Jump to content
Check out the Spin Axis Podcast! ×
Check out the Spin Axis Podcast!
IGNORED

Can the backswing be too short?

res0n0xg

By res0n0xg
in Instruction and Playing Tips

 Share
Note: This thread is 4881 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!

Recommended Posts

res0n0xg Member

res0n0xg

Posted
Posted

Hi guys, over the last 6 months to a year I decided to try to change my swing to become more consistent and in the process have become less consistent (mostly with irons). My driver has held pretty strong overall, but I've noticed I seem to have a too abbreviated backswing now....

My swing from the other thread below :

http://thesandtrap.com/t/64473/my-swing-res0n0xg

Thoughts on this?


onephenom Dedicated Member

onephenom

Posted
Posted

I don't think the backswing can really be too short, look at tommy gainey... however for 99.999% of people that would never work. The length of the backswing is supposed to determine the length of the shot you are trying to hit. Some very good players only go 75-80% of the way back to having the club parallel to the ground and still hit it plenty far. If you lag the club properly and use the body you don't need a long backswing to hit the ball far correctly shaped.

A golfer's full shot, I believe, should go as far back as is comfortable for their flexibility. Overextending is going to make it very difficult to swing properly.

Driver: 10.5* callaway Razr Hawk Tour - 350 yards(usually into the wind, it can be windy here. at least 400 with a little wind behind me)

Hybrids: 2 and 3 callaway Hybrid razr tour (312 and 287 respectively)

Irons: 3i-10i callaway forged standard length(278, 263, 250, 235, 221, 213, 201, 190)

Wedges: callaway jaws cc 52* 12 approach, 56* 16 sand, 60* 13 lob (0-185)

Odyssey Black tour #9 putter(5 ft, i'm always at least within 5 feet on my approach shot)

I wonder who on this forum is a PGA tour pro, disguised as a normal player.. 

2013: play in the US amateur qualifier

 


Paradox Great Member

Paradox

Posted
Posted

watched one of your videos and your backswing gets almost parallel at the top...definitely not a "short" backswing.

My philosophy on golf "We're not doing rocket science, here."


David in FL Incredible Member

David in FL

Posted
Posted
CAN. The backswing be too short? Of course. IS yours too short? Not from what I can see.......

In David's bag....

Driver: Titleist 910 D-3;  9.5* Diamana Kai'li
3-Wood: Titleist 910F;  15* Diamana Kai'li
Hybrids: Titleist 910H 19* and 21* Diamana Kai'li
Irons: Titleist 695cb 5-Pw
Wedges: Scratch 51-11 TNC grind, Vokey SM-5's;  56-14 F grind and 60-11 K grind
Putter: Scotty Cameron Kombi S
Ball: ProV1

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades
1
1
1
1
1

inthehole Great Member

inthehole

Posted
Posted

I have a short backswing as I have little flexibility & bad back.    Your swing isn't that short.    I can hit as long as anybody I play with (similar hcp'ers), so it doesn't affect me that much.     Why don't you post relative distances of a few clubs to see if your perceived short backswing is hurting you ...

John

Fav LT Quote ... "you can talk to a fade, but a hook won't listen"

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades
1
1

Golfingdad Incredible Member

Golfingdad

Posted
Posted
any critiques at all then? good to hear as I had a buddy saying it seemed to short...

Right off the bat the thing that stands out to me is your grip. Looks like your holding the club tightly in your palm instead of in your fingers and it looks like your thumb is too far to the right. I'm not a teacher so I'm not really sure how best to describe it, or for that matter if I'm even correct. But that's what I see. Also, it looks like you have no knee bend at address ... You're just bending at your waist.

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

Stretch Super Member

Stretch

Posted
Posted
Yes, the backswing can be too short. No, yours isn't. Your overdraws and hooks are caused by a swing path that gets too far out to the right, which is caused by your early extension in the downswing, which is caused by ... well, there it gets complicated. Start by reading through Beachcomber's My Swing thread. There's a lot of information in there that will be relevant for you.

Stretch.

