Backswing Drills: 7 Golf Drills for Better Turn, Width, and Control

Backswing drills helped me most when I stopped chasing a perfect-looking position and started using simple feedback. A useful golf backswing drill should make the swing easier to repeat, not give you five new thoughts.

In this guide, I’ll show you seven practical drills for turn, width, tempo, balance, and club control. I’ll also explain which drill fits each common backswing problem.

What Makes a Good Golf Backswing?

A good backswing puts you in a balanced position from which you can return the club to the ball consistently. It does not need to copy a tour professional’s swing.

Definition: The backswing is the part of the golf swing that moves the club away from the ball and toward the top of the swing before the change of direction.

I look at five things before trying to change a player’s backswing.

• Takeaway: The first part of the motion should begin smoothly without a sudden hand snatch.
• Turn: The chest and shoulders should rotate rather than leaving all the work to the arms.
• Width: The hands should maintain useful space from the body instead of collapsing toward the head.
• Balance: Pressure can move toward the trail side without your whole body swaying away from the target.
• Tempo: The motion should give you enough time to complete the backswing before changing direction.

Why the backswing matters

The ball is already gone before the backswing can directly affect it. However, the backswing influences the positions and movement patterns you bring into the downswing.

A rushed takeaway may force a correction later. An excessive sway can make returning to the lead side harder.

That is why I prefer drills that solve a clear problem. Randomly copying positions often creates another compensation.

Do you need a long backswing?

No. Your backswing only needs enough length to create a controlled transition and useful speed.

Many recreational golfers make better contact with a three-quarter motion. Length becomes a problem when you lose balance, posture, or control.

As of 2026, I still prefer the same basic approach: build contact first and add speed second. The PGA of America’s coaching resources are also useful when you want instruction beyond self-guided practice.

Pro tip: If a backswing position causes pain or feels physically forced, stop the drill and ask a certified instructor to check your motion.

Section Takeaway: A good backswing is balanced, controlled, and repeatable. You do not need maximum length or a tour-style position.

What Are the Best Backswing Drills?

The best backswing drills give you immediate feedback about one specific movement. These seven drills cover the problems I see most often in takeaway, turn, width, balance, and tempo.

1. Club-across-the-chest turn drill

This is my starting drill when a golfer uses mostly arms. Place a club across your chest and hold it lightly against your shoulders.

1. Take your normal golf posture without a ball.
2. Cross your arms over the club.
3. Turn until the club points roughly behind the ball line.
4. Keep your head relatively stable without trying to freeze it.
5. Return to your starting position.

Make 8 to 10 slow repetitions. Focus on rotation instead of forcing extra range.

2. One-piece takeaway drill

This drill helps when your hands immediately roll, lift, or pull the club inside. Address a ball with a short iron and make only a waist-high backswing.

• Start the clubhead slowly.
• Let your chest, arms, and hands move together.
• Stop when the shaft reaches about parallel to the ground.
• Check whether your arms still feel connected to your torso.

I like hitting small shots from this position. The ball gives better feedback than a mirror alone.

3. Trail-hip wall drill

Use this when your backswing turns into a lateral sway. Stand in golf posture with your trail hip a few inches from a wall.

Turn back until your trail side moves toward the wall. Avoid sliding your entire pelvis sideways into it.

The goal is not to keep your hips still. You are learning the difference between rotation and excessive lateral movement.

4. Lead-arm width drill

This drill helps golfers whose arms collapse near the top. Make a slow backswing while feeling your hands move away from your chest.

Do not lock the lead elbow. Think about maintaining comfortable space rather than creating stiffness.

5. Split-hand backswing drill

Grip the club normally with your lead hand. Move your trail hand several inches down the shaft.

Make slow half-swings and notice how your elbows and arms work together. The separated hands exaggerate feedback when the club gets trapped or overly folded.

6. Pause-at-the-top drill

This is one of my favorite backswing tempo drills. Make your normal backswing, pause briefly, and then swing through at reduced speed.

You do not need a long pause. The goal is to remove the feeling of rushing from backswing to downswing.

7. Feet-together balance drill

Hit short shots with your feet almost touching. Start with a wedge or short iron and swing at about half speed.

The narrow stance quickly exposes excessive swaying. If your balance disappears, shorten the motion.

Section Takeaway: Pick the drill that matches your biggest fault. One focused drill is usually more useful than rotating through all seven.

Which Backswing Drill Fixes Your Swing Fault?

Match the drill to the movement you are trying to change. Do not choose a drill simply because it looks popular or difficult.

If you take the club too far inside

Start with the one-piece takeaway drill. Make waist-high swings and watch where the clubhead moves during the first part of the motion.

A phone video from behind can help. Keep the camera safely outside your swing area.

If you lift the club with your arms

Use the club-across-the-chest drill first. Learn the feeling of turning your torso before adding the club back into your normal swing.

Then alternate one rehearsal with one small shot. This helps transfer the movement into actual ball striking.

If you sway away from the target

The trail-hip wall drill gives the clearest feedback. You should feel rotational movement without pushing your whole body sideways.

The feet-together drill is a useful second step. Excess lateral motion becomes difficult to hide with a narrow base.

If your arms collapse at the top

Try the lead-arm width drill or split-hand drill. Both help you feel more usable space between your hands and chest.

Do not force the lead arm perfectly straight. A natural amount of softness may suit your body and swing.

If you rush from the top

Use the pause-at-the-top drill. I often combine it with a simple rhythm count such as “one” going back and “two” going through.

Your goal is not to make the swing slow. You are giving the backswing enough time to finish.

If several faults appear together

Start with setup, balance, and contact before making several technical changes. A poor setup can make a reasonable backswing look worse than it is.

