
If the left arm is much higher than the right, your shoulders are closed. One oft-cited rule states that the hands should be about one palm’s width from your body (about 4 in – 6 in) when setting up to a short or mid-iron, and a bit farther for long irons, hybrids and woods.
Which arm do you use to swing a golf club?
Your left arm is still guiding the club through contact, and the right arm is pushing the club through the ball. As you bring the club through the ball, the right arm has gone from pulling the club through the swing to pushing the club through impact. The left arm remains straight and is still used as a guide.
Should you use your hands in the golf swing?
The hands and arms drive the swing and should be utilized. Many golfers come to golf after playing other sports and have some athletic ability. In no other would someone tell you not to use your hands. Could you imagine swing a baseball bat with your arms or hands?
How can I hit the ball farther in my swing?
Everyone wants to hit the ball farther. In order to get distance out of your swing, the key is to let your arms, wrists, and hands drive your swing motion, not your hips and torso. By keeping your arms loose and letting your hands and wrists dictate your body’s motion and direction, you will get a better strike and more power from your swing.
Should your arms be in front of your body in golf?
He says “a little give at the elbow” is permissible and promotes “a more connected swing” in which arms and body turn together smoothly, which is the key to keeping your arms in front of your chest. Golfers who have difficultly keeping their arms in front of their bodies may wish to try PGA teaching pro Shawn Clement’s drill.

How high do the arms go for a golf backswing?
4:106:39HOW TO SWING THE ARMS IN THE BACKSWING - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe hands are gonna find that kind of middle of the chest slightly right of the chest. And as theyMoreThe hands are gonna find that kind of middle of the chest slightly right of the chest. And as they get to the top I've got a good amount of depth of the butt of the club is close to my trial heal.
How close should arms be to body in golf swing?
1:096:22HOW TO KEEP YOUR ARMS CLOSE TO YOUR BODY BUT STILL ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPosition I got no problem with the left arm staying nice and close to the body mainly. Because IMorePosition I got no problem with the left arm staying nice and close to the body mainly. Because I think it helps everybody get a feeling of comfort.
Where should my arms be in the golf swing?
On the backswing, the right arm and elbow should stay relatively close to your body. On the downswing, the right arm should tuck so that you can shallow the golf club. This allows you to rotate your body through the swing and provides a great position at impact.
How high should your hand be backswing?
Improve your backswing height. The higher you can get your hands at the top, the greater your potential to maximize swing speed at impact. Pretend you're playing the classic carnival sledgehammer game. Get your hands as high as possible above your head while turning your shoulders to the max.
Should your arms hang straight down golf?
your arms should hang straight down from your shoulder sockets at address, and. all golf clubs are built on an angle.
Should arms touch body golf swing?
On the backswing, keeping the upper arms connected to your chest allows the path of the golf club to move inside and naturally along the proper arc. A great drill to practice the feeling of a connected golf swing is to place a glove, towel, tissue or dollar bills in both armpits as you address the golf ball.
How do I keep my hands higher in the golf swing?
2:013:11How to Get Hands Higher in Backswing Properly - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you push it up. Higher. And then you can make the down swing from there that's what i wouldMoreAnd you push it up. Higher. And then you can make the down swing from there that's what i would suggest you guys try to do for the last 10 20 of your backswing. To get that extra height.
How do I keep my arms in front of my golf chest?
2:266:26Keep the Club in Front of You - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBetween your left arm and your left PEC. Then from there here's the key as you rotate on through youMoreBetween your left arm and your left PEC. Then from there here's the key as you rotate on through you can go ahead and let that release let that flow on through to a good full follow-through.
How do I sync my arms and body in the golf swing?
7:067:56How to Sync The Body and Arms in Golf Swing | Pro's Vs AmateursYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipGo so that one felt great and the reason. Being is that the body the arms and the club were workingMoreGo so that one felt great and the reason. Being is that the body the arms and the club were working in sync. And a lot of that was just taken care of in that first backswing. Part of the motion.
Should you stay behind the ball on all golf shots?
It is critical that your head position in the golf swing stay behind the ball throughout the entire swing and especially at impact. This is because we need our head behind the ball for maximum release at impact. If your head is in front of the golf ball at impact, you'll always be robbing yourself of power.
Do you keep hands low in golf swing?
2:538:15Low Hands Golf Swing Could Be The Key To Your Golfing BreakthroughYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipEasier okay so the hands need to be lower. And then accelerate through from that point we want lessMoreEasier okay so the hands need to be lower. And then accelerate through from that point we want less movement less manipulation and less reliant on that hand-eye coordination whipping through.
How do you hit a golf ball further with a shorter swing?
2:0010:40Swing SHORTER Hit FARTHER - The Best Golf Ball Striking Tip You Need ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you go any further it breaks. Down got the elbows together the lead arm straight the next thingMoreIf you go any further it breaks. Down got the elbows together the lead arm straight the next thing you need to do is get a little bit of weight on the front. Side keep your body over the golf ball.
STEP 1
Hinge your right arm at the elbow, with your thumb in a hitchhiker’s position.
STEP 2
Look at your thumb relative to the top of your right shoulder. If it’s even or below your delt (1), you’re a candidate for a flatter backswing. If it’s hovering above (2), start experimenting with a steeper swing.
What is the difference between your right and left arm on a golf club?
On address, both arms are extended straight. Your right hand is at the bottom part of your grip on the club, and your left hand is at the top part of the grip. If the ball is too close you will be forced to bend your arms.
