How to keep left arm straight during golf swing?
Feb 17, 2014 · The left arm has an equally important role to perform in the golf swing, perhaps even more so in that it directly controls the club face through impact. The right arm's job is primarily speed and support of the left arm; whereas, …
How does the left arm move in the golf swing?
For right-handed golfers, the left arm is one of the most important aspects of the golf swing. The left arm determines the swing arc for a shot and helps release and rotate the wrists and club on...
What does the left arm do in the golf downswing?
Feb 18, 2019 · Golf Instruction. The left arm is the one that primarily controls the path that the club will travel on. For this reason we need to try to keep the path from changing during the swing to produce consistent results. That means you will need to feel as if you keep the arm straight from the set up position until impact.
Which arm should power the golf swing?
An extended left arm will create a large arc in your golf swing and help you make a powerful move into the ball. If you find your left arm is bending at the top of your swing it is most likely because your body has stopped rotating and you are trying to …
How does the left arm move in the golf swing?
Which arm has the power in a golf swing?
Is the left arm dominant in the golf swing?
Does the left arm pull down on the golf swing?
Which hand controls the clubface?
Which hand should dominate in the golf swing?
Does the left side control the golf swing?
How is the side of the golf swing determined?
What arm controls the downswing?
Should the left arm be connected to chest in downswing?
Is the backswing a push or pull?
How to get a feel for the left arm in golf swing?
To get a feel for what the left arm does during the swing, grip an 8-iron with just the left hand. Place the right hand behind the left arm, just above the left elbow.
What is the left arm in golf?
Overview. For right-handed golfers, the left arm is one of the most important aspects of the golf swing. The left arm determines the swing arc for a shot and helps release and rotate the wrists and club on the downswing. Understanding the purpose of the left arm in the golf swing and how to properly utilize it are critical factors in shooting low ...
How to keep your arm straight?
One drill to practice keeping the arm relatively straight is to grip the club with the left hand, then hold the left wrist with the right hand. Begin the takeaway and extend the left arm to the top of the takeaway. Begin the downswing and physically rotate the left arm with the right hand.
What arm is the best for golf?
Golf Tips: Left Arm. By David Green. Keeping the left arm relatively straight during the takeaway is important for right-handed golfers. For right-handed golfers, the left arm is one of the most important aspects of the golf swing. The left arm determines the swing arc for a shot and helps release and rotate the wrists and club on the downswing. ...
What arm does the golfer use to hit a shot?
Once golfers become comfortable with this drill, they should be able to tee up a ball and hit shots with just their left arm on the club.
What does it mean when your hands are in front of the club?
If the hands are in front of the club, this likely means you’re hitting shots higher than normal. Focus on timing and try not to release the left arm too quickly or slowly.
Is it ok to keep your left arm straight?
Straight Left Arm. One common misconception about the left arm is that it must stay completely straight on the takeaway. While the arm should be relatively straight, it’s not advisable to lock the elbow or hyperextend the arm to keep it straight. One drill to practice keeping the arm relatively straight is to grip the club with the left hand, ...
What is the role of the left arm in golf?
The other major contribution the left or front arm makes is what I call golf’s dirty little secret. The way the left arm moves and rotates after impact is one of the key contributors to a great golf swing. This is the most counter intuitive motion that most golfers ever have to make and feels powerless and uncomfortable at first.
Which arm controls the path of a golf club?
Golf Instruction. The left arm is the one that primarily controls the path that the club will travel on. For this reason we need to try to keep the path from changing during the swing to produce consistent results. That means you will need to feel as if you keep the arm straight from the set up position until impact.
How to hit a golf ball straight?
Remember, your arms hook the ball and your body slices the ball. To hit a ball relatively straight the arms and body sequence and speed must match up. Once you learn to curve the ball left with proper arm rotation you will then need to change the sequence of your body motion. Most amateurs have their hips facing the ball at impact. If your arms work correctly and your hips are square to the ball at impact you should hook the ball. After accomplishing a ball flight that curves left next try to get your hips to move laterally from the top of the swing and then try to get the hips 20 to 40 degrees open at impact. This may take a little time but it is well worth it. This is how a good athletic motion produces extremely long consistent shots.
