CONCEPT · FULL SWING BEGINNER FOCUS
A controlled backswing creates the foundation for effortless power and consistent ball-striking.
Skill split
01 · Overview
~2 min read
The backswing sets everything in motion, yet it's where most golfers unknowingly sabotage their entire swing sequence. Too many players focus on getting the club to a perfect position at the top while ignoring the critical fundamentals that happen in the first few feet of the takeaway. The Art of Simple Golf emphasizes making the club feel heavy during the takeaway rather than light—a counterintuitive concept that prevents the dreaded over-the-top move and improves your downswing sequence.
What separates great backswings from problematic ones isn't just the club position, but how your body loads and prepares for the transition back to the ball. Bob Menzies Golf addresses one of the most common faults—the laid-off position—with his wall drill that helps players feel a more neutral club position by using the grip end as a guide against the wall.
The relationship between weight transfer and backswing timing often gets overlooked, but loading pressure into your trail leg much earlier in the backswing creates the foundation for proper sequencing. When golfers understand these connections between takeaway feel, body loading, and club position, they discover that fixing their backswing doesn't require perfect positions—it requires better movement patterns that naturally lead to improved club path and contact.
4 components that build the move
01 · TAKEAWAY PATH
The clubhead travels straight back from the ball for the first 18 inches, staying close to the ground. This wide arc prevents steep, narrow swings that destroy tempo and timing.
02 · WEIGHT SHIFT
Roughly 70% of your weight should move into your back foot well before reaching the top. This early load creates the foundation for powerful weight transfer on the downswing.
03 · SHOULDER TURN
The left shoulder rotates down and across the body, not just around. This deeper turn creates coil and prevents the arms from lifting independently of the body.
04 · CLUB POSITION
At the top, the club should be parallel to your target line or slightly across it. A laid-off position (pointing left of target) often leads to over-the-top downswings.
02 · The Reference
3 of 793 · hand-selected
Editor's Pick · #1 · 6:52
Reveals why making the club feel heavy during takeaway prevents the sequence-killing over-the-top move that plagues most golfers.
The Art of Simple Golf · beginner
Editor's Pick · 1:08
Demonstrates the specific wall drill that fixes laid-off backswing positions and eliminates slices through proper club positioning.
Bob Menzies Golf · beginner
Editor's Pick · 1:24
Shows how pressure shift creates natural swing motion rather than forcing positions, fundamentally changing how you think about the backswing.
Brad Hawkins Golf Left Tilt Coaching System · intermediate
04 · The Experts
3 perspectives · same drill
! Do not pull the club way inside and then lift it above your head
04 · Practice it
3 drills
Drill
Practice protocol with timestamped demonstrations across 6 videos.
Drill
Practice protocol with timestamped demonstrations across 5 videos.
Drill
Practice protocol with timestamped demonstrations across 4 videos.
05 · FAQ
Answered from the library
The Art of Simple Golf explains that many golfers develop a 'heavy takeaway' which creates timing issues throughout the swing. Instead of starting heavy and getting lighter, focus on starting light in your takeaway and gradually building momentum - this creates better sequencing and more consistent ball striking.
Bob Menzies Golf shows that when your club gets too laid off at the top, the shaft pitches forward leading to an outside-in swing path and slices. Practice against a wall by gripping above the club head to feel the proper backswing plane and prevent the laid-off position.
Malaska Golf emphasizes the concept of 'feel vs real' - what feels correct to you is often wrong due to ingrained muscle memory. You need to exaggerate the opposite feeling to actually achieve the correct position, especially when fixing issues like club face angle at the top of your swing.
Brad Hawkins Golf argues that pressure creates motion while positions are just results. Instead of obsessing over backswing positions, focus on how you're pressuring the ground and how your body moves in response - this creates more natural and powerful swing mechanics.
SM Golf Coaching notes that after 10+ years of coaching, every golfer wants more distance, not less. The key to gaining speed often lies in proper sequencing and timing rather than just swinging harder - focus on creating the right pressure and movement patterns throughout your backswing.
Tap any concept to explore the library
06 · The Library
YouTube-indexed · expert-graded
Video · 0:20
The Juju Swing™️
Video · 1:53:02
Jerome Rufin
Video · 10:21
Alistair Davies Golf
Video · 0:26
Kerrod Gray Golf
Video · 1:31
Rob Cheney Golf
Video · 1:15
Rob Cheney Golf
Video · 0:51
Brad Hawkins Golf Left Tilt Coaching System
Video · 0:15
Golf with Coach Carolin
Video · 2:10:53
Jerome Rufin
Video · 0:08
Matt Baker Golf | Malaska Certified Coach
Video · 1:23:39
Jerome Rufin
Video · 2:30:53
Jerome Rufin
Video · 1:22
True Swing by Erika Larkin
Video · 0:16
TS Golf
Video · 0:52
Porzak Golf
Video · 0:55
Alistair Davies Golf
Video · 0:16
Michael Kanev Golf
Video · 2:01:02
Jerome Rufin
Video · 1:39
Golf Monthly
Video · 1:24
True Swing by Erika Larkin
Video · 1:00
ChrisRyanGolf
Video · 0:07
The Juju Swing™️
Video · 8:23
Get Good At Golf!
Video · 2:49
Paul Wilson Golf
Video · 4:32
The Juju Swing™️
Video · 0:36
PGA Women's Clinics
Video · 1:16
True Swing by Erika Larkin
Video · 0:34
Porzak Golf
Video · 9:16
Giles Gill Golf
Video · 0:35
Kerrod Gray Golf
Video · 1:22
Tropicana Entertainment
Video · 1:26
Eric Cogorno Golf
Video · 1:30
Rob Cheney Golf
Video · 0:09
Kerrod Gray Golf
Video · 0:45
Porzak Golf
Video · 13:52
Porzak Golf
Video · 1:10
Tropicana Entertainment
Video · 13:40
Eric Cogorno Golf
Video · 0:15
CK Golf
Video · 0:32
Michael Kanev Golf
Video · 2:50
Paul Wilson Golf
Video · 4:37
Get Good At Golf!
Video · 0:13
CK Golf
Video · 1:31
Rob Cheney Golf
Video · 0:54
Matt Fryer Golf
Video · 0:13
Kerrod Gray Golf
Video · 2:48
Alistair Davies Golf
Video · 0:42
Golf with Coach Carolin
Video · 1:37
Brad Hawkins Golf Left Tilt Coaching System
Video · 0:27
Michael Kanev Golf
Master the takeaway sequence with targeted drills that groove the proper club path and weight shift.
Practice Drills