Thinking you need a longer backswing to hit the ball farther is one of the most common thoughts in golf. While a bigger swing arc can lead to more clubhead speed, simply forcing a longer backswing often leads to a loss of control and power-robbing swing faults. This guide will walk you through the correct way to increase the depth and efficiency of your backswing by focusing on proper body rotation, flexibility, and drills that build a more powerful, connected turn.
Before we touch a club, it's important to reframe the goal. Most amateurs hear "longer backswing" and think they need to get the club shaft parallel to the ground, or even past it, just like the pros. They achieve this by letting their lead arm bend excessively, breaking their posture, or lifting their arms disconnected from their body. This is a trap.
A powerful backswing isn't just about length, it’s about width and rotation. Width is created by keeping your lead arm relatively straight and extending it away from your chest. Rotation is the engine, created by turning your torso - your shoulders and hips - away from the target. When you combine width with a full-body turn, you create a massive arc and store up energy (often called "torque") that you can unleash on the downswing.
So, our objective isn't to just lift the arms higher. It's to create a fuller, more powerful body turn that results in a longer, more efficient backswing. This keeps the swing sequence intact and gives you a much better chance of returning the clubface squarely to the ball.
Your body is the engine of the golf swing, your arms and the club are just the transmission system. Power comes from the coiling and uncoiling of your torso. The bigger and more efficient that coil, the more potential speed you can generate. The backswing is, very simply, a rotational action around your spine.
The key players here are your shoulders and hips. Ideally, you want to create separation between them. At the top of the backswing, elite players often have a shoulder turn of 90 degrees or more, while their hips have only turned about 45 degrees. This difference is the "X-Factor," a huge source of power.
As you start the swing, feel as though your chest, shoulders, and the club move away from the ball together as one unit. For the first few feet, your hands and arms are passive. They are simply being moved by the rotation of your torso. Trying to initiate the swing by picking the club up with your hands is one of the quickest ways to destroy width and power.
To feel this core-driven movement, try this simple drill.
This is a fundamental drill that removes the arms from the equation entirely, forcing you to feel what a true body turn is like.
Sometimes, the desire for a bigger backswing is there, but your body just won't cooperate. If you rotate and feel a "block" - like you can't go any further without losing your balance or breaking your posture - the issue is likely a lack of mobility, not technique.
Forcing a swing beyond your body’s current range of motion is a recipe for bad shots and potential injury. Instead, working a few simple stretches into your routine can make a massive difference in your ability to rotate. Focus on these three areas:
Doing these stretches a few times a week will gradually and safely increase your range of motion, allowing you to achieve a fuller turn without straining.
A common fault when trying to lengthen the backswing is the dreaded "sway." This happens when your hips slide laterally away from the target instead of rotating. When you sway, you lose your center, making it almost impossible to get back to the ball consistently. You also lose all the power you were trying to gain.
Your trail hip and leg provide the stable anchor for your backswing. As your upper body coils, your trail hip should feel like it's turning and moving back and away from the ball, not sideways. Imagine you're standing with your trail-side butt cheek against a wall, as you turn back, you should maintain light contact with that wall instead of pushing away from it.
A great way to get a feel for this rotational movement while maintaining balance is the feet-together drill.
This drill immediately exposes a sway. If you slide instead of turn, you will lose your balance.
Achieving a deeper, more powerful golf backswing has less to do with how high you lift your arms and everything to do with improving the quality of your body turn. By focusing on rotating your core, maintaining width, improving your mobility, and having a stable lower body, you create an efficient B in a way that generates speed without sacrificing control and consistency.
It can be tough to know if you're truly rotating or just swaying off the ball. We designed Caddie AI to be your personal coach for precisely these kinds of questions. You can describe your swing feel - or even upload a video - and ask, "Am I rotating my hips or swaying?", getting instant, clear guidance. It’s like having an expert's eyes on your swing, giving you the confidence that your practice time is actually making you better.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
