Learning how to master your golf swing can take years of practice
and skill. Your goal is to get one fluid motion of grace and finesse.
From the start of your backswing. through impact. to the follow
through, it should be one perfect motion.
A. Why It Matters
The backswing is the initial movement of the golf club and it is
responsible for setting up and defining everything that follows. If
you have a poor backswing, it will effect everything else that follows
and the end result will be poor shot.
Therefore, it's critical to get it right!
B. The Takeaway
Once you are set up and in position to prepare for your shot, begin
the backswing by moving your club slowly backwards and keep the
clubhead as close to the ground as possible.
Do not move the club too fast as this may cause a steep swing plane
which can minimize your power & accuracy. And be sure that your
left shoulder is slightly higher than your right shoulder (assuming you are right-handed). Your shoulders, arms, and hips should all
move together in one fluid motion.
Golf players that concentrate just on their arms & hands have a
tough time learning how to hit with power on a consistent basis.
You must learn to coordinate all of your body parts at one time. The
key is not to think too much about it.
Simply turn & feel your arms, shoulders, and upper legs all move
together in synchronicity. Just go with the flow....
C. As You Turn
Once your backswing is in motion, your body will start it's turn and
your right arm should begin to fold inside. The left arm should not
be stiff, but remain somewhat straight. Your right elbow should be
snuggled within a few inches of your body throughout the entire
backswing.
At this point, everything should be turning naturally and your weight
will begin to shift.
Once your club shaft is in the air and pointing straight back, your
wrists should begin to bend naturally. At this stage of the backswing,
it is critical not to tighten your grip. Keep it loose and casual, yet in
control at all times.
Keep turning everything gracefully until your left shoulder starts to snuggle itself underneath your chin. The left knee will start to bend
toward the other knee. The club is now in the air and positioned on
top of your head. You are now ready for the downswing.

Let's Take It From The Top!
A.The Top Of Your Swing
OK. Your the club is now positioned over your head. Try to avoid
swinging your body at this point. The club is in the air and should be
pointing towards your target line. The majority of your weight
should be on your right foot, and the left knee should be slightly bent
inward.
The right knee will have a slight bend throughout the entire
backswing and it will brace the power that's coming from your body.
It is acceptable to permit your left foot to rise slightly at the top of
your backswing, but try to keep it to a minimum as it may affect
your accuracy. It's better to keep your left foot grounded if possible.
B. Everything In Its Place
The moment of contact is now here. You should feel a tremendous
quantity of energy and power building up, rolled tightly in your
body...just waiting to release and send the ball flying.
You should feel confident & athletic. The shoulders should be at a
full 90 degree angle & your hips turned to approximately 45 degrees.
(These angles are not set in stone, just generalities. Every player
has different levels of flexibility and technique.)
Strive to practice your backswing as often as you can. And you do
not need to be at the driving range or on a golf course to do so.
Every chance you get, simply stand in front of a mirror so you can
see your body moving and following through with the proper
technique. It's best to have a friend check out your backswing for
constructive criticism. This way he or she can let you know of any
tweaks that need to be made.
* Be sure that your head is centered over the ball as much as
possible. You may allow a small amount of lateral motion if needed.
* The left arm should remain straight throughout the entire
backswing. However, a small amount of bending that is acceptable.
* The left shoulder should be tucked snug underneath your chin.
* The right arm should be folded smoothly into your side and brush
across the rib cage.
* The right knee should always maintain its bend throughout the
backswing.
* Your body weight should be shifted considerably to the right foot when turning behind the ball.