How finding the ‘slot’ in the backswing creates better ball striking

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].

“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.”