1) The Lift and Chopper- this type of player resembles a lumberjack chopping wood. On the way to the top the club is lifted almost vertically with no turning of the torso and the downswing occurs in much the same fashion- a violent and steep chopping action causing deep divots and a very odd ball flight usually reserved for the beginning golfer taking up the game

2) The Left Forearm Over-Roller- have you ever seen someone try to take the club on the inside track by only using the arms and hands? This arm and hand dominated motion exemplifies this type of backswing flaw causing an off plane clubshaft early off the takeaway. You will have a noticeable “fanning” open of the clubhead off the start of the takeaway resulting in an overly inside and laid off position of the clubshaft by belt high where the butt of the club points well outside the golf ball by 9:00 o’clock. This is usually reserved for the less flexible golfer not wanting to use the body to power the arms, hands, and clubshaft so the arms and hands are recruited too severely

3) The Torso Over-Turner- the antithesis of the “Left Forearm Over-Roller” is the player who overemphasizes the turning of the body off the start of the backswing in efforts to move the arms, hands, and clubshaft. This torso overturn causes the whole power package arrangement of the arms, hands, and club to become stuck behind the body by belt high causing one of two actions: 1) a cut-off the shoulder turn resulting in an overly “flat” backstroke, or 2) a lifting action of this power package from belt high to the top could also result. You will see this type of motion in the thin and more flexible player who’s body tends to dominate his or her swing to the extreme

4) The Lock and Slider- the address position dictates the proper position and flex of the right knee to the top…when you lose this original address flex and position of the right knee to the top you will then possess poor lower body control to the top. If this occurs you will have faulty rhythm, balance, and no power due to the upper body trying to react and counterbalance itself to compensate for this poor foundational control. This causes the “leggy” type of reverse weight shift you will see in the average player looking to gain a few extra yards by exaggerating the actions of the legs to the top.

Now that we have identified the “Four Deadly Backswings” what should you look for in efforts to correct them so that they never occur again? Stay tuned below and you will have all the clues below to stop these flaws after you have identified them in your game.

1) The Lift and Chopper- As we have identified the lift and chopper tends to start the club moving off plane early by a lifting of the arms and hands to the top- this “pick up” type of motion results from disconnection between the upper arms and torso. People having this backstroke need to feel what Homer Kelley, in The Golfing Machine calls “Delayed Hip Action,” in 10-15-B, where the shoulders lead and power the backstroke causing the clubhead to be moved lower to the ground and more around the body off the start of the takeaway- this will eliminate the lift and subsequent chop you will see in beginning players. A better pivot motion of the body is the key! If you lift you will usually chop- fix the lift and the chop will repair itself to a more manageable degree. Remember if you must lift (like Jim Furyk) then make the proper plane angle shift- the reverse loop back to the inside- to compensate for this motion if you cannot use the shoulders to power the backstroke.

2) The Left Forearm Over-Roller- When you feel the arms and hands becoming over active early into the backswing you will over-pronate or over roll the left forearm off the start of the takeaway. This results in placing the clubshaft in a laid off, open, and overly inside position too early in the backswing and this will make the proper hinging of the wrists almost impossible. If you feel this activity in the takeaway then you need to make sure that the logo of your gloved hand faces the target slightly longer into the backstroke. This will stop the fanning open of the clubhead and keep the left forearm from over rolling too early. Yes, you need a slight amount of pronation of the left forearm during the takeaway but a small amount goes a long, long way. At belt high look for the whole clubshaft to be directly on top of and parallel to your toes’ stance line and look to make sure that the clubhead is not too open at this belt high position.

3) The Torso Over-Turner- For the players who over rotate the body for whatever reason off the start of the backswing causes the arms, hands, and whole clubshaft to become stuck behind the body at belt high. (This is similar to the Left Forearm Over-Roller but that player only has the clubhead stuck too far to the inside, not everything behind him!) Usually this player has some lack of lower body control off the start of the backswing, a poor lateral spinal bend at address (leaning too far left of center,) and a left shoulder that moves too horizontally off the start of the backswing. These flaws together or separate will stick everything too far behind the body by the time you are at belt high- to stop this you must feel like the triangle formed by your arms and shoulders moves back away from the ball in one piece pulling your body into its turn. You do not want to “heave” the torso off the start into turning but allow the arms and shoulder to pull it into action. Please remember that the last sentence is ONLY reserved for the players with overactive torsos! Allowing the arms and shoulders to pull the body into its turning orbit will stop the over turn and keep the clubshaft more on plane to the belt high position from there you will not become overly flat or have the lift of the arms to the top.

4) The Lock and Slider- As with any foundational motion bouncing around, whether it be a slab of concrete in a building or a golfer’s right knee, the foundation sets up everything that happens above it. With a poor foundation the upper body cannot work powerfully and effectively and will not produce a consistent ball flight. If you feel the lock and/or slide to the top of your right knee then the easiest way to eliminate this flaw is to stand in front of a mirror, making slow motion swings, and watch the actions of the right knee to the top. It must not move from its original starting position as far as flex and position goes but on the way down it can do what it wants. If you keep the flex in your right knee then the rate and amount of your turning hips will be correct to the top and you will feel pressure on the inside (medial) portion of your quadriceps all the way to the top- straighten the right knee and the pressure will dissipate. Keeping the right knee positioned over the right instep to the top will cause the weight to stay on the inside of your right foot to the top, if it leaks to the laces or even to the outside of your right foot to the top then you are sliding the right knee. Both of these actions together or separate will cause the “X-Factor” or tension between the upper and lower body to the top to become slacked and an over the top motion will usually result. If you control your right knee to the top you will feel tighter and more controlled than ever before!

By now I hope you have identified your backswing flaw and figured out what to look for on the practice tee to eliminate this motion once and for all! Take your time and pay attention, if you possess one of these flaws you are only asking for trouble.