shorter backswing=farther and more pure

[idgolfguy]

For some, a longer back swing loses your spine angle and gets you out plane. It also introduces sway. These are power leaks.

[saevel25]

Originally Posted by idgolfguy

For some, a longer back swing loses your spine angle and gets you out plane. It also introduces sway. These are power leaks.

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Partially true, if your good with timing, and you can get your weight momentum going forward. You can hit some monsterous drives with a very long swing. But i agree, 99% of the time you'll always want to swing with in yourself. Something i am having a hard time toning down. I took some practice swings today and focus on 3/4, and i am always amazed at how compact and tight the motion through impact is. The only trouble i have is with the driver, i get out of sync with a shorten swing. Its just a whole different feel with a longer club.

[Brakkus]

Constantly one of my practice routines is a normal speed backswing next to a mirror. Even now I think sometimes I haven't gone far enough back and when I check it with the wrist hinge at the end the club dips to parallel even with a low left arm. The feel was hard to connect to so I use a visual cue that when my left shoulder tip passes my eyeline that's it. Often this is spot on 90 degrees and the club shaft is short of parallel. If I go further I still hit the ball but lose consistent contact. I often stay tight on irons as it requires discipline to get consistent distance but it's longer clubs like a hybrid or a fairway wood where I get a little long

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by Mr. Desmond

Did you video yourself doing this?

The reason I ask is that when I think the left arm is parallel when swinging at a ball (and not rehearsing or doing drills), video shows I am performing a full swing. What I think is a normal swing is toooo long.

Same here.

Also, for the OP, sometimes when you shorten your backswing and/or stop overswinging, you reduce the amount of head movement or sway off the ball during the backswing.

[inthecup]

I agree in my case what feels like 3/4 is a good full swing.  My full swing is over rotated and sometimes past parallel.  My swing thought is an easy smooth swing.

My go to warm up is a swing where the backswing is club parallel to the ground (waist high)  and and a full follow through.  It seems to ingrain that controlled feeling.

The only problem with it is that the game becomes boring.  Fairways and greens.  I don't get to observe  the flora and fauna all over the course.  If I could only hold that together for 18 holes I would be in great shape.

[bplewis24]

I haven't done any video of my swing lately, but about 2 weeks ago I started a conscious effort to shorten my swing.  In my mind, it feels like about a 3/4th swing.  Since then, I've been hitting it further and with a more consistent shot shape that I've grown accustomed to.  I attribute it mostly to no longer swaying off the ball.

It has also helped me attempt to make a "violent transition" on the downswing.  That is my swing thought, anyway.  I had been losing some club-head speed before then.

[rustyredcab]

Thought about this thread last time I played (thanks for adding a swing thought).

My short FEELING backswing is actually a good full shoulder and hip turn with my hands FEELING like they do not go back as far -- or back and up as far. The hip turn FEELS shorter because I do not straighten my trail leg. My short FEELING backswing puts my trail elbow in the correct and powerful position instead of up and out.

Thus, the paradox of power -- short feeling also feels powerful.

[inthecup]

Originally Posted by bplewis24

I haven't done any video of my swing lately, but about 2 weeks ago I started a conscious effort to shorten my swing.  In my mind, it feels like about a 3/4th swing.  Since then, I've been hitting it further and with a more consistent shot shape that I've grown accustomed to.  I attribute it mostly to no longer swaying off the ball.

It has also helped me attempt to make a "violent transition" on the downswing.  That is my swing thought, anyway.  I had been losing some club-head speed before then.

You are attempting to make a violent transition?  Why?

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by inthecup

You are attempting to make a violent transition?  Why?

I have a tendency to start thinking too much about all of the things I'm supposed to be doing in my swing and forget to finish the swing.  My takeaway becomes slow, deliberate and too long, and then I flip my hands down at the ball.  For some reason telling myself to make a fast and violent transition helps me shift my weight forward clear my hips.  There are probably other things I'm doing better also, I just don't know what they are without video feedback.

