Golf Backswing Instruction

When you are watching the pros on TV and making all your notes and tips for golf, (I use this as a visual example because TV. usually equates to have the pros on it) you’ll notice the footwork of some seems so quiet and still while others are more active. Jack Nicklaus is well noted for lifting his left heel into the air as his golf backswing approached its apex.

If you haven’t read my article on the footwork, you should start with the Tips For Golf – Footwork then come back

Either way, the end result is to produce torque which results in tremendous stored and energy potential.

As you take your club away (in a one piece fashion by the way) the turn of your shoulders and hips are offset by your feet and legs being firmly grounded.

As your rotation continues and the strength of your legs resists the turn, a tremendous amount of torque and energy is developed between your lower and upper body.

As your golf backswing continues with your hip and shoulder rotation you will ultimately want about 80% of you weight tasked to your right leg.

The key in this position of the golf swing is to keep this 80% loaded on the instep of your right foot and not let your weight roll over the top of your right foot and ‘leak’ to the outside. This will cause your right hip to get ‘outside’ your right foot. If this happens your body will sway and you will either lose or not develop any torque and stored energy.

The physics of developing torque in your golf swing is like winding the propeller on a rubber band powered model airplane. Your legs and feet are the anchor pin while your hips and shoulders are the band.

In your golf swing, once you get to the top of the backswing, if your feet and legs have remained strong and your weight hasn’t leaked or swayed outside your right ankle, then your legs are loaded with torque.

If you’re more number oriented, then your shoulders have rotated about 90 degrees while your hips about 45 degrees.

The key and the pure physics is that the greater difference between these two numbers the greater the torque and potential energy you now have available to apply to the golf ball.

So, now you’re at the top of your golf backswing and halfway home. You’re loaded up. What do you do now to ensure success, consistency, accuracy, and distance?

That’s next up with Tips For Golf – The Downswing!