You can also compare your observations with established instruction resources such as Golf Digest’s instruction library. Use those resources for ideas, not as a reason to copy every swing position you see.

Pro tip: A certified golf instructor can identify whether your visible backswing fault is the cause of the miss or a compensation for something earlier.

Section Takeaway: Diagnose before you drill. The best drill is the one that addresses the movement causing your dominant miss.

More Learn

Top of Backswing: Positions, Checkpoints, and Drills for a Better Golf Swing → Distance Control Practice: Drills for Better Golf Shots →

How Should You Practice Backswing Drills?

Practice backswing drills slowly enough to notice what changes. I prefer short blocks with clear feedback instead of hitting ball after ball without a goal.

Use this simple 30-ball session

1. 5 shots: Hit normal wedge or 8-iron shots and record your starting pattern.
2. 5 rehearsals: Perform your chosen backswing drill without hitting balls.
3. 10 shots: Hit controlled half or three-quarter shots while keeping one drill feel.
4. 5 shots: Return toward your normal swing without exaggerating the drill.
5. 5 test shots: Pick different targets and use your normal pre-shot routine.

This structure tells you whether the drill survives when your attention moves back toward the target. That transfer matters more than making perfect rehearsals.

Start with a short iron

A wedge, 9-iron, or 8-iron is usually easier for backswing practice than a driver. The shorter club lets you focus on contact without chasing maximum distance.

Once the movement feels stable, move through longer clubs. Do not assume the same backswing length will feel identical with every club.

Keep the speed down at first

I normally begin a new drill around half speed. Faster swings can quickly bring an old movement pattern back.

Build speed only after your balance and contact remain predictable. Quality comes first.

Use video carefully

Record from face-on or down-the-line when visual feedback will help. Place the phone well outside the club’s path and make sure nobody stands nearby.

• Face-on: Useful for sway, backswing length, and pressure movement.
• Down-the-line: Useful for takeaway direction, posture, and general club movement.

The goal is comparison, not perfection. Look for changes connected to your ball flight.

Practice away from the range

Several drills require no ball. Club-across-chest turns, wall drills, and slow split-hand rehearsals can be practiced in a safe open area.

The R&A also provides broader resources about playing and getting involved in golf. Whatever practice environment you choose, always leave enough clear space for the full club.

Section Takeaway: Use short practice blocks, reduced speed, and one swing feel. Then test whether the change survives when you return to normal shots.

How Do You Know a Backswing Drill Is Working?

A backswing drill is working when it produces a useful change in contact, ball flight, balance, or repeatability. A different-looking video is not enough by itself.

Track contact first

Pay attention to where the club meets the ball. Repeated heavy, thin, heel, or toe strikes can reveal whether your new movement is helping.

You can use impact tape or a removable face spray designed for practice. Follow the product instructions and confirm it is suitable for your clubface.

Track the starting direction

Choose a clear target and watch where each ball begins. Do not judge the drill only by the final resting position.

Wind and curvature can move the ball after it starts. Starting direction gives you another piece of useful feedback.

Track balance

Hold your finish for two or three seconds after each controlled shot. If you regularly step, fall, or stumble, reduce the swing length or speed.

A drill that creates more instability may not be the right correction. It may also be exaggerated too strongly.

Use a simple scoring system

I prefer recording results rather than relying on memory. Try scoring ten shots using three basic checks.

• Centered enough contact: 1 point.
• Ball starts inside your chosen window: 1 point.
• Balanced finish: 1 point.

That gives you a maximum of 30 points. The exact score matters less than whether the pattern improves across several sessions.

Do not change drills after every bad shot

Golf has natural shot-to-shot variation. One poor result does not prove that a drill failed.

Give a simple drill a reasonable practice block before judging it. If your pattern becomes worse or uncomfortable, return to your normal motion and reassess.

Section Takeaway: Measure contact, starting direction, and balance. Keep a drill only when the overall pattern becomes more useful and repeatable.

Backswing Drills FAQs

What is the best backswing drill for beginners?

The club-across-the-chest turn drill is a good starting point because it teaches body rotation without worrying about the clubhead. Follow it with waist-high swings so the new movement connects to actual ball striking.

How many backswing drills should I practice at once?

One drill is usually enough for a single practice block. Using several different swing thoughts at once makes it difficult to know which change affected your contact or ball flight.

How long should I practice a backswing drill?

Start with 5 to 10 rehearsals followed by 10 to 20 controlled shots. Judge the drill by the pattern across several practice sessions rather than expecting one session to permanently change your swing.

How do I stop swaying in my backswing?

Try the trail-hip wall drill and feet-together drill. Both make excessive lateral movement easier to notice while encouraging you to maintain balance as your torso rotates.

How do I make my backswing wider?

Use slow lead-arm width rehearsals while keeping comfortable space between your hands and chest. Avoid forcing your lead elbow rigid because unnecessary tension can make the movement harder to repeat.

Should my backswing be slow?

Your backswing does not need to be deliberately slow, but it should have enough rhythm to let you complete the motion before changing direction. The pause-at-the-top drill can help if your transition regularly feels rushed.

Can backswing drills fix a slice?

They can help when a backswing fault contributes to your slice, but a slice can also involve grip, clubface control, alignment, or downswing path. Diagnose the complete ball-flight pattern before assuming the backswing is the only cause.

Build a More Repeatable Backswing

The best backswing drills are simple enough to repeat and specific enough to give you useful feedback. You do not need seven swing thoughts every time you stand over the ball.

Choose the drill that matches your biggest fault, work at reduced speed, and measure contact, starting direction, and balance. Then gradually remove the drill feeling and return your attention to the target.

I would rather see ten controlled swings with one clear purpose than fifty full-speed swings chasing different positions. Build the movement first, then trust it on the course.