
How the Right Arm Works in Golf
- Backswing Plane. Because you stand to the side of the golf ball at address, your clubhead moves on an arc angled to the ground called the swing plane.
- Top of the Swing. Old-time golf instructors recommended players feel as if they were supporting a tray with their right hand at the top of the backswing.
- Starting down. ...
- Through Impact. ...
How your right arm works in the golf swing?
How the Right Arm Works in Golf
- Backswing Plane. Because you stand to the side of the golf ball at address, your clubhead moves on an arc angled to the ground called the swing plane.
- Top of the Swing. Old-time golf instructors recommended players feel as if they were supporting a tray with their right hand at the top of the backswing.
- Starting down. ...
- Through Impact. ...
Which arm should power the golf swing?
The role of right arm in golf swing should be mostly to guide the club into position and get it ready for an aggressive downswing. Once set properly at the top of the swing, the lower body and left arm should take over and do the rest of the work. Think of it as a transfer of power – the right arm in golf swing takeaway does most of the work, and the left arm regains control when you transition into the downswing.
What does the left arm do in the golf downswing?
Golf Tips: Left Arm. 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 scores.
How to keep left arm straight during golf swing?
What I’d like to see
- The left arm is straight.
- The right arm angle is 90 degrees.
- The hands are “away” from the head.
- The wrists are fully hinged.
- The shoulders are fully turned over the top of a controlled lower body.
- The backswing is parallel, with maximum width at this point.

Do you use your right arm in a golf swing?
2:2516:17The Role Of The Right Arm In The Golf Swing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd how you do those things have a dramatic effect on where the golf club is throughout your entireMoreAnd how you do those things have a dramatic effect on where the golf club is throughout your entire swing. In a very simple sense we're going to go simple first for those that want basic feels then we
Which arm has the power in a golf swing?
0:283:13Golf Swing Power - Left Or Right Hand? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe trailing arm is basically gonna pull back and hold the club back.MoreThe trailing arm is basically gonna pull back and hold the club back.
Which arm is most important 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.
Which hand should dominate the golf swing?
The left-hand dominant golf swing is known to be very powerful, and it will help correct some misses golfers have in their game. If you are a player who wants power and you like the classic methods of pulling the golf club through your swing, then left-hand dominance is the right idea for you.
Which hand controls the clubface?
The left hand (the right for southpaws), is responsible for the rotational movement of the golf club, which, in turn, controls the direction of the clubface.
Is the right hand dominant in the golf swing?
Don't get me wrong, they both need to work together. But in general, the hand opposite your swing is the dominant hand in the golf swing. That's why you will see a lot of guys warming up sometimes with just their left arm.
When should I extend my right arm in golf?
Extend your right arm through the shot. If you want to hit the ball far and accurately, you need to extend your right arm fully during the downswing. Your arms are straight at only one moment during your swing ― just after you hit the ball.
How do you train your right arm in the golf swing?
1:294:23HOW TO TRAIN THE RIGHT ARM POWER MOVE IN THE GOLF SWINGYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut we're looking for a little bit of flex in that right arm I want you now to make your golf swingMoreBut we're looking for a little bit of flex in that right arm I want you now to make your golf swing to the top. Still hitting those key points turn the bottom turn the top I'm a Lockington unload.
The Perfect Right Arm Drill
If you want to improve the action of the right arm in your swing, I have the perfect drill for you. (You can find it right around the 1:20 mark of the video above).
Shallowing the Club in Transition
This is a little bit of a tangent, but I also want to point out the great examples of shallowing the club in transition that you can see in the video! Take a look at Graeme McDowell at the 5:40 mark… and Lee Westwood at around the 6:34 mark. You can really see how they flatten the club in transition.
What does trail elbow do in golf?
What the trail elbow going deep can cause across the line and makes it harder from the death move to get back into the ball without heaps of compensation. So when you learn the correct role of the right arm in the golf swing you can have a more consistent golf swing plane and in turn more consistent golf shots with more distance!
What is a golf swing that is controlled more about the body?
A golf swing that is controlled more about the body the the arms is going to be more consistent and trustworthy. Golf instruction as you know it is killing your golf game. It’s time for simple golf principles and no more b.s so you can play better golf.
The Motion of Your Right Arm in the Golf Swing
One of the most common questions on golf forums is about how the right arm works in a golf swing. Now, a golf swing is quite complex, and your right arm will not remain in the same position throughout the process.
