Tips on Shortening the Backswing

[MattM]

So I've been doing Evolvr since April and after kind of an overwhelming spell with the lessons I was getting everything started clicking for me. I got all of my distance back and then some. I've been working on my downswing for some time and my last analysis Stephen put my video next to Robert Rock's and virtually all positions of my downswing and his are the same, which was really a boost for me! My last problem has been that I can't seem to shorten my backsswing even though I'm actively working on it. It feels like I've shortened it considerably yet in the videos I haven't. This link is from the my swing thread. I posted a vid after the first lesson when we were trying to get my elbows to stay closer together. When I was pinning my elbow to my side I could definatetly shorten the swing. Now as I've gotten more in terms of lessons I'm trying to get my elbow off my side and still keep elbows close together but it's causing my swing to be too long still. Here is the link from my thread. http://thesandtrap.com/t/62190/my-swing-mattm/18 Any help on shortening the backswing would be extemely helpful!!!! Any drills etc.....Like I think there was a commercial with a contraption that kept your chest and arms moving in unison, but that's it. Thanks for the help in advance guys!

[boogielicious]

@MattM

I would recommend work in front of a mirror over other training aids.  Practice the backswing to the top, A4, and view in the mirror where you are.  It may take a while to change the habit.  It is easy to get frustrated with slower progress.  Get used to the feeling of being in the proper position at A4.

Practice slowly at first as in this thread.  You can do this everyday for 5 to 10 minutes and it will make a difference.

Then warm up with this first to set it in place for your range session or round.  You can even make it part of your preshot routine.

[14ledo81]

Wherever you feel you are stopping now, "feel" like you are stopping sooner.

I was "feeling" like I was stopping at A3, but when I looked at video, that was clearly not the case.

[Ernest Jones]

A great way to shorten your backswing is to feel as if your right (trail) arm stays straight and doesn't bend at all. There's a thread on here somewhere that explains it really well but I'm on an iPhone. It will, of course, start to bend somewhere around A2.5 but feeling as though it doesn't bend AT ALL will restrict your backswing. I also find a few other benefits to this feel but I won't go into them because they may be unique to me. Edit* here it is: http://thesandtrap.com/t/35195/shorter-probably-better-swing-keep-the-right-arm-straight/0_100#post_451850

[coachjimsc]

What I am working on now that seems to be helping is starting the downswing sooner.

[MattM]

Thank you guys for your help!  I was working on that arm straightening thing in the backswing it definitely seems to be helping!  I would say that it's definitely a weird feeling though.  I will keep working on it, and I'm confident this feeling will help me with my backswing!

[Ernest Jones]

Thank you guys for your help!  I was working on that arm straightening thing in the backswing it definitely seems to be helping!  I would say that it's definitely a weird feeling though.  I will keep working on it, and I'm confident this feeling will help me with my backswing!

No question it's weird feeling, that usually means it's working when it comes to changing the picture. Whether or not it's changing the picture in the desired way is to be confirmed by video, but when it comes to feels video is always essential anyway. Not all feels work with every player which is why feel based instruction without any accompanying measurements are always suspect (hello @KiranKanwar). Try the feel and check the video to see if it's having the desired effect, if not, move on and try a different feel until one of them works.

[mvmac]

Good idea for a thread. I'll share a few.

Assuming the players grip is in good order :

1. Turn the hips and torso enough. Make sure that both feet are turned out about 25-30 degrees and that the knees are rotated slightly outward. This will allow the knee linkage to occur, lead gains flex, rear lessens in flex. By A3, get as close to 90 degrees of torso turn as you can.

2. Put tees or gloves under each. This doesn't mean that the elbow stays pinned to your rib cage, just the arm pit "pressure point", for both arms. The rear pressure point stays in front of the shirt seam.

3. Steady Head/turn the hips steep enough. Some players will translate the head off the ball (leads to a shallow hip/torso turn), gets the clubhead too low and in and then they have to lift the arms excessively to compensate.

4. Rear arm will feel straighter at the top of the backswing/doesn't flex past 90 degrees. Notice a good amount of space between the right hand, shaft and right shoulder. This doesn't mean "straight arms" from address to the top, the rear elbow has to flex some to get the club and arms "up". Good visual is that the distance between the shaft to torso/rear shoulder, stays the same from A3-4.

5. Elbows will feel like they stay the same distance apart on the backswing. There will be some separation.

6.  Just do it. Seriously, just make a shorter swing, feel like you're done with the backswing by A3.

This link is from the my swing thread. I posted a vid after the first lesson when we were trying to get my elbows to stay closer together. When I was pinning my elbow to my side I could definatetly shorten the swing. Now as I've gotten more in terms of lessons I'm trying to get my elbow off my side and still keep elbows close together but it's causing my swing to be too long still.

