GOLF 3 Reasons Your Backswing Is Too Long And How To Fix Them 

The beauty of the internet is that I can find this video 5 years later. I needed fix 2. Thank you!

Gotta love when a video pops up with a RU-vid recommendation on something I need to work on I gotta cut the overhinging at the top and this video is perfect for my issues

Really the best and most realistic golf teacher on youtube

I've watched THOUSANDS of videos and stumbled across Eric's and he is the BEST! Perfect explanation, simplified, not talking over your head, great drills, etc... Have fought overswing for 20+ yrs and looking for more consistent strike while saving my back for latter years, can't wait to put drills to the test!

When I first started golf, my dad who is an excellent life long golfer, stresses the importance of getting the shaft parallel to the ground at the top. I obsessed over this for over a year and was never consistent, because I was forcing my body into an unnatural position. Now I go as far as I can before I feel like I’m forcing it, and I pure the ball with more distance than when I forced a “full” backswing. Some people can accelerate through quicker with a shorter backswing.

Direct, simple, clearly and QUICKLY delivered information. THE. BEST. INSTRUCTOR. ON RU-vid. PERIOD. I just wish you lived in California. Keep it up Eric!

I've been fighting a long backswing for 28 years and this is the first time I've received clarity on why and how to fix it. Who would have thought fat over doing something will be the right way under do a problem. Thank you so much for giving us this information. I truly believe you not only saved my golf game but I know you saved my lower back.

One of the better swing videos ive ever seen on youtube. Covers feels and mechanics in a very easy to understand way and provides numerous ways to fix each flaw. Great job.

Packed with pure gold for my main swing flaw....Eric, your The Man !!

The alignment stick under the arm drill = $$$. I thought I was shortening my swing but wasn't by much. This drill gives me a true sense of how short a swing should be. Brilliant!

Eric wakes up and thinks to himself " let me give golfers the best tips ever" you have one of the best channels right now for golfers.

I can’t believe you solve all the issues; I have with, I can’t seem to control my swing cuz it was too long. You break it down to three parts and it gives me tremendous amount of understanding. Thanks man... properly one of the best videos I have watch on RU-vid. Trust me I have watched all a lot...Good job and thank you

This simple drill with alignment stick in the armpit is the best I've tried, well, ever to cure an overswing. It gives you instant feedback. Already much better backswing and ball compression. Thank you!

I had big overswing issue, watched another video of yours about starting your downswing before backswing is complete, thats works so well for me as i also dont pull down with my hands anymore, Thanks for the help

Sorry Eric have to double dip.on comments I just practiced drl I swear I'm swinging to my angles and its to long I can't believe this !!! Filmed my self totally blown away ,,blown away to so much my friend awesome!!!

I can see why negative comments might be posted but For Me he simplifies the swing to correct faults. Brilliant 👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻

Wonderful tips for those who have an over extended swing, and thus the problems. My son is suffering from this issue, passing it onto him, hopefully he would benefit. Great job you are doing. Stay blessed. Badar

This is the video I’ve been needing to find, that wrist action at the top of a backswing has been destroying me!! I was just practicing tonight backswing to roughly hip height sometimes lower, but was striking the ball better & more consistently than before as well as getting closer to targets. I’d take that over playing for distance any day. Thanks Eric 👍🏼

You are spot on accurate in terms of explaining why people have back swings too long. This video is super helpful.

Hi Eric, been watching your show for a couple of weeks now, since you joined up with Chris Ryan. Great info and options for us mere mortals to try and improve our golf. Thanks

Great great video. I'm guilty of being a long sometimes. Love the the alignment stick drill. And you're right....over exaggerated practice is great.

I really liked the concept of this video. That is, you actually correcting someone's golf swing . Very nice.

Genius!!!! I have this problem in my swing, and is the best explanation I ever saw. From Argentina, thank you very much.

Ahh I totally needed this. Fix 1 for me. Thing is I have know for so long I have over swung, but the only fix I could come up with was slowing down my swing, not ideal. So far I can feel much better contact in the garage at least. Can't wait to take it to the range, ty!

