These simple backswing drills will make a real difference to your game.
There are a few fundamental constituents of a good shot in the game of golf, and one of those is certainly your backswing. Indeed, your backswing can be a big factor in how well you actually strike the ball.
An “on plane” backswing is significantly more likely to mean that your downswing is also on the right plane, and this in turn will mean you’ll make a much more solid strike of the ball.
On the other hand, if your backswing is “off plane”, that is you take away the club either on the inside or outside of the plane, then your going to struggle to bring it back “on plane” during your downswing. The end result is that you’re likely to make poor contact with the ball and end up in trouble.
For amateur golfers, it’s much more common for their backswing to result in the club head being on the outside of the correct plane.
And when this happens, it induces a downswing that is too far outside the plane too. What this usually means is you hit a weak slice.
It’s no coincidence that this is one of the most common shots for high handicappers.
With all this in mind, here are a couple of simple backswing drills to help you hone your take away so your swing is solid and reliable and results in a good strike every time…
Two simple golf backswing drills
The first thing you can do is to put a rod in the ground behind you. You should position the rod so it’s just outside the line of the correct backswing plane you wish to follow. As you perform your swing, you have to make sure you don’t hit the rod, which helps to keep your backswing “on plane”. This is a very simple but extremely effective backswing drill that can really help.
If your mistake is with taking away the club inside the correct plane, you can still use this same drill. Just place the rod just inside the correct arc you’re looking for and this will help you take the club back on the right plane. You can even put rods both inside and outside the correct plane, if you wish.
The beauty of this drill is that you can practice it on the range or even at home in your yard. As you practice this drill enjoy the feeling of really grooving a good backswing that persistently results in your clubhead being in a great position at the top of your swing.
Note that this practice routine can feel a little peculiar at first, especially if, like many amateurs, you’ve formed the habit of taking your backswing too far outside the correct plane. Regular practice of this drill will soon get your backswing grooved into the correct plane and feel perfectly normal though.
Another technique you can use if your backswing is too far outside the right arc is to make sure you open the club face before beginning your backswing. This also helps to make sure your swing stays more on the correct plane. You can combine this technique with the first drill above to really hone your swing.
Summary
It doesn’t matter how much time and effort you put in smacking balls away on the driving range if your backswing isn’t right; you’ll never strike the ball as solidly and consistently as you want to. There’s a link between your backswing and your downswing meaning that your take away has an affect on how the club head strikes the ball. Using these two simple backswing drills will help to ensure your swing stays “on plane” and the end result will be an improvement to your game and to the scores you shoot.
Good luck on the course!
