shorter backswing = more distance ???

[highalphapass]

OK I must be doing something terribly wrong/right. I've just discovered that if I shorten my backswing by 50% (!!) and keep a long follow through I hit the ball at least 20 yards further than my "normal" backswing. Anyone know why ? I'm intrigued but not complaining. Especially as I just birdied the last !!

 

[Lloydy84]

Hi, the reason for your increse of distance could be because you are simply making better contact with the ball because the shorter backswing allows you to keep you're head more still. It may also be because you are acclerating into the ball more with good timing which compresses the ball on the clubface making it go further.

 

[highalphapass]

Nice one, Lloydy84. That was only with irons though, so I'll give it a whirl with some woods as well. Damn weird though. I'll see how long it lasts.

 

[Lloydy84]

yes if you watch the pro's most of them have short backswings for their irons but longer for woods, if it works for you then stick with it, especially for irons. How long have you been playing? what's your handicap if you have one?

 

[highalphapass]

Been a casual golfer for about 16 years ! 12 times a year or less though. Play off 19. Hit the ball solid enough with good direction about 95% of the time. Short game not that great though, hence the handicap. Had a chipping lesson last year and the pro was showing us a short backswing for chipping. Then didn't play for about 6 months and forgot all about it until I started playing the odd round recently. That's what made me think of trying it on my full swing. I started chipping alot closer and when I tried it on my full shots I couldn't quite believe it.

 

[RGuk]

I once practiced a drill that required me to take 1/2 swings and then attack the ball as hard possible making the maximum extension of the arms through impact. I can't remember what it was for...BUT I do remember that I was hitting 140 wedges and 150 - ish 9 irons.
If a short swing is actually improving your strike/angle of loft/acceleration through impact etc. then your story is not suprising. DO NOT BE FOOLED......if you become addicted to this style of swing for too long you could endanger your whole game. A short swing might work for irons and the pros use this technique for certain shots, but as the shaft gets longer, you need more length in the backswing to get yourself into the right shape at the top before making the downswing. My full SW goes about 85-90 yds, I can hit 70 without even cocking my wrists.....doesn't mean I should rebuild my technique. BEWARE.

Dave

 

[highalphapass]

Know what you mean Dave. May just be a quick fix, if things go awry. Distance is my problem though. 150 yds is my 5 iron most of the time. All my shots go high. Nice and straight but really high. I normally take 2-3 clubs more than everyone else. A local pro recently recommended stiffer shafts after watching me on the range but I don't know if he's just trying to sell me some more kit !!

 

[viscount17]

bought an old Jack Nicklaus book at a car boot today, 50p.

First chapter, very much paraphrased, "the swing is all about one moment, impact. It doesn't much matter how you arrive at it nor where you go after it so long as when you arrive the club face is square to the ball and square to the plane of the swing."
also, "the professional golfer will achieve a ruler straight drive less than 1% of the time. You have to learn to deal with what you've got."
As I said very much paraphrased but oh what a relief!

 

[highalphapass]

How true. The amount of times I hit shots whereby there are gasps of amazement from my playing partners, to be followed up by a disappointed "oh, thought that would have gone further than that." Looks good but at times completely ineffective...
The other thing I was trying to tell a guy I know, who has only recently started to play was that tour golfers also hit thousands of golf balls a week, as well as having a coach constantly around to watch for things going wrong. Must make a huge difference. I'd like to see one of these virtual reality shows on tv take a totally average golfer and see if they could be made ready for the Euro or PGA tour. Reckon it could be done ? How long would it take, if they played and trained every single day ?

 

[viscount17]

fancy volunteering?
I can do the beginner (less than a year), late starter.

Want to take it on GM?

 

[Parmo]

That would be amazing to see what they really get up to, otherwise club pros would all be on tour. I do find that with Irons the shorts the backswing the better contact I get. I am struggling with my Hybrid on the fairway at the moment, its fine in the rough but slices on the fairway so I tend to aim left to get the ball on target.