Lead arm, wet noodle or stiff rod?

[Golfbeat]

For years I have been playing with a tense, straight left arm because I was under the impression that this would give the correct structure to my back swing and down swing as well. For some time now, I try to feel as if my left arm is just completely relaxed and is just along for the ride. I control now everything with the right arm and it has created enormous freedom in my swing. I play a lot of tennis and I was searching for the same freedom of hitting a good hard forehand but in golf I always had the feeling that the left arm was just in the way. The videos of Monte and Tony Luczak have given me the encouragement to basically forget about the left arm and focus (almost) completely of the right arm. I am not saying that it made me scratch immediately but I am hitting it better, further and it simply feels better.

 

I would be interested to find out who on the Forum is more lead arm dominant and who more trail arm dominant. Is it the result of instruction or because of playing other sports?

[mikpga]

Consider your lead shoulder, lead arm, and club as the radius of the swing arc...

 

Many golfers tend to collapse their lead arm too much because their shoulders stop turning in a circle, and they begin to lift...

[glk]

I have relaxed arms and focus on maintaining the structure, ie swing the T. I don't focus on either arm separately - swing killer for me. If you can maintain the structure while focusing on just one of the arms, more power to you. I've recently focused, more MDLT, on my upper arms during the transition as a feel.

[MonteScheinblum]

The answer to almost any question in the golf swing is somewhere in between.

 

Are you supposed to have a huge arc or stay connected?

Are you supposed to release the golf club or hold lag?

Should you maintain the right knee flex in the backswing or straighten it?

On and on...

 

 

If you go in between the extremes it will be a rare occasion that you are wrong.

[baloo]

Somewhere in the middle. I don't think about it as long as the left arm isn't collapsing.

[moehogan]

BS: left arm dominant, right arm counterbalancing

DS: right arm dominant, left arm counterbalancing

 

Yin and Yang ... opposite but complementary forces

[pinhigh27]

For years I have been playing with a tense, straight left arm because I was under the impression that this would give the correct structure to my back swing and down swing as well. For some time now, I try to feel as if my left arm is just completely relaxed and is just along for the ride. I control now everything with the right arm and it has created enormous freedom in my swing. I play a lot of tennis and I was searching for the same freedom of hitting a good hard forehand but in golf I always had the feeling that the left arm was just in the way. The videos of Monte and Tony Luczak have given me the encouragement to basically forget about the left arm and focus (almost) completely of the right arm. I am not saying that it made me scratch immediately but I am hitting it better, further and it simply feels better.

 

I would be interested to find out who on the Forum is more lead arm dominant and who more trail arm dominant. Is it the result of instruction or because of playing other sports?

 

huh

[Ghost of Snead]

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1417470-swing-with-one-arm-is-left-or-right-most-powerful/

[Golfbeat]

http://www.golfwrx.c...-most-powerful/

 

Oops, I missed that thread. Very similar.

[scratch72]

I like both arms like noodles. I pick up a ton of club head speed when I feel like noodle arms. If I think left arm straight or hit with the right I get tension in my arms and the swing speed actually slows down. Same with the grip, I have to feel like the club is going to fly out of my hands especially with the driver, almost feels out of control but that's when I get that sweet contact and the ball just screams off the face. The only problem is it has to be my only swing thought and I have to force myself to do it on every shot. It never becomes natural.

[MPStrat]

If the arm is too stiff I lose shoulder joint mobility. Like Monte said somewhere in between

[Sbrooks]

Soft

[kabal57]

I have a friend I play with that keeps his lead arm stiff the whole time. Not a death grip, but his forward arm does not bend.

Somehow he's able to build tremendous lag and absolutely murders the ball off the tee, usually around the 270-300 range.

Some holes I'm 50+ yards behind him depending on how good or bad I strike it.

 

It doesn't seem right, but works for him.

[starsail85]

Make the left arm as long as possible . This stops you hyper extending it and also getting tension . This makes the flat left wrist condition automatic for me at the top of the swing .

 

 

[Millbrook]

Golfbeat I think you would find Jim Hardys latest book The Release useful.

 

Check out the thread on this, be happy to answer any queries you have.

[nitram]

As I continue to grow older, I appreciate stiffness more than ever.

[Michael309]

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[NCHACK85]

I don't want to say mine is tense or locked, but I feel it's straight, if you know what I'm saying. I don't put any thought on it, but if an instructor comes up and tries to position it better it will give.

[Barfolomew]

I like both arms like noodles. I pick up a ton of club head speed when I feel like noodle arms. If I think left arm straight or hit with the right I get tension in my arms and the swing speed actually slows down. Same with the grip, I have to feel like the club is going to fly out of my hands especially with the driver, almost feels out of control but that's when I get that sweet contact and the ball just screams off the face. The only problem is it has to be my only swing thought and I have to force myself to do it on every shot. It never becomes natural.

 

Im kinda the same.....but as long as I remember to keep grip loose at address Im good and takes care of loose feeling swing.

[PowderedToastMan]

If you've got some bend, just try to keep the left arm bend consistent. You don't want to be coming into impact with a straight arm sometimes and a bent arm other times. I've worked with a couple guys who, due to injuries, can't keep their arm straight. They still play great golf.

 

I recently worked with a guy who had surgery on his left wrist and couldn't hinge the Club. He didn't lack any power. Sure makes you question conventional instruction and what's really important.

[swhogan35]

Left arm does not "have" to be straight. It does not have to be bent. It definitely needs to not have tension because it needs to rotate in the swing. The left arm is straight because the right arm is doing its thing. Just like the arms being straight on the way through, it's because other things are working. We also see on 3D, left arm bend can fluctuate throughout a swing. Don't get locked in on the left arm but focus on other areas.

[rcain1us]

I set my wrists pretty early with an obnoxiously strong grip and just concentrate on getting my left shoulder to point towards the ball.

 

I wear progressive bifocals and have picked up a swing key to turn until the ball goes out of frame looking through the left lense of my glasses - then I start my down swing.

 

In my head my left arm is staying straight to get the width I want but I know when I watch my swing in the mirror it does collapse a little at the top.

 

I would not pretend to ever try and teach this to anyone - its just what works for me.

[juststeve]

There are no "stiff rods" in the golf swing. Save that for other uses.

 

Steve

[texasdave]

I play my best when I "feel" that my left arm is bent especially in the backswing but funny thing is I've seen my swing on video and it's actually relatively straight.

[juststeve]

I play my best when I "feel" that my left arm is bent especially in the backswing but funny thing is I've seen my swing on video and it's actually relatively straight.

 

What you are experiencing is a relaxed but extended left rm which is fine. A stiff left rm is a slow left re leading to a slow swing.

 

Steve