The Top of Your
Backswing

Getting to the top of your backswing in the right position is crucial in order for you to swing back down on the correct golf swing plane.

In lesson six The Take Away we talked about starting your golf swing from your set up position or stance to the 9:o'clock position.

In lesson seven, we're going from the 9:o'clock position up to the top of the backswing. In order to get to the top of the backswing, the right shoulder must continue to turn.

As the right shoulder continues to turn out of the way, the right hip must remain still, therefore resisting against the top half of your body. This resistance builds tension and it's this tension which produces club head speed. Others refer to this as a coil.

Golf Swing Tip:

Imagine your body as a spring or coil, with the top half turning and the bottom half resisting.

As the right shoulder continues to turn, the left shoulder will move towards the golf ball, the left knee will also turn towards the golf ball, your head will move slightly to the right, keep both eyes on the golf ball. The head does not sway back away from the golf ball. Remember in lesson three I talked about imagining a wooden stake going through the back of your neck, through your body, out between your legs and embedded firmly in the ground, you must rotate on this imaginary axis, and not sway back and forth.

During the backswing the left arm must remain long, the right arm will begin to fold as it leaves the 9:o'clock position. The left arm must remain long to give you plenty width in the backswing, it's this width that allows you to swing along the arc, which also promotes more club head speed.

Golf Swing Tip:

By creating this arc, you will also be on the correct golf swing plane for your downswing.

When the club head reaches the top of your backswing, the golf club must be pointing towards the target, or just slightly left of the target. Hold this position to see where your golf club is pointing, the shaft should be parallel to your heel line.

Golf Swing Tip:

See how long you can hold this position at the top, if done correctly there should be lots of tension between your lower and upper body, and you shouldn't be able to hold it for that long.

Ok lets recap, you've started at your address position with you weight evenly spread on both feet, the arms and hands start the golf club back in a one-piece take away with your right shoulder turning out of the way, as your right shoulder turns, your left shoulder and left knee turn towards the golf ball, the right knee remains perfectly still throughout, you must not bend or straighten the right knee. Your right hip remains still building resistance as you coil to the top of your backswing. Your right knee is all important at this point as it is supporting your weight as it is transferred to your right leg. This also has an important roll to play in the downswing we shall discus in the next lesson.