Width at the Top of the Backswing

• Posted on Grant
• in Golf Fundamentals, Swing
• on December 15, 2014
• Comments Off on Width at the Top of the Backswing

When teaching golf, a common mistake I see is a lack of space (width) between hands and head at the top of the backswing (pictured above).

Many golfers don’t realize that their hands are collapsing in close to their head at the top of the backswing until they see their swing on video. The correct position they thought they were feeling at the top of the backswing was not what was actually happening.

To get into the correct position, I feel like I extend my hands toward the horizon at the top of the backswing.

My hands do go back farther than just stretching toward the horizon when I make a full shoulder turn, but I have found this feeling of stretching my hands toward the horizon gets me into the correct position at the top of the backswing.

Another way to get into the correct position at the top of the backswing is to focus on making sure your hands stop going back at the same moment your shoulders stop turning.

If your hands keep going up after your shoulders have stopped turning, you will lose width between your head and your hands at the top of the backswing.

Next time you video your swing, see if one of these thoughts works for you:

1. Stop your hands at the same moment your shoulders stop turning at the top of the backswing.

2. Feel like you are extending your hands toward the horizon instead of toward the sky at the top of the backswing.

Thanks for reading!

GB