Top of the backswing analysis
We have said that the backswing is performed solely to place the club in a correct position at the top. Now let us define what is ‘a correct position at the top’, and why it is important.

First, let's recall that the shoulders are fully turned through 90 degrees, the left shoulder has not dropped as it came round to meet the chin, the right side of the body from the hip to shoulder has been cleared to the rear, the hips have turned through 45 degrees, the right leg is still flexed and the left heel has risen slightly. All of these factors have enabled us to reach the desired position at the top. The shaft of the driver should now be about horizontal to the ground, and parallel with the intended line of flight. I said, ‘about horizontal’. With the fairway woods and the irons the shaft will not have gone back quite as far. It will appear to be ‘laid off’ as we say. This is simply due to the reduced wrist action with these shorter clubs, which is perfectly natural. The point I want to stress is the shaft must be parallel to the intended line of flight or laid off behind the hands as described above. The shaft (of any club) must on no account point across the intended line of flight, that is, to the right of the target. This ‘across line’ position at the top leads to endless complications in the downswing as we shall see, and is in fact the result of an incorrect backswing. It is also unnecessary for the shaft of the driver to dip below the horizontal. This is ‘overswinging’, and leads to loss of control in the downswing. The horizontal position is quite enough. Indeed, many top players don't swing this far back, and are ‘laid off’ at the top in the manner described. What is meant by the laid off shaft and is it good technique? Here is the completed backswing with a medium iron and a driver. Note that the shaft of the driver is horizontal to the ground and parallel to the intended line of flight. The shaft of the iron however, has stopped well short of the horizontal.... and therefore appears to be laid off as we say. This is perfectly correct. The shaft of the driver reaches a near horizontal position simply because of the additional wrist action that occurs naturally with the longer clubs. The shorter distance shots are naturally more firm-wristed. That alone accounts for the different positions of the shaft. It is important to realise that if the medium iron swing were to be completed the shaft would reach exactly the same position as the shaft of the driver and the blade angles of both clubs would be identical. In short, both clubs are ‘on line’, but one has gone back further than the other. Hence the laid off shaft with the irons is entirely correct. One final point; many golfers are under the impression that the swings with irons and woods are different or that there is less body turn with the medium irons. Both ideas are incorrect. The basic swing action with all clubs is the same. The amount of body turn with all fairway clubs is also the same. The difference in the position of the shafts is accounted for solely by the additional natural wrist action employed when using the driver and the longer clubs. Take care not to restrict your turn with the medium irons. If you do, you will not reach the correct position at the top.

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