Checkpoints for Leverage and Structure

How many times have you seen someone make a practice backswing, stop the club at the top and look to check if the club is in position? While I’m sure leading tour professionals and club professionals alike know exactly what they are looking for, I often think the average club player simply mimics what he/she has seen a professional doing!

In this short tip, lets give you some specific direction as to what I look for in my students’ transition position. All you need to do the following exercise are three things: (1) you, the player; (2) a golf club and (3) a full length mirror. Position the mirror behind you as if your backswing were going to extend Into the mirror.

Take your normal set up and simply swing the club to the top and stop.

The first of the three 90° positions I’d like you to check is that of your right arm. Your right arm should find a 90° fold at the elbow joint. This 90° fold should be the forming structure of the extension of the left arm. If the right arm should fold behind the 90°, say to 110° or even120°, the left arm would lose its “extended” position. Your backward arm swing would, therefore, lose its structure, therefore, lose its if you will – width, I feel, is a vital component of your backswing.

Now turn towards the mirror so you are standing chest towards it. Again, set up and swing the club to the top and stop. Look into the mirror and first check the rotation of your shoulders. They should have turned 90° from where they started in the address position. You can check this by finding your right shoulder behind your head (not visible to you) and your back facing in the direction of the intended target.

The third and final 90° angle of the backswing is checked from the same position relevant to the mirror. Again, set up and swing to the top and stop. If you have achieved 90° position No.1 (width/arm structure), as well as 90° angle No. 2 (rotation of torso/shoulders), then the third position I’d like to see achieved is a 90° angle formed between your left arm and the club shaft.

There you have three very specific positions you can check at the top to assure that you have reached a levered, as well as a structural sound backswing position. NOW let IT GO!
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