IF YOU LOOK AT
today's modern golf swing, you may notice that it
is more compact and powerful. On tour, players are
simplifying their swings in an attempt to make them
as repetitive as possible. Phil Mickelson is a perfect
example. He has a swing that is getting shorter
and more compact with the way he blends his body,
arms and hands together. Davis Love III also has
a swing that appears simple and repetitive.
How do these tour players make it look so easy?
One answer is the way they set up their backswing.
A good backswing occurs when a player makes a
good turn but keeps the swing at a minimum. In
other words, a good turn is not about how much
you can turn but how efficiently you do so.
It is important to understand that a player should
not try to overcompensate the turn in the backswing
in an attempt to hit it farther. The bigger the
turn doesn't always equate to more clubhead speed
on the downswing. Many times you may feel a little
less in the turn but are actually more coiled
up in the way you are using your body.
To make a good turn in the backswing, your right
hip needs to turn, not sway. One of the most common
errors during the backswing is the right hip sliding
to the right, creating a sway or even a reverse-pivot.
Many players attempt to not move the lower body.
This is a relative thought that may work for some
but not usually for the majority. During the backswing,
the right hip needs to turn, while the right knee
remains flexed. Imagine a shaft in the ground
snug to the right leg at address. When the right
hip turns, the leg stays inside the shaft.
Your left shoulder also should move toward the
right foot. With the right hip turning, you will
feel the shoulders turning, with the left shoulder
moving across the mid-line of the chest and toward
the back foot. If possible, the left shoulder
should turn behind the ball. This will ensure
your weight is loading onto the heel of the right
foot.
With the right hip and left shoulder working
together, you will feel a sense of staying level
during the backswing. There is no lift or dip
as the backswing develops. The feeling of staying
level or maintaining your original spine angle
from address is a huge asset for a player to develop.
Once you have a good turn in place, you can tie
in the swing of the arms, hands and club. I always
emphasize to my students the importance of educating
your hands. This education is twofold. The first
phase is understanding the function of each hand
and what it controls at impact. The second phase
establishes the parameters in which the hands
operate to ensure these impact alignments.
To accomplish a shorter backswing, your hands
should travel just above the right shoulder and
no higher. If this feels extremely short, it is
a sign that your hands are traveling way too far.
Imagine a waiter carrying a tray. The hand is
placed just above the shoulder for support and
strength.
Your hands should also be away from the body.
While it is acceptable for the right elbow to
be away from the side, it is preferable for it
to be down and pointing toward the right hip.
In addition, the butt of the club needs to point
toward the target line. This is a powerful and
consistent position that will give you a great
chance to get down to good impact alignments.
Work on a good turn and a short swing independently
and then blend them together. You soon will start
to feel the same simplicity that tour players
experience every day.
