Hit it with your left arm!

[mariner]

I am probably playing the best golf of my life at the moment (playing regularly to about 9 h/c though I'm 13.5 - therefore winning lots of club comps!) and I think it's all down to the simple feeling of hitting everything from drives to putts with my left arm.
I am very right-hand dominant and it has always caused me problems in the area of coming over the top and inconsistency, but this thought has really helped, it seems to keep the right arm passive and everything stays on line and I get more length to go with the improved accuracy because of the better quality of strike.
Give it a try if you are struggling with consistency (who isn't?) - it's not even something you would need to ingrain with hundreds of range balls, it seems to work straight away if you just try and feel it first and then let it transform into a more physical action.

[Neil18]

Re: Hit it with your left arm!

Hi Mariner,

I would think that the feeling of hitting it with your left arm is a good intermediate point for getting over the upper body lunge/right shoulder coming out at the ball too soon. You're well on the right track here.

In effect, what you're probably getting is the feeling of activating your left arm which gets your hands infront of you more before you complete your turn through the ball. You are now a little more connected and are closer to getting the right bits moving at the right time.

The next stage is learning the timing of it so you can employ your right side at the correct time. Your right side and arm are by no means redundant in the through swing, it's just that a lot of people who are right side dominant (me included) have a habit of getting into the shot too soon. It's only natural for a right hander to use their right side, just as it is a left-hander his left.

Personally I have learned that for my swing, the club drop/swing from the top and the initial turn facilitate getting my hands back infront of my top half, then it's a case of continuing the turn whilst not releasing the wrists.

To exaggerate the point, get to the top of your backswing and pause, then do nothing but lead the downswing with your right shoulder whilst trying to leave the hands up there. Two things will happen. Firstly it will throw the club above plane from the top (OTT, sh***ers and slicers nightmare) and secondly it will be very very hard to increase or even hold on to the angle provided by your wrist hinge.

Now get to the top and swing your arms down without interference from your right shoulder at the same time as shifting your weight onto your left side (first move from the top is right elbow tuck in, hips left. The Centre of Gravity has to go left to a) get your weight left but b) keep your top half behind/over the ball). Your hands can then come back infront of you with your right elbow still bent and tucked infront just above your right hip (which aids keeping your right shoulder down). It's WAY easier to hold onto the lag. When your hands are back near in line with your belly button, then turn without releasing the wrist angle.

You'll find you'll turn through and past the ball with your hands and body whilst leaving the club head behind. When timed right, you can start to feel firing your right side (including your shoulder) into the shot at the same time the clubhead is meeting the ball, not the hands (IMPORTANT- DON'T FLIP YOUR RIGHT HAND FOR EXTRA SPEED. Release will happen naturally as your clubhead strikes the ball. You'll know when you've flipped it as you'll get a crater-like divot and the ball will start left and keep going!).

As long as the correct grip is employed to square the clubface with this action, you'll see dramatic improvements in ball comression, flight, accuracy and distance.

As I say, swinging with the left arm dominant is a good first step. Where did you come up with trying it? Or was it one of those eureka moments that comes from nowhere?!!

I'm at work and well bored so if anyone wants a conversation that'll last about 4 hours, feel free!

[Neil18]

Re: Hit it with your left arm!

Blimey you're up early!?! I presume your eastern seaboard, otherwise you're up bloody early!

At the moment I look particularly one plane (if we diagnose one plane as having the shoulder plane and arm plane the same at the top) but employ my swing as described above. I am working on getting the club more "up" in my backswing to have the butt of the club more over the middle of my right foot from down the line, rather than over my heel line. For me this change will only serve to have a more uninhibited turn through the ball rather than still having to "wait" a fraction for my arms to get infront of me. I guess when I get it, I'll be more 2 plane and have to move even less to produce the desired results.

That's one thing my coach always impresses on me. Rarely is a coach having to add things to make a golf swing better. More often than not, it's taking unnecessary bits out that provides the answer.

I am, however, striking the ball better than ever and having to think less about it, and move less in this manner.

[Neil18]

Re: Hit it with your left arm!

Just tried that (with a small broom - don't keep a club at work!) and it does appear to put the club/broom swinging up more infront of my torso rather than going round behind me. It seems to keep the club going back and up in between my arms, rather than under my right arm.

Am I right in thinking it also serves to get the right arm bent slightly earlier in the backswing (something I have yet been able to achieve)? It certainly feels like it.

Thanks.

[Neil18]

Re: Hit it with your left arm!

Nice. Thanks for that.

[Neil18]

Re: Hit it with your left arm!

I am probably playing the best golf of my life at the moment (playing regularly to about 9 h/c though I'm 13.5 - therefore winning lots of club comps!) and I think it's all down to the simple feeling of hitting everything from drives to putts with my left arm.
I am very right-hand dominant and it has always caused me problems in the area of coming over the top and inconsistency, but this thought has really helped, it seems to keep the right arm passive and everything stays on line and I get more length to go with the improved accuracy because of the better quality of strike.
Give it a try if you are struggling with consistency (who isn't?) - it's not even something you would need to ingrain with hundreds of range balls, it seems to work straight away if you just try and feel it first and then let it transform into a more physical action.

Even Bobby Jones thought like you Mariner!

Rejoice! You're in good company!

[jimnyc2000]

Re: Hit it with your left arm!

lurking mostly cause i really am a newbie but im wishin that Cmays was teaching in New York City because you can probably have some following ..including me!! I thank you for your great tutorial posts!!!!