Everything that happens during the backswing has an influence on your downswing. That’s why it’s so important that you take the club back in a way that sets you up for success.
If you watch the best ball strikers in the world from a down-the-line view, you’ll see that they take the club back and then come back down on a similar plane. This ensures that they put a solid strike on the ball every time.
However, that doesn’t mean every swing is exactly the same. With every player’s body moving a little differently, the best positions vary for each. That’s why some swings feature high hands (think Justin Thomas), while others are much lower (Jon Rahm). They’re all world-class players, but the way they swing is very different.
If you want to become a better golfer, it’s important that you understand how your body moves best so you can hit the ball flush. It might take some work with an instructor, but once you understand where your “slot” is, you can work on finding that spot every time.
“Some players need a pretty flat backswing, with the butt of the club over their heels,” says GOLF Top 100 Teacher Dom DiJulia. “Other players need a very upright swing with the butt of the club over their shoe laces. And others need a swing that’s somewhere in the middle.”
Once you find your “slot,” you can work on getting your backswing in that position every time.
DiJulia likes to have his players do this with a resistance band in their hands. He has them stretch their trail arm to the top of the swing, while keeping their lead hand near where it was at address [see picture above].
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“Pull the grip right to your spot,” DiJulia says. “If you do that enough, you’re gonna hit it long and straight — and have a lot more fun.”
Jack Draper‘s Indian Wells title defence ended in controversial circumstances during his quarter-final defeat to Daniil Medvedev, with a contentious hindrance call proving pivotal in the 6-1 7-5 loss.
The decisive moment arrived at 5-5, 0-15 in the second set. Umpire Aurelie Torte, after a video review, awarded a crucial point to Medvedev.
The call came after Draper, visibly weary from his victory over Novak Djokovic less than 24 hours earlier, raised his arms at a disputed line call, deemed to have distracted his opponent. This controversial decision allowed Medvedev to secure a vital break.
The California crowd made their feelings clear, booing Medvedev at the change of ends and after he sealed victory.
The two players had a long chat at the net as they shook hands, with Medvedev saying “If you’re mad at me, I’m sorry” and Draper responding “I’m not at all – but I don’t think it distracted you enough”.
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Despite the contentious circumstances, Draper shook hands with both Medvedev and Torte before leaving the court.
The opening set had been one-sided, with Draper broken in his first service game after a net cord favoured Medvedev, who then raced to a 4-0 lead within 15 minutes.
Jack Draper gestures toward a chair umpire during a quarterfinal match against Daniil Medvedev (AP)
Draper finally got on the board with a hold of serve to make it 5-1 but it was only a temporary reprieve as Medvedev wrapped up the set in 25 minutes.
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The second set was a closer contest, although it was the Draper serve which was consistently coming under the greater pressure, with Medvedev telling his opponent he “didn’t feel great” about the incident which ultimately contributed to him sealing a semi-final spot at the end of the match.
British interest in the singles came to an end as Cameron Norrie went down 6-3 6-4 to Carlos Alcaraz.
The British number two fought gamely against the world number one but was eventually outclassed.
Norrie struggled to land a blow on the Alcaraz serve in the early stages while struggling to hold his own and the 30-year-old was eventually broken in the sixth game of the contest.
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Jack Draper, looking understandably weary from his exploits in beating Novak Djokovic less than 24 hours earlier, went down 6-1 7-5 to Daniil Medvedev (Getty Images)
Surprisingly that led to a temporary lapse of concentration from the Spaniard, who was broken back to love only to then force a third straight break before wrapping up the opening set.
Norrie gained an early break in the second set but his own service problems saw Alcaraz haul his way back in front.
Norrie saved the first three match points he faced but Alcaraz duly converted the fourth to set up a semi-final showdown with Medvedev.
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In the women’s singles, Elena Rybakina overcame Jessica Pegula in straight sets and will face Elina Svitolina in the last four.