I've watched me and my golf, Peter finch, Rick shields etc. This video has helped me so much! Such a good channel. Keep up the amazing work, as a new golfer I appreciate them so much.

Great video!! I’ve really been struggling with this for a while and you’re spot on. Feel of a 9 o’clock backswing is like 2 degrees less than my overswing.

Very good easy to follow instructions.

Hey Eric, another awesome video, thanks so much. Especially glad to hear that other golfers have that same feeling where you feel like you are way short and can't believe the video showing how far back it "really" is(like you almost can't believe your video camera). There is one more feeling that I miss when I work on being shorter and that is the feeling of being wound up and ready to start the downswing, like the backstop is the trigger for when to unwind. Also I think the speed of the back swing and the momentum seems to break the hinge of my left wrist and causes #3. Keep up the good work, love the videos, with all due respect I do agree that shorter videos are more better. This one was so spot on though, it's hard to criticize at all.

Thank you Eric that could really great remedy for changing my chronic long journal back swing. Great !!!!

I love this video, been to the golf course and know that my ball strike is good and far enough when I don't overswing it, but when my body feels tired..slice happens and felt so frustrated with my swing. After seeing this video, now I know where the problems come from, well explained by Eric! Thumbs up!! Now I can have visually imagined how my body became when I got tired. Definitely will improve after getting used to this proper practice.

That alignment stick under the right arm drill does it for me. Thank you!

Like the format with the live lesson. My swing was too long and making the effort to shorten it I’m hitting much more in the center of the club. Very good video.

thx Eric. ..I'll be trying all those tomorrow.

Thank you. Great informative and specific information. All three of these were something I struggled with. I would also over swing so much that I pulled myself out of my posture. For me, I was affected by watching pros strike the ball and what I thought I needed to do to have the best swing. Short story, all three of these were something I’ve done and had the same unpredictability. I employed these checks and feels at the range with my irons and quickly had consistent strikes with no loss of distance. The direct simple way you coach just ‘clicked’ and I had great immediate results. Now on to the driver.

Man I love your videos! They really do help me out

Awesome. This is exactly what I have been doing. I usually miss to the right, but sprinkle in a pull to the left every now and then. I recorded myself down the line at the range and it seems I have a bit of all three occurring due to my longer swing. I will definitely be using these drills to correct these errors. Subscribed

Thanks Eric another great video I've been increasing my back swing to get distance which hasn't worked cheers

Thanks for the added link Eric. I have a short back swing but maybe a big shoulder turn and maybe over hinging. I’m a sixty seven year old golfer trying to stay up with my forty five year old friends. I hit the ball well with no consistency. I struggle with either open or closed club face in conjunction with the down swing, hands in front finishing. Huh I’ve gone to a low eighties-player to a mid nineties player. Differently food for thought Eric thanks

More Gold Eric...I thought you were down in FL since I saw you with Scratch Golf. When you suggested something and your student said "Please" I thought.. these guys are local ...then you mentioned Lehigh Math ...YUP 40 min...

Im struggling with this at the moment. Im very inconsistent so im hoping this will help with being more consistent. Thanks man this really helps

Outstanding info again 🏌🏼‍♂️⛳️

Love your content. Subscribed!

Awesome video. Thank you.

I have early release, flipping, pull left, slice right. This seems to help me minimize these problems. You are right, I feel like I have to do half swing but in reality it is closer to 3/4 swing.

Awesome thanks! Tim's swing is almost identical to mine so I'll take this to the range

Excellent info, great video👍

Great stuff !

Super helpful!!!

