The No Backswing Golf Swing

Aug

2007

The “No-Backswing” Swing

Posted by Double Eagle in Ball Striking Tips, Practice Tips

Uh oh, another golf swing revolution.

Golf Digest has cornered that market on the stack and tilt swing, so Golf Magazine came out with a revolution of its own in the September 2007 issue. This time, it’s the “No-Backswing” swing.

The concept has been developed and studied by Top-100 teachers Dr. Jim Suttie and Dr. T.J. Tomasi. This isn’t a new idea. When I was first learning the game almost 15 years ago, a pro demonstrated this to me as a drill to get the feeling of swinging down from a proper position. However, Suttie and Tomasi have taken it to another level, including a study of its effectiveness.

The basic premise is that about 70% of swing faults of around 90% of golfers occur in the back swing. Those faults compound because they build on top of each other. A flaw during the back swing is very difficult to recover from.

The answer: start the swing at the top.

Of course, the “No-Backswing” is somewhat of a misnomer. After all, the club has to get up there somehow. But instead of a fluid move starting from address and moving through impact to the finish, the no-backswing swing starts with the left arm (for a right hander) parallel to the ground with the wrists fully cocked. From there, you do a move called “The Pump” where you get into the traditional top of the back swing position. From there, just hit the ball.

The full instructional article is available online at Golf.com, including a video of how to do the swing.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the article is the study that was conducted to test the effectiveness of the technique.

In the first experiment, 29 golfers of varying skill levels were tested by having them hit five balls with their regular swing and then five with the no-backswing swing. To me, the results seem unremarkable, but GD declares, “Nonetheless, the data indicates that the No-Backswing Swing works and has distinct advantages over the traditional way of swinging the club.”

The second experiment is the one I find most remarkable. In it, they asked reader Pat Sexton, an 8-handicap, to learn, practice, and play with the no-backswing swing for two weeks.

When he returned for follow-up testing, he gained 6.2 mph in club head speed, 10 mph in ball speed, and nearly ten yards of carry. Also of note is that his dispersion pattern tightened by almost 4 yards.

I’m having trouble deciding whether I favor playing like this. I really wanted to try it out tonight at the range, but I’ve been having some soreness in my foot that kept me on the couch.

I will say that I definitely agree with the point that a large number of swing faults happen well before reaching the top of the backswing and the errors can definitely compound making it difficult or impossible to recover prior to impact.

I suppose there’s not much to be lost by starting the swing at the top. After all, the energy is stored in the body’s coil and doing the coil and downswing in a single move doesn’t really increase the amount of stored energy. At that point, it’s simply a matter of timing and tempo. The “pump” move keeps you from having to start the downswing from a static position.

I’m definitely interested in giving it a try. Has anyone tried it, and if so, what are your thoughts? Can anyone think of any downsides?

After I get a chance to try it for myself, I’ll report back. Your homework assignment is to do the same.

—————-

There are currently 32 responses to “The “No-Backswing” Swing”

1
The Happy Rock said:

That is awesome, despite looking weird on the course.

I will definitely try it, anything that helps me swing more like baseball makes me happy!

No you just have to mentally prepare for the Happy Gilmore jokes and tee box snickering.

Posted on August 23rd, 2007 at 11:10 am
2
Double Eagle said:

I’d live with heckling in exchange for consistency. After all, when one of those 70% of swing flaws pops up and I top the ball 20 yards, I’m not exactly feeling great.

Posted on August 23rd, 2007 at 7:32 pm
3
Joe D. Segovia said:

I just recently tried the single plan golf swing and it started out well. Osmosis set in and I quickly went to manure. It got so bad I quit the game out of frustration. I read about the No Backswing backswing in golf magazine. I studied it and tried it out on a local nine hole course. I was utterly amazed. I have never hit the ball as far and as accurate as I did tonight. The first couple of times it was extremely awkward. But once I got used to the swing I scored very well. I ran into a couple of friends on the course and they asked me what the hell I was doing. I explained and with an audience watching me, were very impressed with my drives. They also wanted to know where I learned about this unusual swing. Hey it looks dorky but I love the results.

Posted on August 29th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
4
Double Eagle said:

Can’t argue with results, Joe. Glad to hear it worked out for you.

Posted on August 29th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
5
Fixit said:

I just started hitting the links this year, so I’m a novice, to put it mildly. I can hit it long and accurately on rare occasion, but I’m wildly inconsistent with all of my irons. Don’t even get me started on my hybrid 3 and 4; I can’t hit those AT ALL.

