Are your hands above your head at the top of your backswing?

[Mulligan Al]

After looking at many of the photos of these pros I see that their hands are above their head when they get to the top, so I'm wondering if my contact (and ability to drop into the slot) will improve if I get my hands up higher on the backswing.

They all seem to have their hands above their head at the very top but I seem to be a bit above eye level at best, perhaps too flat. I've always considered myself to be very flexable and in good shape but this is gonna' take some practice.

http://redgoat.smugmug.com/gallery/...1/2799824/Small

[Ian Hancock]

Re: Are your hands above your head at the top of your backswing?

Al,

I have been working very hard this winter on this very thing as I was a bit flat, you have noticed something what 99% of pros have in common and it not that the hands are always high its that the swing is always on plane.

the easiest way to achieve this is take your normal stance.......take your backswing two feet only say 8 o clock.....stop and lift the club vertical pointing to the sky............now simply turn your shoulders......if you look in the mirror you will see this perfect high hands position.

It works because I have just spent the last two month working on this very thing.


Hope this helps


Ian.

[Mulligan Al]

Re: Are your hands above your head at the top of your backswing?

Al,

I have been working very hard this winter on this very thing as I was a bit flat, you have noticed something what 99% of pros have in common and it not that the hands are always high its that the swing is always on plane.

the easiest way to achieve this is take your normal stance.......take your backswing two feet only say 8 o clock.....stop and lift the club vertical pointing to the sky............now simply turn your shoulders......if you look in the mirror you will see this perfect high hands position.

It works because I have just spent the last two month working on this very thing.

Hope this helps

Ian.

Thanks Ian, I'll give this a try tonight.

I've really noticed a lot by working with a mirror and by looking at these moves/photos of the tour pros. My swing plane has been way too flat, so I really need to train myself to get the club up. I think I get flat when I get tired, so I need to work on ingraining a proper swing plane into my muscle memory.

[gord962]

Re: Are your hands above your head at the top of your backswing?

the easiest way to achieve this is take your normal stance.......take your backswing two feet only say 8 o clock.....stop and lift the club vertical pointing to the sky............now simply turn your shoulders......if you look in the mirror you will see this perfect high hands position.

When using this drill, make sure your start the take away with only your arms until your club is parallel with the ground. At this time, your club should also be parallel to tour target line. One other thing, when at the top of your backswing, your left shoulder should be over top of your right knee.

[Mulligan Al]

Re: Are your hands above your head at the top of your backswing?

When using this drill, make sure your start the take away with only your arms until your club is parallel with the ground. At this time, your club should also be parallel to tour target line. One other thing, when at the top of your backswing, your left shoulder should be over top of your right knee.

Ian, how far out in front of the ball would you say the swing plane is when at the top? The swing plane for most of the pros seems to be a few feet out in front of the ball, and their left arm ends up somewhere between the right shoulder and right ear at the top.

[Mizunoman]

Re: Are your hands above your head at the top of your backswing?

The hands above the head at the top is because the pro's are striving for a wide arc. This results in greater power. I had a look at mines and as far as I can tell my hands are at such a position, that if I was able to detach the wrists and pull the hands forward they would sit right on top of my head so they arent that far above.


Be careful, you can fall into the trap of making your swing too upright when you try to achieve 'high hands'.

Stick in,

D.