This type of swing looks over the top, but it can work—golf’s top teacher shows you how
Many golfers have swing tendencies that, no matter how hard they try, they can’t get rid of. That’s why in this Golf Digest+ series, Matchmakers, Golf Digest No. 1 Teacher in America Mark Blackburn is teaching you how to play with what you’ve got. No matter your tendency, you can play well with it as long as you match it up with the right moves.
One of the most common tendencies I see with average golfers is taking the club too far to the inside in the backswing. This inside takeaway and excessively flat backswing can lead to slices coming down ... but it doesn’t have to.
In fact, some great players on tour have really flat backswings. Matt Kuchar, for example, has won plenty and made millions with this type of swing. The key is to pair this inside backswing with the proper match-ups to hit repeatable shots. One of the easiest ways to determine if you have an excessively flat backswing is to check your lead arm at the top of the swing. If it sits below your trail shoulder, like I demonstrate below, then you're in a very flat position. Read on.
Before I give you those crucial match-ups, let me be clear: this story is about managing an inside backswing, not fixing it. For many golfers who slice the ball because of their inside backswing and over-the-top transition, my first prescription would be to improve the backswing plane.
That said, if you’re looking for a quick fix or just don’t want to grind for hours on the range, these tips are for you. Here’s how you can still hit great shots with an inside backswing.
1. Aim right
Right-handers should aim about 5-10 yards right of the target (lefties, aim left). With an inside backswing, your tendency will be to come a little over-the-top transition, so we need to counter that with your alignment. If you aim straight and come over the top, you’ll hit slices all day. By aiming to the right, you’re able to come a little over the top to get the ball back online.
Your ideal ball flight is a straight pull or a pull fade. Whatever you do, don’t try to hit lots of draws when you have an inside backswing. That will lead to an excessively in-to-out club path and is a great way to shank the ball. Commit to a pull fade.
2. Lead arm out
Since your arms are a little too flat at the top of the backswing, we need to get them back on plane. To do that, feel like your hands and lead arm move out toward the ball in transition. A great checkpoint is to stop your swing when your lead arm is parallel to the ground in the downswing. We want that lead arm to be right over your toes, like I’m demonstrating.
This might look like an over-the-top move, but really I’m just getting the club back on plane and in the proper position to hit the ball. Just be careful to not overdo this move and get your arms too far out in the downswing. That’s why I like that checkpoint to make sure you’re nailing this transition.
Make these two adjustments, and you’ll start hitting consistent pull fades without changing your backswing.
• • •
Blackburn’s new book, The Coaching Code, is now out. In it, he explains the concepts he has used in coaching dozens of tour players, including Justin Rose, Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa and Collin Morikawa. Blackburn is a Golf Digest Teaching Professional.