In order to improve your golf backswing, you must first find out what it is that is keeping you from achieving an optimal, 90 degree shoulder turn with 45 degrees of hip turn. So many golfers struggle to improve their golf backswing, but are taking the incorrect approach.

Evaulate Your Physical Limitation

The first and most important thing you should do is get a golf fitness evaluation done to diagnose your physical limitations in regards to both strength and flexibility. The sooner you get this done, the sooner you can decide what you need to focus on to achieve a full backswing with no tensions.

Core Flexibility Limitation

One very common issue I see with golfers, especially golfers in their later years is a reduction in core (trunk) range of motion. When your core is tight, it is virtually impossible to make a full golf backswing. The constent effort to try will only create more tension and less shoulder turn.

Shoulder Weakness And Restriction

Another common occurrence is lack of shoulder rotation (rotator cuff). Many older golfers rapidly lose the range in the shoulders which will greatly inhibit your ability to get to the top of your backswing fully. This is usuall external rotation issues in the right shoulder of a right-handed golfer, and internal rotation of the left shoulder of the same right-handed golfer.

Simple Golf Stretch Is Your Solution

Although I'm not a big advocate of "band-aide" fixes, there is one or two simple golf exercises and stretches that can improve your golf backswing. One such stretch is what I call the Lying Leg Crossover.

Instructions:

• Lie on back with legs extended.
• Raise one leg and bend at knee to 90 degrees in knee and hip.
• Cross that leg over extended leg, while opposite shoulder stays on ground.
• Go until slight pull in butt and lower back.
• Hold and repeat once more.
• Switch legs and do opposite side.

This is just one simple stretch/exercise that can make a huge differenc in your body's ability to make a bigger golf backswing.

This brief golf fitness article is one examle of how working on your machine can make all the difference. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you will be walking off the course with a big smile on your face.