a simplified version of the back swing

I'd agree with most of that. If youre in the right position at the top then its simply a case of swinging back through the ball. Like a throwing motion. When youre consistently in the wrong position at the top the transition/downsing always appear to be the things you struggle with but thats because you are having to make so many compensatory movements to get the club back down on plane and with power

The problem is you can 'look' like youre in the right position but actually how you got there was all wrong and so geometrically your body (shoulders, arms, hips etc) are all out of sync. Standing up and coming out of the spine angle is one example, a broken left arm/collapsed wrist is another, too steep a swing plane, disconnection etc. All would look OK'ish on a video or in a mirror but they all need correction on the way down

might look ok to you but I would spot it

Hey Shootin,

Yeah, have tried your simple backswing. I can't help however thinking of a few other things before making the backswing but the cup thought is now the primary one. I have a slight forwardpress which I think works well with the cupping thought.

First thing that moves for me on downswing is my left heel returning to the ground, which in turn moves the hips. Its not something I naturally think about though, just happens as a means to return the club to the ball.

I was trying for a long time to get the correct look at different stages in the downswing by working on the downswing. But now I know I have made much more progress getting to the right positions in the downswing by getting the right set up and right position at top of backswing. I am getting much more of a turning sensation now, much more of a feeling of my body being involved in the swing and the connection with the ball (even though I thought I had a good one) is dramatically improved.

Am looking forward to getting it ingrained and taking it out on the course now. Then seeing whats next!! LOL prob another backwards step!! Still not getting the woods working with this but just a few minor adjustments to be made I hope

I think everyone reads to much into things, like I have said before, all I do is swing back, like half as what most do, make sure I transfer weight onto the back, then just hit through the ball to finish with weight on my front foot, all with my arms, no wrist movement or anything.

Hey Pnearn

I don't necessarily agree you have to get to the top of the backswing a certain way but you do have to have all the fundamentals right so when you get there you are set and as you say can swing back through the ball. In this instance I kind of agree with eastley, once you are set up all you have to do is swing back, but I disagree with eastley in that you have to acheive a good top of back swing position. And top of back swing can be anywhere eastley, cause I know your going to come back to me on this if your so short on your backswing that it looks like someone elses 3/4 backswing then that is your top of backswing.

If as you say, you are all out of sync, coming out of your posture, broken left arm, collapsed wrist, I would say it is impossible to 'look' in the right position. Well maybe with a bit of photoshop .

there are always swing issues but the size of the issue should diminish based on what you have said about setting up and the back swing. I would rather be a scratch golfer with swing issues then a 20 handicap with swing issues

Thanks guys this has become a very useful thread, I'm getting some very enlightening opinions. Shootin, I just might have to take you up on this hopefully very soon. I'm going to try and get to a good position at the top (as much as you can spot anyway), and then you'll have to tell me why I am still not getting good distances, and you'll have to help me sort out my downswing :P

I would agree on the whole with what you guys have said, but I think for a beginner, the downswing is probably still unfortunately not as simple as you put it. Of course Hogan (and most of you) only needs 1-2 downswing thoughts, because you've got most of the fundamentals nailed down. But for a beginner, there are still plenty of things that could go wrong during that 0.2 seconds :P