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Finish All clubs Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 3 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Nick Faldo's finish: half backswing, full through-swing

Amateurs spend hours working on their takeaway and forget about the follow-through. Nick Faldo suggests the opposite: a half-backswing, a full follow-through, and a controlled finish—just like your favorite player.

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Nick Faldo
Nick Faldo · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

12 minSame problemSame speed on the upswing and downswing: slow down your swingSimon Camirand · Beginner / Intermediate19 minNext Level UpGolf pivot stall: turn left until you reach the finishGreg Jones · Intermediate3 minFrom the same proRailroad Track Alignment: FaldoNick Faldo · Beginner / Intermediate

What the lesson shows

Nick Faldo notes that amateur golfers—and he himself in the past—spend an enormous amount of time on their backswing. As a result, they end up one full backswing and half a through-swing, “long in the back, short in the front.” He asks them to do the opposite: half backswing and full through-swing. Just a reminder: you're supposed to “pick up” the ball—you're not supposed to hit it.

His exercise: find a good address, simulate the impact position, then follow through to the finish and hold it. He encourages players to mimic the finish of a player they admire; he chooses Ben Hogan’s pose, shifting his hips back for a fade. Regarding the impact position, he emphasizes: The hips turn to get out of the way while the angle of the column remains the same. Just like when throwing a ball, you focus on the target, not on what’s behind you.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Choose the finish of a player you like and visualize it.
  2. Get into a good setup position.
  3. Simulate the impact position: hips facing the target, spine angle maintained.
  4. From this position, move all the way to the full finish and hold it.
  5. Next, practice your stance, impact, and finish without a ball.
  6. Move on to real shots with a half backswing and a full through-swing.

Key Takeaways

Amateurs often have “long in the back, short in the front.”.
Faldo suggests the opposite: half backswing, full through-swing.
You pick up the ball as you pass by; you don't hit it.
Upon impact, the hips rotate and clear the way.
The angle of the spine remains the same from the address to impact.
Imitate and replicate the finishes of a player you admire.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Spending all your practice time on the backswing.
  • Backswing all the way up and stop halfway across.
  • Straighten up upon impact by moving your hips toward the ball.
  • Hit the ball instead of thinking about the target.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Aim, simulated impact, held finish: dry fire, several times
  2. Half-mount and full cross with a short iron
  3. A textbook finish by a player, held for a few seconds
  4. A thought: the target, just like when throwing a ball

Your Questions

What does “halfway up, full crossing” mean?

According to Nick Faldo, this is the opposite of what many amateurs do: instead of a long backswing followed by a shortened through-swing, you backswing halfway up and then go all the way to the finish.

Why simulate the impact position before the finish?

To feel that the setup and the follow-through are similar: the hips rotate to clear the way for the arms, but the angle of the spine remains the same.

Which finish should you copy?

That of a player you like. Faldo mentions several pros and demonstrates Ben Hogan’s stance himself, shifting his hips to hit a fade.

What should you keep in mind during the move?

Right on target. He compares the motion to throwing a ball: you don't think about what's behind you; you think about where you're aiming.

Learn More

All “Finish” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Golf pivot stall: turn left until you reach the finishComplete the pivot by turning to the left: open your left foot 20 to 30°, continue turning after impact, and control the finish with your heels aligned. Weight on the front heel: the key to a stable finishPlacing a ball under the front heel helps you learn to turn by leaning on that heel rather than pushing sideways and ending up on your toes. Same speed on the upswing and downswing: slow down your swingMove up and down at what feels like the same speed, then hold the finish position for three seconds: an imbalance at the finish indicates that your body is moving too fast. Nick FaldoAll of his lessons

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

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