It’s true, a compact golf swing is something to strive for. But if your swing is too short, you’ll suffer from a lack of power.

While every golfer is different, the basic idea is to take the driver back until the club is parallel to the ground at the top, with the shoulders rotated 90° relative to the target line. The swing gets slightly shorter with each club down through the wedges.

Golfers who struggle to reach these points may have physical issues related to age, injury or flexibility. Others may simply get in a rush to hit the ball and cut their backswing short, or fear taking the club back too far and losing control.

This series features three drills designed to help you turn those shoulders and get the club into proper position, which will boost your power and accuracy.