Good Ball Strikers Never Do THIS in the Golf Backswing

[@ScottMiller-rx2wc]

Great video Todd. I’ve been telling everyone to watch your videos they really do help. Thank you and your team for what you guys do.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Keep spreading the word my friend 👊

[@johnk.atchley5079]

This was a very helpful video lesson for me. I will be 81 in 17 days. Have been playing golf for 60 years. On May 30 I played a round of golf, one of the few I have gotten out for this year. My goal was to break 90 from the white tees, which on this course total 5971 yards. I usually play from there up to around 6300. Things were going along reasonably well, with a 44 of the par 36 front nine and 6 over for the first six holes of the back, but then things fell apart. Had I just scored bogies on the last three holes I would have had an 87. The sun does hit me pretty hard, and it was mid-90s, so perhaps that muddled my focus. But I had begun to have some mishits from hole 13 on. I happened to see this video in my email and today went to the range and worked on keeping my arms closer as if squeezing that yellow ball. It really helped me keep my arms connected to my torso, that is, moving together with the turn of the chest. I realized that on the course because I was focusing hard on starting the takeaway with the club face square in order to promote keeping my left wrist flat or slightly bowed, not cupped, I had lost track of other parts of the swing and was probably committing some of the errors you show here. That's golf. It's like trying to keep snakes in a basket. Push one in on one side, and another pops out the other side. So thanks for this. It really helped.

[@themanofhoy]

Great advice Alan from Derbyshire UK 🇬🇧

[@damondunaway950]

100%. I have been playing this game since I was ten. High school, college, yada yada...Spot on!

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Much appreciated!

[@FernandoBayon]

Todd, Thank you so much. I have learned to play golf with you. Great video like always. From Miami Florida.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

You made our day! Thanks. Nothing better than getting these messages. Appreciate you 👊

[@extrememetaldrummer1]

Love it. Most sensible swing out there. I use to wonder if how I naturally swung was wrong and this is exactly what I do naturally.

[@jeffreymoss4257]

I know I spread my arms on the backswing, so I will try this ball exercise. Great concise to the point instruction.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Be sure to let us know how it goes.

[@jeffreyhumphreys6553]

Great instructional videos! I've been a subscriber for some time and they have definitely improved my golf game. Thanks!

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Appreciate those kind words! More to come my friend.....

[@Airbus320lover]

Thanks, Coach! I used to have a ball in my bag until I bought the swing armband. I like the armband more, but yes, the ball used to give me more mental simulation.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Solid

[@anitaknutsdottir4507]

I'm from Iceland and love your lessons!

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Appreciate those kinds words. What is the golf season in Iceland?

[@corkydukeII5898]

@@USGOLFTVshow Icy conditions 🤣🙃😜

[@USGOLFTVshow]

@@corkydukeII5898 LOL

[@wesinsarasota3828]

Great advice! Can't wait to practice this

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Be sure to let us know how it goes. 👊

[@ericstinnett9182]

Great video, I've been working on my back swing, using the Ben Hogan back swing. It really help with my swing, taking a lot of pressure off my back and knees. It help my arms stay connected to my body more, I'm still working on it lol. Thanks

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Eric, awesome to hear. Hard to not follow Mr Hogan and his guidance

[@tedgresch1505]

I'd lost my swing with the driver both distance and accuracy. This drill and concept worked like a charm. At the age of 67 I smashed the ball down the middle of the fairway time after time, what fun. Thanks!

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Made our day Ted!! Nothing better than hearing these stories of success. 👊 Appreciate you posting...

[@lannyheflin5109]

Lanny fm wyo Todd I second what I read about shaft angle being a great video & instruction. Never thought about shaft angle but can see what a difference it makes. Tks so much.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Thanks Lanny! WYO is a great place. Gods country!

[@edwinengelbrecht3377]

Hi Todd. Is there a correct distance at address from toes to ball..... too close or too far ? Thanking for the No 1 golf instruction.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Good question, you want to position your body so that your hands fall directly below your shoulders, grip the club from this position and where the club rests on the ground is where the ball should be. Hope that helps.

[@bradmorgan5615]

where did you get that yellow ball?

