Driver: How far back on backswing?

[JimSomebody]

Usually I keep the driver short of parallel on the backswing, on the assumption that I'll have better control that way. But I think that costs me some power.

So yesterday on the range I tried taking the club back so far that the clubhead made a brief appearance in my peripheral vision at the top of the backswing. I must have been getting the club back to parallel or perhaps slightly beyond. When I made good contact with this longer swing, the shots felt hammered (by my standards). But it was hard to tell if I was gaining distance; the range goes steeply uphill, plus they were range balls, and an assorted lot at that.

Anyway, I'm wondering how far you take the driver back, why, what results you get, etc. Also, do you take all your full-shot swings back equally far, or is your backswing shorter with some clubs than with others? (Not counting knock-downs or punch shots, etc.)

[deronsizemore]

I used to take every club back way to far like what you see with John Daly or Bubba Watson. When my timing was on, I was pretty good, but when my timing was off, I was really bad. Over the last few years I've made a huge effort to shorten my swing with all clubs and I've seen a big improvement with my ball striking and game. I haven't lost any distance with the irons and probably picked up some with the driver. Now I don't come close to parallel with any of my irons and I go just short of parallel with my driver.

[PA PLAYA]

I've never been blessed with flexibility. Getting the club back to parallel for me would result in dislocations of every body part above my belly button. Because of that, I've always been a 3/4 swinger on full shots. Even with driver.

You know, I'd love to have enough flexibility to get the club back to parallel. I watch Freddy Couples or Ernie Els and I see them hitting the ball a long way, effortlessly. Nice, fluid swing, clubhead gaining momentum through the hitting area, even though it looks like they're swinging in slow motion. But at the same time, I would probably struggle with taking the club back too far, overswinging, trying to hit the ball further each time.

So I see my "handicap" of not having a lot of flexibility as an advantage that a lot of other golfers don't have -- I always swing within myself. And more times than not, I'm the last guy hitting an approach to the green. People wonder how such an abbreviated backswing can equate to fairly long distances, but I think it's pretty simple: A ball that is well-struck with reasonable pace and control most always goes further than an off-centered hit with an uncontrollable swing.

[Darth Fader]

I take the club back to a parallel position,hopefully right along the target line.

[Golfaddict]

Originally Posted by JimSomebody

Usually I keep the driver short of parallel on the backswing, on the assumption that I'll have better control that way. But I think that costs me some power.

So yesterday on the range I tried taking the club back so far that the clubhead made a brief appearance in my peripheral vision at the top of the backswing.

If I take the club this far back I know I've taken it back just a bit too far. I usually get decent distance but my dispersion is much greater.

[Keith]

I have recently been hitting my driver well (I suppose that was just the kiss of death). I am basically reaching as far back with the club at the beginning of my swing and taking it up to parallel from there. I have at times brought the club over the top to where I could see it, but the results were usually three off the tee

[TwillDog]

Too far. This has been my nemesis for years. When I concentrate on a shorter backswing, normally my shots get better. I just never remember it in a regular round, and don't practice enough to get rid of it. I too had the Daly-esque backswing, easily able to see the club out of the corner of my left eye. But when I was a bit younger, I had better flexibility and timing. As I age, I'm just breaking down the left arm to get the club back there, meaning it doesn't belong there. The hands are too close to my head. What I feel like is 3/4 is actually a full swing if not more for others. And my half swing is at least 3/4.
My big problem is when I shorten my backswing, I also shorten my shoulder turn, resulting in quick shots that usually take off left. I need to learn to swing shorter but not limit my shoulder turn, then I'll be banging.

[alangbaker]

Originally Posted by JimSomebody

Anyway, I'm wondering how far you take the driver back, why, what results you get, etc. Also, do you take all your full-shot swings back equally far, or is your backswing shorter with some clubs than with others? (Not counting knock-downs or punch shots, etc.)

For full shots, I pretty much take every club back the same "distance", but "distance" is redefined as "the point at which I feel the tension run from my left hip to my left wrist.

Then, I just unwind. It was working *great* from the tee yesterday (Sunday).

[mr3856a]

Basically, when your shoulder turn stops, so should your arm swing. The way I like to think about it is, when my hands start getting closer to my head on the backswing, that's too far, that means I'm bending my elbows in order to keep the club going back.