@Matt M make sure to check out #2

[deronsizemore]

6.  Just do it. Seriously, just make a shorter swing, feel like you're done with the backswing by A3.

This seems to work great for me when I'm hitting an iron, but I cannot for the life of me shorten my driver swing. I don't know if it's the urge to try and hit the ball as hard as humanly possible or what, but even when I feel like I'm taking a 3/4 swing or stopping at A3, I end up passed parallel. Drives me nuts.

[Mulligan Jeff]

Put on a restrictive coat, overcoat or whatever then hit some balls - you'll find your swing much more in control. After hitting 1/2 bucket take the coat off and continue - you'll be amazed at your shorter, condensed swing.

[MattM]

Ill post my latest DTL video when I get home.

[mdl]

Two things have helped me.  The first is if flying the back elbow is one of the problems leading to an over swing.  I actually made a loop of rope of the size that would be taught but not cinching when put just above my elbows at setup.  Of course in the real swing your elbow will get a bit further apart at A4 and in the down swing, but making some swings (with a ball) with the loop on really helped me get a feel for what tight elbows at the top really felt like even though it forced a slightly unnatural down swing.

Second, one of my problems is too slow hinging of the wrists.  I realized that part of the reason I'd over swing is because I'd get to A3 not close to 90˚.  And I didn't follow that with a Stricker style swing that worked.  Instead I'd want my wrists fully hinged at the top, so I'd get to what should have been A4 with my wrists still not feeling fully hinged and then lift my arms and keep hinging my wrist.  Actually I'd go even further and start arching my wrists to let the club come way past parallel and way across the line as well.  What helped me was doing drills exaggerating the early wrist hinge.  Get to A2 with my hands (probably too) low, and get my arm/shaft angle to 90˚  with my hands even below my shoulders.  Then feel the swing from A3 to A4 with the wrists not hinging at all.

So TLDR, get the wrists to 90˚ at A3 and then lock them hinge-wise until the start of the down swing.

[vangator]

Since I'm almost 60, too much of a backswing is not one of my problems. :)

[MattM]

Ok....SO I've just posted some new videos (one from last month and two from today to show differences).  The tip about the keeping the right arm straight have DEFINATELY helped my shorten my swing.  It's still not where I would like it to be, but I'm going to get the swing extender which I think will help me even more.

Here I the link to my swing thread:

http://thesandtrap.com/t/62190/my-swing-mattm/18#post_1020959

I think my right elbow is still going past 90 degrees in bend but not my much......

I can also say that by doing that my irons have definitely gained effortless distance.....

[Ernest Jones]

The tip about the keeping the right arm straight have DEFINATELY helped my shorten my swing.

:dance:

[inthehole]

So I've been doing Evolvr since April and after kind of an overwhelming spell with the lessons I was getting everything started clicking for me. I got all of my distance back and then some.

I've been working on my downswing for some time and my last analysis Stephen put my video next to Robert Rock's and virtually all positions of my downswing and his are the same, which was really a boost for me! My last problem has been that I can't seem to shorten my backsswing even though I'm actively working on it. It feels like I've shortened it considerably yet in the videos I haven't.

This link is from the my swing thread. I posted a vid after the first lesson when we were trying to get my elbows to stay closer together. When I was pinning my elbow to my side I could definatetly shorten the swing. Now as I've gotten more in terms of lessons I'm trying to get my elbow off my side and still keep elbows close together but it's causing my swing to be too long still.

Here is the link from my thread.

http://thesandtrap.com/t/62190/my-swing-mattm/18

Any help on shortening the backswing would be extemely helpful!!!! Any drills etc.....Like I think there was a commercial with a contraption that kept your chest and arms moving in unison, but that's it.

Thanks for the help in advance guys!

The easiest way to shorten a backswing is keep your left arm straight.     Eliminating all bend from the left elbow will automatically reduce the length of the backswing (unless you have freakish flexibility like Rory and other tour guys) ...

EDIT - seems I'm late to the party ...

[mvmac]

The easiest way to shorten a backswing is keep your left arm straight.     Eliminating all bend from the left elbow will automatically reduce the length of the backswing (unless you have freakish flexibility like Rory and other tour guys) ...

EDIT - seems I'm late to the party ...

Typically the best way to do that is to feel the right arm is straighter or that the right hand is "pushing" away from you.

[dsc123]

6.  Just do it. Seriously, just make a shorter swing, feel like you're done with the backswing by A3.

I think this is what eventually helped me.  Use a camera, take what feels like a swing back to A3, express shock that you're still going past parallel, try even shorter, repeat.