[@aidan.montague]

Yes, where do you find a ball like that?

[@albobnic9860]

Bought maxvert drive and I'm pleasantly surprised. I've picked up a good 25 yards. Thanks. Now get that hybrid for lefties in stock. Al. B.😊

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Al, awesome! The early reviews of the MaxVert are beyond anything we could have imagined. Nice to hear you are having the same experience. The team is working hard to keep up with demand on the driver and hybrids. Stay tuned…

[@neildixon5924]

Great tip. My pro is getting me to focus on the slight squeeze of the elbows together and I’m flushing it. Need to remember to do it all the time now.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

You got this Neil!

[@johnmcclendon2603]

Great drill!! Would love to see a lesson on proper GRIP PRESSURE

[@USGOLFTVshow]

We will add to our list. 👊

[@terryread7347]

Thanks! I try to keep my trail arm/elbow as vertical as possible at the top of my backswing. (The old holding the tray analogy) This also gets similar feelings to these drills.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Terry, you got this! Be sure to let us know how it goes. 👊

[@rculley4264]

Great video!

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Thanks!

[@MrMlyarber]

Where do you buy that yellow ball?

[@klogjo]

I'll give it a try, thanks.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Hope the info helps Gary!

[@stephenmonash821]

Hogan talks about it in his swing thoughts. Staying connected is important - though a lot of pros like couples and Daley tend to go across the line at the top I am sure.

[@philipgraziano5577]

Getting that ball today!

[@davidsayer8029]

Where did you get the ball?

[@jimkostek6274]

Hey!!! Like your vids,short and sweet,no info overload!! Thnx!!! Would I use this for my woods also,not just the irons??? Thnx!!! GO BILLS!!!!

[@USGOLFTVshow]

This will be tough with the woods and longer clubs. We suggest nothing more than a 6 iron. Good question.

[@johnehlke926]

Like the fact that your videos are about 5 minutes others I’ve watched are much longer messaged gets lost with too much info

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Keep it short, simple and to the point 👊

[@majscrap2629]

Or those guys start talking a mile a minute.

[@philipgraziano5577]

Going to get that ball today!

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Let’s go!

[@davidsayer8029]

Where did you get the ball?

[@glennmacnaughton4537]

Glenn from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: what's the difference between a pitch shot and a chip shop, other than the distance?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Great question. Length of swing really. Anytime the hands work above waist height we consider that a pitch shot.

[@royangel7674]

Thank you, great teaching tips.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Our pleasure Roy. Are you a subscriber?

[@lannyheflin5109]

Love your videos Todd. Lanny fm Douglas Wyo

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Appreciate those kind words! We are here to help our fellow golfers. I was lucky enough to play in Wyoming last summer for the first time. Amazing!

[@garytannenbaum534]

I just subscribed. Very interesting video. But what size ball should I use? What kind of ball should I use. And where do I get such a ball? From your video, it looks like it is a foam ball. I have seen a Callaway training device which I think helps keep both arms relatively close to each other during the swing, but I would like to try your method first. I look forward to your response. Thank you!

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Thanks for subscribing Gary! We like a foam ball, as it has some give and allows you to squeeze it a little. Size is a little bigger than a softball, maybe a little smaller than a child's basketball. Hope the info helps, stay tuned for more great content!

[@eileenodonoghue1789]

You often say “ too open” at the top but we need you to explain that!’ Thanks

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Fair point, we can give a description next time. Thanks for the idea...

[@143chewie]

Ordering a “Small-Ball” today Question; where should the elbows be pointing through out the swing?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Good question. Basically towards the ground...This is a good reference.

[@barkermotorsports7101]

I am terrible coming over the top. I need to try this drill. Thamks

[@USGOLFTVshow]

You got this....

[@majscrap2629]

Good tips. I have lapsed into "chicken winging" my arms and elbows. I need to get back to pinning my upper arms in.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Stay tuned, we have a video on the dreaded "Chicken Wing" coming very soon!

[@johnnyhicks2386]

Great advice

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Much appreciated!

[@stevepierce1238]

Todd, very helpful. I noticed your lead elbow is pointing up to the sky like Hogan taught, but there are others that teach the lead inside elbow faces away from the target. Which is preferred?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

In general we like to see the elbows pointed towards the ground for most the swing. Make sense?

