The Backswing - The Complete Golf Swing Guide
PGA coach Rick Shiels breaks down the full golf swing in 6 easy stages—clear and simple for beginners or experienced players.
Why Watch This?
Rick Shiels delivers an easy-to-understand approach to the backswing that includes:
The “cylinderˮ analogy—helping you stay balanced and rotate efficiently.
How different club lengths affect the backswing plane and why it matters.
Why wrist hinge is crucial and how to set it naturally.
If you prefer simple, effective guidance that doesn't overcomplicate the swing, this video is perfect.
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Backswing: The Engine of Your Golf Swing
If you take golf lessons or analyze your swing, the backswing is likely the phase youʼll spend the most time perfecting. Why? Because it sets up everything else— if your backswing is out of sync, your downswing and impact will have to compensate, leading to inconsistency.
The backswing is where you store power, control your club path, and position the clubface correctly. A great backswing allows you to deliver the club on plane, with the right clubface angle and a smooth transition into the downswing.
Think of it like drawing back a bow before releasing an arrow—if you pull back incorrectly, the shot will be off, no matter how well you release. A strong, well- sequenced backswing is the foundation of a repeatable and effective golf swing.
If youʼre new to golf, you will struggle at first. The movements are not natural compared to other sports—your shoulders and hips turn, your arms raise, and your wrists hinge, all while keeping your lower body stable. Unlike baseball or tennis, where power comes from an aggressive motion, golf requires a controlled coil before exploding into the ball.
What Does an Ideal Backswing Look Like?
A well-executed backswing sets up everything in your swing—it stores power, controls your club path, and ensures a square clubface at impact. If you watch professional golfers, their backswings may look slightly different, but they all share the same core fundamentals.
Hereʼs what an ideal backswing looks like from two different learning perspectives:
Directive-Based: The Technical Breakdown of an Ideal Backswing
If you prefer structured, step-by-step learning, hereʼs a technical breakdown of what an ideal backswing looks like:
Takeaway (First Move)
The club should move low and slow, staying connected to your body.
Your lead arm should stay relaxed and extended, with the clubface square to your spine angle.
The club should not roll open or get too inside early in the backswing.
Mid-Backswing Position
The club should be parallel to the ground and parallel to your target line when it reaches hip height.
Your shoulders should begin turning naturally, and your wrists should start hinging gradually.
The club should feel light in your hands—not forced or manipulated.
Top of the Backswing
The club should be in line with your target, not too flat or too upright.
Your lead shoulder should be under your chin, and your trail knee should still have some flex.
Your wrists should be fully hinged, creating a 90-degree angle with your lead arm.
A backswing done correctly puts you in a powerful, balanced, and controlled position, ready to deliver the club back to the ball efficiently.
Analogy-Based: Feeling the Backswing Naturally
If technical positions and angles donʼt work for you, these drills and visualizations from the analogy-based videos will help you feel a natural, repeatable backswing. Instead of memorizing positions, these drills allow you to internalize the movement and execute it without overthinking.
The Barrel Drill (Backswing Rotation Like a Cylinder)
From "The Backswing - The Complete Golf Swing Guide"
Imagine yourself standing inside a giant barrel.
As you rotate into the backswing, your upper body should stay inside the barrel, without leaning or swaying.
The goal is to coil your shoulders and hips together, keeping your spine angle intact.
Why It Works: It helps prevent excessive swaying or tilting, keeping your swing centered and balanced.
The "Pause at the Top" Drill (Eliminating a Rushed Transition)
From "GOLF DOWNSWING - HOW TO STOP RUSHING YOUR DOWNSWING DRILLS"
Take your backswing as normal, but instead of immediately swinging down, hold the position at the top for a second.
This "pause" allows you to feel how your body loads energy before transitioning into the downswing.
Many amateurs rush the downswing because their backswing is too quick— this drill forces you to feel control and tempo at the top.
Why It Works: It helps eliminate over-the-top swings, improves tempo, and teaches you to store power before releasing it smoothly.
The Rope Drill (Feeling a Smooth Backswing & Downswing Connection)
From "Best ROTATION DRILL for Your Backswing and Downswing - It's Super SIMPLE!"
Take a rope or resistance band and hold it like a golf club.
As you rotate into the backswing, feel how the rope stays connected to your body rather than getting stuck behind.
This ensures your arms and torso work together, rather than having an "arm lift" motion that disconnects from the body.
Why It Works: This helps synchronize upper body and arm movement, preventing the dreaded disconnected backswing that leads to inconsistency.
The Weight Shift & Pressure Drill (Loading Power into the Trail Leg)
From "GOLF TAKEAWAY DRILL FOR BETTER BACKSWING"
At setup, feel 50/50 weight distribution.
As you turn into the backswing, let your trail foot feel heavier, as if you're "sinking into the ground" on that side.
This naturally loads power into your trail leg instead of swaying away from the ball.
Why It Works: This improves weight transfer, preventing a weak, unstable backswing.
Final Thoughts: The Backswing Takes Time—Be Patient and Keep Experimenting
The backswing is one of the hardest parts of the golf swing to get right—and thatʼs okay. Itʼs not something you master in a few range sessions. Itʼs a process that takes a lot of trial and error, small adjustments, and practice.
You might think you're doing everything right, but without seeing yourself swing, you won't know what actually needs fixing. This is why recording your swing is so important. A simple check in front of a mirror, a video on your phone, or even using a golf simulator that records your backswing before each shot can help you spot what feels right versus what actually looks right.
If technical positions work for you -> Use checkpoint-based drills and slow- motion mirror work to refine your angles.
If you learn by feel -> Try the analogy drills (Barrel Drill, Rope Drill, Pause at the Top) to make the backswing more natural.
If you need instant feedback -> Use a mirror or a golf simulator to get real- time swing analysis and make corrections on the spot.
If you want external help -> A coach or online lesson can point out what you're missing and speed up your progress.
The key is to keep experimenting, keep refining, and most importantly—be patient. Itʼs completely normal to struggle with this part of the swing. But once you start grooving a repeatable backswing, your entire swing will start to feel effortless and controlled.
Next Up: Mastering the Downswing & Transition
Now that your backswing is dialed in, letʼs talk about starting the downswing correctly and delivering power into the ball.