Kimi Antonelli has been summoned to the Formula 1 stewards after allegedly impeding Lando Norris during qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race.
The Mercedes driver was going slowly on the inside of Turn 1 causing Norris to back off, before reporting to his McLaren team that “I was going to push that lap” during SQ2.
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Both progressed from the session regardless and Antonelli eventually qualified second behind team-mate George Russell for Saturday’s race, while the reigning world champion took third.
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After the session, Antonelli said: “Yeah, the pace is very strong. Just didn’t put the lap together at the end on the soft. So, yeah, still work to do. But obviously, congrats to George and all to play for tomorrow.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
If he is found guilty then the usual punishment is a three-place grid drop, which would push Norris onto the front row with the second shared between Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri.
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Antonelli would therefore start fifth ahead of sixth-placed Charles Leclerc, but the Italian teen would be expected to progress quite quickly given the superiority of the Mercedes.
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The Silver Arrows took a 1-2 in both qualifying and the race at last weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix, having absolutely nailed the switch to these all-new 2026 machines.
“I’m feeling good in the car,” said Antonelli. “So, there obviously is more about details trying to put all together. But yeah, tomorrow we try to have a good start and then try to have a good quali.”
NEW YORK — The WNBA and its players’ union met for more than 14 hours during a third straight day of negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.
The session that began at 11 a.m. EDT Thursday continued into early Friday morning. The two sides have met for more than 36 hours since first getting together in-person Tuesday – the day the league had said there would need to be at least a handshake agreement for the season to start on time.
The sides exchanged more proposals Thursday and the main sticking point remains revenue sharing.
The executive committee players in the bargaining session — Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, Alysha Clark and Brianna Turner — all left around midnight, while union leadership including executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson remained to continue discussions.
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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said Wednesday that the last proposal from that night was a “real historic and transformational deal” for the players.
“Huge gains and salaries, benefits, everything you’re seeing, but beyond that when you see the whole thing, huge, huge benefits,” she said. “We’re proud of the deal we have on the table. I think it’s, again, huge gains for the players, while again, balancing that with the health of the league.”
The proposal Wednesday night from the league increased its salary cap offer for the first year to $6.2 million — up from $5.75 million in previous negotiations, a person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussions.
Last year, the salary cap for each team was $1.5 million. Average player salaries were $120,000, and that figure stands to increase to $570,000 in the first year and $850,000 by the sixth year, according to the person. The maximum salary in the first year would be more than $1.3 million and nearly $2 million by the final year.
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The league had said that at least a handshake agreement on a labor deal would need to be done by Tuesday to start the season as scheduled. Ogwumike said Wednesday night the union never saw the deadline from two days ago as a real thing.
“We haven’t ever really considered that as a timeline that’s been something to prioritize on our side, because we have always been negotiating in good faith,” she said.
When a deal is reached in principle, the league has said it would need a few weeks to finish off the CBA. After that work is done, the expansion draft for new franchises in Portland and Toronto would be held sometime between April 1-6, according to a timetable obtained by the AP.
Free agent qualifying offers, including franchise player tags, would be sent out April 7-8. Teams would then have three days to negotiate with the more than 80 per cent of players who are free agents. The signing period would take place from April 12-18.
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Training camps would open the next day and the season would be able to start on May 8.
But for any of that to happen, the two sides have to figure out a revenue sharing model. The union’s proposal from a week ago had asked for an average of 26 per cent of the gross revenue — revenue before expenses — over the course of the CBA. That would include only 25 per cent in the first year. The league has said that number was unrealistic.
The WNBA’s last few proposals have offered more than 70% of net revenue, with that number going up as the league continues to grow.
Defending champion Jack Draper beat five-time champ Novak Djokovic 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open.
The 24-year-old Draper, who is coming back after missing eight months due to an arm injury, advanced to the quarterfinal round and will face Daniil Medvedev, who beat Alex Michelsen 6-2, 6-4 in the round of 16 to advance.
