Alright, let’s talk about getting that backswing sorted. For ages, mine felt… well, just off. Sometimes too quick, sometimes too long, never really the same twice. It was driving me nuts on the course because you can’t hit it solid if the first move is a mess.
Getting Started: What Was Wrong?
First thing, I realized I wasn’t really thinking about it. Just kinda yanking the club back. So, the first step was just slowing down. Like, painfully slow motion in my backyard, no ball needed. I just wanted to feel what was happening.
My grip felt okay, maybe a little strong sometimes, but the main issue seemed to be the takeaway. I was using too much hands and arms right from the start. It felt disconnected.
Working on the Takeaway
I spent a good few sessions just focusing on that first foot or two of movement. The goal was to move the club back with my shoulders and chest, keeping my arms feeling like they were just along for the ride.
- Tried keeping the triangle formed by my arms and shoulders intact.
- Focused on pushing the club away with my left shoulder (I’m right-handed).
- Did drills where I placed a headcover under my left armpit to keep things connected.
It felt super weird initially. Very stiff and robotic. But I stuck with it, just doing slow, deliberate takeaways over and over again.
Adding the Turn
Once the takeaway felt a bit more solid, like one piece, I started thinking about the body turn. My big problem here was swaying off the ball instead of rotating around my spine.
So, I worked on feeling like my weight was loading onto my right leg, but keeping my right knee flexed, not locking it. I imagined turning my chest away from the target, feeling a stretch in my left side.
I focused on keeping my head relatively still. Not locked down rigid, but not bobbing all over the place either. This helped me rotate better instead of sliding.
Reaching the Top
Getting to the top of the backswing was the next hurdle. Before, I’d often lift my arms too much or let the club get way across the line. Now, with the better takeaway and turn, it started feeling more natural to let my wrists hinge.
I wasn’t trying to force the hinge, just letting it happen as my arms swung back and up due to the body rotation. The feeling I aimed for was width – keeping my hands away from my chest – and balance. I wanted to feel stable at the top, like I could pause there comfortably (even though you don’t in a real swing).
Slowly, slowly, hitting balls at the range, I started to feel it come together. The backswing felt smoother, more connected. Not perfect every time, mind you, still got work to do. But it felt like my body was coiling up power, rather than just my arms flailing about.
The Result (So Far)
It’s definitely better. The feeling of connection between my arms and body is the biggest change. When I get it right, the club feels like it’s in the right place at the top without me consciously putting it there. Still needs constant checking and practice, because old habits sneak back in easily. But yeah, putting in that focused time, breaking it down bit by bit, that really made a difference for me.
