When it comes to the golf swing, long is usually wrong.

A golfer is said to have a long swing if the club’s shaft dips past the point where it’s parallel to the ground at the top of the backswing.

While it’s true that some golfers, most notably John Daly, can get away with such a lengthy motion, most of us can’t.

Rather than causing one or two specific mistakes, an overly long swing may create a variety of issues. Above all, it’s hard to hit the ball consistently well if your backswing is out of control. Most ironically, a too-long swing can actually decrease your power and distance.

The drills in this series address specific faults which may cause you to overswing. Follow our advice and you’ll soon enjoy the benefits of a shorter, more compact motion.