Backswing struggle

[chip n run]

I am a long time decent golfer.  I've been told before that I have a very flat swing.  Decided to video my swing at the dome yesterday. The video sure did prove to me that I am flat.  After reveiwing a few swings, I tried to consciously get my hands up higher and although my swing did feel better, I still look flat.  So, any tips or thoughts on getting my hands to head level at the top ?

[billchao]

Post your video in the member swings section of the forum, there are lots of knowledgeable people here that can help.

[mvmac]

  chip n run said:

I am a long time decent golfer.  I've been told before that I have a very flat swing.  Decided to video my swing at the dome yesterday. The video sure did prove to me that I am flat.  After reveiwing a few swings, I tried to consciously get my hands up higher and although my swing did feel better, I still look flat.  So, any tips or thoughts on getting my hands to head level at the top ?

First question would be, what do you mean by flat?  I would tend to think it's not an arm thing but more of a body piece, like the hips/shoulders are turning too level to the ground causing the arms or shaft to be "flat" on the backswing.

Some might call these backswings "flat", left arm just matches shoulder plane.  Notice the pitch of their hips and shoulders.  Is your swing similar or different to these pics?

Would recommend checking these posts out

[c peterich]

All about impact..and 12 inches past impact... Study some Bradley Hughes.. His philosophy and lag pressure philosophy..a million backswings have won tournaments all around the world. But only one pre impact and post impact position is universal. Work on impact..pull back with right hand..and left hand squares the face. Close / open/close/ open.. And worry about fascia...and 2 nd vertebrae..

[iacas]

  c peterich said:

But only one pre impact and post impact position is universal.

That's so easily disproven it's ridiculous, Chris.

[mvmac]

  c peterich said:

All about impact..and 12 inches past impact...

Agree it's all about impact, I didn't recommend what I did to screw up impact more.  If the golfer's backswing is creating a lot of "chaos", then making the back swing more efficient will make it easier to achieve a solid impact.

  c peterich said:

..a million backswings have won tournaments all around the world.

Yes and the vast majority of them had Key#1.

  c peterich said:

But only one pre impact and post impact position is universal.

So Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods are the same pre and post impact?

[sacpac]

You most likely have a very flat turn. You need to feel that when you initiate your left shoulder turn that you start with the left shoulder starting down towards your left foot before rotating. You want a 90 degree shoulder turn to your spine angle established at address. Also try to keep your weight more on your left foot even all the way to the top of the swing. At your address position, think of your left leg and left shoulder being against a wall and when you turn in your backswing, you want to keep your left hip, leg and shoulder still against hat wall and not shift away from it. Just a couple of pointers that will surely steepen your shoulder turn while keeping your hands on or inside your right shoulder at the top of the swing.

[chip n run]

Thanx for your input - I will try what you've said.  It will be different for me as I have always loaded weight to right leg/foot at the top.  What's scary to me is I might want to shift weight back to right after leaving it on left foot until top.  I'll let you know how my "new" backswing does.

[mvmac]

  chip n run said:

Thanx for your input - I will try what you've said.  It will be different for me as I have always loaded weight to right leg/foot at the top.  What's scary to me is I might want to shift weight back to right after leaving it on left foot until top.  I'll let you know how my "new" backswing does.

Don't worry, as long as the head is steady, you're good.  Pressure is still right even if you're not feeling a "shift right".  "Stretch" that right side up and allow the right leg to lose some flex.

[chip n run]

thanx Sacpac and Mvmac - today at the dome I concentrated on keeping more weight on left leg / foot  than normal at the top of swing, and swinging around my head - keeping it steady.   I felt more solid than I have in some time.   Now I have to ingrain these new backswing changes and I should be good to go  !