Pitching - Backswing - Arms Only

An article by: Bobby Eldridge on 12-17-2007
This article has been read 2022 times.

Pitching Instruction - Arms Only

It is time for the golf club to swing back. Your body is in the perfect set-up for the club, hands, and arms to move away from the golf ball.

As the golf club begins to move away from the golf ball the clubhead must swing back on a slight arc away from the golf ball.(#13)

If the clubhead swings too much inside the backswing the right shoulder will turn too much in the backswing.(#14) If the clubhead swings too much outside in the backswing the right shoulder will tilt up too much. By swinging the clubhead back on the correct arc, the right shoulder will have the correct amount of tilt in the backswing which will enable the golf club to swing up.(#15) At the top of the backswing if the clubhead has swung up on the correct arc this will enable the clubhead to swing back down on the correct angle.

Pitching - Steep Angle

The angle is what allows the leading edge of the clubhead to make contact with the bottom of the golf ball and the ground at the same time. (#16) This contact is what creates the impact that makes the golf ball go up in the air with the correct amount of loft and backspin.

Pitching Golf Instruction - The Weight

When the backswing begins you have 70% of your weight on your left leg and during the backswing it is profoundly important that 70% of your weight remains on your left leg and that it NEVER EVER moves back towards the right side.(#18 - #19)

If the weight slides back in the backswing the clubhead will never swing UP.(#20)

The sliding motion makes the clubhead stay low to the ground in the back swing. Remember what does not go up won't come down. If the clubhead does not swing up it will not swing down and during the downswing the clubhead will travel too level to the ground. If the clubhead travels too level to the ground the leading edge will not be able to find the bottom of the golf ball. The impact will resemble more of a putting swing, the leading edge will strike the middle of the golf ball and the ball will not go up in the air.(#21)

You can continue viewing golf lessons about the pitching backswing. The next lesson in the Pitching series is on the length of the backswing. Or you can view golf lessons on the pitching Downswing, Follow Through, or the Introduction.