How to swing your arms?
Stand in front of a mirror and make small swings watching how your arms work. Keep the back of the front or left arm firmly against the chest on the down swing . Notice that your arms can rotate easier before, at and after impact.
How far does the left arm stay in the ball striker?
The left arm will stay at or around a 30 degree angle across the chest from the half way down position of the down swing and not move forward until after impact and not until the hands get around chest high on the follow through. This means that your front elbow will stay closer to your belly button than your front hip at impact and stay there until your hands reach about shoulder height. This may sound odd but this is what most of the best ball strikers in the world do.
What does it mean when your left arm moves back in the back swing?
Obviously this means your body must move in an athletic manner with the hips moving towards the target to start the downswing.
How many golfers do proper front arm motion?
I would estimate that only about 3 to 5 percent of golfers accomplish proper front or left arm motion which is also in line with the percentage of players that break 80. The biggest problem with this is that it feels powerless and all “bunched up” through impact. If you were to see this on video you would notice the exact opposite is the case. By keeping the left arm firmly against the chest, (tricep pressing against the center of the left peck or chest) this allows your right arm to become fully extended through impact. This motion also allows your arms to extend and rotate properly.
What is the role of the left arm in golf?
Every part of the body has to be insync for a golf swing to work, but the role of the left arm in golf swing is one of the most crucial and easy to check components. This article will discuss proper positioning for your left arm in a golf swing, when to think about it, and how it should move throughout your swing. An important note, this page will discuss the importance of the left arm in the golf swing as most golfers are right-handed, but what we really mean is the lead arm in the golf swing. So if you’re a left-handed player, this article will be about your right arm.
Why is the left arm of the golf club important?
It largely determines the spacing and arc of your golf swing, it helps control the clubface and ensures power through impact. Too much bend in your left arm can throw off the timing of the rest of your body, costing you power and making it more difficult to square the club at impact and start the ball on-line.
How to keep your left arm straight during a golf takeaway?
A good thought is to push your left arm away from the ball by rotating your shoulders and trunk with your left shoulder working down and under your chin. If you are using a Swing Align device the front of the rod will move down first (not out and around). This will help you keep your left arm straight and close to your body which starts your takeaway on the proper swing plane.
How to use swing alignment?
Start by taking some small swings, rotating back only so that your left arm is parallel to the ground. Keep your left arm close to your body and rotate the alignment rod back and through using your body.
What arm does the follow through do?
It also teaches you to make a full swing instead of decelerating at impact. During the follow through your left arm will remain straight after hitting the ball, but will bend as you rotate through to face your target and your arms come up to your finishing position.
How to swing backswing golf?
First, as you start your backswing, keep your left arm straight and close to your body until it approaches parallel to the ground and your wrists start to hinge. You’ll want to make sure that your arms and body are “connected” and your body is driving your turn away from the ball, not your arms. Remember that golf is a rotational game ...
Where should the swing align rod be on a golf swing?
The Swing Align rod should be perpendicular to the target line at the top and level or pointing slightly down.
How to use the left arm?
Correct use of the left arm begins with the grip. Check to see that the handle lies diagonally across the fingers of your left hand, as opposed to the palm. When the grip lies correctly in your left hand, hinging the club on the backswing becomes natural.
How to keep your left arm extended on the backswing?
First, make sure that you're holding the club correctly in the left hand. Second, take your right hand and place it on your left wrist. Your right thumb should point to the ground and your palm should face the target.
How to swing the golf ball well?
You don't need to swing exactly like a Tour player to strike the ball well, but don't do the exact opposite. Keep the left arm extended on the backswing and let it fold on the follow-through. If you've been struggling with a left-to-right ballflight or fat and thin shots, focus on your left arm.
How does a ball striker work?
