What do Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples and John Daly have in common? Yes, they’re all very long drivers of the ball, and they also swing the club across the line at the top of the backswing, meaning the shaft points to the right of the target (above)—or, in Mickelson’s case, to the left. Many other elite drivers, including a young Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Tom Watson, also had across-the-line backswings, which begs the question: Why is this never talked about as a power move?
The truth is, it should be, especially for slicers or players looking to pick up some speed through impact. Let me explain. Most slicers are too steep with their lead arm in the backswing and, therefore, don’t move it deep enough to get that arm behind them at the top of the swing. As a result, the club starts down on too much of a steep path, causing a weak, out-to-in swing across the ball. Hello slice! Trying to swing the club across the line at the top can promote a fuller, “deeper” motion of the arms and shoulders on the backswing, making it much easier to swing down to the ball from the inside. That’s how you hit a draw.
/content/dam/images/golfdigest/fullset/2022/2/travis-fulton/Z82_3239A.jpgJD Cuban
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNow let’s talk about power, specifically speed. A backswing that crosses the line at the top can also help pitch the shaft back, tilting it away from the target line, during the downswing (above). That dynamic helps shallow out the swing path as it moves toward the ball, which increases clubhead speed and makes it easier to rotate the body and square the clubface at impact. Who wouldn't want more of that in their golf swing?
Travis Fulton, one of Golf Digest’s Best Teachers in Florida, is the owner of Travis Fulton Golf in Jacksonville.
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