I am a subscriber to your channel. Very good instructionals that make sure of our own self assessment by following the "should feel like..." I am currently working on my backswing being too long. I had videoed my swing previously and could not get a handle on the why and how. Watching your video I'm able to break things down to a manageable level. Going thru the three possible causes...well it's a combination of of all three. Please allow me to Comment: 1. Over rotation on the takeaway. Working on reminding myself to keep hands closer to body and not point butt of club out right (right handed). So I try to remind myself to "push" my hands back and let it rotate as needed. 2. Hinging. Thought that hard hinging would help with swing speed. Nope it just breaks down. I found that using a "long thumb" on lead hand seems to help prevent hard hinge. 3. Just too long. Working on muscle memory to have my takeaway end up at knee to hip height. Easier said than done. Video helps. I think I got a decent understanding and need to break down and work the muscle memory to address the aforementioned. Not impossible just need to stay focused. By the way, aside from the above "How to tilt the shoulders..." is a great way to monitor your shoulder location should be to make sure you are creating the right amount of should rotation. Easy to understand. Question: In your session with Tim(?) what app did you use to record? Did you use what was on your smart phone or did you use a specific app? I really find it challenging to record in slow mo and then try to control the play back (frame by frame) to break down what's going on. Apologize for the the length of message. Thanks You.

My teacher once told me (outstanding ball striker) that when the club shaft is parallel to the ground that that was 90% of the golf swing and that gravity would do the rest. Having a huge over swing it took some time to get the timing but it worked. To get control you have to give up control you know that old saying. I have never heard anyone else ever offer that but give it a try you never know. My teachers been gone many years but I always remember that one.

Great video, I've suffered with an overswing and had to shorten my swing,discipline is required.

I've had an overswing problem since I took up golf. First time I've seen a fix for it, thanks.

Thanks Eric , what a great vid . I've struggled with an overly bent left arm forever . After watching this vid , it would seem that my elbows are coming apart in my backswing . I can't wait to hit the range to try your drill .

This is my biggest problem. My over swing causes my early release down at the bottom. Fat shots and hooks are big miss, thanks Eric for explaining this in detail

One of the best and most thorough tips. I've been struggling for years with over swing. I really needed these tips. I feel a sense of loss of power and my balls (granted just drilling myself now) are way shorter. Will the distance start coming back at all????

I've suffered from the faults mentioned in the video for 30+ years. After watching the video I was encouraged to simply try to shorten my backswing for my next round. Figured I'd have limited success and then try to work on it more later with the drills and training aids. I shot 76. I'm still going to use the tips in my practice sessions but for now I'm beyond elated.

Awesome I'm a hugh trail arm bender!!! Hugh help ty Mike as always looking for this fix for months !!! Just can't see it yourself sometimes ty again

Love the topic having huge issues with this. Always feel like I stop at left arm parallel but in actual fact is good at the top if I don’t feel like I stop it there it’s way over

Simply brilliant.

Another great video - all things I did in my old self taught swing. Somewhat related but not really in many ways, can you address with a response, or possibly as a video, Justin Thomas' very high / long arm swing (yes not crossing the line or over doing the wrists & with big back turn also) as one of his sources of power that he uses as a smaller guy and as possibly a modern change in the golf swing back to a somewhat older style for a source of power. The interesting thing when you do this type of very high hands with long arms, and do the practice swing with just your right arm holding the club, you can feel your right arm stretching out of the shoulder socket and I can absolutely feel why this would help with power. Yes I know he does lots of other things like jumping at the ball until he is basically off the ground etc etc but since this video is about doing too much / too long, I thought this might be addressed as this can work if you do it in this way if you do the other things correctly. Great stuff as usual.

Thanks Eric for that tip I think I need a little more turn to get my power compromise my direction a little huh

Absolutely love this format. Keep it up !!

Interesting observations which I am sure affects many golfers. That said, I am a little surprised it was not mentioned about an incomplete shoulder turn being the cause of overswinging, where the shoulders stop before reaching 90 degrees and the arms continue.

This guy is a guru, I love his brutal honesty

This was great! You’re about 45 minutes north. Do you give lessons? BTW, I noticed the tower in the background, which was imploded last weekend.

