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How do you begin your backswing?


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I know this seems like a minor issue, but one of the biggest problems I have is initiating my backswing. I have made significant changes to my swing in the past year, which, when properly executed, result in a textbook shot. This is the first time in my golfing life that I actually know how to do this. But I still get really nervous when I set up because I have fifteen years of bad golf in the back of my mind. Consequently, I am trying to develop some simple steps that I can go through during my swing to make it more consistent and repeatable. The most important is how to start the backswing. I see some of the pros start theirs with what appears to be an almost imperceptible shift of weight to their back foot, even before they start their shoulder turn. Is this right? Have any of you noticed this too? How do you start your backswing?

Driver: Burner 10.5 deg
5W: R7 18 deg
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4-PW: MP-57
GW: Vokey 52 degSW: 56 degLW: 60 degPutter: Black Series 1 34"Ball: Pro V1

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I start my backswing with a focus on retaining the "V" and keeping my head still....the next (and last) thought I have in my swing is to try and get my left shoulder pointing at the ball....then just "GO"

"Getting paired with you is the equivalent to a two-stroke penalty to your playing competitors"  -- Sean O'Hair to Rory Sabbatini (Zurich Classic, 2011)

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I start at the very beginning of the swing by focusing on moving the club head first. To do this I have to move parts of my body of course, but I find that by doing that it helps me maintain the proper fundamentals through the swing. When I don't focus on that I find that there can be lots of other little movements that happen first that can really screw things up. If I am not able to correct for these it can be a bad day. My swing tends to be more together this way and when I am not playing well I can feel my body moving out of sink.
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I start the backswing with my hands and start the downswing with my hips.

Driver: Callaway Big Bertha Diablo 9º
2 Hybrid: Callaway Big Bertha Heavenwood
Irons: Nike Slingshot OSS 6-3 iron
          Taylormade Tour Preferred PW-7 iron
Wedges: Cleveland CG14 50º, 54º
              Taylormade RAC 58º
Putter: Ping Darby 32" shaft


 

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I've heard your meant to start it by turning your shoulder.

My backswing is engrained. Doubt I could change it much.

My Clubs
Driver - LV4 10* R flex
Wood - sam snead persimmon 2 wood (for windy days)
Hybrid burner tour launch 20* stiff flex.
Irons - Tour Mode 3i,4i stiffIrons - FP's 5-PW R-flexWedge - spin milled 54.14Wedge - spin milled 60.07Putter - Victoria Lowest round 2010: 79 (par 70)Latest rounds at...

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Shoulder turn for me, just trying to feel that my arms do not change position till my hands start to move vertically.

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
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What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
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I start it my turning my shoulders.

In my bag:

Driver: Titleist TSi3 | 15º 3-Wood: Ping G410 | 17º 2-Hybrid: Ping G410 | 19º 3-Iron: TaylorMade GAPR Lo |4-PW Irons: Nike VR Pro Combo | 54º SW, 60º LW: Titleist Vokey SM8 | Putter: Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas H7

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Also with a shoulder turn. This is probably the only part of my swing that involves an actual concious swing thought every time.

In my bag:
905R 9.5
906F4 15.5
CLK Fli-Hi 20

MP-52 3-PW

Vokey SM 52.08, 58.08

Studio Stainless Newport 2 35"

PRO V1x

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Good question - my start seems to be totally different:

I begin straightening my back leg, letting my left shoulder drop in that process plus beginning to bend my back arm. At least it is my feeling... Oh, its with Stack & Tilt.
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Unfortunately, I break my wrists and start to rotate them, sending the club head back inside.

Stretch.

"In the process of trial and error, our failed attempts are meant to destroy arrogance and provoke humility." -- Master Jin Kwon

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Unfortunately, I break my wrists and start to rotate them, sending the club head back inside.

That's what I do as well but for me there are days it works and days it doesn't. I just watched The Wall video and that is what I need to practice.

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Callaway X 460 9* - Callaway X 15* - TaylorMade 19*/21* Hybrid - Callaway Diablo Forged 4-PW - Titleist 50/56/60 - Rife Cayman Brac - Bridgestone xFIXx/B330-RX - TRUE Linkswear Supporter!

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That's what I do as well but for me there are days it works and days it doesn't. I just watched The Wall video and that is what I need to practice.

Do! The other really good thought he talks about somewhere else is your hands going straight back (inside toward the tailbone rather than directly away from the target) while the wrists turn a little toward the target (or counterclockwise, if you prefer.) That will stop you whipping the head inside and put you perfectly on the wall.

Stretch.

"In the process of trial and error, our failed attempts are meant to destroy arrogance and provoke humility." -- Master Jin Kwon

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Here's the other video I mentioned.

Stretch.

"In the process of trial and error, our failed attempts are meant to destroy arrogance and provoke humility." -- Master Jin Kwon

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I think about rotating my sternum (the indentation in the middle of your chest) from the front to the right.

The "effort" comes from my core area. I don't try and shift my weight or use my shoulders at all. I try to hold the arm "V" from setup as long as possible in the backswing. At some point momentum takes over and right arm folds in, my left arm floats into position, and my weight shifts to my right foot.

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My best shots occur when I turn my body first, shifting my weight to my right foot's instep. My poor shots occur when I start with my shoulders, and my worst, when I start with my hands or wrists. I also struggle with coming to the inside by turning the wrists back, instead of hinging properly.

In the bag:
Driver: Rapture V2, 9 degree, stiff shaft
Fairway Woods: X-Hot 3 wood
Hybrid: 3H
Irons: J36 PC 4-PW Project X 6.0 Shafts, FlightedWedges: CG14, 50 54 and 58 degree Putter: Guerin Rife 2 Bar with Winn grip B330S Pro V1x

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Neat question--all good players have a trigger that they use and they are all different. Check out Jones, Snead, Hogan and Nicklaus on you tube.See their triggers---now go find yours. Good luck dude. GDIB
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