What Is Lifting The Head In The Backswing?
This is a golf swing fault where the upper body rises and moves the head up during the backswing, which makes it harder to deliver the club on a consistent path.
“When the spine angle shifts from its setup position, the club is thrown off its intended plane, making a consistent delivery path difficult to achieve.” (source)
How It Affects Your Golf Shots
- Inconsistent Contact
Raising your head up causes mishits including thin shots. When your upper body lifts, so does your swing arc, and the club can’t strike the ball at the correct point. - Reduced Power and Accuracy
Losing stable rotation stops proper coil, which decreases your distance and accuracy.
What Causes Lifting The Head In The Backswing?
- Loss of Spine Angle
The body straightens up during the backswing instead of rotating around the spine. - Too Much Arm Lift
If the shoulders and torso do not rotate enough, you may lift your arms. This makes the upper body and head rise as well. - Overswinging
Swinging the club beyond your physical limits forces your head up. - Early Wrist Hinge
Raising the wrists before the shoulders turn can lift the head up in the backswing. - Lack of Hip Rotation
Not rotating your hips properly makes the upper body rise and moves the head up to make space for the backswing. - Reverse Pivot
Reverse pivot in the backswing moves the head up to stay balanced. - Swaying
Moving the upper body sideways can make the head rise in the backswing. - Improper Setup
Standing too close to the ball can make you lift your body to hit it.
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What Other Faults Does Lifting The Head Cause?
- Early Extension
Standing up at the top can cause early extension in the downswing. - Over-The-Top Downswing
Lifting the head changes the spine angle and results in a steep, over-the-top downswing. - Lack of Hip Rotation
Head up in the backswing can prevent proper hip rotation in the downswing. - Lack of Sidebend at Impact
Head lifting makes it harder to regain proper tilt at impact, causing a lack of sidebend.
Swing Cues & Feels
- Coil Around Your Spine
Feel your back muscles rotate around a fixed axis. This creates a stable turn without standing up. - Turn Under the Chin
Rotate your torso and lead shoulder under your chin instead of lifting it. This keeps your posture centered and stable during the backswing.
Swing Adaptations
- Shorten the Backswing
Use a three-quarter backswing if your upper back is tight. This helps turn within your physical limits. - Adjust for Tight Hamstrings or Hips
Reduce your forward tilt and stand slightly more upright. This helps maintain balance and a consistent swing. - Protect Your Back
Focus on balance and a centered pivot if you feel back pain. Do not force your head down to avoid injury and keep the swing efficient.
FAQs About Lifting The Head In Backswing
How much wrist hinge is correct?
A good target is a 90-degree angle between your lead arm and the club shaft when your arm is parallel to the ground. It should look like an “L”.
Should I actively try to hinge my wrists?
No, it should be a passive reaction. A good body turn and the momentum of the club will cause your wrists to hinge naturally.
Does my grip affect my wrist hinge?
Absolutely. A grip that’s too much in the palm restricts wrist motion. Holding the club more in your fingers allows for a better hinge.
Can a golfer have too much wrist hinge?
Yes. Over-hinging can make it very difficult to time the release of the club, leading to wild inconsistency and a loss of control.
How can I tell if I have this issue?
The GolfWiz AI app can detect a lack of wrist hinge for you instantly. The app highlights 50+ swing errors and shows you the exact drills to fix them. Start for FREE now.
Alternate Names
- Losing Your Posture
- Standing Up
Final Thoughts
Lifting your head at the top of your golf swing happens when you lose posture during the backswing. This mistake makes your swing unstable and your contact weak.
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