Practices for the Dominant Right Arm
If you want to get optimal golf swing results, then you need to ensure that your right arm is positioned properly. We have prepared two different practices that you can do in the comfort of your own home.
Final Thoughts
We can’t say that one arm is more important than the other. Still, it is a fact that there is less space for positioning mistakes with the dominant arm. It is not only there to support the club throughout the backswing, but also to ensure a powerful downswing that will result in proper impact with the ball.
What muscle is used to power a golf club?
What’s more, the right arm amplifies the power generated by the torso as it transfers that power to the golf club. The muscles in the arm and chest pulling and straightening the arm during the downswing, building more energy, and then releasing that energy into the golf club at precisely the correct moment for maximum club head speed through impact.
How to know if your right arm is bent?
There are a few key characteristics that you should note: 1 The right arm stays bent at the elbow at approximately 90 degrees (the angle is distorted by the perspective of the two views), from the top until very late in the downswing — it doesn’t start to straighten until the hands reach about hip height. 2 There is no conscious muscular effort applied to the right arm until the hands drop down to about waist height and the shoulders reach maximum rotational speed. 3 The external rotation of the right arm (established at address and increased during the backswing) increases further as the right elbow starts down ahead of the hands, increasing the lag angles and stretching the shoulder. This also enables the deltoids to contribute energy to the golf swing. 4 The elbow is pulled down and in front of the body just after the upper body starts to rotate hard. As the hands reach 9 o’clock (the left arm is horizontal), the right elbow is pointing towards the right toes. 5 The right shoulder seems to “pause” as the right arm straightens, enabling (and due to) the transfer of energy from the core through to the arm. 6 At the same time as the upper body rotation starts to decelerate, due to its energy transferring through to the right arm, the triceps fire to amplify the energy as the right arm straightens.
Why is my right forearm pointing straight at the ball?
The right forearm is pointing straight at the golf ball as the golf club lag is released into impact, and well ahead of the ball at impact. The right arm is still slightly bent through impact, straightening as he extends (is pulled) well into the follow-through as a result of efficient energy transfer. It is very important to understand that there ...
What is the right arm used for?
The right arm is often referred to by golf instructors as the “speed arm”, it has primary responsibility for transferring the energy from your torso through to the golf club , playing a crucial role in the golf swing kinematic sequence. But the right arm isn’t simply used for energy transfer, it is also a compound pendulum in its own right, ...
What is the external rotation of the right arm?
The external rotation of the right arm (established at address and increased during the backswing) increases further as the right elbow starts down ahead of the hands, increasing the lag angles and stretching the shoulder. This also enables the deltoids to contribute energy to the golf swing.
What happens if you fire your arm too early?
If the muscles are fired too early, then the arm will straighten too soon.
Why do amateurs use their upper body?
This feels powerful, since your arms are connected to the golf club, but it prevents you from benefitting from the compound pendulum effect . It throws away all of the club head lag that could be used to generate Tour-calibre club head speed if ...
What hand does the golf club rotate?
Moments before impact, the right hand will initiate the wrist release and begin the rotation of the club as it squares coming into impact. Again the right and left hands must work in unison to accomplish this; the left hand alone does not have enough power to do so… and the result will be an open clubface and a slice.
What is the role of the right arm in golf?
The truth is, in a right-handed swing the right arm is crucial in supporting the club on the downswing, ensuring it’s on the right path, developing lag and assuring the clubface rotates to a square position at impact. Its role is something that should not be minimized.
What happens if your left arm isn't cocked?
If this doesn’t happen, your left arm is forced to transfer the power you’re right arm isn’t, to the ball. This will cause you to release your wrists from their cocked position prematurely, resulting in an out to in swing path and a loss of power.
Why is the trail arm important?
Your trail arm has an incredibly important role in the golf swing, one with the ability to both help — and hurt — the outcome of the shot you’re about to hit. When something goes wrong in a golfer’s downswing, it generally does so in one of two ways: Either the arms both work too far behind you at the start of the downswing ...
What is the right arm for golf?
As Tattersall says, your trail arm — which is your right arm for right-handed golfers, or left arm for left-handers — can and does a variety of different things on the backswing. “The right arm can fan a little bit, it can rotate, and it can lift. All those things happen in most people’s backswing,” Tattersall says.
Who is Luke Kerr-Dineen?
Luke Kerr-Dineen is the Game Improvement Editor at GOLF Magazine and GOLF .com. In his role he oversees all the brand’s service journalism spanning instruction, equipment, health and fitness, across all of GOLF’s multimedia platforms.
