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Why you should shorten your backswing?

Author

Emma Payne

Published Jan 24, 2026

Accuracy. The next reason you may want to shorten your backswing is to improve your overall shot accuracy. The truth is, the length of your backswing has a huge impact on the distance of the shot (though it's not the only factor). The longer you try to hit the ball, the higher the chance of hitting the ball off-line.

Does a shorter backswing help?

Keeping your golf swing a bit shorter can help with control, accuracy, and for some, it can be a great wait to deliver effective power to the golf ball. Don't assume that shortening your backswing is going to result in less distance; this is very often not the case.

Does length of backswing matter?

Your backswing length needs to produce enough speed to create the necessary distance, but also provide consistency for the most accurate shots possible. Sometimes golfers need more distance and other times they need more accuracy, and finding the happy medium isn't always easy.

Should I lengthen my backswing?

One of the easiest ways to gain more distance on the golf course is to lengthen your backswing. While other simple setup tweaks such as changing your attack angle or learning how to draw the ball can gain you some extra yards, another way to start out-driving your mates is to extend the length of your swing.

Why is my 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.

41 related questions found

What happens when your backswing is too long?

The length of a backswing can have a lot of impact on how the club face comes in to contact with the golf ball. If your backswing is too long, then there's more time for the club face and path to drift away from ideal, resulting in a shot you didn't want. The reason for this is that it throws off your timing.

What happens if you don't complete your backswing?

What happens if you don't get all the way there? It puts the bottom of your swing arc farther back, probably behind the ball. Unless you make some other compensation in your swing, you're going to mis-hit the shot.

How important is the backswing in golf?

The backswing allows you to pre-set what the club is going to do next in the downswing and into impact. As long as you understand the swing path and club face that create your bad shots you can build a backswing that suits your style of play and minimises these errors.

How do I improve my backswing?

Make a pivot, not a slide swing thought

They do this by pivoting their right side behind them and less to the side, thereby reducing any excess slide away from the ball. The more you turn away from the ball, the more you have to rely on your timing to get the clubhead back to impact in a consistent solid position.

How long should a golf swing take?

The full golf swing takes between . 8 and 2.5 seconds. Our testing shows that the average golf swing is 1.2 seconds, of which roughly 75% is in the back swing and 25% in the forward swing.

How far should shoulders turn in backswing?

Shoulder Turn and Tilt in the Backswing

In the backswing, your shoulders ought to turn 90 degrees away from the ball and away from the target. So, your chest will, pretty much be facing directly away from your target.

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.

When should you stop your backswing?

Once you can see yourself doing it, train yourself to stop your backswing before your club starts pointing at the ground. It might feel like you are not fully swinging at the ball initially but after a while you will gain confidence in your new swing amplitude.

How should the backswing feel?

The golf swing should feel effortless, with minimal tension. Think of it like a coiled spring: as you rotate and load into the backswing, you are storing up energy (just as a coiled spring would) before releasing all that energy – in one sweeping downswing motion – through the ball at impact.

What should the top of the backswing look like?

The arm ought to be straight, but not locked.

Unlike your front arm, your back arm (right arm for a right-handed player) ought to be bent at the top of your swing. Not only should it be bent, but it should also be kept close to your side. You can check this fairly easily by looking at where the elbow points.

Where should golf clubs point at top of backswing?

So at the top of the backswing you want it pointing down where your body is aiming, down towards parallel lines of the target as you come down that will give you a chance to drop it in. Not only do you want it pointing down straight to the where you want it to go you also want it pretty much parallel to the ground.

How important is the takeaway in golf?

Why is the takeaway so important? The correct takeaway keeps your body, arms, hands, and club all in sync on the proper swing plane. The takeaway is the portion of the backswing from setup to the point where the club is parallel to the ground.

How important is a full shoulder turn in the golf swing?

Turning your shoulders sufficiently in the backswing allows your arms to swing into the position required to swing the club on plane in the downswing and, therefore, on the proper path through impact.

How do I stop Overswing?

Remember, it's common for golfers to swing back too fast and too far which makes loss of control almost inevitable. Keep the left arm straight by making a shorter slower backswing for much more control at impact. If you're control and timing is good you won't need to overswing.

Who has the shortest backswing in golf?

Jon Rahm has one of the shortest backswings in golf. Every golf swing has some unique flair. Like the grooves and curves of a fingerprint, no two swings are alike.

Should you stop at the top of backswing?

NO RUSH: Take it slow from the top for more speed at impact. Two players I work with -- Justin Rose and Tiger Woods -- sometimes make what I call a "violent transition" from backswing to downswing, rather than let the change of direction happen smoothly.