[Zeph]

My first swing [URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkHE4iOZ3_g&feature;=player_embedded]in this video[/URL] felt like it was extremely short. It was like a little punch from out of the trees. It is a backswing length I'd want more than what feels normalt to me, like in [URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8tb1tzQTOA&feature;=player_embedded]this swing[/URL]. That long backswing makes it hard to get stuff into the right positions at impact. It will take some time to make that change though.

[rustyredcab]

Originally Posted by Zeph

My first swing in this video felt like it was extremely short. It was like a little punch from out of the trees. It is a backswing length I'd want more than what feels normalt to me, like in this swing. That long backswing makes it hard to get stuff into the right positions at impact. It will take some time to make that change though.

That first swing is the backswing length I want. Nice swing.

[DanHolterhaus]

3/4 backswing would likely mean you are hitting the ball lower, which is great ball flight with a 3-4 iron.  Swinging shorter also helps you hit the ball more solid.  I've found that this is a great way to play and practice, most importantly is to make sure to still make a good shoulder turn to avoid getting too quick and getting in front of the ball at impact.

[Adam Bellaire]

I apologize to anyone who reads this post to the end and are right back where they started.  What feels comfortable to hit will be more consistent.  70% of all golfers hit a natural fade...and prob 99% of them hit a slice more often than they'd like.  I've always been one of those guys, because it is what the ball did when I put a good swing on it (a long and multiplanular swing). Aim down the left and let it come back to the middle...then it started going right...so I naturally started pulling on the ball...and it went further right. So, I recently went through a swing change (this winter) to a more compact backswing that 'feels' alot shorter (3/4)  All of a sudden I'm hitting 15-20yds draws, with a good increase in distance...so I start aiming/swinging right...and the ball goes further left, but i'm also hitting this nasty push fade from a far right alignment...the worst miss's i've ever experienced(i'd take the pull/slice over it).  Then I get my clubs adjusted for lie(2 degrees flat)  I have lost some distance, of which is slowly increasing, but have gained leaps and bounds in ball striking(not at first).  I have worked hard on my 'new' swing to see me return to hitting a tight 'high' fade, maybe a little bit of push(started as a pull first).  Now I am finding that ball flight(my swing path and alignment are fairly consistent) is largely dependant on if I'm catching the ball a little low/high/toe/heel on the clubface.  I never really thought about how much imperfect ballstriking can affect the tragectory of a shot and have now started to work on balance to improve the subtleties of catching the ball dead flush.  I guess what I'm saying here is that, you will play your best when you play with what is comfortable to you.  So, practice on the things that make you uncomfortable, so you can use them when what is comfortable becomes uncomfortable.  God I love this game...and by love, I mean hate.  Because of how long it takes to unfold.  Again, I apologize to anyone who read this post to the end and are right back where they started.

[Russtopher]

Interesting and good timing. I hit the range before work this morning and hit a small bucket, really trying to just go for what I felt were incredibly short backswings, keeping my right elbow tucked in and working on pointing my elbows down during the takeaway. Being a relatively new golfer (mostly range work last summer with a few rounds on the course) I've been trying different swings to find the one that feels right and works for me. I've been OK on distance, albeit a bit shorter than a lot of you claim to be hitting a 6i 125-140, but spraying it all over the place.

Lo and behold, with a shorter backswing and no flying elbow, I was hitting the ball nearly straight, often with a slight draw, but only getting to 120 max with my 6i. The ball had a nice solid "thwak" sound, and the majority of the shots felt good, but with much less distance. However, I'm not thinking that I need more backswing - I'm thinking that with the new shorter backswing and the change in elbow position, I'm more tense in my forearms and wrists and losing any lag far to early.

Still - if I can continue to hit as straight as I did this morning, I'll settle for shorter... for now, anyways!