Golf Information

The Most Common Backswing Flaw


One of the most confusing terms in golf instruction is "shoulder turn". Personally, I believe that instructors that talk about shoulder turn to describe the amount of turn during the backswing are hurting their students.

To explain why I feel this way, I will ask you to try a little experiment.

Reach both arms in front of your body and take your right hand and grab your left wrist. Now, without turning your chest, pull your left arm across your chest with your right hand until your left arm is pointing to your right.

Notice how far your left shoulder moved. If your shoulders do this during your backswing and you think you are turning, this is the root of your backswing maladies.

For the club face to come back to the ball square and centered, the geometry and relationship of the arms and upper body cannot change during the swing. Doing this experiment, you see that what might look like a backswing to many golfers, but is actually a major change in the arms/body geometry which can result in a whole slew of wild shots depending on what else the golfer tries to compensate.

Now try a new experiment. Cross your arms across your chest and turn your upper body until your chest faces away from the target (make a backswing). You'll notice that your arms and chest moved together. This is the same movement you should be making during your backswing.

What's the difference between the two turns?

During the first turn, the arms pulled parts of the upper body until the arms looked as if they were in place. The stomach and hips didn't turn.

During the second turn, you had to turn your mid-section to make the turn, also turning the hips as needed. Those are the very same muscle you should always use to make your normal backswing turn.

This one change in your swing will create more distance with less effort. It is not the end all of the golf swing, because there is more to controlling your movement, but it is one of the most common mistakes I see that many instructors miss during their lessons. Now you can improve your backswing and become more consistent.

Instead of thinking about turning your shoulders, think about turning your chest.

This may not completely correct your shot pattern, but it may get it more under control and give you more distance as well.

Even accomplished golfers sometimes make this mistake but on a much smaller scale. It is one of the most common timing errors in the golf swing.

Tracy Reed is a Golf Biomechanic, International Golf Coach and Author of "Golf Swng Control" now sold in 28 countries. Learn how to Gain the Unfair Advantage on the Golf Course. Go to http://www.golfswingcontrol.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Sky News

Quick 9: This week's big golf topics
Detroit Free Press, United States - 6 hours ago
Regardless of the outcome, we dare you not to follow one of golf's most interesting story lines. 2SE RI PAK: She's going for history and trying to become ...
Kim charging fast up the ladder of golf's best youngsters - Golf ESPN
GOLF - Paul out to score with training aid Chester Standard
GOLF NOTES North County Times
WorldGolf.com - Chicago Daily Herald
all 716 news articles


News-Times

This Week in Golf - July 10th through July 13th
Sports Network - 15 hours ago
The Golf Channel will carry three hours of action the first two days before CBS does the same on the weekend. There are two PGA Tour events next week. ...
This week's golf tournaments The Canadian Press
Local Knowledge: TPC Deere Run and the John Deere Classic PGA.com
Perry aims to maintain red-hot streak at Deere Run guardian.co.uk
iseekgolf.com - Times-West Virginian
all 91 news articles


Golf Galaxy chain to lose its head office
Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - 10 hours ago
The Eden Prairie headquarters of home-grown Golf Galaxy is closing, the victim of corporate downsizing by Dick's Sporting Goods, a giant sporting goods ...
Golf Galaxy to shutter HQ; CEO leaves Bizjournals.com
Dick's to close Minn. offices of acquired golf retail chain Pittsburgh Post Gazette
all 13 news articles


Brad's scorecard
Vancouver Sun,  Canada - 6 hours ago
Langley's Jessica Wallace will be trying to win her third straight BC Junior Girls' title this week at Sunnydale Golf Club in Courtenay. ...
Shoal Creek preparing for US Junior Amateur The Associated Press
Cory Whitsett to defend Junior Am title at Shoal Creek The Birmingham News - al.com
all 92 news articles


If Wie is to succeed in golf, she should quit school now
Detroit Free Press, United States - 6 hours ago
Wie and her 6-foot powerful frame of unharnessed talent stood before reporters Tuesday at Highland Meadows Golf Club and said she has no intention of ...
Wie knows what to do to improve DetNews.com
Lewis will have home crowd Detroit Free Press
all 4 news articles


Utah State Amateur golf tournament: Five who could win
Salt Lake Tribune, United States - 6 hours ago
About 300 of the state's top amateur golfers, the largest field in the 110-year history of the Utah Men's State Amateur golf tournament, will tee off today ...
UVU's Nelson looking for back-to-back State Am titles Daily Herald
Nick has knack: Utah Valley's Nelson back to defend his State ... Deseret News
Golf: No easy way to predict champ Salt Lake Tribune
all 5 news articles


Yahoo! Eurosport

World's most lucrative women's golf Tour to debut in China
Economic Times, India - 3 hours ago
BEIJING: The world's most lucrative women's golf tour arrives in China this October. The inaugural Grand China Air Ladies Professional Golf Association ...
Golf: Annika goes East WalesOnline
Golf-China to host first LPGA tournament in October Reuters.uk
Annika Sorenstam looks ahead to her final major as British Open ... The Desert Sun
The Press Association - The Post
all 23 news articles


PGA of America selects The Golf Mat as preferred practice surface
PGA.com - 15 hours ago
The PGA of America and National Golf Products (NGP) have entered into an agreement to install The Golf Mat as the preferred practice surface at the PGA ...
PGA ticket sale kicks off today Minneapolis Star Tribune
Lead holds up this time Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Hazeltine's setup pleases top PGA official Pioneer Press
all 13 news articles


Savich among players in junior golf event
Indianapolis Star, United States - 7 hours ago
Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Rolex Tournament of Champions was a 72-hole stroke play event at Victoria National Golf Club, ...


State Am Golf Journal
Nashua Telegraph, NH - 1 hour ago
By GARY FITZ Staff Writer TILTON – At 61, Mo Dichard isn't sure why he continues to play in the New Hampshire Amateur Golf Championship. ...
Local players start strong at New Hampshire Amateur golf championship Portsmouth Herald News
105th State Amateur Championship The field is set Concord Monitor
State Am: Local golfers make the cut Laconia Citizen
Nashua Telegraph - Laconia Citizen
all 19 news articles

Golf - Google News

home | site map
© 2006