Shorter Backswing- No Back Pain!

[Marty2019]

Due to a combination of the flu and bad weather, I hadn't hit a golf ball for over a month, but yesterday, the weather warmed up and I went to the range.   I hit about 80 balls, which would usually give me a lower back ache, but yesterday, since I hadn't hit a ball in so long, I decided to shorten my back swing to what felt like a half swing.  The results were, I hit the ball almost as far as usual, but I have no back pain. 

So now I'm thinking, in the past, I had a back swing that went as far as I could stretch, but I am going to give that up and go with what feels like a half swing.  I'm thinking I can play golf the rest of my life this way.  I'm trading probably 10% of my distance for more consistent contact and no back pain. 

Anyone else do this? 

[RussUK]

Yep, i go to what "feels" like a 3/4 swing max. If i get a pulling sensation in my shoulders i've gone to far. Thing is, using Tom Watson's drill to find the top of your swing mine is spot on.

What he says is to get into address, lift the club so its rested on your trail shoulder then make your backswing turn then push your arms out.

Shorter backswing plus a pause at the top has done wonders for my swing.

[Marty2019]

1 hour ago, RussUK said:

Yep, i go to what "feels" like a 3/4 swing max. If i get a pulling sensation in my shoulders i've gone to far. Thing is, using Tom Watson's drill to find the top of your swing mine is spot on.

What he says is to get into address, lift the club so its rested on your trail shoulder then make your backswing turn then push your arms out.

Shorter backswing plus a pause at the top has done wonders for my swing.

I would say (based on feel only, no video), I am making a similar back swing but not as far back as picture #4.    Really, what I think I am doing is making a normal swing, but not as much twist in my lower back.  My shoulders feel like they are getting somewhere between 45 degrees and 90 degrees, but definitely not 90 degrees.   I feel like my lead arm is not going much beyond parallel to the ground.  And then a full follow through.  

I know, feel ain't real, but I'm trying to accurately describe what it feels like. 

It seems like everything stays in sync a lot better.   From the top, I just come down and hit the ball and make a full follow through.   It seemed to work really well yesterday. 

I know I'm probably going to give up some distance, but if it means I can play golf until I'm 90, and stop taking so much Advil, I'll make that trade.  

 

 

Edited January 23, 2018 by Marty2019

[Club Rat]

I'll get lower aches from mainly swinging the Driver only.
I can hit irons all day long, but after ripping a couple of drives, the lower spine will begin to tighten up.

I've been limited to playing only my 3 wood off the tee on days when the back is tight.
While I have a very short backswing, a driver swing requires a longer sweeping motion.

[RWC]

2 hours ago, RussUK said:

Yep, i go to what "feels" like a 3/4 swing max. If i get a pulling sensation in my shoulders i've gone to far. Thing is, using Tom Watson's drill to find the top of your swing mine is spot on.

What he says is to get into address, lift the club so its rested on your trail shoulder then make your backswing turn then push your arms out.

Shorter backswing plus a pause at the top has done wonders for my swing.

Tried this today - seems spot on for my swing as well. As I moved into my 60's I started trying to focus more on a solid hit and less on backswing length. When my should stopped turning then I tried to stop the swing. Blessedly have dodged the back issues (but have plenty of knees and feet issues).  The shorter swing didn't seem to impact my "average" driving distance that much - actually lost a little max distance but was so much more consistent that it seems I'm longer off the tee!

[AlDena]

Yes, I did just that last Saturday. I was working on weight transfer, and noticed that I had shortened the backswing without thinking about it. I liked the results. A small loss of distance. but a huge gain in accuracy. I had only used the PW and 9i. Would this carry over to longer irons, or would the loss of distance be greater?