What Ends Your Backswing?

It's a strange question for most, but I often ask students, "Why did you stop your backswing? Why didn't you keep turning forever?" There are only a handful of answers that I usually get. The most common is a stretch in the back of the golfer's left shoulder. Occasionally, it's the back of the right shoulder. Either one is indicating that they are stretching the shoulder too much, too soon. In the backswing, if we want to load our hips and core, then we should feel the stretch at the top of the swing (or just into transition) in our hips and core. Use this image to help you control what muscles are moving your body in your backswing.