I’m having trouble getting my Club shaft More parallel at the top of my backswing. Is there a drill that I can do or can somebody help me fix this. My backswing is always been rather short and I’m trying to fix this. Resultant major loss of distance. Thanks
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In my experience the reason someone may have a tough time reaching a parallel position at the top (assuming the club travels around the body with a straight left arm), is because the continuation to reach parallel requires my right knee to straighten and also the feeling that I am tilted towards the target at the top. This feel is unsettling if someone is used to lifting the club with the arms to the top with an initial weight shift to the trail foot (conventional swing).
I agree with the others that there's no reason to reach parallel, but if that's your goal because you do get more power, or you simply want to be able to achieve that position, then IMO you're gonna have to get used to feeling very tilted towards the target at the top. That said, if you look in a mirror you won't be tilted to the left, you'll actually be perfectly stacked over the ball.
Thank you for all your responses. I am working on chapter 1 right now. I’ve never had a real long backswing and I get my drives Around 250 or so. My problem is the short game but I am working on that. Thanks again
@rolsenr473 - Two words: Jon Rahm. He just won a US Open while getting nowhere near parallel! Two more words: Tony Finau. He absolutely bombs it with what looks like a half swing!
@Nocona Colt Abernathy is spot on in his reply. As I've conveyed to others, reaching back for more is like conducting a séance for those old swing demons, and they sure come back to haunt us when we do. Remember - the depth we create by getting our hands behind the trail shoulder at the top gives us all the power we need (it's invoking the tremendous force of angular momentum), even if it "looks" like less than a full swing compared to our old Shift & Lift days. Trust me - you've created width and plenty of distance for that club to travel by taking it deep; there's no need to try to get to "parallel" - that false deity of swings past. Execute the motions, understand your body's natural stopping point, and then - the most difficult part - train yourself to stop there!
If you do try to go beyond your body's natural stopping point any or all of the following swing wreckers will occur:
1) the lead arm will bend and/or lift
2) the wrists will break down
3) the lead knee will kick inward towards the trail side
4) the lead shoulder will level out and lose its orientation towards the ball
5) weight will shift into the trail side
Below is an excerpt message that I give to new members who inquire as to how to best navigate the school and get on the fast track to success. I sense that there may be some helpful information for you to garner in here as well:
It is crucial to take sufficient time to master the fundamental components of the first couple of chapters! I cannot emphasize this enough, as frustrations predominantly occur when a student jumps ahead in the curriculum without properly dedicating himself/herself to the foundational base upon which our consistently repeatable, powerful, low maintenance swing must be built. Please have a look at this introductory video if you have not already done so: https://saguto.golf/courses/1166020/lectures/30347767.
One of the many great things about this swing is that you can achieve solid ball striking even at the most basic levels. This is why I oftentimes will suggest that students park themselves on Chapter 2 of the Golf Swing Simplified course for an extended period of time after locking down Chapter 1's foundational elements. Chapter 2 reinforces the body motions and the weight-forward component, and it culminates with what I call "The Best Golf Swing Practice Drill of All Time". Work yourself sequentially and gradually through the chapter, and then commit yourself to that drill in Lesson 2.8. Learn it. Practice it. Master it. You can even use the somewhat abbreviated swing it provides on the course and play quite well with it! Once you've got that down, you will be well prepared to move forward in the curriculum and well on your way towards taking ownership of YOUR swing!
Also, as you progress always keep in mind the V1 Swing Video Analysis service, an effective and inexpensive service that I highly recommend to everyone in the school. I liken it to bringing your swing into the shop for a tune-up or minor repair. Scheduling one on a quarterly basis for preventive maintenance will do wonders for keeping things humming along nicely, and it's also a great tool for pinpointing and resolving any issues that arise. The process involves downloading the free V1 app and then submitting two videos to me through the app - one down-the-line (captured from your stance line, not the target line) and the other face-on. Here's the link with additional information for future reference. https://app.v1sports.com/Saguto-Golf
Tom
Do you want the club shaft parallel at the top or do you want to hit it further? Because those two things aren't actually that related.
If you want the club more parallel, the quickest way is lifting your arms. To hit the ball further, you need the club head further from the ball at the top, which means you need more depth in you backswing (more of the club around your body).