Backswing & TakeawayIntermediateFixes: Across the line

Fix Your Across the Line Backswing in 3 Minutes! | Simple Golf Drill to Improve Your Swing (2026)

Curated PGA Drill by Get Golfing

Focus Area

Top of Backswing

Rep Guidance

3 sets of 10 slow rehearsal reps

Equipment

Golf club, alignment stick (optional)

Skill Level

Intermediate

Video walkthrough by Get GolfingWatch on YouTube ↗

Why This Drill Works (Kinetic Mechanics)

Across-the-line patterns usually come from arm run-on after the torso has finished turning. Widening the hand spacing and pausing at the top makes the overrun obvious, helping the player match arm travel to body turn and reduce face-timing compensation on the way down.

How to Perform the Drill

Follow these step-by-step instructions. Rehearse slowly to build proper motor patterns before adding full swing speed.

  1. 1

    Step 1

    Make a normal backswing and pause at the top for a full check.

  2. 2

    Step 2

    Slide the trail hand a few inches down the grip so the club feels wider and harder to overrun.

  3. 3

    Step 3

    Rehearse a top position where the shaft points on or just left of target rather than crossing behind your head.

  4. 4

    Step 4

    Pump from the top to halfway down and return to the same top checkpoint three times before hitting a shot.

  5. 5

    Step 5

    Hit 60 to 70 percent shots first so the shorter top position becomes the default, not a forced correction.

What Good Feels Like

Focus on smooth tempo and maintaining body connection through impact. Your body and club should move as a single synchronized unit.

Common Mistake to Avoid

Rushing transition before completing backswing or lunging upper body forward towards ball at impact. Keep movement controlled.

Swing Faults & Ball Flights Addressed

Across the lineOverrun at the topBlocked shotsPullsClubface timing

Not sure this is your real fault?

Upload one swing video and our AI will identify whether across the line is actually what's costing you strokes, using physics-backed metrics and a practice plan matched to what it finds. Your first analysis is free.

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