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Keeping Lead Arm Close to the Body on Backswing

Old1964

By Old1964
in Instruction and Playing Tips

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Note: This thread is 950 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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Old1964 Great Member

Old1964

Posted
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Feeling a little stoked. Having had to take a break from golf for nearly 7 years, I bought some new sticks and fumbled my way around many courses and had a great time of it. 

Tonight, I got to the outside range for the first time (65 degrees and wind = a good spring day in Michigan).

Hit crisp wedges and short irons.

Struggled with the 4 & 5 irons - tucked a towel under my left arm and shazam - I found my swing. Nice ball flight. Good direction and distance.  Didn't feel like I was fighting the club. 

I know that this has been a drill for a long time. Never tried it until today. Was stunned that I couldn't keep it there once the club was almost parallel. I am guessing this is helping me fight my natural urge to come over the top by getting the club a little further back (?) or behind(?) me. Can anyone clarify the connection for me - maybe a link to another post?

Titleist 910D2 10.5* Stiff / Taylormade 3 Wood - Superfast 2.0 15*  3 Superfast 2.0 Rescue 18* Stiff Shafts


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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

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1 hour ago, Old1964 said:

I know that this has been a drill for a long time. Never tried it until today. Was stunned that I couldn't keep it there once the club was almost parallel. I am guessing this is helping me fight my natural urge to come over the top by getting the club a little further back (?) or behind(?) me. Can anyone clarify the connection for me - maybe a link to another post?

So…

  • Generally not a big fan of this drill. I like the arms to work up a little in the backswing, and this tends to work the arms around a bit.
  • But, if it "works" for you, maybe it's a good thing. I say maybe only because… it could have just distracted you, or all kinds of other things, without affecting real change.
  • To that… did you record any before/after swings to see what actually changed?
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Erik J. Barzeski — ⛳ I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • Author, Lowest Score Wins
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Old1964 Great Member

Old1964

Posted
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Thanks for your input. I did not think about recording anything as I didn't expect anything to truly happen. Someday I'll get a couple swings uploaded to the members forum. 

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Titleist 910D2 10.5* Stiff / Taylormade 3 Wood - Superfast 2.0 15*  3 Superfast 2.0 Rescue 18* Stiff Shafts


  • 2 months later...
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Guest

Posted
Posted

I don't like that drill at all but can see why you might have better results with it but the reason why isn't what you think. I think it's going to emphasize some common misconceptions that are taught in the backswing. How many times have you heard taking the club straight back in a one piece takeaway? That's a pretty commonly taught idea but I think it isn't correct. Yes, you want the club to go straight back on plane but in order to do that you can't take the club straight back. This will lead to your arms getting too far behind you and this is part of the reason why 99% of golfers slice the ball.  

Take your normal setup and then if you were to move just your arms the way they should move then you should move your arms straight up towards your right shoulder. When you make your normal swing, blend that motion with the turning of your shoulders and the club is going to be on plane. 

So the towel drill I feel on the backswing is one of the worst things that you can do but I think it can help you on the downswing. It will also help to keep you from moving too much and the less you move in the swing the better you'll hit the ball. I don't think it's a good tradeoff for the bad position and habits it would create in the backswing. 

Note: This thread is 950 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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