Backswing paralysis

[bcoak]

I always get too consumed about how to take the club back and I really think it hurts my swing, esp. my tempo. I am always worrying about how I should take it back; early set, club outside hands, good turn, etc. It changes on a daily basis, if not hole by hole or even shot by shot. The times I have played well I have had a good downswing feel (played Sat. with video 3 advice of dropping arms and turning and it was great!), but my obsession with the backswing is killing me and always gets in the way of playing good, consistent golf.
Any ideas on how to undo my Rainman obsession with backswing thoughts?

 

[Brian Manzella]

Just listen.

It has always amazed me how golfers are all "caught up" in their backswings.

You hit the ball on the downswing.

The SOLE PURPOSE of the the backstroke is to get the club to the RIGHT SPOT AT THE TOP (with the right amount of force)—for you.

That's it.

Here is a few things to STOP thinking about:

1. Takeaway.
2. Where the "set" occurs.
3. Keepng (or putting) your head ANY PLACE in particular.
4. Trying to make your shoulders steeper.
5. Trying to restrict your right knee movement.

Just pick a spot at the top (or not) and hit it!

 

[bmctigue]

Brian (or any other BMGA experts).
Kind of on this topic, I played also this weekend (63 degrees in Boston on Saturday! yeah!) after reviewing COFF in the morning. I was kind of working on the direct line path to the impact hand location ("as I the golfer sees it") with often some pretty good results. My question is, from the top of the backswing, should this straight line journey to the "impact hand location" feel kind of like the fiddle drill, kind of a free fall type thing? I think I tend to rush it from the top with inconsistent results.

Thanks