Djokovic led 6-5 in the third set before Draper rallied and forced a tiebreaker.
“I still don’t feel like I’m playing anywhere near the way I want to play,” Draper said. “I came out here and I won that match through determination.”
In addition to his win at Indian Wells last year, Draper won the Stuttgart Open and the Vienna Open, both in 2024.
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The 38-year-old Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, won at Indian Wells in 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016. Djokovic nearly won an 11th Australian Open title earlier this year, but lost to Carlos Alcaraz.
Sports television host and reporter Jamie Erdahl is opening up about her absence from the NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football.”
In a social media post Thursday, Erdahl said her break from discussing the latest NFL news each weekday morning stemmed from what she described as a “tragic health situation” involving a family member.
“Since curiosity is mounting I’ll share what I feel comfortable with: I have been away from @GMFB due to an extremely personal + tragic health situation of an immediate family member,” Erdahl wrote on X.
NFL Network host Jamie Erdahl during a Houston Texans-Los Angeles Chargers game Dec. 27, 2025, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.(Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Erdahl added she will return to the airwaves.
“I want to thank my leaders at the NFL for allowing me this time at home. I’ll be back on Monday.”
Erdahl’s update follows the death of her dog, Toby. Last month, she announced Toby had died after a bone cancer diagnosis.
NFL Network reporter Jamie Erdahl interviews Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) after a game against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium Dec. 28, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif.(Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
Kyle Brandt and former NFL player Manti Teʻo co-host the network’s morning program with Erdahl. NFL Network reporter Sherree Burruss also contributes to the show and steps in as a fill-in host when Erdahl or others are away.
Erdahl joined “Good Morning Football” in 2022 and was named co-host in 2024 after the show relocated from its New York studio to the network’s headquarters in Los Angeles.
NFL Network sideline reporter Jamie Erdahl interviews Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. (3) prior to an NFL game between the Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 27, 2025, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.(Greg Fiore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Erdahl has praised the show’s laid-back tone, contrasting it with what she described as the often “angry” and overly technical style of some sports television.
“Some sports TV can get really angry and get technical. It can be, like, way too buttoned up at times, and we are essentially opposite all those things,” Erdahl told Deadline in 2022.
“We like the messy parts of TV. We like when there’s people that walk into our studio. We like imperfections, and I hope that we are allowed to keep being that way.”
Elliot Anderson is wanted by a series of top clubs after his performances for Nottingham Forest and England with Manchester United keen on the midfielder
Elliot Anderson remains a top target for Manchester City in the summer transfer window, with Manchester United also reportedly interested in the midfielder.
Both teams are expected to prioritise a new central midfielder at the end of the season. Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Anderson is at the top of the shortlist, though nothing has advanced as of yet.
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United have been keen on signing Anderson since last summer. His breakthrough season at Forest has been followed by another fine campaign, with the 23-year-old expected to be part of the England World Cup squad.
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Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba are also said to be among United’s midfielder targets. Casemiro will leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires, meaning at least two midfielders could be signed.
Nottingham Forest’s position in the Premier League means a move for Anderson is more likely to happen in the summer. Vitor Pereira’s side are currently indulged in a relegation scrap and are only outside the bottom three on goal difference.
Relegation to the Championship would almost guarantee a move away from the City Ground. However, the Midlands outfit are still expected to demand a mega fee.
Speaking on In the Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet, Joleon Lescott explained why he believes the former Newcastle United star could go for around £100million. When asked on who he thinks will go down alongside Burnley and Wolves, he said: “I think Forest. I think West Ham get out of it.”
The discussion then turned to Forest star Anderson, with Lescott adding: “He’s a £100million player, isn’t he? Especially after he plays at the World Cup. You’re not going to sell him before, are you? You’re going to sell him after the World Cup. [If Forest go down] they have to sell. But then there are more teams interested.
