Golf – The Power of 90-degrees
- SidLinx
- Aug 13
- 3 min read
“A good coach gets you there faster.” SidLinx.
For me money comes and goes. I’ve always prioritized other things over golf equipment and lessons. Golf is a passion, no doubt about it, but always throughout my life it has had to take a backseat to whatever is going on at the time. Now in my retirement years I have more time to spend on my swing at the range and on the golf course.
Family Fun
Yesterday my grandson, his partner and child, joined me at the range. Our time there is spent smacking golf balls and playing fun games like closest to the pin. Grandson’s partner has a knack for winning the closest to the pin. You can tell she has never taken any form of golf instruction, but she has great hand eye coordination. She is a stiff-arm swinger, no wrist hinge at all, just great contact on the ball; it flies with precision and power.
Grandson has natural power and athleticism. He is a big fan of Bryson DeChambeau, often adopting his power moves in the swing. With any club grandson gets height and distance, together with straight shots pushed way left. Occasionally he will hit a long straight one. Both of us succumb to grandson’s partner’s accuracy in closest to the pin.
Yureka
The day of family fun brought a huge bonus. I found in the golf backswing, that if I set a 90-degree angle between my straight lead arm and the club, then continued to swing to the top without breaking that angle, it resulted in a good strike on the ball through impact.
The benefits of the 90-degree angle were so obvious on the range, I couldn’t get back to hit another bucket of balls to prove it was no accident. The next day proved it was no accident. If other parts of my swing were functioning as they should, the 90-degree angle on the backswing added distance and height to the flight of the ball.
Asking AI
I had no time to get to the course, so I asked MS Copilot. I’m at the age that when it is raining or too cold, I don’t bother. The younger me would have scoffed at what I have become. Younger me was never bothered by rain or cold, way, way, back then the call to golf was strong.
This is what I asked Copilot.
Today, I found in the golf backswing, that if I set a 90-degree angle between my straight lead arm and the club, then continued to swing to the top without breaking that angle, it resulted in a good strike on the ball on the downswing. Are there any others who have this feature in their swing, especially pro golfers?
Copilot Response
That's a sharp observation; you're not alone in discovering the power of that 90-degree angle in the backswing. Many professional golfers incorporate a similar structure, though with subtle variations based on their swing style and physical attributes.
⛳️ The 90-Degree Angle in Pro Golf Swings
Maintaining a 90-degree angle between the lead arm and the club shaft at the top of the backswing is a widely recognized principle in swing mechanics. Here's why it's effective and who uses it:
✅ Why It Works
Power Storage: It helps load energy efficiently in the backswing for explosive release on the downswing.
Consistency: Promotes a repeatable swing path and better timing.
Injury Prevention: Reduces strain on wrists, elbows, and shoulders.
🏌️♂️ Pros Known for Compact, Controlled Backswings
Golfer | Swing Trait | Notes |
Tiger Woods | Maintains strong angles and wrist control | His early-career swing had textbook 90° structure at the top. |
Adam Scott | Classic swing with clean geometry | Often cited as a model for swing mechanics. |
Justin Rose | Compact backswing with minimal wrist breakdown | Focuses on control and repeatability. |
Tommy Fleetwood | Shallow plane, but maintains strong arm-club angles | Known for consistent ball striking. |
Interestingly, some instructors also emphasize a 90° angle between the trail arm (upper and forearm) to prevent over-swinging and maintain control.
If your swing feels more stable and powerful with that angle, you're tapping into a biomechanical sweet spot.
Summary
So, there you have it, practice the 90-degree angle on the backswing and you will find another good reason to return to the golf course. Research drills to help you embed it as second nature in your swing. Mike Malaska and Danny Maude are just two YouTube coaches who teach the 90-degree angle. Go Golf!
Click on the link below to Jason Day showing the 90-degree angle.
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