Driving: Half measures

Shorten your backswing to gain power – and control

Shorten your backswing to gain power – and control.

Fault: Loss of control, caused by over-swinging Fix: Practise half-backswings

Your backswing is longer than you think. Whenever you feel you are stopping the backward movement of the club, momentum takes it on a foot or two further. This is why so many golfers overswing, a situation that sees the crucial connection between the arms and body break down and control of the club’s path lost. To overcome the overswing, you need to stop the club sooner than you might think to complete your backswing. Try this halfbackswing drill – you’ll be surprised at the results.

Harnessed power Get the rhythm of this shorter swing and you’ll surprise yourself how far you can hit the ball... and with how much control. Go back to your regular swing to see how long it feels. TG TOP 50 STEVE ASTLE MORLEY HAYES, DERBY Advanced PGA...