, always, always longer than you think it is.

i think that this is a great point. If you tell your mind to cut your swing down to 3/4 you will still unknowing have a quite long and efficent swing. If you shorten your swing you will have less of a chance of getting out of position at the top and as a end result you will make pure contact. Taking a 3/4 swing helped me out alotttt

**RIduffer** · December 6, 2009

Golf instructor Andrew Rice ( author of It's All About Impact ) is a Sandtrap forum member. I was checking out his website and he mentions that many amateurs turn their shoulders too level, which he says leads to overswinging. He recommends a steeper shoulder turn (think ferris wheel as opposed to merry-go-round) where you stay centered over the ball. This is a big part of S&T; from what I understand too.

I tried this at the range yesterday and I could see that with a steeper shoulder turn I physically cannot get past parallel. It also seemed to help me keep my head steady and stay balanced. Hit the ball really well using this idea.

Just thought I'd mention that as a possible factor in getting a shorter swing.

**Andrew Rice** · December 6, 2009

I have great drill to steepen the shoulder pivot and steady the head, thus shortening the backswing: (try this at home)
Hold a club across your shoulders with the grip end off your lead shoulder. Make sure that just the grip (rubber) extends beyond the tip of the lead shoulder. Now take your setup and place your forehead against a wall. Maintaining contact with the wall pivot the shoulders back, making sure the butt end of the club does not contact/stays inside the wall.
This will quiet the head, steepen the shoulders and definitely give you the sense of a more efficient and "torqued" backswing.
(Sorry I don't have pics, but I'll take some this week and post)
Cheers,

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Shorter swing

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