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Low handicappers(or anyone).....when did you (have you?) shortened your backswing for more accuracy?


rclark82
Note: This thread is 3372 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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  1. 1. For the majority of your play,do you swing at "80%" ? or "Full Power"?

    • Full Swing (Full speed, full backswing)
      12
    • 80% With reduced backswing (Full speed)
      7
    • 80% With reduced swing speed (Full backswing)
      1
    • 80% with Both shortened backswing and reduced speed
      6


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Intro:

Hi everyone, new to the forum, so I hope I'm posting to the right place and not repeating a long debated issue....

The other day I was trying some fairwoods(on sale for X-mas) and in the midst of testing found that my distance and accuracy was much more consistent when I reduced my backswing, but still full speed. I was actually hitting it further haha.

I know I've heard that tour players only swing at 80% most of the time etc...

Question:

I was wondering if there was a distinct time you can remember making a concious decision to shorten the backswing, and maybe some of your own personal history / backstory around that decision?

On the other hand, do you keep the full(er) swing and just swing at a lower speed?

Thanks for reading my post to anyone who checks it out. Great forum!

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I don't particularly like the poll questions…

Many players need to make a shorter backswing, but because their current backswings are more like 120%.

Many players are actually able to swing faster with shorter (i.e. closer to 100% than 120%) backswings.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

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Haha. But technically no one can swing greater than 100% ;o) sorry...just the math nerd in me...


Sure they can: I've chosen to set 100% at a proper backswing length.

The point is that often people who swing long (longer than a proper length, i.e. > 100%) often end up having less clubhead speed.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

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[QUOTE name="rclark82" url="/t/78861/low-handicappers-or-anyone-when-did-you-have-you-shortened-your-backswing-for-more-accuracy#post_1088976"] Haha. But technically no one can swing greater than 100% ;o) sorry...just the math nerd in me...[/QUOTE] Sure they can: I've chosen to set 100% at a proper backswing length. The point is that often people who swing long (longer than a proper length, i.e. > 100%) often end up having less clubhead speed.

You made my ears burn on that one. And yes you can hit all the points on a swing, but doesnt that actually relate more to what you want the ball to do rather than just trying to fit a one size fits all shots swing into every situation? I might try to nail a cut shot because I dont fade a ball right as far as I can draw it left and I might need those yards for some reason. I might just swing normally for a draw because if I go after it and over cook the thing I am gonna be deep left into the woods.

Tom R.

TM R1 on a USTv2, TM 3wHL on USTv2, TM Rescue 11 in 17,TM udi #3, Rocketbladez tour kbs reg, Mack Daddy 50.10,54.14,60.14, Cleveland putter

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And yes you can hit all the points on a swing, but doesnt that actually relate more to what you want the ball to do rather than just trying to fit a one size fits all shots swing into every situation?

I almost literally don't know what that means. I know what the words mean, but… I said nothing at all about "one size fits all shots swing" or anything of the sort.

I might try to nail a cut shot because I dont fade a ball right as far as I can draw it left and I might need those yards for some reason. I might just swing normally for a draw because if I go after it and over cook the thing I am gonna be deep left into the woods.

I don't really think that's the topic. I'm talking about overswinging, and the fact that swinging too far (beyond "ideal" or "proper" for the given shot, whatever it is) can lead to slower swing speeds.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

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Intro:

Hi everyone, new to the forum, so I hope I'm posting to the right place and not repeating a long debated issue....

The other day I was trying some fairwoods(on sale for X-mas) and in the midst of testing found that my distance and accuracy was much more consistent when I reduced my backswing, but still full speed. I was actually hitting it further haha.

I know I've heard that tour players only swing at 80% most of the time etc...

Question:

I was wondering if there was a distinct time you can remember making a concious decision to shorten the backswing, and maybe some of your own personal history / backstory around that decision?

On the other hand, do you keep the full(er) swing and just swing at a lower speed?

Thanks for reading my post to anyone who checks it out. Great forum!

I made the conscious decision when my Evolvr instructor changed my swing.  By changing how I swing the club, I physically can't go back as far as I used to.

So, now I use that swing and swing as hard as I can.

Christian

:tmade::titleist:  :leupold:  :aimpoint: :gamegolf:

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[QUOTE name="trickyputt" url="/t/78861/low-handicappers-or-anyone-when-did-you-have-you-shortened-your-backswing-for-more-accuracy#post_1088998"] And yes you can hit all the points on a swing, but doesnt that actually relate more to what you want the ball to do rather than just trying to fit a one size fits all shots swing into every situation?[/QUOTE] I almost literally don't know what that means. I know what the words mean, but… I said nothing at all about "one size fits all shots swing" or anything of the sort. [QUOTE name="trickyputt" url="/t/78861/low-handicappers-or-anyone-when-did-you-have-you-shortened-your-backswing-for-more-accuracy#post_1088998"] I might try to nail a cut shot because I dont fade a ball right as far as I can draw it left and I might need those yards for some reason. I might just swing normally for a draw because if I go after it and over cook the thing I am gonna be deep left into the woods.[/QUOTE] I don't really think that's the topic. I'm talking about overswinging, and the fact that swinging too far (beyond "ideal" or "proper" for the given shot, whatever it is) can lead to slower swing speeds.

