x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
Use this Nick Faldo drill to find the perfect backswing position
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf

Over $140 of value - Just $39.99

InsideGOLF
Instruction

Use this Nick Faldo drill to find the perfect backswing position

By: Zephyr Melton
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Follow on Instagram
October 25, 2024
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
nick faldo hits a tee shot on the 18th hole of the old course

In today's edition of Play Smart, we explain how to use Nick Faldo's pre-set drill to find the perfect backswing position.

Getty Images

Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you become a smarter, better golfer.

Finding the correct positions during your backswing is crucial for your ball-striking consistency. Everything you do during the backswing influences how your club moves during the downswing, so it’s critical you have a proper backswing.

One easy way to ingrain a proper backswing? Take a page out of Nick Faldo‘s book and try his “pre-set drill.”

Back in the 80s, Faldo went through a series of swing changes to get more consistency out of his ball striking. During that process, he leaned heavily on this pre-set drill to find the perfect backswing position on every swing.

Faldo’s pre-set drill

During the backswing, one of the key moves you will make is hinging your wrists. When you do this, you can get the clubface in an optimal position and give yourself a nice power boost.

To execute Faldo’s pre-set drill, all you need to do is stand at address and then hinge your wrists to this set position before doing anything else.

Get into your normal setup, and then hinge your wrists to the position they would be at the top of the backswing. Get the shaft parallel to your target line and completely horizontal. From this position, simply make a full turn to the top of your backswing.

“As you can see, I’ve completed the backswing in a perfect position,” Faldo says.

Hit a few balls doing this pre-set routine to get a nice feel for where you want your wrists to be at the top of the backswing. After drilling that, you can make your normal swing and easily find that position again.

Latest In Instruction

2 hours ago

5 keys for scoring from the rough

4 hours ago

One simple key for hitting high, soft-landing bunker shots

2 days ago

PGA Championship contender's drill for solid contact with wedges

2 days ago

Those mud balls at the PGA? Here's why the pros detest them

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.

  • Author Twitter Account
  • Author Instagram Account

Related Articles

Approach Shots
golfer swings golf club / golf ball with mud on one side

Those mud balls at the PGA? Here's why the pros detest them

By: Joe Plecker, with Zephyr Melton
Putting
a golfer in a blue shirt crouches down to read a putt on a green

Why this common putting strategy is actually the 'worst advice in golf'

By: Zephyr Melton
Approach Shots
joe plecker demonstrates how to find the center of your stance

Find the center of your stance for better contact with your irons

By: Joe Plecker, with Zephyr Melton
Driving
jordan spieth points to the right during the 2014 ryder cup

Improve this key skill if you want to shoot lower scores

By: Zephyr Melton
Driving
Smooth out your swing with Rose Zhang’s tempo keys

How Rose Zhang’s simple tempo keys improved my swing

By: Maddi MacClurg
Putting
man demonstrates how putts of different speed break differently

Fascinating video shows why speed is so important for making putts

By: Zephyr Melton
News
Sir Nick Faldo and Jim Nantz.

'There's no Jim Nantz': Nick Faldo recalls white-knuckle Masters broadcast moment

By: Claire Rogers
Instruction
driver teed up with golf ball on tee

Why proper ball position is so important in the golf swing

By: Zephyr Melton
Instruction
pga tour pro justin rose swings during the 2025 rbc heritage

This major winner's swing thought can cure your early extension

By: Zephyr Melton
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.