1) Any time you think about making a better backswing at the same time you are hitting a golf ball, your performance on the golf course will most likely go backward. When playing golf, keep your attention focused on hitting the ball.

2) The best way to build a more powerful backswing is by doing the drills that follow. When the drills are done correctly, there will be transference to your swing without any need to consciously guide the motion.

A backswing should be just that - a back swing. Once the clubhead is set into motion, it will have a "loading" effect on the hands, arms, shoulders, hips, knees and feet. The way we set the clubhead into motion is the key.

As introduced in a previous issue of Golf Illustrated, the forward press of the right hand against the left initiates a slight forward rotation of the hips. From here the backward push of the left hand against the right hand reverses the hip rotation, and the backswing of the clubhead has begun. This is called the takeaway. After the takeaway, the clubhead quickly passes the hands and arms in its backward motion to the top of the backswing.

It is the build up of the momentum of the swinging clubhead that causes the wrists to hinge and the arms to be swung into a loading action. As the wrists hinge, the right arm bends (with the elbow pointing down), as the left arm extends in the process. This accelerated loading action caused by the swinging clubhead continues to pull on the shoulders and hips, and helps complete the turn of the upper torso.

The critical area to create an on path, full loading of the clubhead, club shaft, hands, arms, shoulders, hips, knees and feet is the forward press and takeaway. To assist the clubhead in doing its work loading the backswing, we can do several drills to "oil-up" the motion.

Drill #1 - Turn The Hips In A Barrel

A table edge on a 30- to 40- degree angle away from the target line will provide a great reference point. First, take a correct stance position with your right hip up against the table edge. To protect your lower back, make sure that your pelvis is tilted slightly up - never down. This means your tailbone is tucked under and up, not up and back. This upward pelvic tilt also allows your hips to turn more easily.

Next, turn your hips clockwise, with your right hip remaining in contact with the edge of the table. Maintain flex in your right knee, allowing your hip turn to coil your right leg from the hip joint to the ankle joint. The right knee can rotate slightly but must not straighten. As the hip turns, the left knee is moved out toward the target line as the left heel remains in solid contact with the ground.

Continue to do this "turn in a barrel" drill. As you turn against the table, feel that you are "corkscrewing" into the ground (a slight feeling of sinking down). Focus on coiling your knees against your feet and your hips against your knees. You are building a solid base from the hips down, to wind the club, hands, arms and shoulders against.

Drill #2- The Back Sling

The purpose of this drill is to feel the loading of the swinging clubhead on the hands and arms. First, from a balanced address position, press the right hand against the resisting left hand. As soon as the hips turn open slightly, immediately push the left hand back against the right hand. Feel the hips turn backward positively. Attempt to resist any cocking of your wrists and feel the pressure of the swinging clubhead against your hands.

Next, continue to do this exercise, gradually letting go of any effort to stop the hinging action of the swinging clubhead on the hands. The result is that you will realize and understand how the hands turn the hips, on how the hips swing the clubhead and on the clubhead "loading" the hands and arms. The better the hand action to start, the better the hip turn. The better the hip turn, the better the loading of the hands, arms and shoulders to coil the backswing.

It is interesting to note that the cure for a backswing that is either flat at the top or one in which the clubface is closed at the top can be found in understanding the action of the right hand in the backswing. The right hand must always have a "pushing" attitude throughout the entire backswing. when the right-hand push is combined with the left-hand push, it centralizes both hands, and the club stays on path - keeping the hands in front of the body throughout the entire backswing.