What gets the club up in the backswing?

Carolina Golfer

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Looking for some help for a better turn in the backswing, I found this old video. I have this exact problem of using my arms to get the club up in the backswing and I take the club to the outside. How do you get the club up or is there no up in the backswing?

 
I have three thoughts that I run through in a practice swing.
1. Both arms are holding items against my body in the armpits through the backswing.
2. The backswing is triggered by pulling my right scapula into/towards my spine.
3. (this is the one that gets the club “up” or “set”)
After the first several inches of backswing, as soon as the club head stops dragging the grass, I begin to bend my right elbow straight upward (like bringing a hammer up to drive a nail) while setting that backward flex in my wrist at the same time (setting backward flex like your trying to pinch a tee on the back of your hand up against your forearm). This way there are only two very simple and uni-directional pivot points that only need to be done by one arm in your swing. Right elbow straight flex like getting ready to swing a hammer, right wrist flexed straight back and let left arm passively follow where these two simple flex points take it.
The only “trick” to this...and it only takes about a half dozen practice swings to find out then a few dozen more to ingrain it, is to find out how fast/slow to set those two hinge points so that your club stays on plane during the backswing. Do it too fast and you’re outside your plane. Too slow and you’ve gotten inside. Master the tempo though, and it’ll be a hard backswing sequence to mess up.
 
Very wide takeaway, cover your hands with the club head in line with your target, keeping your lead arm outstretched out to the back/trail arm with a tight V to your rib cage and getting torso rotation so your lead shoulder points at the ball at the top of your takeaway (feel the stretch at the top).

That's a quick and dirty explanation but just one way to look at it.
 
Remember, Power comes from your spine and your turn, not your arms and hands and how fast they move.

You need to learn how to turn your body better and keep your hands and arms passive. I like to see a big turn with the body, where the arms don't feel a turn. Most people do the complete opposite, feel a big arm turn, but have absolutely no body turn; why can't I drive it 250 or more? Your turn sucks, that's part of the reason. 😂😂

For a lot of players it starts with a feel for the takeaway to get the right look (we have a few takeaways we tell people to help them get that look with the club in front of them), then you just keep pulling up from your trail side, opening your hips, extend (lengthen) the right leg, extending your thoracic (upper) spine up a touch, while feeling centered (no sway) and tall.

It also depends on the player on what they might feel. Ask Matt Wolff, and he feels like he's more laid off and taking it back flatter. 🤷‍♂️

Spending a lot of time getting a good turn that isn't a sway is a big factor in how you can make it much easier on yourself on the way down.

Thanks, for sharing TMM. If my swing depends on my spine (bad back), I maybe in trouble :cry:. But, I will keep at it!
 
Remember, Power comes from your spine and your turn, not your arms and hands and how fast they move.

You need to learn how to turn your body better and keep your hands and arms passive. I like to see a big turn with the body, where the arms don't feel a turn. Most people do the complete opposite, feel a big arm turn, but have absolutely no body turn; why can't I drive it 250 or more? Your turn sucks, that's part of the reason. 😂😂

For a lot of players it starts with a feel for the takeaway to get the right look (we have a few takeaways we tell people to help them get that look with the club in front of them), then you just keep pulling up from your trail side, opening your hips, extend (lengthen) the right leg, extending your thoracic (upper) spine up a touch, while feeling centered (no sway) and tall.

It also depends on the player on what they might feel. Ask Matt Wolff, and he feels like he's more laid off and taking it back flatter. 🤷‍♂️

Spending a lot of time getting a good turn that isn't a sway is a big factor in how you can make it much easier on yourself on the way down.
I think the single biggest tip I ever got that got me on the track to a nearly mediocre golf swing and game was to start it with the left shoulder. I don't know if it works for everyone, or if it was just for my body and swing, but it worked and I still go back to it when I get out of whack. If I focus on my shoulder, I'm not worried about what my hands, wrists and elbows are doing when I try to get my shoulder under my chin. Even with my mess of a back, I'm able to turn back way more than I am through.
 
Viagra.
 
I think the single biggest tip I ever got that got me on the track to a nearly mediocre golf swing and game was to start it with the left shoulder. I don't know if it works for everyone, or if it was just for my body and swing, but it worked and I still go back to it when I get out of whack. If I focus on my shoulder, I'm not worried about what my hands, wrists and elbows are doing when I try to get my shoulder under my chin. Even with my mess of a back, I'm able to turn back way more than I am through.
Everybody is different, for sure. I’m exactly the opposite. I have to start my backswing by pulling my right shoulder blade towards my spine. It’s the only way I get a rhythm and make a full turn. My left shoulder starting the swing results in too much tension and shortens my turn. Also throws my tempo way off and gets me way too steep. Amazing how different people are and yet how totally different movements can be used to get the same result. Kinesthetics are pretty amazing.
 
I think the single biggest tip I ever got that got me on the track to a nearly mediocre golf swing and game was to start it with the left shoulder. I don't know if it works for everyone, or if it was just for my body and swing, but it worked and I still go back to it when I get out of whack. If I focus on my shoulder, I'm not worried about what my hands, wrists and elbows are doing when I try to get my shoulder under my chin. Even with my mess of a back, I'm able to turn back way more than I am through.


I had a pro suggest this, it results in a big sway. I guess everyone is different.
 
I think the single biggest tip I ever got that got me on the track to a nearly mediocre golf swing and game was to start it with the left shoulder. I don't know if it works for everyone, or if it was just for my body and swing, but it worked and I still go back to it when I get out of whack. If I focus on my shoulder, I'm not worried about what my hands, wrists and elbows are doing when I try to get my shoulder under my chin. Even with my mess of a back, I'm able to turn back way more than I am through.

no one told me this but this is basically worked for me. I think any time we talk of initial thoughts and initial move it varies because we all have a different base.

I also try and keep connected as a prior poster said. In essense I want a firm lead arm but at the same time I want my core to be moving my arms. What this does for me is help my transition and let my left arm lead. I've learned that my trail hand is far stronger and more cordinated then my lead arm. Any thought I have about my trail hand starting or leading the swing ends up bad for me.
 
I fling it up to the top with an underhand toss of the left wrist and the left biceps immediately following the takeaway when the upper body and pelvis starts to coil. The fling of the club head upwards is hands wrist related not the body.
 
Lots of different ways to accomplish the same goal. As to the OP's question, of course there is "up" in the backswing. If you're flexible enough, the club winds up above you! For me, the "up" comes from the rotation of the shoulders! I see so many guys just flapping their arms around, and they can't hit the ball very well. I'm guilty of this myself, and my buddy reminds me of it. "You didn't make a turn."

For me, the arms follow the shoulders.
 
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