How high?

[gary33]

I have been having lessons 4 some time now, about 12 in all
and my only problem is (apart from shooting 98) the pro keeps
insisting I half my back swing, doing so I lose all momentum.
It doesn't feel as if the swing is colapsing and the end result is
very good when I take the club back as far as I feel comfortable.
is there a reason for him wanting to half the back swing or is this
to do with the £12 each lesson

I have taken a look at your golf swing guide and I would say that
my back swing is 20% less than that of the photo.

please help,

[GregJWillis]

Sometimes what you think is a full backswing and what it looks like are different. Your backswing is made up of two components: The amount of shoulder rotation, and the hight the arms are raised up. Yes, your wrists are set, but this relly does not affect the amount of backswing you feel or one sees.

Therefore, you want to work on both...but I am going to guess that you need to work on making a better shoulder turn (the most common problem). This is probably what yourpro is seeing as only halved...yet he should have been able to articulate that to you and work on that one piece alone. He might have, and you just didn't understand...just guessing here anyway.

To get a full shoulder turn, it is as simple as allowing your shoulders to relax, then put yourback to the target. Do as little movement with your legs and hips as you can (flexability will have a lot to do with this). The streach you will feel is up your sides to your back. If you feel pain, go very slowly at first and go to where the pain is not present. Hold that "at the top" position for about 10 seconds, and relax back to setup. Do this several times until you are warmed up. The main part of this isolation is to get the big mussles relaxed and are free to go through their full limit of movement.

You will immediatly notice 1 thing: Your arms don't do anything except raise up. If you tried to use your arms to turn, then they get smashed into your chest and that stops your shoulders from turning. So let the arms stay away from the chest as far as your left arm (hope you are a right hander here) will extend away from your body.

If you get this working correctly, I bet you will have your pro say, "Good 100% turn".

[acepepper]

Gary, has he shown you your backswing on video? My pro did this for me and I was shocked at how much I was overswinging and collapsing at the top.

[patter36]

Back Swing

Ok it is hard but if you want the golf swing I encourage you to read.....Ben Hogan :5 lessons the modern fundamentals of golf.Trust me it will change your game .I haven't seen a swing on this whole site like he had.I read it and honestly in one week it brought me from a 110 to a 92.And that was just the grip and the stance.I am still working on the rest.Do yourself a favor and get the book.

[Golfbald]

Patter36,

The 5 lessons is definately a classic. It was written about 1957-58. After Ben's accident, he got together with Mike Austin to help him get his game back together. They played many rounds together and Mike helped withthe change in Ben's swing. The book is the accumulation of knowledge that they worked on together.

GolfBald

[gary33]

Thank you for the help, haven't got round to reading the book
yet lads, but to the first reply I took yor comments on board and
and too the driving range, after about 400 balls I can see what you mean, with a full shoulder I am not trying to hit the hell out of the ball, the swing feels more free without loss of control of the club head.

I have had a lesson in the meantime and did not let on that I sort help else where, low and behold he was quite impressed with what we have achevied (i'll keep him in the dark) but this was the way he was trying to get me to hit the ball, but I found it difficult to understand.

thanks again to all I would like to tell you how I have done on the golf course as apossed to the driving range but the weather is dreadfull in England at the moment, so I haven't been on one.

ps the pro noted that I was gripping the club like my life depended on it and got me to ease up, the ball flight is now straight with no fayed,if thats any use to anyone.