Posted: 10/17/2025 12:14:12 PM EDT
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I've had driver trouble for awhile now. It's usually cut spin, inconsistent face angle, and not catching the ball on the upward path of my swing. It was one of those "I know my problem but can't fix it" issues that happens so often in golf. I figure my arms are outrunning my shoulder rotation so my hands get out front of my body. Slowing my downswing has been easier said than done. Today at the range, I decided to try something new and copied Rahm's half-swing with a lot of wrist rotation at the top and by god, I had the same ball speed and distance with straight flight or a baby draw. I feel like my upper body rotation is where it's supposed to be relative to my arms. It worked with every club. I may just stick with it instead of trying to "fix" my full rotation swing since I'm 42 and it'll ultimately be better for my back. I figure I'm not sacrificing much since the majority of club speed generation happens in that part of the swing anyway. |
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Lots of people have backswings that are too slow and/or too long, which makes sequencing from the top more difficult. My coach likes to sync up a student’s swing on video next to Ernie Els. Ernie has already hit the ball before most of them have started their downswing. |
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Originally Posted By Sean124: Lots of people have backswings that are too slow and/or too long, which makes sequencing from the top more difficult. My coach likes to sync up a student’s swing on video next to Ernie Els. Ernie has already hit the ball before most of them have started their downswing. Too slow? hideki matsuyama would like a word 
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Originally Posted By Sean124: Hideki has spent years trying to get rid of that pause at the top. It's much shorter than it used to be. Originally Posted By Sean124: Originally Posted By BigPolska: Too slow? hideki matsuyama would like a word Hideki has spent years trying to get rid of that pause at the top. It's much shorter than it used to be. |
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Originally Posted By Sean124: There are always outliers to be found on tour that make things work. I'd argue that the average golfer would have more success trying to swing like Rahm instead of Young or Hideki. Originally Posted By Sean124: Originally Posted By Cypher214: Cam Young doesn't seem to have an issue. There are always outliers to be found on tour that make things work. I'd argue that the average golfer would have more success trying to swing like Rahm instead of Young or Hideki. Thousands of golf coaches: "Keep your front foot planted through the swing and your finish should look like this." Scottie Scheffler exists. Golf coaches: "Shit" Ultimately, you have to start somewhere with the fundamentals before "do what works for you" applies. |
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Originally Posted By SturmgeschutzIII: This topic interests me. I have a slow and deliberate backswing. I've improved my iron swing with lessons over the past couple months but lost 30 yards on my drives. I pretty much swing as hard as I can on drives but it doesn't feel fluid at all. I just watched this video on Friday and it's very relevant to you. It shits all over the "slow and deliberate backswing" approach.  DP World Tour Coach Liam Robinson got me FLUSHING IT In 2 Shots! |
Everything posted above is factual. Maybe.
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Originally Posted By Cypher214: @Sturmgescutzlll I just watched this video on Friday and it's very relevant to you. It shits all over the "slow and deliberate backswing" approach.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCRz5YcXTooAwesome I'll check it out and take it to the range this week. I'm slow on my iron swing too but something is really wrong with my driver. I've been hitting it pretty straight lately so I'm not too upset but it legit goes 20 yards farther than my 7w. I'm too young to only be driving 220 yards.
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Originally Posted By SturmgeschutzIII: Awesome I'll check it out and take it to the range this week. I'm slow on my iron swing too but something is really wrong with my driver. I've been hitting it pretty straight lately so I'm not too upset but it legit goes 20 yards farther than my 7w. I'm too young to only be driving 220 yards. Originally Posted By SturmgeschutzIII: Originally Posted By Cypher214: @Sturmgescutzlll I just watched this video on Friday and it's very relevant to you. It shits all over the "slow and deliberate backswing" approach. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCRz5YcXTooAwesome I'll check it out and take it to the range this week. I'm slow on my iron swing too but something is really wrong with my driver. I've been hitting it pretty straight lately so I'm not too upset but it legit goes 20 yards farther than my 7w. I'm too young to only be driving 220 yards. Something about grabbing the big stick makes me swing differently and I don't generate enough club speed. I think I'm not releasing the club at the right time and not syncing my upper body rotation correctly. I need a good coach instead of always trying to self analyze. |
Everything posted above is factual. Maybe.
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Tried it yesterday. I don't have a launch monitor but my ball was definitely going farther. I like it but I need some refinement. I had a pull hook miss since my hands were so much faster than normal. Focusing on moving forward and a bit of an open club face though and I hit some nice ones. |
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Originally Posted By Sean124: Most people need to feel this much earlier and more than they think. Originally Posted By Sean124: Originally Posted By SturmgeschutzIII: Focusing on moving forward. Most people need to feel this much earlier and more than they think.
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Everything posted above is factual. Maybe.
| I've been following this thread with interest. I have to have a moderately slow tempo on my backswing or my shots disperse all over the place. If I maintain a relatively slow backswing I hit it straight. It's very consistent. My drives this year have been awesome, hitting the short grass almost all the time. If I speed up, that all goes out the window. Maybe that's just due to my body mechanics. |
For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security.
Thomas Jefferson
"He didnt punch anybody. He punched an idea." DrFrige
Thomas Jefferson
"He didnt punch anybody. He punched an idea." DrFrige
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Originally Posted By JCoop: I've been following this thread with interest. I have to have a moderately slow tempo on my backswing or my shots disperse all over the place. If I maintain a relatively slow backswing I hit it straight. It's very consistent. My drives this year have been awesome, hitting the short grass almost all the time. If I speed up, that all goes out the window. Maybe that's just due to my body mechanics. I have a pretty slow tempo as well. It comes down to the business on the downswing tho  Watch some of Bryson's distance training videos. He advocates for hitting a bunch of shots at the end of your range session as hard and fast as possible, push your limits. If you move the ceiling higher, then the floor moves up as well as your body gets used to the added speed.
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Originally Posted By JCoop: I've been following this thread with interest. I have to have a moderately slow tempo on my backswing or my shots disperse all over the place. If I maintain a relatively slow backswing I hit it straight. It's very consistent. My drives this year have been awesome, hitting the short grass almost all the time. If I speed up, that all goes out the window. Maybe that's just due to my body mechanics. Adding some speed to the takeaway ultimately helps to get your body rotated further into the backswing which is important if you're chasing club head/ball speed. That's why you see all the long drivers slinging the club back like they're trying to throw it behind them as hard as possible, they're using the momentum to get maximum loading (like a spring) before they whip their body in the opposite direction. The hard part is getting max speed while maintaining control, which is why you see guys like Bryson and Kyle Berkshire slowing down a lot when they're on a course. Of course, their "slow controlled drives" still go over 350. |
Everything posted above is factual. Maybe.
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Yeah, I do get that faster backswing can increase rotation and thus load up your stored energy, and I do try that once in a while. I find that I have to close the club face a fraction or I slice the hell out of it when I try that. It's just not as consistent. Must need more range time... |
For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security.
Thomas Jefferson
"He didnt punch anybody. He punched an idea." DrFrige
Thomas Jefferson
"He didnt punch anybody. He punched an idea." DrFrige
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Originally Posted By Sean124: Most people need to feel this much earlier and more than they think. Spent more time on the range yesterday and focused on moving forward sooner and I was hitting irons really crisp and just with a slight draw. Driver was getting hooked pretty bad though. I tried various things but it was all hooks and a handful of straight pushes. I couldn’t get anything consistent. Overall I’m liking it though. Feels more like a swing than the slow motion, hyper focused hit that I’ve always done. |