add width, how?

[Sandhills Golfer]

I've been told to add width on my backswing. But, what's the best way to do it? Also, I saw a vid on using a split grip drill to help get the proper feeling. Can I use a "slight" split grip and play with it? It really prevents the collapsed

hands at the top of the backswing. 

Edited July 9, 2016 by Sandhills Golfe

[SavvySwede]

@Sandhills Golfe Read this thread and see if it resonates with you.

 

[Sandhills Golfer]

3 hours ago, SavvySwede said:

@Sandhills Golfe Read this thread and see if it resonates with you.

 

thx will do

[Buckeyebowman]

As per iacas" post, I have read many tips from pros where they say that they feel their right arms "pushing" their hands outward at the beginning of the downswing.

As for myself, I'd say if you want to develop "width", set yourself up with extended arms! I see far too many people setting up with "cramped" arms! Get them out there, so they can swing!

[Rainmaker]

Fwiw - I think swing wide-narrow-wide is far more important than adding width.  In my case, at least...I didn't need the wide...I needed the narrow. 

I think of width as getting my hands away from my body - nothing to do with the club. 

And the narrow part is opposite - hands close to body. 

Before I got a handle on "wide/narrow/wide" I was swinging more like wide/wider/widest. 

I would prefer to work on keys 1 and 4 of the 5 simple keys vs width.  Ultimately you'll get width that way. 

Edit - maybe I used to swing narrow/wide/narrow...I don't know, lol.  It was wrong, though, and it was actually understanding "narrow" that helped me get more width. 

Edited July 10, 2016 by Rainmaker

[Lime Shark]

I'm confused by the word width.

If you keep your lead arm straight on the backswing and downswing, then the DIAMETER of your swing is a fixed number.

Distance from lead shoulder to wrist + club length = swing arc diameter.

Does he mean flatten your swing, so you swing the more around your body? Does he mean unfold your trail elbow (which would move your hands away from your body, but not actually make the diameter of your swing arc bigger)?

What is the goal when he says "wider"?

[GolfLug]

20 minutes ago, Lime Shark said:

I'm confused by the word width.

If you keep your lead arm straight on the backswing and downswing, then the DIAMETER of your swing is a fixed number.

Distance from lead shoulder to wrist + club length = swing arc diameter.

Does he mean flatten your swing, so you swing the more around your body? Does he mean unfold your trail elbow (which would move your hands away from your body, but not actually make the diameter of your swing arc bigger)?

What is the goal when he says "wider"?

@Lime Shark, width is just a 'feeling'. Trying to have it make sense via a 3D geometric analysis/breakdown will not provide the clarity you are looking for. It helps activate the right group of muscles and gives your club a better chance for an on plane movement throughout the swing. But really, in time once you get used to it, the clarification you seek will manifest.

Good luck. And do first, think later.