I probably should have said " hours on the clockface" the way some think of it, where the idea I have heard is to stop at some designed point along the theoretically circular path.. It was the interest of the OP, but you described perfectly a problem I slip into by overswinging and losing speed. I think it can make shots harder to synthesize, not focusing on the shot to be made as much and getting over focused on some finite point in the back swing.

Tom R.

TM R1 on a USTv2, TM 3wHL on USTv2, TM Rescue 11 in 17,TM udi #3, Rocketbladez tour kbs reg, Mack Daddy 50.10,54.14,60.14, Cleveland putter

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The length of my swing is less than parallel at the top (what I assume people mean by 100%) because I can't rotate this old body that far any more. I swing at less than full speed because I can't keep everything in sync when I swing hard. I can hit most of my shots OK at full speed, but it's those few that hook 3 fairways over or go dead right 3 fairways that kill a round. I still can get plenty of distance, especially with the driver, with a more "controlled" swing. If I need more distance with an iron, I just grab the next longer one.

Driver.......Ping K15 9.5* stiff 3 wood.....Ping K15 16* stiff 5 wood.....Ping K15 19* stiff 4 Hybrid...Cleveland Gliderail 23* stiff 5 - PW......Pinhawk SL GW...........Tommy Armour 52* SW...........Tommy Armour 56* LW...........Tommy Armour 60* FW...........Diamond Tour 68* Putter.......Golfsmith Dyna Mite Ball..........Volvik Vista iV Green Bag..........Bennington Quiet Organizer Shoes.... ..Crocs

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It 'feels' to me that when I shorten my backswing a small amount I get better impact positions, more control and more distance because of it. I have no numbers at all to verify this however, hence the quotes on 'feels'. ;)

SWING DNA
Speed [77] Tempo [5] ToeDown [5] KickAngle [6] Release [5] Mizuno JPX EZ 10.5° - Fujikura Orochi Black Eye (with Harrison ShotMaker) Mizuno JPX EZ 3W/3H - Fujikura Orochi Black Eye Mizuno JPX 850 Forged 4i-PW - True Temper XP 115 S300 Mizuno MP R-12 50.06/54.09/58.10 - Dynamic Gold Wedge Flex Mizuno MP A305 [:-P]

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It 'feels' to me that when I shorten my backswing a small amount I get better impact positions, more control and more distance because of it. I have no numbers at all to verify this however, hence the quotes on 'feels'. ;)

I would be willing to bet the added distance is mostly from more center club face contact with the ball.  A lot of people forget the power of center contact on the club face and how that makes a tremendous difference in distance.  So you can have a shorter back swing and even though you may "feel" or literally aren't swinging as fast, your distance will be the same or further because the aforementioned shorter back swing will give you (everyone) the best opportunity to hit the ball with the center of the club face more often.

Sometimes when I glance at people's clubs; drivers, fairway woods, etc and glance at the clubs that you can tell they've had for a long time (more wear marks due to being older), the wear on the face of the club is all over the place - the toe, heel, skymarks, low, literally all over the club face.  Getting a swing into a shorter position (albeit the right short position) could certainly get the wear marks to be more in the center equating to maximum distance and improved accuracy.

Deryck Griffith

Titleist 910 D3: 9.5deg GD Tour AD DI7x | Nike Dymo 3W: 15deg, UST S-flex | Mizuno MP CLK Hybrid: 20deg, Project X Tour Issue 6.5, HC1 Shaft | Mizuno MP-57 4-PW, DG X100 Shaft, 1deg upright | Cleveland CG15 Wedges: 52, 56, 60deg | Scotty Cameron California Del Mar | TaylorMade Penta, TP Black LDP, Nike 20XI-X

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I take what feels to me to be a full, proper swing and then I swing at full speed. Swinging softer doesn't increase accuracy for me unless I was swinging out of my shoes before and falling over at the end of the swing, and swinging shorter just makes the ball go shorter.

It sounds to me like perhaps you were overswinging to start, bringing the club too far back on the backswing and causing shorter and less accurate shots.

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I would be willing to bet the added distance is mostly from more center club face contact with the ball.  A lot of people forget the power of center contact on the club face and how that makes a tremendous difference in distance.  So you can have a shorter back swing and even though you may "feel" or literally aren't swinging as fast, your distance will be the same or further because the aforementioned shorter back swing will give you (everyone) the best opportunity to hit the ball with the center of the club face more often.