Yesterday, I got home from work early and I decided to hit a few in my back yard. I pulled out my 6, got into the No-Backswing position, and hit it into the tree in front of me, better than I’d ever hit that or any other iron. That was the very first ball. I repeated the process 1/2 dozen more times and hit the same spot on the tree consistently on all of them.

I thought “Fluke!” so I grabbed my hybrid 3, expecting to be as bad as I’ve ever been (possibly even worse), then started UNLOADING into the woods. I hit one bad shot, but that was because I was so excited that I rushed one.

Out of 14 balls, I hit 13 long and arrow-straight, with no previous exposure to the swing. Needless to say, I became a big believer instantly.

Posted on August 30th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
6
Double Eagle said:

You’re going to need to buy some more balls, Fixit.

What I’m interested to know is whether the no-backswing swing will be effective if you return to your previous normal swing.

If you’re bypassing 70% of swing errors and getting into a proper position at the top, will that position become ingrained to the point where you could go back to using the full backswing and just feel where things aren’t right until you end up just doing it correctly.

Of course, the question is, what’s the point? If the no-backswing works as well or better, then why bother ever going back?

Posted on August 30th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
7
Mike Pedersen Golf said:

I think the swing for any amateur is Zach Johnson’s. He has a very compact swing that is so much easier to repeat. So many golfers think they need to make this FULL backswing, and yet most of them don’t have the physical capability to get there without a lot of tension and effort. We all know what tension does to the golf swing.

Swing within yourself like Zach does and watch your game explode!

Posted on September 23rd, 2007 at 6:25 pm
8
TP Golf Online said:

I agree with the initial research sampling of hitting 5 balls with a regular swing and 5 with the no-backswing backswing. Seems the data can get skewed to fit results they already had in mind.

It is a good drill and there are others like it that get golfers to get into “preset” conditions.

A downside I can see is how will the average golfer get into the starting position. I have not read the article(s) and I just watched the video so I do not know all the details. But like address if they don’t get into the correct position (proper wrist cock, having the shaft on plane, etc…) they may not be fixing the problem and they may be avoiding problem altogether.

Posted on November 25th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
9
Double Eagle said:

The article (available online) does a nice job of showing the average player how to get in a good position with respect to plane, wrist cock, etc. There are some good photos showing the proper positions.

Posted on November 25th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
10
Golf Carts for Sale said:

I have to tell you that as bizarre as it looks, what a difference. They are going straight where I want them to go and further, might have to go up a club size.

Posted on February 29th, 2008 at 2:06 am
11
Nomad said:

The go to swing: No backswing back swing.
I read this months ago in one of the golf magazines. Thought it was stupid till I tried it. What it does for me.
1. Slows me down (Don’t need to swing hard, the downward strike will make the ball fly)
2. Sets me up in the swing position.
3. Helps build up more coil.
4. Loads up the back leg.
I take it a point further. I’ll drop my arms low in the swing in the slot to the 7 or 8 oclock position twice with wrist hinged while shifting my weight to the front foot a bit. I rotate and shift my hips to the front foot during this time. Two practice pumps same motion then I coil back and swing.
5. This helps put he club in the slot and lag the club through impact.
6. Helps rotate hips
7. Sets up for downward strike due to the two practice hinge pumps to the 7 or 8 oclock position
8. sets up for nice follow through with hips and arms rotated forward which I don’t get on the normal swing. Usually cupped and a chicken wing.

This swing helps just take your time and who cares what others think. It works and your ball will jump.

Posted on June 21st, 2008 at 12:30 am
12
tj tomasi said:

This is a great site — kudos

tj tomasi

Posted on July 14th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
13
Double Eagle said:

Thanks!

Posted on July 14th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
14
Maurice Huet said:

I have learning to play Golf over the past couple of years and read everything I can to improve my game and realize that most people just follow what they are told, but do not really try to understand the physics behind the reasons. I am a mechanical designer, not an engineer, but understand that club head speed is a main factor in determining ball travel. I believe that acceleration of the club head is controlled be the speed of acceleration and the time that you have to accelerate. If you accelerate over a longer period of time, your club head speed will be greater, and therefore the ball will travel further. Therefore, a longer back swing will allow for longer drives. I realize that the accuracy may be affected. However, to match this drive with a shorter back swing, a person will have to use more energy to accelerate faster, in order to match the final velocity, thus also sacrificing accuracy…..what are your thoughts on this manner

Posted on August 8th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
15
Double Eagle said:

Maurice,

I generally agree with your thoughts.

