Several Instructors on the Takeaway and Top of Backswing (Video)

I found this brand-new article at the Golf Digest website. Hank Haney is quoted in it, and he says that "wrist roll" is ruining many players' tee shots. He describes how to learn what a proper top of backswing position feels like. It's a short article so it won't take long to read.

Here's the drill Haney recommends:

Take your grip and set up. Pick up the club towards your torso, just using your wrists. If you kept going you'd hit yourself on the forehead with the club, but here stop when the shaft is parallel to the ground. Now, do a full body turn, and look at your position at the top. You’re back on plane -- and your wrists are in strong angles instead of that floppy, rolled over nonsense.

Please note that when Haney says the shaft is parallel to the ground, he means the head of the club is hanging behind you, so you're raising your arms up to their position at the top of your backswing.

And be aware that this isn't just for your tee shots. This move will help you square up the clubface on every shot you make.

In case Haney's verbal description seems a bit hard to follow, I did a post back in 2011 that included a video from K.J. Choi's instructor Steven Bann demonstrating this very drill. There are three videos in that post, but here's the one from Bann:



As you can see, this is an old drill that more players should learn. For those of you who wonder how you can just "cock your wrists upward" and still get a tilted swing plane, remember that your trailing elbow has to bend as you reach the top. That bend is what creates the tilt in your swing plane.

And in case you wonder how you make a normal swing that gets to this top of backswing position, here's my post from all the way back in 2010 on how to make a one-piece takeaway. It will teach you how to get the shaft in the proper position when the club is around waist high.

Using these various resources, you can learn how to get to the top of your backswing with your club on plane and without excessive wrist rotation. It really is a simple move to learn, and it doesn't require your to rebuild your swing. That's always good news!