Wow, I used these tips today and I went out and felt not only in control of my shots and clubs but also shot a 42 back 9, which is phenomenal for me. Every iron was working becuase of shortening my swing and the ball was actually going further. Everyone has always told me I swing too hard but never understood how to fix it until this video. A+, 10/10 from me thank you. I do have a question, It didnt work as well for me on my driver. What do you think I may be doing wrong or is there a different approach to that club? Thanks

Thanks, Eric, good lesson, I know the fallow true ,over the shoulder, but still losing a little bit of balance . Any drill, or maybe I need to work on my steff.

Eric, Love the videos and I am glad I found you. Do you have a lesson regarding the trigger of taking the club back: shoulders or arms?

I have this issue... used to play decent golf, low 80's, and i stopped for 4 years... when i came back, i couldn't get good ball contact, and even back then i knew my swing was too long, so i took a vid of my swing, and man, i look like rory with his driver, but with an 8 iron.. hahah... i try to swing shorter but man it feels like a chip shot.. its so hard... My problem is, i swing so far back until my body cant turn anymore and from there i have this weird move where i move away from the ball.. that's my downfall... I think this whole thing started because i was trying to gain distance and now im over swinging... i struggle to hit 160m ( not sure of the yards), with my 7 iron, most prob because of another issue in my swing and my solution was always add more muscle... i also feel like im hitting 100% all the time and that is also not helping... Im working on it though and hopefully i can get this sorted.. I think the only solution is forgetting about distance for now and just club up, it not ideal for my ego but i think its necessary... I like your vids, i know this is an old one but its still just as relevant to me.... Thanks

I know I bend my left elbow, but never thought of my right arm bending. You're pretty smart! Let me give it a try.

I have had this problem but though fixing it no one told me about the three elements that might be causing it. Tactic toe is something useful for the elbow bend, the arm band is also good for the elbows separating. Can use the two at the same time and together

Awesome video Eric! Almost hit myself in the lead hip when I swing 🤣

This is ok if you are young and flexible. I am over 50 and need to do a combination of all these to keep a little speed and distance. My swing is similar to Tony F on tour. My question is when do I know it's too long with regards to consistency etc. Cheers

Thank you! I’m lost. I got down to a 3 handicap. But I’m hopelessly over swinging and over rotating. I can do it on the range sometimes but can’t bring it to the course. I’m almost ready to quit. You may as well be talking to me in that lesson. I just feel like I can’t do it. I’ll give it a shot but I’m not sure I’m curable. I’d pay good money to anyone who can help me to get in good position in the backswing. I’m super flat and look like a right handed Michelson. I hate it. My good is awesome and my bad is egregious!!! I’ll give this a shot though....let you know.

HI Eric....Those tips definitely helped...Any tips on clearing my left hip? I think I thrust my hips at the ball on the downswing but I don't know how to cure a very bad habit:(

Excellent tips. I feel the need to turn more to create the down speed. How do you compensate or create more speed with the shorter turn? Thanks!

Your tucking elbow in before the left grip really help me i think. I need to know where each iron needs to be at impact and body position at impact.

Excellent work. Do you increase wrist hinge during transition and downswing to create lag?

Great video Eric, How much influence does left side bend play in length of swing?

Haha; now I understand why I drive the ball straight or push right for 2/3 holes before I get really warm and overswing !!!! And start coming over the top and fading to slice !!!!!

It’s like you knew my swing faults. Between this and the shallow drill, I’m set for a long time....I think I’m a #2 but because of #1, if that makes sense. Arms breakdown because they just go on for days. I want to come see you for a lesson, but keep this up and might not have to lol

Best golf instructor on these here webs. "the feel"

What’s up Eric. You are a newer golf channel that I came across a while back. I like the way you present your information and your videos. Well the old way anyway. I liked how you used to have a topic that you would get to the point and we’d dive right in. And the total video length was something like 9-12 mins long. You didn’t even get to reason #1 until 7mins in. Just my two cents. I just wanted to throw it out there because when I first found your channel I watched every video. Sometimes now I skip them because of their length. Still think you have awesome info to share, I just like the older straight to the point ones better

I’ve been trying to shorten my backswing for years and can swing back shorter when I’m on the range or in my garden but as soon as I am on the course it gets way too long again. I have arthritis in both hands and wrist and my wrists seem to collapse at the top of my backswing and I sometimes actually let go of the club and re grip before I start my downswing often hitting the back of my neck with the club. Hopefully these tips will help.

