Long back swing/Any other recommendations

[jmevox]

I just started filming my swing and I’ve always known I’ve had a long backswing with my driver but im horrified to see its with all clubs. Sadly in the driver video im thinking im stopping at arm parallel (i read some post from monte I believe to practice stopping at arm parallel hitting a ton of shots til it eventually shortens out your backswing). As you can see it’s still very long. I'm going to continue working on this. 
 

I just want to know what else is wrong with my swing before I go down the rabbit hole. I'm currently a 15 handicap. Have been playing a few years and any and all criticism is welcome. I've taken 2-3 lessons and was supposed to go to monte’s clinic but unfortunately had to travel for work.  I’m open to a complete swing change if needed. Other things I am focusing on is fixing a flying elbow. Its one of my biggest issues I've had recently or so I think.  

 

 

 

[mizunotpz]

If I were you I would start working on really slow swings were your arms stretches out both in the backswing and through and after impact. Try to really feel how the body turn follows the arms going back and forth. Do it without balls first. Since your pattern is to overuse your wrists you dont have to worry about not using enough wrists. In the backswing focus on keeping the right arm as little bend as possible and through and after impact focus on the left arm strengtening. 

[mizunotpz]

Pity you didnt post a front view. But Im guessing here you have a reverse pivoting going on, your over on your leftside at the top. So thats why I recommend more width in the backswing. And also, to get rid of the chicken wing learning a proper release were the right hand go over you left after impact allows you to keep your arms extended.

[jmevox]

Thank you! Ill work on that. I know i have never been able to get rid of this chicken wing. Instructor had told me not to worry about it but im sure it’s cause I had a ton of other issues to focus on then. 

[mizunotpz]

5 minutes ago, jmevox said:

Thank you! Ill work on that. I know i have never been able to get rid of this chicken wing. Instructor had told me not to worry about it but im sure it’s cause I had a ton of other issues to focus on then. 

Yes, you can with a chicken wing. Lee Westwood has been doing it all his life. But the general rule is to always fix the body first, and keeping connected will also help you with that!

[Jayjay_theweim_guy]

See an instructor.  No need to hold out for the Montes of the world (though he's awesome.)

 

Get some basic drills you can work on at home or elsewhere to address your issues.  And why I'm saying, "Get an instructor," vs leveraging the knowledge of the people here, is that I think it would be beneficial for you to only have one consistent voice telling you what to do.  

 

Case in point:  I haven't watched your swing video.  But, I will say that a priori, you being on your target side at top of backswing, is not in itself a bad thing, nor by itself, is evidence of a reverse pivot.  Which, as I understand it, is a disagreement with others in the thread.

 

You don't need to listen to an argument.  You need to listen to someone who teaches golf for a living---I am not such a someone---to help you realize what your body needs to do in your swing.

 

Good luck!  Work hard.  You can do it!

 

Edit:  One tiny thing you can try:  Go to a good sim or toptracer range. Try to hit "half swing or 3/4 swings" as you feel them.  Compare ball speeds to your normal swing.  I think you'll find you hit the 3/4 swings about as fast as the bigger ones, and much more consistently.  If so, that might convince you that you don't need to swing as big as you do to get good results.

Edited October 18, 2023 by Jayjay_theweim_guy

[slytown]

Two things. One, you take the club back low with your arms. The backswing should be a turn and lifting of the arms with some wrist set. You basically suck the club inside, which brings the club across the line at the top and opens the face. Two, get a long backswing by using your arms too much to get depth. Instead, think about keeping your arms in front of your chest and getting depth with shoulder and hip turn. I recommend two drills:

 

1. Start the club back in one piece and then lift the club. The turn will give you depth and the lift will get the club above the plane. Monte's No-Turn backswing does this.

2. Do a 9 to 3 drill. Until you can flush it with a half swing 7 iron, you are not swinging on plane or in sequence. The 9 to 3 drill does two things: forces you to do a shorter backswing and forces you to use your body more (backswing and downswing.)

 

With such a long backswing you have to wait a long time for your arms to come back around before you can get athletic and use your body in the swing. A short backswing will help a lot.

 

[jmevox]

Thanks everyone. Will continue working on my swing using the feedback here. I’ve hit the range a few times this week. A little harder than expected to implement these changes but will continue to work on it.  Backswing has been my nigthmare since day 1 so i know it wont be an easy fix

[golfarb1]

Focus on the right elbow . Few top players 

bend their right elbow >90. Focus on maintaining more of the bend of the right elbow at the top.