[@stevepierce1238]

@@USGOLFTVshow Very helpful! Many thanks!

[@alvinromeromd]

Same drill my swing coach taught me few years ago.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

We like your coach LOL

[@m4wilson]

Great video! What do you recommend for someone who overswings with run off on the back swing? Asking for a friend. 🙂 And what about the person who brings the club too far inside immediately in the backswing?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Solid question, here is a good place to start kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWq2oYdonc2eiNk

[@48wawa]

Sorry Todd. As a 73 year old golfer, I cannot do the Vertical Line Swing with the ball between my arms. At least my back does not hurt anymore. Thanks for developing the vertical Line Swing Gary Parker

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Gary, good point. The ball is more for younger or golfers with more flexibility. We should have noted this in the video. Our bad. Thanks for the purchase, how’s the game? Improving?

[@mikeruppert958]

I notice your lead arm elbow bends during back swing. I was told your lead arm should stay straight. What is correct?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Great question, the lead arm should be extended, does not need to be "straight". This is a cornerstone of the Vertical Line Swing System. If you want to learn more, see here www.badliegolfbook.com/

[@greggouge93]

Can you find those balls at golf shops?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

On line is your best bet.

[@gregbrown81]

@@USGOLFTVshow what are they called ? i.e what do you search for

[@thomast1655]

What size ball is it and where would I get one?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Slightly larger than a softball is ideal.

[@lorenfarrell8446]

What size ball for the ball between the elbows

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Something between a softball and a volleyball is good.

[@donl4422]

Check out Myth#10 from Martin Chuck on GolfPass “Keep your trail arm tucked “. Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman never would use a ball under the arm.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Don, fair points. The ball is intended to keep the elbows together not close to the body. Martin is a great coach and invented the Smart Ball which does just this.

[@nealjohnson8112]

Todd - new golfer living in Pensacola Florida

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Welcome Neal! If you liked this video. you will want to look at this vlsgolf.com/products/vertical-line-stacker

[@rough_hand]

great points

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Much appreciated, which did you find the most helpful?

[@rough_hand]

@@USGOLFTVshow personally, the part where you mention keeping the trail elbow on the inside. That’s what changed my game the most and made me start hitting draws. I’ll be showing my friends this video

[@USGOLFTVshow]

@@rough_hand Thanks...glad it helped!

[@Burns2271]

If one has had a chicken wing for maybe years unknowingly with thousands of chicken wing swings in their muscle memory, realistically how long will it take-how many swings will it take to cure it? Even with some of those good swing thoughts you suggest, when I actually stand over a golf ball to hit it, the old muscle memory just takes over and I chicken wing. Thanks.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

This is the million dollar question. Thanks for asking. Golf is hopefully a journey of growth and improvement over many years where we never really arrive. We can always improve no matter how skilled we become. Specifically I would say a good consistent effort for 2-3 weeks should result in some progress. Thanks for posting 👊

[@raymondshadday8320]

Just curious where can i get one of them balls. Can i use a nerf ball

[@USGOLFTVshow]

A nurf ball works well.

[@jackarmstrong1838]

Sure looks like your trail arms folds well past 90 degrees on backswing. Doesnt that cause you to lose width on the backswing?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Good eye. There is some truth to what you say. This is mostly a result of limited flexibility, not ideal but reality.

[@brucewilliamson9242]

What size is the ball?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Slightly bigger than a softball and smaller than a basketball is best

[@garycrispens9208]

A thick car wash sponge cut to size works too.

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Yep, 👊

[@williamnixon7073]

The split elbows comes from baseball. most everyone plays some baseball before golf

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Possible, also it is a way for golfers to lengthen their swing.

[@TomGillisGolfInstruction]

What was that

[@csp11542]

Can any of these poor takeaways cause the effects of a confidence breaking shank ahh?

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Yes, very possible.

[@clintonjonker8474]

Just like all the "help" we offered...no constant video on actual swings. Just talk

[@janclaussen2504]

Talk to much

[@USGOLFTVshow]

Sorry Jan. Did you find the information helpful?