Backswing Posture Drill: Turn Without Standing Up

Turn without standing up.

Your shoulders need a turn, not a lift to the top floor. This simple rehearsal gives you a visible reference for spotting when you stand up during the backswing.

This illustrated practice guide accompanies our backswing articles. It uses Dave Phillips’s club-across-chest check for Titleist, with a simple eighteen-rehearsal practice round.

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EquipmentA golf club and a ball as a referencePractice format2 sets of 9 slow rehearsals; no ball strikingPractice recordCompleted practice rounds / 18

Watch the backswing posture drill

Watch the drill on YouTube ↗

Watch Dave Phillips demonstrate the check for Titleist. The eighteen-repetition format below is our practice structure.

Step 1. Set your posture

Hold a club against your upper chest with your arms crossed over it. Take your normal golf posture and place a ball on the ground as a reference.

Action	What to do
Set up	Leave room around you for the club to move.
Find your reference	Use a mirror or a short recording if you want to compare the illustration with your rehearsal.
Start small	Choose a comfortable turn that you can repeat slowly.

Step 2. Check your turn

Turn back slowly. The club end extending past your lead shoulder should angle towards the ground beyond the ball. A club pointing along the horizon is the comparison to watch for.

Action	What to do
Compare	Use the correct/mistake illustration to see the difference.
Reset	Return to your starting posture between turns.
Keep one focus	For this session, check the shoulder turn before adding other swing thoughts.

Step 3. Repeat eighteen times

For this practice session, make two sets of nine slow rehearsals. Take a short rest between sets.

Action	What to do
First set	Complete nine rehearsals with a fresh setup each time.
Pause	Review one rehearsal in the mirror or recording. Write down one observation.
Second set	Complete nine more to finish one round of eighteen.

Complete a round. Tick a box.

Finish all 18 rehearsals, then tick one box. Come back and complete another round next time.

FAQs.

Do I hit balls during this drill?

No. This session uses the ball as a ground reference while you rehearse with the club held across your chest.

Must the club point exactly at the ball?

No. The reference is a downward direction beyond it; do not force an exact angle.

Should I keep my head completely still?

Avoid adding a separate head-position task. Watch the demonstration and work on one check at a time.

Can a left-handed golfer use this?

Yes. Reverse the illustration’s sides and use the end past your lead shoulder.

How do I score it?

Complete two sets of nine rehearsals, then tick one practice-round box. The eighteen boxes track eighteen completed rounds. Use the notes space on the printable sheet for your observation.

Is this the same as an impact posture drill?

This article checks the backswing. Our Trevino posture drill gives you a separate practice task for moving through impact; use whichever matches the part of the swing you are working on.

Once you can recognise the shoulder turn, try the Anti-Hip Sway drill next. It adds a simple alignment-stick reference beside your trail hip so you can practise turning without drifting sideways.

You’ll also like the Connected Backswing drill if you want your arms and body to turn together. And when you’re ready to work on the movement through impact, try the Trevino Posture Drill for a separate rehearsal focused on that part of the swing.

Technique reference: Flat Shoulder Plane — Dave Phillips, Titleist. Illustrations, practice record and article layout created for GolfPracticePlans.co.uk.

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