Generating club head speed is the primary factor in distance. In general, you’re right that a longer back swing makes this easier. With a longer swing we have more time to accelerate and build club head speed, and it certainly requires less effort. But, equally important is width. If the swing arc is smaller (like when the hands are too close to the right shoulder at the top of the back swing), then physics dictate that the same amount of effort will produce less club head speed than if the swing arc is as large as wide as we can possibly make it.

I might argue that the primary factor in people lacking distance isn’t usually swing length. I’d bet width is a more common problem followed by a bunch of other swing flaws.

For someone with good strength, the reason is usually one or more swing flaws (like inadequate width) that prevent optimal acceleration of the club in the down swing or that cause the club to decelerate too soon. There are many, many flaws that can contribute to this.

In the case of seniors, however, swing length can be a primary factor, as they are not as strong and flexible as they once were.

Of course, a longer back swing provides diminishing returns when over-swinging occurs and players get the club too far back. It works for some players, such as John Daly, but for most people, it comes with a price (consistency).

Posted on August 8th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
16
preston said:

come on people. ask yourself a simple question: when is the last time you saw ANYONE playing tournament level golf use this swing? never. rather than try to completely change your golf swing to something unheard of, go to a local pro and learn a traditional swing. i mean, i came to this site thinking it would be something like where you pre-cock your hands or something then simply turn to the top. with this swing: it is impossible to create consistant tempo, thus impossible to have consistant distance. People! Practice! im 14 years old and a +1 handicap on a course with a slope of 148, using a very normal and simple golf swing. the golf swing has little moving parts if done correctly and is extremely easy to repeat with a little guidance from a pro

Posted on March 15th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
17
Double Eagle said:

Preston, you don’t see players playing tournament golf with swings like this because they don’t have the same problems that weekend players do. They also have access to the best teachers in the world, which is another bonus that 99% of the world also doesn’t have.

Being only 14 years old you don’t have the problem of ten or 20 or 30 years of bad habits ingrained in your body like older players do. You also have the luxury of being able to play and practice a lot more.

I agree with your point that working with a pro is the best option, but it’s not as realistic for everyone. Some people don’t have the time to practice as much as they would like (making lessons almost pointless) and they may not have enough room in the budget for a series of lessons (golf is already pretty expensive).

The fact is, the study showed that the no-backswing swing was effective for players and while it might not be the best solution, it’s an easy, cheap way for the weekend player to improve a little and enjoy the game more. I would encourage any player to do whatever they can to get the most possible enjoyment out of the game given that player’s time and financial situation.

Posted on March 15th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
18
Better Golf said:

Well Preston, you are one of the gifted ones then?

You say…

“the golf swing has little moving parts if done correctly and is extremely easy to repeat with a little guidance from a pro”

…I have taken many lessons, and consider myself a very athletic golfer, playing to a 7 with very little practice, but my golf swing has MANY moving parts and all the golf pros I’ve worked with, haven’t been able to help me…and just to let you know, I was basically a professional track athlete, so I’m very athletic and coordinated, so if it were that easy, I should be a simple case study for you

Mike

Posted on March 15th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
19
Brandon said:

I have been playing golf for about 2 months. I am 37, in okay shape, but not very flexible. Before I stumbled upon this no-backswing philosopy recently I found myself frustrated because when I take a full backswing I have a hard time with accuracy and distance. When I would stop mid-backswing and look at my club position in practice, I found myself hitting it further and with greater accuracy than if I took a full backswing. I was doing the no-backswing technique without knowing what it was called! I thought it was wrong because you ‘need’ to have a full backswing to do it ‘right’. But, if I hit better all around without a full backswing, do I care if I look a little silly or go against conventional ‘rightness?’ Since everything is better when I start from the backswing already, I will continue to practice and play the same way! Thanks

Posted on March 27th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
20
Double Eagle said:

Brandon, it’s all about what works best for you. Awesome!

Posted on March 27th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
21
Joe said:

I find the concept interesting to say the least. I normally shoot in the mid to high 80′s and have been playing golf for years and have been looking for something “new” to try out. This might be it. I will give it a go next time I’m out on the range or alone on the course. Who knows, it might have some merit.

Posted on June 5th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
22
zingari said:

There is another way you can semi utilise the no backswing method which for me personally has improved my striking and scoring unbelivably.

