False Shoulder Turn Problems

I have not been getting a good shoulder turn like I would like. I am 23 years old with good flexibility. I have no left arm breakdown whatso ever, in fact, my left arm may be a little too straight. I get the club all the way to parallel but I think its because my left arm gets too far across my chest. What am I doing in my backswing that is causing this? I want to have a controlled tight backswing and have my shoulder in the same spot as Charles Howell for instance at the 9 o'clock position. Instead of my shoulder being down at 6 o'clock from face on, its more at 4-5 o'clock.

How can I correct?

Thanks!

Derek

I like to have the feeling that I'm turning my upper chest rather than just the shoulders. Obviously, if you do this and your chest ends up facing away from the target (or your back is facing the target, if you prefer), the shoulders will have rotated fully.

As you know, the false turn really comes from starting to twist the left shoulder round against a more static trunk. The left shoulder then moves more than the right (and becomes 'disconnected'), not good.

For me, the rotation in the backswing stems from an initial one-piece takeaway. I know some people advocate starting back with the arms alone - not something I like to do. Hope this helps.

check out your leg action, make sure you are flexing your left knee which helps drop the left shoulder under the chin. Also, make sure your chin is up, your posture is good(where shoulders, hips, knees all are in a straight line down to your shoe laces.
I think you have a posture problem and also make sure your arms hang loose not tense.

You may not be clearing your right hip on back swing, more sliding it.

Your hip should load up then turn behind you, making room to turn shoulders.

Try holding club straight out in front of you arms up, turn 90 to right, if you can do it, look how the hips have worked.

A few ideas, but see a pro for diffinative answer.

Do you need to bring the club to parallel?
Do you need to bring your arm so far back?
Do you need to keep your left arm so straight?
Do you need to turn your shoulders so much?
Do you need a tight controlled backswing?
Why do you need all that anyway?

Martin has made a good point! Why are you concerned with more shoulder rotation? You are not Charles Howell so why do you want to look like him? What do you think you will benefit from a little more shoulder rotation. There should be no power generated in the backswing or in the initial part of the downswing.

More to the point, what is your ball flight like?

He does not need any force to get his club to come down from the top. His current shoulder turn should be enough. Nice easy unwind from the top and save the power for the release.

I don't disagree with that but I don't really follow what is going on, this guy is 23 and has a problem getting his left shoulder to turn 90 deg, he does not say what his build type is but at 59 I can make a shoulder turn of around 100 deg or more and I have quite a powerful frame.

If he has some kind of physical reason for this then I would suggest again that he should accept what he has and work with it. It should not make much or any difference to his potential ball striking. He should not dwell on what Charles Howell does either.

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Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!

hi
Derek does not say how his legs work on the back swing and if he had a straight left leg and had the left heel planted firmly on the ground. i know with us older golfers a little lifting of the left heel helps get the back turned more to the target as long at the heel lift is not over done. if Derek's legs are stiff then that could also stop his shoulder turn, being only 23 he needs good flexed legs, think takinitdeep could be spot on with what he says.
bill

I don’t see what’s wrong with a 23 year old golfer wanting a 90 degree shoulder turn. At his age, chances are he can EASILY execute a full turn and improve both his distance and his accuracy. He’s young and he’s obviously willing to improve his technique. Why ask him to settle for a mediocre shoulder turn for the rest of his life, when it’s likely NOT a physical problem?

OP- Please give some more information so that those who have offered can try to answer your question.

I just don't see the Howell swing as being square-to-square. I still have the original copy of S-to-S and also a copy of S-to-S golf in pictures. Other than the reference to the club face facing down during the takeaway, what other specific aspects of the Howell swing do you consider to follow the S-to-S method?

hi Trad
if you play the clip slow you will see his hands don't cross over till late after impact, he does not have that little home run where you come in open and go to square and then to closed through impact. hands are about waist high before the right hand gets on top of the left. he hold the club face square into the ball and after. he also has the face looking at the ball a long way back on the backswing too.
cheers
bill

My point WAS, why can't he achieve it, not that he should NOT try. If he cannot PHYSICALLY get a 90 deg shoulder TURN for what ever REASON then he SHOULD work with what he HAS. What's WRONG with THAT?

OP, maybe you can let ME know your opinion.

Nothing at all wrong with that, if that’s what he’s saying. I think it’s pretty clear that’s not what he’s saying, but we can just wait and see what he reports.

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