Fix Your Backswing to Improve Ball-Striking with Justin Kraft

In this episode of On The Mark, Mark Immelman is joined by golf instructor, Justin Kraft, for a detailed and practical conversation about one of the most important and often misunderstood parts of the golf swing: The Backswing.

While impact is often called the “Moment of Truth,” Justin explains why the backswing plays a major role in helping golfers control the clubface, swing path, and quality of strike.  A better backswing can make impact easier to repeat, reduce the need for compensations, and help golfers create a more functional delivery into the ball.

Mark and Justin begin at address, discussing posture, spine tilt, shoulder tilt, hip bend, distance from the golf ball, and how setup can either support or sabotage the swing before the club ever moves. 

They then move through the key checkpoints of the backswing, including the takeaway, shaft-parallel position, lead-arm-parallel position, recentering, wrist structure, trail-arm motion, pressure shift, and the top of the backswing.

The message of this episode is clear: If you want to strike the ball more consistently, stop treating the backswing like an afterthought. Build a better setup, understand the checkpoints, avoid the danger zones, and create a backswing that matches your body and supports your delivery. 

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

1. Why the backswing matters even though impact determines ball flight.
2. How a better backswing can improve face control, path, and strike.
3. Why many golf shots are affected before the club ever moves.
4. How posture influences rotation, low point, and delivery.
5. What shirt buttons, belt buckle position, and spine tilt can tell you at address.
6. Why shoulder tilt matters in a proper setup.
7.  How to check your distance from the golf ball.
8. Why an over-arched lower back can restrict rotation and create problems.
9. How hip bend helps create athletic readiness.
10. How to begin the takeaway without snatching the hands.
11. Why the hands and clubhead should not be confused in the takeaway.
12. What golfers should look for when the shaft is parallel to the ground.
13. Why positions are checkpoints, not places to freeze the swing.
14. How to create better depth and wrist structure by lead-arm parallel.
15. Why recentering starts before the backswing is finished.
16. How the trail foot helps stop sway and begin moving pressure back toward the target.
17. What danger zones to avoid at P2, P3, and the top of the backswing.
18. Why the trail arm should fold naturally without getting too narrow or too wide.
19. How a better top-of-backswing position can make transition easier.
20. Why many slicers should avoid trying to “turn open” too soon, and
21. A simple drill to help golfers feel a more functional top-of-backswing position.

Key Takeaways:

• Impact is the moment of truth, but the backswing can make that moment easier or harder to manage.
• A good setup gives golfers a better chance to rotate, shift pressure, and return the club consistently.
• Posture matters because it influences rotation, pressure shift, angle of attack, low point, and delivery.
• The backswing is a motion, not a series of forced positions.
• Golfers should swing through checkpoints rather than try to place the club in perfect spots.
• There are acceptable corridors in the backswing, not just one perfect model.
• Hand path and clubhead path are different, and confusing them can create major takeaway issues.
• Recentered pressure should happen through ground force and athletic motion, not a forced slide.
• The trail arm should fold naturally while still maintaining usable width and structure.
• The top of the backswing should match the player’s mobility, body type, and delivery tendencies.
• Many slicers make things worse by trying to turn open too soon.
• A functional backswing can help reduce steepness, improve contact, and make the swing more repeatable.
• Better ball-striking often begins before the downswing ever starts.

Be sure to watch this episode on YouTube as Justin demonstrates the backswing and how to correctly swing through correct positions en route to a loaded, complete backswing.  Search and subscribe to Mark Immelman on YouTube.