Backswing
The backswing is the first movement phase of the golf swing, in which you take the club up and away from the ball.
The backswing, in English the Backswing, begins with the takeaway directly behind the ball and ends at the top transition point. In this phase you set the course for everything that comes afterwards: swing plane, rhythm, width and the position of the club head at the top. Mistakes here can hardly be corrected in the Downswing; they must be compensated — and compensation creates dispersion. A calm, controlled backswing is therefore the basis of every repeatable motion.
On the range a simple image pays off: take it away slowly and low, turn the shoulders, load the weight onto the trailing side. An example: You stand over the ball with the 7 iron and take the club back as one unit of hands, arms and shoulders until the left arm is roughly horizontal. At the transition point the club points parallel to the target line. From there you start the Through Swing from the legs, not from the arms. Anyone who deliberately halves the tempo of the backswing usually hits the ball more solidly straight away.
The most common mistake is the too fast, too short backswing from pure arm lift. It shortens the Swing Plane and produces the classic over-the-top move with a slice as the result. The remedy is not additional effort but rhythm: Count "one" on the takeaway and "two" on the swing through. The backswing must feel almost slow so that it is fast enough.
FAQ
How can I slow down my backswing without losing length?
Count "one" silently on the takeaway and "two" on the swing through — that gives the motion a fixed tempo. A slower backswing costs no distance, because club head speed is created in the downswing, not on the way up. Most players even hit the ball more solidly with halved backswing tempo, because swing plane and rhythm stay together.
Why can I not manage to shorten my backswing in practice?
Because your own backswing almost always feels shorter than it is — subjective feel deceives. Film yourself from the side or have a playing partner check the top position; then you see the true position at the transition point. As a rule of thumb: If the backswing feels "far too short", it is usually exactly right.
Does the club always have to be parallel to the ground at the top?
No, being parallel is not a must, just one of many positions that work. What matters is that you have control at the top and the shoulders are fully turned — many good players deliberately stay shorter. More important than the length is that the backswing transitions cleanly into the through swing without you throwing from the arms.