Here's a fact: If your golf swing doesn't start right, there's a high probability that your result will be poor.
Unfortunately, most amateur and beginner golfers ignore this simple rule, and focus on doing all sorts of swing changes without zeroing in on the most critical — the backswing.
You see, the backswing is the ignition of the golf swing, meaning it fires up the engine by making sure everything is in-line and in sequence in order to execute a positive shot. When it's thrown off, that's when you put yourself in a pretty impossible predicament, leaving your brain to try and trigger half-second adjustments in the downswing.
In the words of a good golf teacher I know, "that's no bueno."
The 5-Minute Golf Lesson That Changed My Backswing
In the video above, top-ranked golf coach Kelvin Kelley gives me a lesson to help ensure that my backswing starts correctly and my body is rotating properly — and, surprisingly, it was an easy adjustment.
Having me stand in front of the mirror to actually see my golf swing, Kelley talks me through how simple the backswing should be.
"Pick up your arms [and keep your head still]," Kelley says. "That's more turn than what you walked in with, and I'll explain why."
After attempting to call his bluff, Kelley goes into full-blown golf coach mode, talking me through how the subtle change improves my backswing.
"Your arms pull your shoulders, so that's a shoulder turn, and then your chest is pointing [away from your target]," he says. "So this might feel like it's all arms to you, but it actually is a turn."
As I continue to take small practice swings, Kelley makes sure my body is properly positioned to eliminate unnecessary movements in my golf swing — simplifying the whole process for more efficiency.
Anxious to go hit golf balls to test things out, Kelley reinforces the changes, making sure I trust the process and not immediately focus on the results after making the minor adjustments.
"When you move your arms and hold your body, that's a shoulder turn," he shares. "And then my rib cage and glute goes around, which gives me that power look.
"So thing of the golf swing like a throwing motion, where, if I were to throw a ball, my arm would go up and my body would turn around. And if I wanted to throw it harder, I don't turn more or lose my shape, I just [turn my shoulders more]."
Addressing the ball, Kelley instructs me to simply "fold and unfold" my arms — a huge difference from what I had been doing, which involved lots of lower body movement.
While it takes some time to get used to, by simplifying my backswing, I'm able to improve my contact and even compress the golf ball more frequently — all because I started the golf swing the right way, and got rid of any herky-jerky movements.
Craving more golf swing tips and golf instruction? Be sure to subscribe to Rainmakers Golf on YouTube for more relatable swing advice to help your game improve.