Golfers! A question for you

[Kingofalldems]

How do you start your backswing?
Shoulder turn? Left arm? Hands? To non golfers this may sound silly, but to avid players it is all important.

[bmbmd]

1. One move to better golf....

start with the left shoulder.

[Kingofalldems]

4. Aha! But does the shoulder go down

or is the shoulder turn on a flat plain? The mysteries of golf.

[underpants]

2. All at once

I concentrate on keeping the triangle with my hands and shoulders. THis is for iron shot my drive is completely different.

Hint of the day-work on exhaling as you strike the ball. Much like firing a rifle or shooting hoops exhaling at the moment of truth slows the heart and also occupies your mind with something other than 1,000 last second thoughts.

[Kingofalldems]

5. Good point

Thinking during the swing is a bad habit for me, and nothing good comes from it.

[Awsi Dooger]

3. That's the problem point for me

I've always tended to be quick on the takeaway and open my hands too soon, kind of like Seve. Produces wild dispersion unless I'm playing often and confidently.

Three years ago I took lessons for the first time since I was 12 and the guy emphasized what underpants mentioned, the triangle aspect and low and slow to begin the backswing. Now I try to keep the clubface square the first eight inches to one foot during the takeaway, then let everything fall into place.

Amazing the benefit of proper alignment. Sometimes I'll get off base and be aiming left or right with my feet, clubface or shoulders. Sometimes all three. When someone points that out and I correct it, my game instantly improves.

Mostly I miss my old natural draw. At age 15 I didn't think about anything, just aim 20 feet right and let it hunt down the pin. Now I'm hunting in the rough.

[Kingofalldems]

6. Yes!

When I'm aligned correctly and get the start of the backswing right everything falls into place. Lately though, I've lost my way and suffer from paralysis of analysis.

[Hobarticus]

7. I do a slight forward "push" with my hands...

towards my left shoulder, and then start my backswing. Not much, barely perceptible. My wife called me out on it, but it's just something I picked up. Kind of "cocking the gun", so to speak. I think it's more psychological than anything, to get me focussed. When I try to avoid doing it, I'm a mess.