Sometimes when I glance at people's clubs; drivers, fairway woods, etc and glance at the clubs that you can tell they've had for a long time (more wear marks due to being older), the wear on the face of the club is all over the place - the toe, heel, skymarks, low, literally all over the club face.  Getting a swing into a shorter position (albeit the right short position) could certainly get the wear marks to be more in the center equating to maximum distance and improved accuracy.

I think this is what I noticed when I was trying out the fairway woods. It felt like the club was more stable through impact, much more solid.

I haven't had a chance since this to try the reduced backswing with my irons but I look forward to practicing .... as always

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[QUOTE name="MiniBlueDragon" url="/t/78861/low-handicappers-or-anyone-when-did-you-have-you-shortened-your-backswing-for-more-accuracy#post_1089061"]   It 'feels' to me that when I shorten my backswing a small amount I get better impact positions, more control and more distance because of it. I have no numbers at all to verify this however, hence the quotes on 'feels'. ;) [/QUOTE] I would be willing to bet the added distance is mostly from more center club face contact with the ball.  A lot of people forget the power of center contact on the club face and how that makes a tremendous difference in distance.  So you can have a shorter back swing and even though you may "feel" or literally aren't swinging as fast, your distance will be the same or further because the aforementioned shorter back swing will give you (everyone) the best opportunity to hit the ball with the center of the club face more often. Sometimes when I glance at people's clubs; drivers, fairway woods, etc and glance at the clubs that you can tell they've had for a long time (more wear marks due to being older), the wear on the face of the club is all over the place - the toe, heel, skymarks, low, literally all over the club face.  Getting a swing into a shorter position (albeit the right short position) could certainly get the wear marks to be more in the center equating to maximum distance and improved accuracy.

What powers the shot can be measured as a centripetal force, and you describe the efficient swing as having more of it which follows, I agree. Accuracy is heightened as well with the shorter swing. So what defines the end of the swing? I would contend the forearm to shaft angle. I mean, the further back you go after achieving the angle is twist, not back swing. To compress the angle too much makes for problems.

Tom R.

TM R1 on a USTv2, TM 3wHL on USTv2, TM Rescue 11 in 17,TM udi #3, Rocketbladez tour kbs reg, Mack Daddy 50.10,54.14,60.14, Cleveland putter

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So what defines the end of the swing? I would contend the forearm to shaft angle. I mean, the further back you go after achieving the angle is twist, not back swing. To compress the angle too much makes for problems.

The end of the swing is defined by the individuals swing and what works best for them.  The end position and or length will then be decided between the golfer and instructor (in person or online ie. Golf Evolution).

However, I think what can be agreed upon across the board and going to Erik's point in Post #2 and #4 is that many golfers go WAY past all the "varied shorter back swing lengths" that exist.

Deryck Griffith

Titleist 910 D3: 9.5deg GD Tour AD DI7x | Nike Dymo 3W: 15deg, UST S-flex | Mizuno MP CLK Hybrid: 20deg, Project X Tour Issue 6.5, HC1 Shaft | Mizuno MP-57 4-PW, DG X100 Shaft, 1deg upright | Cleveland CG15 Wedges: 52, 56, 60deg | Scotty Cameron California Del Mar | TaylorMade Penta, TP Black LDP, Nike 20XI-X

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Many players need to make a shorter backswing, but because their current backswings are more like 120%.

Many players are actually able to swing faster with shorter (i.e. closer to 100% than 120%) backswings.

i was very guilty of this when i started golfing to the point where i could see the clubhead with my left eye in my backswing with a pitching wedge.  Took a few lessons and found out that this overswing was pushing me out onto my toes causing me to shank irons and hit drivers and fairway woods out of the heel losing me considerable distance. I shortened my backswing (to parallel at the top) and was able to make much more consistent contact with all of my clubs.  It felt like a slower swing at first because to me it felt like i was taking a half swing but i started seeing more consistent distances with my irons and a little more out of my driver, 3W, and Hybrid form the more consistent contact

What's in the bag:
Taylormade R15 
Callaway X2Hot pro 3W
Callaway X2Hot pro 20* hybrid
Mizuno JPX900 Tour 4-PW
Cleveland RTX 2.0 50,54, and 58 degree wedges
Taylormade White Smoke putter

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I don't turn as far as 20 years ago but I still put plenty into it.

Rich C.

Driver Titleist 915 D3  9.5*
3 Wood TM RBZ stage 2 tour  14.5*
2 Hybrid Cobra baffler 17*
4Hybrid Adams 23*
Irons Adams CB2's 5-GW
Wedges 54* and 58* Titleist vokey
Putter Scotty Cameron square back 2014
Ball Srixon Zstar optic yellow
bushnell V2 slope edition

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Note: This thread is 3372 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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