what am I losing by shortening my back swing?

[clearwaterms]

I have noticed that when I shorten my back swing (in the past I would get to about where the shaft was pointing to between 2 and 3 o'clock) but now I have been shortening it to where it is pointing to about 1:30 and I seem to be MUCH more consistant. What am I losing going to this? Am I handicapping myself later as I progress and find that I need the extra length to get the distance back?

In other words, I know the pro's of a shortened backswing, what are the con's.

Thank you

[clearwaterms]

bump, anybody?
bueller?

[DavidFehertysBike]

There are no cons in shortening your backswing. You gain control and balance. And ultimatly, better contact. I hit the ball just as far with the 3/4 backswing i use than with a full one. You take that shorter backswing, load it, and then accellerate through the ball to a balanced finish. Its also up to the individual to find what that shorter stroke is. A 3/4 backswing for me might be a half swing for you, and so on.

[mirv]

there was a guy years ago named doug sanders who had just the shortest swing you've ever seen. he took a really wide stance and a very short swing and still got just about the same distance as everyone else on tour at the time. i saw a clip of him talking about his swing and he said that with the shorter backswing, there's less room for error than with a really long swing. point being, this guy could make a swing inside of a phone booth practically, but short or not, he got some PGA tour victories under his belt with that swing (and also four second place finishes in majors). so like dave's bike said, i don't think there are any cons to a short swing.

[wannabe]

This guy's backswing is also quite short, even with driver. I've heard it said that it's not the backswing that hits the ball, it's the downswing. My pro has told me to focus on keeping arms and hands 'in front' of my rotating chest on the backswing, and ensure I get a full shoulder turn. I also find that when I go back slower I get better overall shot results.

[sean_miller]

I have noticed that when I shorten my back swing (in the past I would get to about where the shaft was pointing to between 2 and 3 o'clock) but now I have been shortening it to where it is pointing to about 1:30 and I seem to be MUCH more consistant. What am I losing going to this? Am I handicapping myself later as I progress and find that I need the extra length to get the distance back?

I'm not sure what time on the clock my backswing relates to - it's not long. My instructor says my swing is very efficient - I like that.

[zeg]

If your swing is so good that you're getting every ounce of power out of it and striking cleanly every time, then the extra backswing gives you more time to accelerate so you're losing a bit of power by shortening up. If that's not the case, then you can easily make up for that tiny bit of extra acceleration with a better swing and better contact. IMO you're not hurting yourself at all.

[TheWookie]

I like to think of Nick Faldo when I think of a short backswing. He worked it perfectly in my opinion. When I would give a lesson that would be an issue 90% of the time. The risk in consistently managing a shortened backswing is that there is less margin for error if you get quick in the transition. The is a tendency to "pull the handle" a little to hard and fast to start the downswing and can generate a smother pull or open face blade shot. At what most consider a full swing there are is more time to use the body to compensate and get back to a somewhat square position.

[Zeph]

Today I'm taking the arms back all the way to 12 o'clock, my goal is to have them stopping at around 9-11, with 11 as maximum.

With good timing, you can gain some distance with a longer backswing, but as others have pointed out, some are able to take a very short backswing and hit it just as far. I would rather sacrifice some distance to gain accuracy, at least with the irons.

[Chilli Dipper]

Some people will say that shortening the backswing puts a limit on power (so much of what has been published about Tom Watson in the last year advocates a very long backswing, as if it is the only way for older players to maintain distance), but J.B. Holmes is one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour, and he takes the club less far back than anyone.

[flintlock62]

I have a fairly compact swing. I find that I am more in control when I keep it shorter. Distance helps no one when it is in the heavy rough, so I'd rather keep it in the fairway even if it takes one more iron to get it there. My .02.

[Zeph]

Some people will say that shortening the backswing puts a limit on power (so much of what has been published about Tom Watson in the last year advocates a very long backswing, as if it is the only way for older players to maintain distance), but J.B. Holmes is one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour, and he takes the club less far back than anyone.

No he doesn't. His backswing is pretty much the same as most guys out there. Only difference is that he doesn't hinge the wrists a whole lot on the backswing, but when starting the downswing. They don't hinge as much as many others, but if I recall, he is doing more the sweeping swing, while most others get a lot of lag which is released quickly.

From the left: JB Holmes, Alvaro Quiros, Tiger, Bubba Watson. Bubba got a very long backswing and a lot of things going on with his body. And no, he doesn't hit right handed here, I just flipped him to make it easier to see. The top drivers all got a long backswing.

[Leftygolfer]

The top drivers have full shoulder turns and fast hips. I know personally when I get long and lose I get wild and don't hit it as far. If I can see the driver head in the corner of my eye I know I made a bad swing. For me the challenge is have the proper chain of events. When I struggle I am not leading with the hips and have no where to swing but over the top big pulls.

I really don't see a downfall of limiting your arm swing up when the shoulders stop turning. Bubba is about as wild as they get on tour.

[Dr. Strangeclub]

I like to think of Nick Faldo when I think of a short backswing. He worked it perfectly in my opinion. When I would give a lesson that would be an issue 90% of the time. The risk in consistently managing a shortened backswing is that there is less margin for error if you get quick in the transition. The is a tendency to "pull the handle" a little to hard and fast to start the downswing and can generate a smother pull or open face blade shot. At what most consider a full swing there are is more time to use the body to compensate and get back to a somewhat square position.

There is also arc width to be considered. Arc width is more important than arc length, since that's what defines your "gear ratio", so to speak. There's more power in wide than long. If you can do both, then you'll be very long -- maxing out for your size and speed as it were. The biggest problem I see in players trying make a "big swing" is that they basically lose their structure and their arm swing gets disconnected from the shoulder turn. Now it's just an arm swing, and the power of from the hips opening into the shot doesn't actually "deliver". A lot more pros work on shortening their swings than work on making it longer, I'll bet.