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How can I make my golf backswing bigger?

Author

Sarah Smith

Published Jan 18, 2026

A few keys to help you to start getting more out of your body and your backswing:

  1. Work towards turning your hips as far back as you can.
  2. Free up your feet by allowing the lead heel to lift off the ground.
  3. Allow the trail leg to straighten significantly.
  4. Any amount of improvement in flexibility will help in this department.

How do I get a deeper backswing in golf?

During the backswing we should get our players to turn their hips back to allow a good bit of pressure to initially get into the trail foot. When doing so, let the trail knee slightly straighten in order to get the trail hip a bit higher and deeper (more behind).

Why is my golf backswing so short?

Excessive tension may prevent some players from executing a proper backswing, according to PGA pro Eric Hogge. When you're tense your muscles tighten up and inhibit your flexibility, which can cut your backswing short.

How do you fix a short backswing?

How do you fix a short backswing in golf? The key to fixing a short backswing in golf is to increase your hip turn; make a bigger shoulder turn; and hinge your wrists properly in the takeaway. If you can do each of these things, you will add length, power and distance to your game.

Which is the lead arm in golf?

An important note, this page will discuss the importance of the left arm in the golf swing as most golfers are right-handed, but what we really mean is the lead arm in the golf swing. So if you're a left-handed player, this article will be about your right arm.

35 related questions found

How far back should my backswing go?

The Normal Backswing

Your weight should stay on the inside of your right foot at the top. The left shoulder will be a touch behind the ball in this position, allowing a fuller turn to the top.

Where should your arms be in backswing?

On your back swing your left arm acts as a pushing arm and your right arm acts as the hinge that keeps the swing straight. You keep your left arm straight to get the maximum arc out of your swing. The more arc you get from your swing, the more power you will have.

Should you hinge your wrists in backswing?

There is no 'proper' wrist hinge in golf. Many coaches suggest to start breaking your wrists once you pass parallel in the takeaway, while others advocate a one-piece takeaway and only allowing your wrists to hinge at the top of the backswing. Both methods can produce repeatable, powerful golf swings.

Do you need a big backswing in golf?

Distance is heavily affected when your backswing is too short, you won't be able to generate enough power to hit the ball a decent distance, a knock on effect from that would be height, without generating enough speed you won't be able to get the ball up in the air, this will also cause the ball to not go very far.

Is a short backswing OK?

Beginner golfers can significantly benefit from a shorter swing. A shorter swing will help to keep the game more straightforward from the beginning. What is this? As you get better and the golf swing feels more natural, you can slowly increase until the club is parallel to the ground at the top of your backswing.

Should you have a slow backswing?

While you will want to play with a good tempo, you may want to use a slow backswing for some of your practice swings, both on the practice tee and on the course. A slow backswing aids you in developing balance and strength, so consider one for practice swings and the driving range and a quicker backswing when you play.

What happens if you don't hinge your wrists in golf swing?

Similarly, if you don't hinge your wrists in the golf swing you could be throwing away loads of clubhead speed and delivering your irons with less of a descending angle of attack than is ideal.

Do you roll your wrists in a golf swing?

Roll the Wrist

During the swing, the left wrist rolls over as the golfer transfers from the takeaway to contact and then the follow-through. If the wrist rolls too forcefully, the shot likely will hook to the left. If the wrist does not roll enough, the shot likely will slice to the right.

Should golf grip be tight or loose?

The grip pressure should be just tight enough to barely squeeze some paste out of the tip. A relaxed grip on the club will lead to relaxed arms and shoulders, and will help promote a full shoulder turn. A tense grip will restrict this motion and limit driving distance.

Which hand should dominate in the golf swing?

The left-hand dominant golf swing is known to be very powerful, and it will help correct some misses golfers have in their game. If you are a player who wants power and you like the classic methods of pulling the golf club through your swing, then left-hand dominance is the right idea for you.

Where should your hands be at top of backswing?

At the top of the backswing, the right elbow should be bent at slightly more than 90 degrees. The right wrist should also be bent at about 90 degrees so that the palm of the right hand faces directly at the sky (back of the hand is parallel to the ground. Your right elbow should be below the right shoulder.

Should you see the golf ball at impact?

Best advice; keep your eyes on the ball, but keep following it with your eyes and your pivot after impact. The Situation: You are not sure where to look when hitting a golf ball.

Should you pull down with left arm in golf swing?

Golfers who can play the game every day and who start off by having exceptional control of their body action—which the average golfer doesn't—can inaugurate the downswing with their hips. For the average player, though, the best way to launch the downswing is to pull down with your left arm.

What does shallowing the club mean?

Shallowing the golf club means that you get the club to flatten out more horizontally on the way down. Most golfers instead, have an over the top, casting motion which leads a steeper plane on the downswing. This can produce fat shots, skinny shots, and big misses to the right.

Do you lift the club in the backswing?

You don't need to add any extra lift on there, because what will often happen is the hands will get disconnected from the body, or the arms will just become too high at the top of the swing. Just allow them to move naturally and then club should lift into a perfect position on it's on without any extra help needed.