What i do is this,address the ball so to make sure i am in the correct position, then i hold the golf club out front with wristed pre cocked club shaft pointing down target line. I then turn to the top making sure i dont rise up and change spine angle,and my arm is still straight i then hold the turn my hips have made and as much of the shoulder turn i can, and then take my hands back to the ball and immediately swing back up to the top again and then down. This works very well for me as i go back to a good backswing position by simply swinging my arms up (but wide), as i have already more or less semi set my shoulders and almost fully set my hips.

Looks a little strange but boy is it easier to strike the ball pure.
Im playng low single figure golf now, my putting still stinks but greens in regualtion are much more regular.

Hope this helps

Posted on June 11th, 2009 at 11:54 am
23
Double Eagle said:

Interesting, zingari. That kind of seems what Hank Haney had Charles Barkley doing this season on The Haney Project. It’s certainly a valid way to make a swing. Getting to the top of the swing in the correct position is much of the battle. If you can get there in an unconventional way, it doesn’t matter much, as long as you’re getting there.

Posted on June 11th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
24
Joe said:

If I am not mistaken, LPGA golfer Suzanne Pettersen did a version of this “no backswing” swing for a while on the tour during tournament play with some success. It is not embarassing if you do it correctly and are good at it. Scoring is the important thing not how the swing looks.

Posted on June 12th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
25
Double Eagle said:

I agree, Joe. I’d hit balls with a 2×4 if it helped me play well (and was legal).

Posted on June 12th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
26
Joe said:

Update on the “no backswing” golf swing: I did indeed experiment with this method but it just didn’t feel “right” to me. It is good for practice purposes (to groove a swing ala Mike Weir prior to his actual swing) but I had difficulty utilizing this method on the course while actually playing. Still, I am going to “tinker” with it some more in future practice sessions and some holes while playing.

Posted on September 19th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
27
JOHN said:

With the no backswing swing how do you set up for non full swing shots. Chips, pitches half wedges ect. How far is the club set up for the speciality shots.
Also, is this swing easier on the back and knee?

Posted on May 25th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
28
Double Eagle said:

John,

By no means am I an expert, but I would think that you would pre-set your back swing position just like you would for full shots (adjusted to be appropriate to the shot type/length for that specific shot, of course).

I’ve never tried it for less than full shots, but my assumption is, whatever your normal backswing would look like, just pre-set that position.

I’m not sure about the effect on the back and knees. I have a feeling it’s probably similar to that of a regular full swing because the real effort occurs on the down swing and that doesn’t change with this type of motion. Though, maybe the fact that the transition from back swing to down swing is less drastic might change things, but I can’t say for sure.

Posted on May 25th, 2010 at 10:11 pm
29
JOHN said:

Double EagleThank you for your reply. The reason for my question was once your in the set up position you do your turn and I was curious if this applied to other swings or as you stated start from a set position and hit without any further movement back. I am curious if you know golfers using this swing use it for full shots and then go back to the conventional swing for short shots.
I asked about the effect on the knee and back because I had two surguries on my front knee and as I get tired I sometimes fail to shift my weight. This swing could help me in respect, I will give it a try.

Posted on May 26th, 2010 at 8:33 am
30
Double Eagle said:

John,

As I sat there thinking my original reply, I was kind of torn between whether or not it would be useful for short game shots. I was unsure because I’ve never tried it for those shots, and there wasn’t really anything in the original article about it (from what I remember). The more I think about it, the less likely I think I would be to try it for short shots. On the other hand, the whole point is eliminating back swing errors, and they definitely happen on short shots too.

Either way, I’m very interested to hear how you make out with it.

Posted on May 26th, 2010 at 9:55 am
31
Don said:

The no backswing backswing looks a lot like what Anthony Kim does in that episode of Playing with the Pros or whatever it’s called. You can see it on Youtube. He says he does a half swing then focuses on turning then all he does is swing down.

Posted on August 2nd, 2010 at 9:33 am
32
Gary said:

Pause N Go golf is very similar to the nbs method, although, there is a backswing. It was developed by me and my partner and is based on the powerful swing positions of the great Mike Austin. We also have a training aide to get you into the powerful top swing position. Please view http://www.Pause-n-go.com to see our site and youtube videos. Like the NBS method, we have seen dramatic improvements in our customers games. Wether NBS or Pause N Go, give it a chance and watch your game improve very quickly!
Regards,
Gary S.

Posted on September 4th, 2010 at 12:50 pm

The “No-Backswing” Swing

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