Are you ready to fix your inconsistent golf swing fast? If so, you need to focus on the backswing more than anything else.
A well executed backswing allows you to coil properly and build momentum for impact. It’s one of the most important fundamentals in the game and key to playing consistent golf.
By understanding and perfecting the mechanics of a good backswing, you can improve your scores fast. The good news is, it’s easier than you think when you follow this tutorial and various drills.
Golf Backswing Tips
Let’s start with a basic understanding of the different aspects of a golf swing. They are: address position, takeaway, backswing, transition, downswing, and follow through. Each of these play a role in developing a consistent golf swing.
The address position is one aspect of the swing you can’t focus on enough! Getting your fundamentals right – like ball position, alignment, posture, grip, etc. – is so important for all types of players.
A solid address position makes it easier to sequence your swing properly and avoid a lot of bad swing habits. Plus, a good setup position makes it easier to take the club back properly and begin the backswing.
The Takeaway
The takeaway is the first part of a golf backswing and can make or break the rest of your swing. If you want to build a solid backswing, start by looking at your first move off the golf ball.
A takeaway can be in one of three positions; inside, outside, or on plane. In general, most amateur golfers have an inside takeaway, which leads to a lot of swing issues.
The biggest cause of an inside takeaway is typically a weak grip and/or bad alignment. If you want to fix a ton of issues in your swing, start by addressing your takeaway.
The clubhead should be just outside your hands once the shaft is parallel to the ground. The face should also be square and not open or closed early in the swing.
The easiest way to correct your takeaway is with the StraightAway – a revolutionary training aid designed by David Leadbetter. This small device attaches to any club and helps you get instant feedback on your takeaway position. You can use it while hitting golf balls or when taking practice swings to groove a more consistent takeaway motion.
Golf Backswing Best Practices
Aside from the takeaway, here are several other tips to create a more consistent backswing.
Smooth Tempo
Tempo is one of the most underrated parts of a great backswing and downswing. The right tempo will ensure you don’t rush the downswing, load up properly, and generate power at impact for maximum distance.
Let’s clarify that smooth tempo does not mean slow tempo.
If you watch professional golfers, you’ll notice they have a much faster tempo than everyday golfers. Their swings take about one second from start to finish, while amateur golfers are 1.5-3.0 seconds.
If you want to improve your sequencing and distance, speed up your tempo. Studies have found that a proper tempo is about 3:1 – meaning the backswing takes three times as long as the downswing.
Maintain Posture
The second part of a consistent backswing is to maintain the same posture you started with at address position.
A lot of golfers change posture mid-swing – typically a standing up motion known as early extension. When this happens, it’s easy to hit a lot of fat and thin shots. Watch the video below to avoid early extension and make rotation easy in your golf swing.
Load Your Lower Body
The last thing to consider in your golf backswing is getting a proper weight transfer. The goal of your backswing is to load up right, so you can unload power on the downswing.
It’s important to rotate, not sway your lower body. Your weight should transfer to your back foot, but your head and torso should stay centered over the ball.
When you sway, you lose power and have to move laterally to get back to normal. This builds a swing too reliant on simple timing and is hard to create consistent results. Learn more about the importance of shifting weight in the video below.
Drills to Improve Your Backswing
Start by evaluating your backswing to see if you’re making any of the errors mentioned above. Record your swing on the driving range or simulator to check your setup, takeaway, and backswing positions.
If you aren’t savvy with assessing your swing yet, consider uploading a video to the SwingFix AI app. This app uses artificial intelligence to analyze your swing and find the biggest problems that are holding you back. Plus, it also provides you with drills and tips to make improvements quickly.
To work on your golf swing right away, you can try out these drills and training aids to build a better backswing.
Alignment Stick Drill
As mentioned above, the takeaway is a make-or-break move. To monitor this, use an alignment stick and place it on the ground parallel to your target line.
As you make your backswing, ensure the club stays parallel to the stick until you reach waist height. Avoid sucking the club back inside as it can lead to a steep downswing and often, a nasty slice.
You can also add a “freeze” to this drill, where you check the club once it’s parallel to the ground. Then, finish your backswing after ensuring the club is in a good position past takeaway.
Towel Drill
Start by getting a large towel and placing it under both of your arms.
Take your backswing while keeping the towel in pace with 3/4 swings, similar to a punch shot. You don’t need to swing at 100% effort either, you just want to feel your arms stay connected to your upper body.
If the towel falls, it indicates you’re relying on your arms and not rotating your shoulders. But if you stay connected, you’ll achieve a proper rotation and likely improve your ball striking fast.
Try Out Click Stick
Lastly, don’t forget to try out the Click Stick swing trainer. This amazing training aid helps you build a consistent backswing with audible feedback. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to use – just take it out of the box and start swinging.
The one of a kind swing trainer makes it easy to feel loading the club up properly, creating lag, and timing your release. Not to mention, you can use this device while hitting real golf balls and developing a more consistent swing. Even in the offseason it’s a fantastic device as you can use it with practice swings too.
Start Working on Your Golf Backswing
A proper backswing is the foundation for a powerful, consistent golf swing.
Now that you know what makes up a good backswing, it’s time to start practicing. When you have the right takeaway, it’ll give you a proper start to build a consistent backswing. Use the various training aids and drills in this article to guide your driving range sessions.
If you need even more help, consider 1-on-1 VIP coaching to help improve your game fast.
