Driving

The Backswing: Turn As Much As You Can

By Sean Foley Photos by Dom Furore
February 04, 2013
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It's tough to make a classic backswing if you lack flexibility. Once the body stops turning, many amateurs try to compensate by letting their arms finish the job. But this puts the club in position to swing down on a steep angle and from out to in. So that armsy backswing leads to a lot of pulls and slices.

Sound like you? Then here's my advice: To start your backswing, turn your pelvis and upper body away from the target as much as you can (above). Even if your rotation is limited, you'll set up a better attack angle at impact and prevent that out-to-in path. As you're turning, create some leverage by hinging your wrists--that will give you more power and make up for your lack of turn. Remember, once your body stops turning, you're done with the backswing. You'll maximize your power without getting your swing out of whack.

SEAN FOLEY, a Golf Digest Teaching Professional, works at the Core Golf Junior Academy, outside Orlando.