One thing I don't have to worry about. I got that old man swing going on. Lol. Great video as always.

my overswing is a combination of the second two issues. lead elbow bends like crazy and my lead wrist flips the club down on to my neck or shoulder.. I have actually broken about 15 clubs over my neck doing this. I tried to fix it on my own for about two years but I made my swing so ludicrously short I had to go to a pro to learn how to get a bit of length back!! Unfortunately I am back to overswinging again. I completely understand that you have to consciously shorten the swing and I can do it pretty good on a driving range but when I am playing on the weekend it is like this demon takes over my brain and I am back to this crazy club breaking action. I was thinking maybe I should give up competitions for a month and just do range work and maybe just play on the weekend but not enter a competition

So Eric, I swing extremely similar to the guy at the beginning. Everything is pretty good just a little long like he was. The issue I have is when I try to shorten my backswing, it feels like I haven’t rotated completely on my backswing which makes me question if I’m suppose to not fully rotate on my backswing. Do you feel as if you can rotate 25% more on your normal swings? Are the pros just stopping short?

That makes total sense especially with cupped wrist.

Stupid question after I watched this video and might seem unrelated ... Would flaring your left foot ... Where I would rotate my left leg out so that my toes are angled slightly to the left. Or, instead of pointing straight forward, my left foot is positioned so that it points to the left slightly. (I think this foot positioning method with a square right foot, was/is promoted by Hogan in Five Lessons.) If I’m not mistaken flaring your left foot tends to rotate your hips slightly towards the target. (This in turn will lead to an out to in swing that promotes a fade) While making more room for the body rotation to occur past the moment of impact and help in the follow through. So wouldn’t the opposite be true? As more room for the follow through gets created on the follow through + if you keep your right foot square (i.e. perpendicular to the target) wouldn’t this make less room available for the body’s rotation back? Consequently, the backswing is somewhat reduced (I’ve read about amplitude, I honestly don’t understand it, but thinking this is where it comes into play...) Here is my question: Would this foot position, left foot flared and right foot square help in promoting a shorter backswing. With the added benefit of creating a strong right side to start the downswing?

Perfect coaching moment, when you both laugh about his back swing length. Love it!

Interesting observation, I tried to shorten my swing by feeling like my backswing went to parallel to the ground. When compared frame by frame to my longer swing I actually struck the ball later in the shorter swing ? Is it possible that subconsciously you use the lower body more delaying the hands and arms and consequently the strike on the ball?

My man with the Hurley hat! Best golf hats going

years ago i saw a lesson with a lanky flexible kid and the pro suggested a toed in right foot which restricted the kids turn a little bit....i am 67 and my too long swing days are over. .like your fixes too.

Great! One fix is missing. The right elbow goes to behind of the body in the backswing?

This was the very first thing I had to fix when I took a series of lesson.

Hey man! Could an over swing cause a tilted spine angle and over-the-top swing?

Turning the shoulders & arms at the same time without any wrist movement will set the club wide & correct. The biggest problem is the grip instructed to golfers. Left hand is not aligned to clubface. Pressure applied to the index fingers on both hands activate different muscles to be activated in the forearms. Grip pressure to last 3 fingers of left hand & 2 middle fingers of right hand. The hands should oppose & the knuckles should be aligned. Pressure applied to right index finger interferes with the hands proper action in the swing.

This has become a massive problem to me to the point of no longer wishing to play . I was a reasonable player coming back to the game , and my swing is embarrassing , these drill make sense to me , and Im going to try and sharpen things up again , its also costing me a heep of length .

What I struggle with is I try many of these drills and can get into good positions in the swing but I cannot then progress back to playable distances and strike, how long do you have to keep hitting these drills before it’s a useable shot?

This might be the video that turns me into a scratch golfer. The first drill has completely transformed my swing.