Ava Romero
There is a lot of conflicting advice about what golfers should and shouldn't do during their backswing. Some sources advise against lifting the club with your arms during the backswing, while others disagree. Some golfers find it challenging to grasp the concept of lifting during the backswing because it doesn't feel like they are lifting anything when they are bent over and swinging. However, standing straight up and taking the backswing in front of a mirror can help golfers understand the concept of lifting. Ultimately, there are different techniques and styles that golfers can use, and finding the one that works best for an individual is essential for improving their swing.
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What You'll Learn
The lifting of the arms is hard to grasp for most people
The lifting of the arms is a tricky concept for many golfers to grasp. When you're bent over in the posture, you don't feel like you're "lifting" anything during the backswing. However, it's important to understand that "feel" may not correspond to reality. To truly understand if you're lifting your arms, try this: stand straight up with the club in front of you as if you were about to hit a ball off a tee. Take your backswing while still standing, and observe in a mirror from a down-the-line view. You'll notice that your left arm is on the same plane as your shoulders. Now, lift your arms so that your left arm is above the shoulder plane. This "lifting" sensation should feel very unusual when standing straight. However, when you're bent over, it often feels natural and comfortable.
To master the correct backswing position, practice the following drill: stand straight with the club in front of you and perform the backswing. Once you reach the top, you've achieved the correct backswing position. It's important to understand that when people say "don't lift your arms," they're emphasizing that the majority of your motion should come from a connected takeaway with your shoulders and hips, and core muscles like your chest and back. Your arms should remain in a relatively neutral position during the rotation. The shoulder turn and slight arm turn will get the club up and behind you, without needing to forcefully lift your arms.
Some golfers suggest focusing on lifting your shoulders to create a bit of whip in your swing. Additionally, you can try drills like the two-ball drill from PGA Professional Cathy Kim to improve your backswing. While there is conflicting advice on lifting the arms during the backswing, it's essential to find what works best for you. Observing professional golfers can be helpful; they tend to have lower hands and elbows during the backswing compared to amateurs. Ultimately, the sensation of lifting the arms can be misleading, and focusing on using your core muscles and maintaining a compact swing can lead to better results.
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The club can be loaded early, gradually, or late
The loading of the club during the backswing is a matter of style and preference. The club can be loaded early, gradually, or late in the backswing, as long as it is fully loaded at the top of the backswing or no later than the transition move into the downswing.
Loading the club early in the backswing can be achieved through an early wrist set or cocking of the left (lead) wrist. This builds power in the swing by adding leverage. However, too much wrist hinge early in the swing can make an early release worse and cause the clubface to be too open at the top of the swing.
Gradual loading of the club throughout the backswing can be achieved by focusing on the continuous build-up of pressure into the downswing. This can create a gradual dragging sensation, allowing for a smooth and fluid loading motion.
Late loading of the club in the backswing can be achieved by delaying the wrist cock and allowing the shoulders and hips to turn first, with the arms remaining in a generally neutral position. This can help prevent an early release of the club and improve consistency in strikes.
Experimentation and practice will determine which loading style suits an individual best. The key is to focus on the proper loading of the club to create power and consistency in the golf swing.
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Your arms should remain in a generally neutral position
There is a lot of conflicting advice on whether or not to lift your arms during a golf backswing. Some sources claim that you should not lift the club with your arms, while others argue that lifting your arms is essential for a good swing.
When people say "don't lift your arms", they typically mean that you should avoid using your arms to drive the swing. Instead, focus on using your large core muscles, such as your shoulders, chest, and back, to generate power. Your arms should remain in a generally neutral position relative to your rotation. This means that your arms should not move across your body; instead, they should move straight up, with your trail arm doing a bicep curl that pulls your lead arm up at a slight angle.
To achieve this, it is important to focus on lifting your shoulders, which will help create a bit of whip and power in your swing. Additionally, your hands and arms should hang straight down from your shoulders, and as your hands move back and up, they should also move inside or eventually inside this line as the backswing progresses.
It is worth noting that the lifting motion may feel unnatural when standing straight up. However, when bent over and swinging at a ball, it should feel more comfortable. To get a sense of this, try standing straight up with the club out in front of you as if you were going to hit a ball off a tee. Take your backswing, and you will notice that your arms move up relative to your shoulders. This is what "lifting" refers to, and it is an important part of achieving a correct backswing position.
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Your large and core muscles should drive the swing
Golf is a complex sport, and there is a lot of conflicting advice on how to perfect your swing. One of the most hotly debated topics is whether or not you should lift your arms during the backswing.
Some sources advise that you should not lift the club with your arms in the backswing. However, this advice is misleading. While you should not let your arms drive the swing, it is natural and essential to have some lift in your arms during the backswing.
Your arms should remain in a generally neutral position relative to your rotation. Your shoulders, chest, and back—your large and core muscles—should drive the swing. Focusing on lifting your shoulders can help create a bit of whip and improve your swing.
An easy way to understand the role of your arms is to stand straight up with the club in front of you as if you were about to hit a ball off a tee. Take your backswing while still standing straight up. You will notice that your left arm is on the same plane as your shoulders. Now, lift your arms up so that your left arm is above your shoulder plane. This lifting motion is what your arms should be doing during the backswing, combined with proper rotation.
When you are bent over and swinging at a ball, this lifting motion feels comfortable and natural. Your arms are not driving the swing, but they are lifting slightly as part of the overall motion driven by your core muscles.
In summary, while it is important not to let your arms dominate the swing, some lifting of the arms is natural and even necessary for a powerful and effective golf swing. Focus on driving the swing with your core muscles, and let your arms follow their natural lifting motion as part of the overall movement.
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An easy way to tell if you're lifting is to stand straight up
When performing a golf backswing, it is important to understand the role of your arms and upper body. While some sources advise against lifting your arms during the backswing, this does not mean that your arms should remain stationary.
The key is to ensure that your arms remain in a generally neutral position relative to your rotation. Your arms should lift straight up, with minimal movement across your body. This movement, combined with proper rotation, creates the illusion that your arms are moving across your body.
An easy way to tell if you're lifting correctly is to stand straight up. If your arms are lifting straight up and not driving the swing, your core muscles, including your shoulders, chest, and back, should be doing most of the work.
To improve your backswing, focus on lifting your shoulders to create a bit of whip. Additionally, ensure that your feet are spread apart to about shoulder width to provide a stable base of support.
Remember, it's not about completely eliminating arm movement but rather understanding the role of your arms in relation to your body's rotation during the backswing.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended that you stand straight up with the club out in front of you as if you were going to hit a ball. Take your backswing and check in a mirror that your left arm is on the same plane as your shoulders. Now, lift your arms up so that your left arm is above your shoulder plane. This is what "lifting" is, and it should feel odd when standing straight but comfortable when bent over and swinging.
When lifting your arms, your elbows should be out and hands up. Your arms should be lifted up and across your body. However, with proper rotation, it will appear as if they are moving across your body.
PGA Professional Cathy Kim recommends a two-ball drill to stop lifting the club in your backswing. However, the details of this drill are not publicly available.
