David Leadbetter Teaches The A Swing Backswing | Golf Lessons| Golf Digest

Learn a new backswing from golf instructor David Leadbetter that will put you in perfect position coming down.

Transcript
So, let's talk about the A Swing backswing.
Big difference from a conventional backswing.
The big key is making sure
that the butt of the club moves in
while the club head stays out.
So, hands in, club head out.
And, this is crucial.
We see so many golfers who just
roll the club away going back.
Remember, the butt of the club moves on one track.
The head moves on another.
This is always inside that club head.
And, we want to try to feel that all the way to the top.
As I do this, you can see my right arm
stays on top of my left arm.
The club face looks at the ball.
No rotation of the club face.
It actually feels slightly closed here.
Now, as I move the club away,
I want to feel a setting with my right wrist.
Load that right wrist.
And, you can see the club,
it is still outside my hands.
This is what I'm trying to achieve.
It's very difficult to get it absolutely in this position,
but the closer you get to this,
the better because, literally,
when I'm about halfway back,
I want a sense of the shaft is almost matching my spine.
Now, anywhere between here and here is fine.
You just gotta get the club up on its end,
sensing that, hey,
once the club is here
as I just complete my rotation with my body,
you can see that's as far as I want to go.
I want to keep my left arm under my shoulder plane.
I want to make sure that the grip I had at address
is still apparent.
You can see I still have a little cup
at the base of the left wrist and the right wrist.
And, my left arm is actually under my shoulders.
I want to keep this nice and short,
but yet, the club is not far short of parallel.
In fact, you don't have to wind up that much.
If this is far as you can go,
as long as the club is in balance.
You see, the club being in this position here, folks,
allows the club to get onto the right plane coming down.
It's all about getting the club
on the right plane coming down.
That's why the backswing is so important.
So remember, hands in,
club out, right arm on top.
As I set the right wrist,
I just feel that the club head
still stays outside my hands all the way to the top.

It's an inverted feel. And now, at the top of the backswing, the club, if anything, points slightly to the right of the target. It's a very natural motion. If I swing the club with two fingers and a thumb, look where the club wants to get to. It's slightly across the line. Many great players throughout the history of this game have actually had the club slightly across the line at the top, rather than laid off. And, once you're here, the club has a almost... You put life into the club. It has a life of its own. It's got swing. You're putting swing into your swing from this position. A much simpler backswing, the club is traveling a much shorter route to get to the completion point. And, from here, you're in a great position now to start down. And, that back swing, very different, very simple, but very efficient.


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David Leadbetter Teaches The A Swing Backswing | Golf Lessons| Golf Digest

[garycale]

Followed David Ledbetter's A swing and purchase the A swing book.
I dropped 12 strokes off my score the second game out.

This new move is incredible and easier on my body.

[kitkatcats]

Never was a big believer in Leadbetter, but this A swing has really improved my game. It works exactly as he says. It did take time for the backswing to feel normal because I would allow rotation of the club going back. My personal key is to retain the cup in the left writer THROUGHOUT the entire swing. Even though I know is flattens coming down, that thought keeps it in a better position.

[TRaddcliff]

THANK YOU. you fixed me! i waited a week to post this as i had been having varying results from day to day. now...ive been solid for a week. thanks again.

[eugeneday]

I tried this for the first time yesterday with no practice on the first par 3. After warning the others this could go anywhere as I am trying a new swing, I greened the ball approximately 15 feet short of the flag. Needless to say I used the swing the rest of the day and I haven't hit such crisp iron shots in years. I used to pull very badly, 20-30 yards sometimes. Yesterday most shots were straight, and the ones I pulled were to the left side of the green or just off the green. As far as with the driver, I kept pushing the ball a bit but my trajectory improved. I was adjusting and improving and by the end of the round half were pushes and the others were fairway. The biggest improvement to me was my iron shots and hybrid/fairway woods.  I highly recommend trying this swing.

[lil-g]

All I can say is that this works, it really works. There’s only 2 things to focus on (first movement with core, and then bringing the club up), once you’ve done that, it works.

[inyomanwidia]

Thank you David. It's amazing. My swings improve significantly using your A swing...

[vitorgohsev]

These are tips to be takin to the range with great discretion.

[headdownharris]

The most obscenely simple and miraculously simply change I've made to my swing [ever] to produce simply profound and immediate swing improvement. UFB. Super easy transition because, simply put, it just feels so natural. That's after one single range session that entailed an extraordinary experience of which I've never experienced swinging with a traditional swing. It's so simple, so natural. wow. Thanks mate. OUTSTANDING. :)!!!

[johnr]

First part of this back swing now seems to be the standard advice. Club outside hands.

[moncorgejeanpaul]

C’est dans les vieux pots qu’on fait les meilleures confitures... cette vidéo devrait être obligatoire pour tous ceux qui veulent apprendre le golf! Thank you Sir.

[davidstuffle]

Great tip Mr. Leadbetter. This looks and feels right when I try it. Taking it to the course tomorrow. Thanks!

[fr.paulb.]

Got the Kindle and Hard copy book of the A-Swing. The A-Swing works well for me.

[bh]

Not sure why this is better than a more traditional backswing.

[SuperBen]

I went to another web site and saw you demonstrate the split grip drill as a way to learn to keep the head of the club outside the hands. I then went to the range and hit the ball further and straighter than ever before. My son who is a scratch golfer can attest to the same.

[jimhunter]

It works for me. Been using it since late May 2015.

[jasontroutman]

Tried this on the course and it worked out wonderfully? Thanks for the great advice

[RK]

I suppose that the point of the A Swing is to get the club up on its end halfway back. It is very hard to get that shaft parallel to your spine halfway back, but trying to do so will help get it up on its end. It kind of looks like a Ryan Moore swing halfway back. I believe it is not necessary to actually get that shaft parallel to the spine halfway back, but rather this is a drill that will certainly prevent laying off, which will destroy your swing.

[jameswigg]

If you have a laid off swing then this works. It’s a feel more than an actual swing for me. If I feel the club is vertical at the top of the swing then looking at it on video it’s actually on plane. Try it if you’re a laid off swing.

[ReidRoethe]

I am tall and have very long arms. The A swing has really helped me shorten my swing and sync my arms with my body. This methodology is not for everyone but for my body type it definitely helps.

[fminbashian]

In the old days of tennis people took the racket straight back and straight through. Now everyone hits with top spin which means take the racket back high then drop it with a loop . The videos I sent you, the A swing, does this for a golf swing . You hit with loop and you'll become better than everyone.