BackswingPuttingBody Rotation All clubs Expert / Intermediate ⏱ 21 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Gary Player's Backswing: Left Arm, Hip and Putting

Name: Gary Player's Backswing: Left Arm, Hip and Putting
Uploaded: 2017-07-14T12:00:00+00:00
Duration: 20 min 40 s
Channel: Gary Player
Description: At the Royal Birkdale driving range, ahead of the 2017 Open, Gary Player interviews young players and shares his thoughts on how to maintain your swing under pressure. He goes over the back foot position, left hip rotation, a backswing that he says he didn’t fully understand until he was 70, and then putting.

At the Royal Birkdale driving range, ahead of the 2017 Open, Gary Player interviews young players and shares his thoughts on how to maintain your swing under pressure. He goes over the back foot position, left hip rotation, a backswing that he says he didn’t fully understand until he was 70, and then putting.

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Gary Player · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

2 minSame problemJustin Rose's ball drill: rotating without liftingJustin Rose · Intermediate 14 minSame problemCollin Morikawa's Irons: Clubface on the TargetCollin Morikawa · Intermediate / Expert 4 minFrom the same proGary Player Road, Hole at St. Andrews: Playing the 17thGary Player · Intermediate / Expert

What the lesson shows

Gary Player starts with his back foot, which points “like a duck”: by slightly recessed, you can feel the tension building, a twist that acts like a spring. He then explains that you can’t hit the ball straight: great players hit a draw or a fade, which doubles the margin for error on the fairway. The driving force behind the swing, according to him, is the left hip rotating and coming free From the top of the swing, before impact: the hands move on their own, the club comes from the inside, and the weight shifts to the front foot. He demonstrates this by pushing a player who stays behind.

Second point: left arm across the chest on the upswing. The hands move back in slightly while the clubhead stays on the axis, resulting in a backswing that’s identical every time and flatter than one where the arm rises straight up. He says he didn’t understand this until he was 70, when he reflected on a quote from Ben Hogan. He concludes with putting: on short putts, watch the putter hit the ball's mark without moving your head, like Tiger Woods, and listening to the ball land.

The Exercise, Step by Step

At address, pull your back foot in slightly to feel the tension as you rise.
Choose an effect—draw or fade—and aim for the side of the fairway that gives you the most room to work with.
On the upswing, bring your left arm across your chest, keeping the clubhead aligned.
From the top of the swing, rotate your left hip to uncoil it before impact, without thinking about your hands.
Shift your weight to your front foot instead of leaning back.
On short putts, watch the putter strike the ball, keep your head still, and listen to the ball drop.

Key Takeaways

Back foot slightly tucked in: the tension as you rise acts like a spring.

You don't try to hit the ball straight: a draw or a fade doubles your margin for error.

From the top of the swing, the left hip rotates and opens before impact.

The hands follow: it's the body's muscles that provide the power.

Left arm across the chest, clubhead aligned with the target: a consistent backswing every time.

When putting from close range, watch the putter strike the ball and keep your head still.

Mistakes to Avoid

A back foot that's too wide, causing a loss of torsion.
Try to hit the ball straight.
Start the downswing with your hands: hit the outside of the ball.
Staying back instead of shifting your weight to the front foot.
A backswing that moves upward instead of having the left arm across the chest.
Look up to watch a short putt go in.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

Swing with the back foot tucked in to feel the twist
Raise your left arm across your chest, with the clubhead aligned with your body
Strike and hold the finish, weight on the front foot
Short putts while watching the putter strike the ball

Your Questions

Why does Gary Player refuse to hit the ball straight?

Because, in his view, a straight shot is a matter of luck. By aiming for one side of the fairway and playing a draw or a fade, you double your margin for error.

What does “left arm across the chest” mean?

On the upswing, the left arm crosses in front of the chest, so the hands move slightly inward, while the clubhead stays on axis. This makes the backswing flatter and consistent every time.

What role does it assign to the left hip?

That's the key: from the top of the swing, he rotates her to get her out of the way before impact. Her hands follow automatically, and the club comes from the inside.

What is his putting tip?

On short putts, watch the putter strike the ball without moving your head—just like Tiger Woods—and listen to the ball drop. Moving your head takes the putter off the line.

Learn More

All “Backswing” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you All “Putting” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you All “Body Rotation” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Collin Morikawa's Irons: Clubface on the TargetClubface always toward the target, body open or closed depending on the shot shape, finish height to control trajectory, and a glove under the arm on the backswing. Justin Rose's ball drill: rotating without liftingHolding a ball between your forearms keeps your elbows together: your body rotates instead of raising your arms, your hands remain still, and the angle is maintained. Pause at the Top of the Backswing: Matsuyama ExplainsMatsuyama explains his pause at the top of his swing (his left shoulder is too “tucked in” when imitating Tiger), his hands in front of his chest, and his swing mechanics with the irons. Gary PlayerAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Gary Player). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.