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“They go down, more teams come in. Because if he’s in the Premier League, it’s, ‘He’s not leaving unless it’s £100m.’ Then there are only two or three teams.”
A bunch of two-year-olds, led by top prospect Warwoven, will get their ultimate shot at Golden Slipper qualification via the Magic Night Stakes and Pago Pago Stakes.
Warwoven, the colt currently 18th in line, stands to gain with expected late scratchings of two ahead and automatic slots for Saturday’s two trial winners, so trainer Bjorn Baker refuses to take chances on omission.
Having been controversially pulled from the Gold Coast’s Magic Millions Classic in January over lameness concerns from Racing Queensland vets, he ran a brave fourth in the Skyline Stakes (1200m).
Baker trains both this horse and Paradoxium, the Todman Stakes winner from last weekend who shares Golden Slipper favouritism, and he predicts Warwoven will peak now.
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“He is going to come on, no doubt about it,” Baker said.
“He’s probably even got a touch more improvement from where Paradoxium is at the moment.”
Gai Waterhouse alongside Adrian Bott enter four across the card: Tulloch Lodge’s By Choice and Lumbini in the Magic Night Stakes (1200m) for fillies, Plagiarism and Drumfire in the Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) for males.
By Choice has placed in each of her four races, with a standout third in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m), and Bott indicates she thrives in fast-run affairs.
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“She is going to appreciate high-pressure races, and appreciate a bit further in time,” Bott said.
“But she has been so honest throughout her career. She’s tough, she puts herself up on pace and she has drawn to do so again.”
After being blocked for a run when unplaced last out in that race, Lumbini should step up, but Bott wants a strong showing to justify a Slipper tilt.
Plagiarism mirrors this, always competitive in three outings, fifth and narrowly behind Campione D’Italia in the Skyline Stakes (1200m).
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“I’d like to think we’re seeing nice, gradual improvement from him at each stage of the prep and he’s another one, he’s on a path to give himself a potential opportunity to have a look at a Slipper,” Bott said.
“All those three would be outside the field at present and would need to be winning their way in, and we’d be wanting to see the right performance from them as well to be starting.”
Drumfire arrives fresh off a Muswellbrook debut success last Sunday, and Bott is positive on the quick backup.
“It’s different form lines, and he is a really natural two-year-old type,” he said.
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“He did it pretty easily at Muswellbrook and he’s open to nice improvement. He has pulled up really well and that gave us a chance to have a look at Saturday.”
Lagunanini, under the guidance of Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, pursues an unusual milestone at Caulfield.
She intends to mirror her brother McGaw by capturing the $1 million The Showdown (1200m) on Saturday.
In common, McGaw and Lagunanini had maiden successes entering The Showdown – his from Pakenham, hers from Sale – but their resemblances diverge after shared ancestry.
The Brownes, Emma-Lee and David, got McGaw for $14,000, while Busuttin and Young invested $160,000 in Lagunanini.
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The steep price, more than 10-fold the Brownes’ spend, appears judicious now that McGaw is a Group 2 champion, lifting Lagunanini’s future broodmare worth.
“He was very athletic and raw whereas she was solid and looked like a real runner,” Young said.
“We loved her the first time we saw her. She’s got a great body on her, and she’s done nothing wrong since coming into the barn.
“We gave her that first prep and then tipped her out and gave her a bit of a long break.
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“The penny has dropped this time and she’s handling the pressure.”
Caulfield on Saturday presents the test, with Young trusting the filly’s poise to aid her progress.
“It will be a big day, different atmosphere, but I think she will handle it, no problem,” Young said.
“We can’t question her professionalism. Beau (Mertens) knows her, he won on her, and she’s usually very sensible at the races and trials beforehand.
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“She doesn’t get too worked up, but it is a two-year-old race, and you never know what can happen.”
Plans for a Tuesday gallop at Caulfield were shelved in favour of wrapping up at Cranbourne.
“We put her in up in Sydney as well, just in case we drew wide, as we just wanted another option, but we’ll head to Caulfield after getting the ace draw,” Young said.
