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Golf · Level 3: Pre-Intermediate · Sub-level 3.2

Backswing and Downswing

4 tests · 40 facts · updated 13 October 2026 · markdown

The moving parts of a full swing: the takeaway and the plane, the turn at the top, the order of the downswing, and tempo.

Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.

Test 1The takeaway and the planeTake a test

  1. Moving together keeps the club on line early on.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  2. The toe of the club points up at this stage.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  3. Ben Hogan pictured it as a sheet of glass.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  4. From his book Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf (1957).

    Source: Ben Hogan, Five Lessons (1957) · recall

  5. The hips should turn, not slide.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  6. It leaves the weight on the trail side at impact.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  7. A swing is a turn, not a straight push back.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  8. The takeaway is the first move away from the ball.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  9. Coaches often freeze the swing at each of these to check it.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · applied

  10. The club works round this tilted plane in a good swing.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · applied

Test 2The top of the swingTake a test

  1. Roughly a quarter turn, back to the target.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  2. The hips turn about half as much as the shoulders.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  3. The term was made popular by coach Jim McLean.

    Source: Jim McLean, The X-Factor Swing (1997) · recall

  4. Many good swings stop near here; some are shorter.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  5. Pointing left of the target is called 'laid off'.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  6. It loads the trail leg for the move down.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  7. Many coaches prefer a shorter, controlled backswing.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  8. The club travels farthest, the hips least.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · applied

  9. Back with the turn, then through to the target.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · applied

  10. The gap between the two turns is what the downswing unwinds.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · applied

Test 3The downswingTake a test

  1. The body unwinds from the ground up.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  2. Pelvis, chest, arms, then the club in a good swing.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  3. Holding the angle stores speed for impact.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  4. Early release wastes speed before the ball.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  5. It sends the path out to in and is a common slice cause.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  6. The trail foot is up on its toe.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  7. It crowds the arms and changes the strike.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  8. Each part speeds up and slows down, passing speed to the next.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  9. The finish is held in balance.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  10. Keeping it stores speed for impact.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · applied

Test 4Tempo and rhythmTake a test

  1. Tempo can be quick or slow; it should stay steady.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  2. Good timing puts every part in place at impact.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  3. This 3-to-1 ratio was measured on many tour players.

    Source: John Novosel, Tour Tempo (2004) · recall

  4. Hurrying the change of direction is a classic fault.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  5. Swinging too hard with feet together tips the player over.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  6. A smooth transition is the heart of good timing.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  7. Ernie Els is famous for an unhurried, smooth tempo.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  8. Same ratio, different total time.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · applied

  9. Speed rises, rhythm stays.

    Source: General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides) · recall

  10. The backswing takes about three times as long.

    Source: John Novosel, Tour Tempo (2004) · applied

Sources

PGA coaching and general teaching guides, launch-monitor teaching material on ball flight, named books where a phrase is theirs, and the Equipment Rules and Rules of Golf where a number is set there; original questions authored, nothing reproduced.

  • General golf instruction (PGA coaching and teaching guides)36
  • John Novosel, Tour Tempo (2004)2
  • Ben Hogan, Five Lessons (1957)1
  • Jim McLean, The X-Factor Swing (1997)1