[OnePutt]

Jim; this is where a measuring device would come in handy for you. With a radar unit, you could measure your actual swing speed and see where you get good speed but without any lose of accuracy. Then you'd know for sure what is the best backswing length for YOU. The Swing Speed Radar unit costs $100. Ask yourself a question. Is it worth $100 to you to find the correct backswing for YOU? Is it worth that same $100 to find out how to increase your top speed and still stay in control?

[mr3856a]

Originally Posted by OnePutt

Jim; this is where a measuring device would come in handy for you. With a radar unit, you could measure your actual swing speed and see where you get good speed but without any lose of accuracy. Then you'd know for sure what is the best backswing length for YOU. The Swing Speed Radar unit costs $100. Ask yourself a question. Is it worth $100 to you to find the correct backswing for YOU? Is it worth that same $100 to find out how to increase your top speed and still stay in control?

I was thinking about that thing, then I saw the price tag. Fifty, maybe, but $100?

[JimSomebody]

Originally Posted by OnePutt

Jim; this is where a measuring device would come in handy for you. With a radar unit, you could measure your actual swing speed and see where you get good speed but without any lose of accuracy. Then you'd know for sure what is the best backswing length for YOU. The Swing Speed Radar unit costs $100. Ask yourself a question. Is it worth $100 to you to find the correct backswing for YOU? Is it worth that same $100 to find out how to increase your top speed and still stay in control?

Thanks, OnePutt. I see what you're saying, and this'll sound dumb but... I'm not that scientific in my approach to learning the game. I enjoy the process of experimentation, feeling my way to what works best. I think I may learn things more solidly (if more slowly) by trial and error(s). That said, I'm sure there are many people whose approach to learning would include radar info on their swing speed.

[OnePutt]

Originally Posted by mr3856a

I was thinking about that thing, then I saw the price tag. Fifty, maybe, but $100?

I'd be willing to bet you have spent more that $100 for a new driver at one point to try to gain a few more yards. Right?

When I first got my Swing Speed Radar/Tempo Timer, my swing speed was 97MPH on a good day. After working with the SSR/TT, I learned how to increase my average speed to 107MPH. A 10 MPH gain in swing speed means about 15 MPH in ball speed. And 15MPH of ball speed means about 33 more yards of carry. When was the last time you gained 33 yards by buying a new driver? If its been awhile, you might want to re-think spending $100 on a radar unit. And for what it's worth, you can also use the radar to improve your wedge game very easily. By measuring your swing speed and tempo with your wedges, you can get dialed in extremely well with your yardages with all your wedges, for 1/4, 1/3 , 1/2, and 3/4 sw3ing. I think a lot of golfers would fine that alone worth the price of the radar unit.

[John]

I turn until my left shoulder touches my chin. At that point, I'm as far back as I need to be for whatever club I'm using. If I'm swinging a wedge, then turning back until my shoulder touches my chin produces a 3/4 swing. With a driver, the same turn results in a full swing which is generally parallel at the top.
Doing it this way eliminates any need to think about anything other than touching my chin with my shoulder. I don't have to worry about where my hands are or how far my arms are from my body and so on. It's a very simple thing to remember and it will always produce the swing that's necessary for the club I'm using.

[Wazmankg]

I'm not really sure. I'd guess that the clubhead is about a foot short of parallel with my driver. When I've had persistent control problems in the past one of the ways I've fixed them was to drastically reduce the length of my backswing in practice. It's amazing how short your backswing can be and still produce good distance if you have decent mechanics. I've fooled around with a half backswing on the course but never fully incorporated it. I figure age will rob me of what backswing I have soon enough.

[JimSomebody]

Originally Posted by JimSomebody

yesterday on the range I tried taking the club back so far that the clubhead made a brief appearance in my peripheral vision at the top of the backswing.

At my lesson yesterday, my pro told me not to do that. Worked on other stuff instead: fuller shoulder turn, start downswing with arms (not shoulders; baseball/softball habit I had of moving into the pitch), inside-out swing. Got some bad habits to overcome. So important to get lessons early in one's golf life.

[OnePutt]

If your instructor is telling you to start your downswing with your arms, I'd recommend you find a better instructor. Ideally, you want to start your downswing by turning your hips back to the left, not with your arms.

[JimSomebody]

Originally Posted by OnePutt

If your instructor is telling you to start your downswing with your arms, I'd recommend you find a better instructor. Ideally, you want to start your downswing by turning your hips back to the left, not with your arms.

In my case, I've been using my hips (and shoulders) a little too early. As a result, I come over the top and hit outside to in. So, as the very first thing from the top, I'm trying to "drop into the slot" as they say, and then let the other things happen.