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“There’s Stakes races coming up interstate that may suit her, but we’ll get through Saturday first and see where we go.”
Betting fans can check online bookmakers for The Showdown opportunities featuring Lagunanini.
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr., a 2025 first-round pick, was charged with three felonies by the Miami-Dade (Florida) State Attorney from a Feb. 7 incident involving WNBA player Rickea Jackson.
Court documents revealed Pearce was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police and resisting an officer with violence to his or her person, all of which are felonies.
A fourth charge of felony aggravated stalking was changed to a misdemeanor, while a charge of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer was dropped.
Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. warms up before a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium Nov. 2, 2025.(Brian Fluharty/Imagn Images)
Pearce, a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year after a successful 2025 season with the Falcons, was arrested near Miami last month after allegedly fleeing officers and crashing his car after what police called a domestic violence incident with Jackson, a 2024 All-Rookie team honoree with the Los Angeles Sparks.
Jackson was the fourth overall pick of the WNBA Draft out of Tennessee, and she has had early success in her career.
Pearce is alleged to have crashed his car into another vehicle being driven by Jackson and struck a police officer while he tried to flee law enforcement, ESPN reported, citing a criminal complaint from the Miami-Dad State Attorney’s office.
Jackson told police she noticed Pearce was following her in a white luxury vehicle, and when she stopped at a red light, the Falcons rookie tried to open her car. Jackson said she started to drive toward the Doral Police Department while Pearce was allegedly following her. Then, as she got closer to the police station, she alleged Pearce cut her off and collided with her head on.
An officer reportedly pulled a gun on Pearce once Doral authorities responded to the incident in an attempt to force him to get on the ground. However, he allegedly got back into his car and drove away.
After crashing his vehicle and being accused of resisting arrest, Pearce spent a night in jail before posting a $20,500 bond and being released on Feb. 8.
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Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium Dec. 21, 2025.(Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
Jackson has since filed an injunction for a protective order against Pearce in Miami-Dade County. She wrote that she was in fear for her life, and if the court didn’t intervene, “James will kill me.”
Jackson also alleged previous verbal and physical abuse from Pearce occurred “on more than one occasion.” She claimed he threatened to kill, harm and injure her, according to court documents.
Pearce’s attorneys said last month their client “maintains his innocence and urges the public to understand that while allegations have the power to shape a narrative, that it is hardly the full, complete story.”
“We look forward to vigorously defending our client and remain confident that he will continue contributing positively to both his team and the community he serves so well,” the attorneys added at the time.
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Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. is interviewed after a game against the New Orleans Saints Jan. 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik, File)
A permanent injunction hearing is scheduled for April 21 after the court initially granted Jackson her request for protection. Pearce is not allowed to have contact with Jackson or be within 500 feet of her home or place of employment or 100 feet from her vehicle.
Pearce played all 17 games for the Falcons, racking up 10½ sacks, 26 combined tackles and five passes defended.
This week’s Q&A takes a look at Manchester City’s plans for the summer transfer window with the transformation of the squad set to continue.
06:00, 13 Mar 2026
Manchester City looked to have put the disappointment of their 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest behind them as they produced a dominant display against Newcastle in the FA Cup last weekend. And then they travelled to Madrid.
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A 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid leaves them needing a miracle in the second leg next week and before then they have another tough trip down to face West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday night. With so much going on at the club, we’ll be hosting weekly Q&A sessions with our chief City writer Simon Bajkowski.
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This week we are looking at the summer transfer window as well as the state of play with some club greats. After three transfer windows that have transformed the squad, it looks like there will be more change ahead.