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

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades
1

Note: This thread is 4881 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!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up

  • TST Partners

    Carl's Place
    PlayBetter
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FitForGolf
    FlightScope Mevo

    Coupon Codes (save 10-20%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack/FitForGolf, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope. 15% off TourStriker (no code).

  • Posts

    • RetiredOldMan
      Too Old?

      By RetiredOldMan · Posted

      StuM,  I have, in the past, added a left handed club. (Ususally a 7 iron) However, I usually take a stroke penalty and move the ball to where I want it.  I play for fun and in a pinch can use theback side if my club if I don't want the penalty stroke.    RetiredOldMan,  Terry 
    • saevel25
      Brendan Sorsby Sports Betting

      By saevel25 · Posted

      So, Brendan Sorsby, Texas Tech transfer QB, was found guilty of sports betting by the NCAA. He admitted to it. He placed thousands of bets over multiple years while at Indiana and Cincinnati. This included betting on his own teams.  The NCAA rules ban athletes from betting on any sport (college or pro).  A retired visiting judge from Tarrant County, Texas has put an injunction on the NCAA ruling. He is a visiting judge because the first judge was a graduate and big fan of Texas Tech, and he recused himself. The judged ruled the following... "Under Curry's order, Sorsby is permitted to play for Texas Tech's 2026 season on the condition that he continues his treatment for a gambling and anxiety disorder and serves a two-game suspension (missing games against Abilene Christian and Oregon State)."  Don't get me wrong, I don't particularly care for the NCAA. That still doesn't mean that a college can choose when or where to say, "Yea we agree to these rules for all our sports, well except in this case." Here is a breakdown from S&W. The Hidden Weapon in Sorsby’s Injunction: How a Lubbock County Court Order Quietly Neutralized the NCAA’s Most Powerful Enforcement Tool - Law Offices of Snell & Wilmer By Ryan J. Regula On June 8, 2026, Lubbock County District Court Judge Ken Curry issued a temporary injunction in Brendan Sorsby v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, Cause No. DC-2026-CV-0791 (99th Judicial District... The main judgement made sense. Sorsby, I am going to have all this harm done to me if I don't get to play. The Judge, I agree. The penalty for gambling is too harsh, so here are all these things you must do, and I will grant this injunction against the NCAA. Basically, an analogy would be when a person goes into court for a DUI and they agree to all these other things to not end up in jail.  What sucks for the NCAA is the NCAA has appealed to Texas’ Seventh Court of Appeals, based in Amarillo. All four justices that preside over the court are graduates of Texas Tech University School of Law. It would be hilarious if all four of them had to recuse themselves 🤣. For those who like to read legal rulings...  
    • StuM
      Swing Thoughts & Mental Game

      By StuM · Posted

      The chatter in my brain is when the distance is between clubs since I am pretty weak at shortened backswings, etc. I try to simply decide if being long or short is the better outcome and choose my club based on that and simply not even try for the “real” distance.  For me a full normal swing is what I strive for.
    • saevel25
      Swing Thoughts & Mental Game

      By saevel25 · Posted

      I saw this comment made in a golf article... "Most golfers stand over a 4- or 5-iron still negotiating with themselves. They think about how hard to swing, whether they have the right club, if they have the aim correct and more. It’s a lot to deal with and long irons punish the “half-in” golf swing." I am not sure the "most golfers" is correct regarding the bolded part. I can understand if there is a bunker, water, and/or OB that a lot of golfers would be fixated on that. I am not sure that leads to ending up more times there. Pending your level in golf, the variance is so large in outcomes, it could be just with in the expected outcomes. I can understand if have a big lake on the right side of the hole being one of the most terrifying shots for right-handed amateur golfers.  I am not sure many golfers are standing over the ball talking to themselves, "Ok, maybe I should step back and pull the 4-iron. Am I lined up right? Oh, the wind came up, should I swing harder? What am I going to have for dinner tonight, maybe steak. (Joking, somewhat 😛)" A question is that how much chatter do you get while standing over the ball. Are you questioning the everything about your golf shot?   
    • coachjimsc
      Wordle Daily Puzzle

      By coachjimsc · Posted

      Wordle 1,816 5/6 🟨🟨⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜🟨🟩⬜⬜ ⬜🟨🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

  I accept