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How do you start backswing with shoulders?

Author

Mia Kelly

Published Jan 09, 2026

The shoulders begin the backswing by turning away from the ball until the hands are at waist high. This movement is called a “one-piece takeaway” and, because the shoulders move so early in the backswing, the arms are able to remain straight without tensing up until the hands reach that waist-high position.

What initiates the backswing?

HOW TO START BACK. The motion you want off the ball is a pushing back movement by the left hand (pictured above). This creates a basically straight start to the swing and wide extension. It also gets the left shoulder turning back so the upper body starts to coil against a stable lower body.

Do the arms start the backswing?

To make a proper backswing, start by lifting your arms. Even more specific, use them to elevate the club's center of mass (signified by the red ball on my club) about 25 to 30 degrees as I've done here before even thinking of pitching the club upward with your wrists.

Do shoulders start backswing?

The shoulders begin the backswing by turning away from the ball until the hands are at waist high. This movement is called a “one-piece takeaway” and, because the shoulders move so early in the backswing, the arms are able to remain straight without tensing up until the hands reach that waist-high position.

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.

44 related questions found

How do I start my backswing driver?

Put your golf club across the shoulders, putting the grip end on the lead shoulder. Start your backswing and imagine you're going to hit the ball on the downswing with the club, maintaining your posture all the way through your swing.

What body part should start the golf swing?

The golf swing starts from the ground up. Even as the upper body and arms are still going back, the lower body is starting the downswing. Putting pressure into the lead foot early in the transition is a big key to setting up the rest of the downswing.

Do the hips start the backswing?

Initiating the backswing

The initial move should come with your hips. If you are right-handed, start the swing by turning your hips to the right. This will help you shift your weight from a neutral position to your right side.

Does the left shoulder go down in the backswing?

The left shoulder resists while the right shoulder continues to move. Many amateurs turn the shoulders together in the backswing and downswing, leading to swing-path issues that cause them to hit slices and pulls.

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.

How do you start downswing with lower body?

To initiate the downswing, Arnie would press his left heel back down into the ground. The key takeaway from the left heel in Arnie's swing is that you should feel a stomping down of the left heel or a pushing into the ground of the left heel to start your downswing.

Do you pull down on the golf swing?

Pull Down. As your arms and hands start into the downswing, it is important to imagine pulling the butt of the club straight down toward the ground. This keeps your hands ahead of the clubhead – often referred to as "lag" – and keeps the power you've built up on the right side of the ball.

How far should my hips turn in the backswing?

How much hip turn do you need in the backswing? In the backswing, you should rotate your hips open no more than about 45 degrees, and without feeling the need to stand-up out of your posture.

Should hips move first in golf swing?

Golf instructor Hank Haney says golfers who tend to slice should begin the downswing by rotating their arms first, to extend the club in front of their body, then should rotate their hips.

What moves first in the golf backswing?

To start the swing, it's important to remember to use your “big” muscles at first, instead of the “small” muscles. This means that the first movement is with the shoulders and arms, not the wrists. The shoulders and arms draw the club directly back along the target line until the hands reach waist-high.

What starts first in the golf downswing?

Once the slight pause at the top has been completed, it's time to start the downswing. The first element that starts this sequence on the way down is the hips. If you're too quick on the way down, usually it's the upper body that starts first which makes it nearly impossible to rotate your hips fast enough.

What starts the takeaway in golf?

You start the takeaway in the golf swing by sweeping the club head back along your target line, slowly lifting it until the shaft is parallel to the ground. The takeaway begins with straight but relaxed arms, ending at the point where they feel like they need to bend.

What is the correct way to swing a driver?

You need to make sure your right shoulder stays back, allowing the club to drop to the inside as you start down. Your best swing thought is to keep your back facing the target longer in the downswing. Make a full turn behind the ball, and then keep that right shoulder passive so your upper body doesn't spin out.