3/4 Golf Swing over Full Swing?

[paininthenuts]

What an enormous topic, but don't panic. What I want to discuss is the length of the swing, and it's ultimate importance. At the very top of the game every golfer needs every advantage they can get, and if that means a full swing, so be it. For us mortals, the extra few yards created from a full swing rarely means anything, and I will explain. We all know that the longer the swing is, the more opportunity there is for something to go wrong. I also read on the internet that a three quarter swing generates 99% of speed that a full length swing generates. This is especially good to know bearing in mind that we are all getting older, and few of us don't lose some degree of flexibility. 

I am a high handicapper, haven't been playing long, but am fortunate enough to have the time to play a fair bit, and research the game a fair bit. Like all of us I play with golfers who have both long and short swings, some good and some not so good. I am a very physically inflexible person, however manage to launch the ball as far as most of my playing partners (but not all). Having spent years in the past studying a form of martial arts, I realise that power can be generated in different ways. A six inch punch can generate as much power as a full punch if executed properly. 

My simple question is, do you make an concerted effort to attempt a full swing, or is your focus on accuracy and consistency ?

[saevel25]

1 hour ago, paininthenuts said:

My simple question is, do you make an concerted effort to attempt a full swing, or is your focus on accuracy and consistency ?

Depends on the golf swing.

If you are a golfer who doesn't turn their hips enough in the backswing they problem have a lot of swing length they could achieve.

There are people like me who are a chronic over swinger. I get huge shoulder turn, way past parallel at the top. I actively try to shorten it because it allows me a better position to do what I want with my downswing.

Also, where the club is at in the golf swing should be compared to how much turn they have achieved. A guy who turns like Bubba can get away with a longer swing because hit turn adds to that distance versus over swinging past his turn.

I think it depends on your swing more than anything. Tiger was one of the best iron players in history and he swung to parallel. I think it just how your backswing fits with your overall swing dynamics.

[Lihu]

1 hour ago, paininthenuts said:

What an enormous topic, but don't panic. What I want to discuss is the length of the swing, and it's ultimate importance. At the very top of the game every golfer needs every advantage they can get, and if that means a full swing, so be it. For us mortals, the extra few yards created from a full swing rarely means anything, and I will explain. We all know that the longer the swing is, the more opportunity there is for something to go wrong. I also read on the internet that a three quarter swing generates 99% of speed that a full length swing generates. This is especially good to know bearing in mind that we are all getting older, and few of us don't lose some degree of flexibility. 

I am a high handicapper, haven't been playing long, but am fortunate enough to have the time to play a fair bit, and research the game a fair bit. Like all of us I play with golfers who have both long and short swings, some good and some not so good. I am a very physically inflexible person, however manage to launch the ball as far as most of my playing partners (but not all). Having spent years in the past studying a form of martial arts, I realise that power can be generated in different ways. A six inch punch can generate as much power as a full punch if executed properly. 

My simple question is, do you make an concerted effort to attempt a full swing, or and is your focus on accuracy and consistency ?

Both. I am trying to limit my shoulder turn, but not always successful.

[DaveP043]

1 hour ago, paininthenuts said:

My simple question is, do you make an concerted effort to attempt a full swing, or is your focus on accuracy and consistency ?

I get a reasonable shoulder turn, and I never attempt to limit that specifically, but I do like to feel a stretch or resistance through my torso as I approach the end of my backswing.  I definitely DO prefer to eliminate overswinging the club itself, which can result from a breakdown in my left arm, or a loosening of my grip.  For me, I find that the sensation of a 3/4 backswing generally happens when the club gets to parallel, and that's plenty far enough.  Most of my practice is intended to reinforce that sensation of 3/4, as well as to make my set up and alignment consistent.

[Dave2512]

For me full swing means moving all parts to a point that allows me to best hit certain positions, back and through. When that happens my CHS is maximized so that is my full swing. Going beyond that doesn't gain me anything. 

[billchao]

10 hours ago, paininthenuts said:

My simple question is, do you make an concerted effort to attempt a full swing, or is your focus on accuracy and consistency ?

When I'm practicing, I think about the golf swing. When I'm playing, I think about the golf shot. I probably don't think enough about my mechanics when I'm playing and that's part of why my swing runs long on the course even though I do a pretty good job of keeping it shorter at the range.

Being a natural overswinger, I have to make a concerted effort to swing shorter, just as people who don't make full turns have to make a concerted effort to turn more.

[Patch]

Reading the OP's question got me to thinking. As it turns out, I don't really know how long of a back swing I use on my full shots. Never really ever thought about it. 

I know that sometimes I use an abbreviated swing, but I don't know how abbreviated it is. I see the shot, pull a club, and swing it. What ever back swing I need to use is pretty much automatic these days. I suppose I am probably closer to a 3/4 swing than a full swing. I like the control aspect of a shorter swing. 

Hope reading this thread doesn't mess me up by wondering. .....LOL

[DeadMan]

I would guess that most amateur golfers overswing. I think feeling like you are doing a 3/4 swing would actually be a proper full swing. I know that I have occasionally struggled with overswinging and feeling like I'm doing a 3/4 swing helps that.

[Buckeyebowman]

1 hour ago, billchao said:

When I'm practicing, I think about the golf swing. When I'm playing, I think about the golf shot. I probably don't think enough about my mechanics when I'm playing

And you're probably better off for it!

As far as backswing length goes, mine is a tale of two cities! At one time I got in the habit of flipping the club back behind my lower back, making a very aggressive move with my lower body, and kind of flipping the club through the ball. I could time it up well enough that I could play decent golf, but when I finally saw it on video I was horrified! I saw that this was no kind of decent golf swing, so I resolved to elevate and lengthen my backswing.

I did so, and eventually went too far the other way! Now I was taking myself out of balance in so many ways due to over swinging! Then, I happened to watch an LPGA tournament, and saw some slo-mo video of Michele Wie swinging a driver. Her hands barely crept above shoulder height! Yet, she'd hit her driver 290 yards! Who among us wouldn't opt for that? Your swing length needs to match your physiology!

[BrofessionalGolfer]

In short, the goal is to make contact with the golf ball at the exact same position from where you start your back swing. If you can do that by coiling your body all the way, then more power to you (pun intended). The 3/4 swing is meant to a shorter length so that it is more feasible to have the proper swing plane alignment.