How do you begin your backswing?

[plugged]

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?

[BallStriker]

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"

[socaltaoist]

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.

[right handed phil mickelson]

I start the backswing with my hands and start the downswing with my hips.

[James_Black]

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

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

[saevel25]

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

[jamo]

I start it my turning my shoulders.

[Tar Heel]

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

[NI4NI]

With a small prayer and wish that I make it to square impact...

[grantc79]

right fore arm.

[Hollister]

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.

[Stretch]

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

[soloredd]

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.

[Stretch]

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]

Here's the other video I mentioned.

[HytrewQasdfg]

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.

[Jcp907]

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.

[GDIB_net]

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