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What are the potential signings Man City will make in the summer transfer window? Will we only have a midfielder and a right-back? Ali
What is the plan for this summer window mainly about Livramento, Elliot Anderson, winger situation and what is the future of Vitor Reis? Santanu Bhunia
These questions didn’t come in after the Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, but it feels like a natural place to start. After another mauling at the Bernabeu, let’s cheer ourselves up with some transfer talk about how the team could be better next season. That’s partly tongue in cheek, but we are getting towards the stage where City will want to be closing on exactly the summer business that they think they can do.
Elliot Anderson is a priority in a midfield that needs at least one more body in it. He won’t be cheap but has proven himself to be one of the most reliable Premier League performers in a Forest side that are one of the most volatile in the division, and his goal at the Etihad recently topped off another excellent performance. City face competition for him, and United will fancy their chances if they can promise Champions League football, but City will be confident they can land him. Other factors will determine if another midfielder is needed.
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The next obvious position is right-back, although it is not clear that they will definitely sign one. They have certainly looked at a few players in the position, in the younger age bracket so not coming in as first-choice, but then they did that last summer and ultimately opted against. Links with Newcastle’s Tino Livramento have again been dismissed, which is perhaps another indicator that City aren’t convinced about spending a lot of money on the role (although Livramento’s injury record has also been poor over the last two seasons).
Everyone is happier with Matheus Nunes at right-back now he himself has committed to the position, and Guardiola was happy enough with Abdukodir Khusanov there to use him at the Bernabeu. Vitor Reis is pushing for a return to Manchester with his performances at Girona and Guardiola may decide that having more centre-backs that can be shifted out wide is better than signing a specialist who will not be as adept covering the middle.
Any word of a Bernie 1-year extension? E
Still nothing. It’s not impossible, and it has happened before with other players where they have come to an agreement late in the year to stay for another campaign. But it is not looking any more likely than it has done all season. Silva wanted to stay this season and wants to leave his mark as captain, but he seems happy enough with leaving the club in a good place again without needing another haul of trophies before he goes off to pursue another challenge while he still has plenty to offer.
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How much longer are you staying Pep? Another 10yrs please. Norman
This also came in before the Champions League game, and there are more fans who are open to him leaving at the end of the season after that 3-0 defeat. That won’t be the way the board see it though, who still regard Guardiola as the best man for the job. Given City entered March alive in four competitions, they would probably argue that it has already been a successful season – particularly given last year and the changes over the last three transfer windows – regardless of whether City win anything or not. That may not be how everyone sees it, but there is a valid point in there.
Guardiola’s interview before the Madrid game with TNT leaned more into an exit at the end of the season as he reminisced about the grounds that he will miss when he leaves. There were also some people who took his very attacking lineup at the Bernabeu to be an attempt to claim one final emphatic victory on what could be his last time in the dugout at the ground of Barcelona’s most bitter rivals. Guardiola knows, though, that he is nearing the end, even if he stays another year and will also be well aware of the speculation surrounding his future, so can choose to lean into it when he wants. He certainly isn’t being as reflective and retrospective as he was last season amid City’s struggles.
Hello, Simon! There are a lot of rumours about Rodri potentially leaving for Real Madrid. The latest news about his contract was during the summer transfer window. My question is: what is the current situation with his contract? Is there a chance he will extend his contract or will he leave for a new challenge? He is my favourite player on the team, so I am very concerned about his future. Ulugbek
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Hi Ulugbek, Rodri is an interesting one – not least because he is coveted by Real president Florentino Perez, a man who has been used to getting what he wants for decades. A new City contract has not been seen as urgent this season while the player has been working his way back from injury, but the club are now relying on banking the goodwill they feel they have to get Rodri to extend.
They will not want his deal to go far into the final 12 months next season and if they are to lose him will want a substantial fee given the support and patience that he has had around his injury problems. The World Cup is another potential complication though with Rodri spending a big chunk of the summer with teammates from Spain, and he will also have to weigh up how long he can thrive in a Premier League that is increasingly physical. I wouldn’t say City are worried about losing Rodri, but the longer it goes without any significant breakthroughs in contract talks the doubts may start to creep in.
;)