What arm is the power in a down swing?
On your down swing the right arm becomes the power and the left arm becomes the guide. Continue to keep your left arm straight to maintain the maximum arc, and continue to keep the radius of your right arm as close to your body as possible. Your right arm will actually be pulling your club through the swing and your left arm will be guiding the club to the ball.
How to swing a golf club?
On your back swing your left arm acts as a pushing arm and your right arm acts as the hinge that keeps the swing straight. You keep your left arm straight to get the maximum arc out of your swing. The more arc you get from your swing, the more power you will have. Allow the left arm to push the club into the back swing and keep your right arm tight to your body to keep the swing straight.
Which arm is used to guide a golf club through impact?
As you bring the club through the ball, the right arm has gone from pulling the club through the swing to pushing the club through impact. The left arm remains straight and is still used as a guide.
What happens if you bend your left arm?
If you allow your left arm to bend, you will wind up pulling the club closer to your body and reducing the speed you can generate. If you allow the right arm to drift too far from the body, the club will get away from a straight swing path and this could lead to a slice or a hook.
Why do you use your arms in golf?
If you can get the arm movement down, the rest of the body will follow and a consistent swing can be yours. The arms can be utilized to create power and accuracy in a swing that is repeatable and dependable! Below, I will take you through the following topics related to the arms in the golf swing. They include:
How long does it take for your arms to hit the backswing?
The body will respond and help support the arm motion. From the top of the backswing to impact only takes a quarter of a second. Much like a race between a motorcycle and a 4 wheel drive jeep, the motorcycle will win the short race.
How fast is a golf ball?
When you hit a golf ball, it is more about arm speed and very little about hip speed. Monte shows a measurement and compares the speed when hitting off his knees and then off of his feet. The speed range off his feet was between 118-125, off his knees between 107-112, about a 10 miles per hour difference.
What happens in transition in golf swing?
In transition, the body will act as resistance and allow the arms to fire or whip through. We want our lower body stable and still to really get acceleration with arms and hands. In reality, the body will still move even though we are focused on firing the arms and the hands in the golf swing.
Is it bad to take your hands out of your golf swing?
Bad advice about the hands and arms in the golf and what you should do instead. Too often, some bad advice is received where golfers are told to take their hands out of hte swing. This is actually some of the worse advice someone could ever use. The hands and arms drive the swing and should be utilized.
How to keep arms in front of chest on golf backswing?
How to Keep Your Arms In Front of Your Chest on a Golf Backswing. Tiger Woods' hands remain in front of his upper right chest near the top of his backswing. If your arms don’t remain in front of your chest during the backswing it likely means that you’re not rotating your body sufficiently. A lack of body rotation means, at the very least, ...
What should the club be midway through the backswing?
Midway through your backswing the club should be horizontal and parallel to the target line, Woods says. This setup puts you in proper position to conclude a full hip turn in the second part of your backswing. It will be almost impossible to raise your hands further without either rotating your hips or severely bending your left elbow.
How to get a good backswing?
Rotate your hips so your back faces the target, then extend the club straight out from your shoulder. This is the position you should try to achieve on your backswing. Clement also recommends that golfers focus on keeping their elbows close together throughout the backswing.
How to keep your arms in front of your body?
Get into your address position, then bring the club up and lay it across your back shoulder, while the rest of your body maintains its normal stance. Rotate your hips so your back faces the target, then extend the club straight out from your shoulder. This is the position you should try to achieve on your backswing. Clement also recommends that golfers focus on keeping their elbows close together throughout the backswing. As long as your elbows don’t fly apart, your body will be forced to rotate to lift the club much higher than your waist.
Is it a rule that your left arm should stay straight?
It’s a golf axiom that your left arm (for a right-handed golfer) should remain straight throughout the backswing. But golf instructor Jim McLean advises golfers not to take the rule 100 percent literally.
The Pros and Cons of High vs Low Hands at the Top
As a full-time golf instructor for the last 27 years, I have seen a many swing theories come and go, but one thing has come full circle: hand position at the top of the swing.
Stickney: The evolution of necessary technology in golf instruction
Over time technology has improved so that we (as teachers) can see and understand motion and forces in action during the swing.
The Wedge Guy: You can change your stripes
Over my 40-plus years in the golf industry and a lifetime in the game, I have had the opportunity to observe thousands of recreational golfers of all skill levels. I believe the common thread between all of us – from scratch player to high-handicapper – is that we all would like to get better.
Fingerprints of your swing: More thoughts from Phil Blackmar (with Tom Stickney)
One of the biggest debates in the instructional world is the “way” in which people should use technology within their lessons. Some of the older pros are dead against it and say we have gone too far (Brandel Chamblee). Other pros like to blend feels and science (Phil Blackmar).

What's Shoulder/Arm Elevation?
Leverage vs. Rotation in The Downswing
- The most distinctive element that will be apparent in your golf swing is the amount of lagyou will have in your golf swing based on the amount of arm elevation. As you'll see in the video, if your arms don't elevate much in the backswing, you'll need to use more body rotation for power and vice versa if you have more elevation. This can most clearl...
Watch This Premium Video to Help You Decide
- It's simply a matter of preference; the key is to determine how you prefer to move your arms in the golf swing, and in this golf instruction video, I give you the facts to help you decide. Related Premium Content: (Learn About Membership) 1. Create More Speed Using Less Effort 2. Two Ways To Create Massive Speed 3. Learn To Move More Efficiently In The Downswing