A good ball striker creates a wide, powerful arc on the backswing by allowing the wrists to hinge naturally, which places the club on the proper plane. More importantly, they use their flexibility and upper body turn to move the club to the top without the left arm having to fold. High-handicappers tend to do the opposite. First, because of what's likely a faulty grip, they fail to properly hinge the wrists, impeding their ability to get the club on the correct plane. Furthermore, since these golfers don't turn as much as they should, they move the club to the top by folding the left elbow. In this position, the high-handicapper loses the swing radius established at setup and, typically, ends up coming over the top, a move that exacerbates the problem by limiting correct rotation and release of the left arm post-impact.
How to swing down a golf swing?
Swing back and keep your left arm extended by pulling it across your chest with your right hand. Keep your hands away from your head. Focus on maintaining the radius you created at address all the way to the top of the swing. Now, swing down.
How to square a golf club at impact?
Now, swing down. As you begin to release through impact, physically rotate your left forearm with your right hand. This is how you square the club at impact. Once you begin to rotate the left forearm, you'll feel how the left arm correctly folds on the follow-through. Do this several times until it feels natural.
Why do high handicappers move their clubs to the top?
High-handicappers tend to do the opposite. First, because of what's likely a faulty grip, they fail to properly hinge the wrists, impeding their ability to get the club on the correct plane. Furthermore, since these golfers don't turn as much as they should, they move the club to the top by folding the left elbow.
How to keep your left arm straight in golf?
Keeping your left arm straight during the swing requires the proper grip, arm swing, downswing path and body turn. Learn these fundamentals and you will consistently be able to create a powerful swing.
How to swing a golf club backwards?
Swing the club back with your shoulders and begin hinging your wrists. Keep your left arm extended as you turn your shoulders and hinge your wrists. Stop your backswing when your left shoulder is under your chin and your arms are slightly higher than your shoulders .
How to follow through on golf swing?
Follow Through. Keep turning your hips as you swing through impact and strike the ball. Let the club rotate over as your arms extend out to the target. Halfway through the follow-through the left arm should finally bend as you fold both arms to a finish position. Your shoulders and hips should face the target at your finish.
How to get a golf club to swing down?
Downswing. Start your downswing by moving your lower body to the target. This will help you bring the club down along a proper inside-out path. Turn your hips toward the target and keep your left arm extended as you continue swinging down to impact. Turn your hips through the impact position and hold onto your wrist hinge until just before ...
What arm should be straight at the top of the backswing?
By John Wagner. The left arm should be straight at the top of the backswing. One common phrase heard around driving ranges and golf courses is "keep your left arm straight.". This advice can help right-handed golfers create power in their swings.
Where should the V point on a golf club?
The "v" formed by your left thumb and index finger should point toward your right shoulder. Grip the club in the fingers of your right hand with the right pinky finger overlapping the index and middle finger of the left hand. This grip will give you leverage to hinge your wrists while keeping your left arm straight.
Which side of the golf swing does the golfer push?
Again, because most golfers simply just push from the left side, they don't make a full shoulder turn during the backswing, and the left shoulder gets fully loaded early, which you don't want as this will cost you power.
Which side of golf pushes the ball?
This pushing comes from the left side (in a right handed golfer) during the backswing in golf.
What does the green line on a golf swing mean?
The green line represents the approximate location the center of the left shoulder would be if you didn't protract the left shoulder blade in the backswing and left it where it was at address. The yellow line is the approximation of the center of the left shoulder at the top of the swing when it protracts to match the retraction of the right.
What does the green line on the left shoulder mean?
Remember, things work in pairs in your body when it comes to rotation. The green line represents the approximate location the center of the left shoulder would be if you didn't protract the left shoulder blade in ...
What side do you push on the backswing?
If that's you, you may actually feel NOTHING BUT pushing from the left side during the backswing.
What is the primary movement in golf?
In most of my golf instructional videos, I refer to "pulling" as the primary movement, as you can see in the "Push vs. Pull" video.
Which shoulder area is more powerful?
You'll feel more powerful as the left shoulder area gets properly loaded at the top of the golf swing, and you'll be able to achieve a better position at the top.
