Shorter Backswing Drill: Find Repeatable Contact
Find repeatable contact.
Your backswing doesn’t need to visit the next postcode. If the last part of the journey feels difficult to control, try a shorter version and let the contact help you decide whether to keep it.
This is Long game Card 54 in the Golf Practice Made Fun App. This practice session compares two sets of nine shots with the same iron and target.
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Watch the shorter backswing drill
Watch the demonstration linked from Long game Card 54, then use the comparison below for your own practice session.
Step 1. Rehearse a shorter swing
Choose an iron you feel comfortable hitting. Pick one target, then make five easy rehearsals with a smaller backswing and a full, balanced finish.
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Choose your test | Keep the same club, target and intended pace for both sets. |
| Reduce the journey | Make the backswing noticeably smaller than usual. There is no fixed clock position to reach. |
| Finish the swing | Turn through to your normal balanced finish. A smaller backswing does not mean stopping at the ball. |
Step 2. Compare two sets
Hit nine shots with your usual backswing. Then hit nine with the shorter version you rehearsed. Give yourself the same reset before every shot.
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Shots 1–9 | Use your usual swing and count the clean strikes. |
| Shots 10–18 | Use your shorter backswing and count again. |
| Keep the comparison useful | Avoid changing your grip, stance or target halfway through the test. Make a note of any obvious wind or lie change. |
Step 3. Count clean contacts
Score 1 point for a clean strike and 0 for an obvious heavy or thin contact. Record each set out of nine, then add them for your total out of eighteen.
| Action | What to do |
|---|---|
| Usual swing | Clean contacts: ____ / 9 |
| Shorter backswing | Clean contacts: ____ / 9 |
| Session total | Clean contacts: ____ / 18 |
Note where the shots finished and whether the shorter swing felt easier to repeat. Try the test again on another day before making a lasting change.
Usual: ___ / 9 · Shorter: ___ / 9 · Total: ___ / 18
Complete a round. Tick a box.
Finish all 18 shots, then tick one box. Come back and complete another round next time.
FAQs.
How short should the backswing be?
Choose a comfortable reduction you can recognise in a rehearsal. You are comparing your own two versions, so you do not need to match somebody else’s position at the top.
Is my usual backswing wrong?
This test does not assume that it is. If your usual version gives better contact and feels easier to repeat, that is useful information too.
Will I lose distance?
You may. Note the carry as well as the contact rather than assuming a shorter swing will produce the same distance. Use the result to decide where this version is useful.
Which club should I use?
Start with one familiar iron and use it for both sets. Test other clubs in separate sessions so you can tell what changed.
What counts as clean contact?
For this session, use a simple judgement: a solid strike scores one; an obvious heavy or thin strike scores zero. Use the same judgement for all eighteen shots.
How should I record this in the app?
Use the card’s practice record and keep a short note of the two set scores: usual __/9 and shorter __/9. Those separate figures are useful when you repeat the comparison.
Give your next practice a purpose.
This is Long game Card 54 in the Golf Practice Made Fun App. Find illustrated drills, save your favourites and record your practice.
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