Arm-Body Connection

[jambalaya]

I have always had a problem with connection in the backswing. I have to constantly fight the tendency of the arms racing back ahead of the shoulder turn. The ol' keep the arms in front of you instruction is hard for me. I do alright but I want it to be less of a struggle. One thing I have found is if you pinch your elbows together you are pretty much assured of the arms staying in front of you. But that also seems to make a free flowing backswing and movement of the arms into position at the top problematic. It just seems to put too much tension in the arms. It feels awkward to me. I also found something else that seems to work for me but it is a little unorthodox. I practiced an early right wrist break in my backswing the last time at the range and it worked very well for me. It takes the club back on the inside and puts the club shaft in a position whereby as I turn my shoulders I find it easy to just lift the club up straight up in front of me. If you do it gradually it looks and feels very good for me. In following the plane the club was tracing it looked very good.

Why is it this aspect of the swing so hard for me? Any tips would be appreciated.

[m11]

It seems that you are finding compensations instead of solutions. Although it isn't impossible to do what you are doing consistently, it will be certainly very difficult to recreate that 'move' with your wrists on a day to day basis. What is worse, if you happen to have a layoff from golf, you'll almost certainly forget how to make that move. It's pretty difficult for anyone to really assess what is going on without a video. If you have the means to post one on the forum, i'm sure everyone would be glad to look at it.

However, I can tell you that you cant have tension in your setup. Feeling your arms or shoulders tighten only "robs you of your natural talent," as stan utley puts it. You must be loose or you will be fighting your body's natural tempo. It sounds pretty trite but being loose gives you fluidity. If you are feeling tension in your arms or elbows or anywhere, you'll develop a motion like you are hacking at the ball.

[$2 Nassau]

It sounds pretty trite but being loose gives you fluidity. If you are feeling tension in your arms or elbows or anywhere, you'll develop a motion like you are hacking at the ball.

Well said. I've really been trying to stray away from the technical/mechanical side of things because I tend to overdo it a bit. Not saying I will never revisit the technical approach to improving or practicing...but a lot of my flaws get corrected when I just try to be loose and fluid.

[Cizzle]

I used to have that problem when I started playing. Since I was flexible, the club would be parallel and after a while my left shoulder would start to make a popping noise and would hurt. The problem was I was literally pulling my arm out of my socket a little bit hah. So I don't know how extreme your motion is, but be be careful not to do that...

Anyways, I actually read on this forum, someone said to have your left arm not cross your heart. Have your left arm straight, and rotate your shoulder. You'll feel the tension in your back because this is probably the first time you're coiling. Just keep practicing, and it'll become natural. You'll find your swing is much more natural/powerful.

[jambalaya]

I used to have that problem when I started playing. Since I was flexible, the club would be parallel and after a while my left shoulder would start to make a popping noise and would hurt. The problem was I was literally pulling my arm out of my socket a little bit hah. So I don't know how extreme your motion is, but be be careful not to do that...

But it is that kind of will your arm to stay in front action that always leads to forgetfullness and lack of execution. I think I just need a better trigger. Not that I think I have definitely found the answer in this wrist breaking method but it is promising. I mean how many times have I thought I found an answer in golf only to have it fall apart eventually.

[JackieTreehorn]

I have been concerned with similar issues lately. I was working on immediate wrist set (and arm rotation) too...check out the videos of the drill and my swing on this thread:
http://thesandtrap.com/forum/showthr...560#post177560

[powerfade]

Have you tried the towel drill? Take a small golf towel and place it under your leftunderarm. Use only enough "pressure" to hold the towel in place during your backswing and back into impact.

This "pressure" required is very light. It's only enough to keep the upper arm connected to the side of your chest.

Inside upper left arm connects to the left side of your chest/torso.

The connected arm will ride up on your chest a bit during the backswing.

[jambalaya]

Have you tried the towel drill? Take a small golf towel and place it under your leftunderarm. Use only enough "pressure" to hold the towel in place during your backswing and back into impact.

Yeah, that towel just gets into my head. I can't stop thinking about the towel and just screw up.

[jambalaya]

I have been concerned with similar issues lately. I was working on immediate wrist set (and arm rotation) too...check out the videos of the drill and my swing on this thread:

Yeah, the second one is what I am doing where you don't lift the club to parallel. It gets the club in such a good position to lift to the top.

[powerfade]

Yeah, that towel just gets into my head. I can't stop thinking about the towel and just screw up.

You're trying to create a feeling, not hold a towel in place. Try a golf glove instead. Just something to visually tell you whether you have separation.

With the glove in place, see how your upper arm is connected at the top of your backswing. Notice the position of your arms and chest at the top. Remember that feeling, not the glove. Start your downswing from the bottom up and away you go.

[alf174]

Sounds like your trying to generate all of your power from your arms and shoulders; I read nothing about what your hips or rest of your body is doing. Learn to generate power from your hips and your body turn and you'll not need your arms and shoulder doing all the work.

[steve8820]

As others have said, staying tension free is critical. I also recommend trying the "split grip" drill. Google it for the details. It has helped me dramatically.

[m11]

As others have said, staying tension free is critical. I also recommend trying the "split grip" drill. Google it for the details. It has helped me dramatically.

The split grip drill is great for teaching you how to properly release the club.

And not to go around plugging things...but this edition of Golf Magazine has a section in the back...where they have those illustrations, which talks about proper shoulder turn. it really is great and i wish they printed it before. My big issue was overturning. Actually, i never turned,...then learned to shoulder turn...and over did it. At GolfTec, they hook your shoudlers and hips to the analysis machine in order to show you shoulder turn. I was turning my shoulders 111 degrees. In reference, the average pro (and the recommended turn) is about 88ish degrees. As soon as i learned to tone down my shoulder turn, i was hitting hte ball with more power because i was able to time my swing much better as well as be able to swing to a full finish. In general, you cue to stop your turn/arm movement is basically when your body tells you to. Its really that simple. Go in slow motion, creating your turn. Once your body starts to resist, dont continue turning with your arms. Because you are in slow motion, you'll be able to find the point where you start feeling resistance. Generally the misunderstanding is that that resistance is the coil that you are looking for to create power and you go with the 'more is better' mentality. In actuality, you are overdoing it and are putting yourself in a position for back problems...not just a relatively poor swing.

[jambalaya]

Sounds like your trying to generate all of your power from your arms and shoulders; I read nothing about what your hips or rest of your body is doing. Learn to generate power from your hips and your body turn and you'll not need your arms and shoulder doing all the work.

Well actually I am much better at getting the body turning that I used to be. Once I am at the top I try to get the left side planted to make a good turn. I think I do a pretty decent job with the hip and shoulder turn forward but it still needs work. I think if I develop a method to get in a very good position at the top my lower body work will only get better. This method of breaking the wrists early gets me in a very comfortable place at the top. It feels like everything is right. I guess my question would be what is the difference between setting the wrists early and waiting for some other place in the swing to do it besides that it just looks weird? I mean at that point I don't care how I got there as long as I am in good position. I am thinking eventually I will change it to a more gradual break that works more fluently with the backswing.

Just another thought of why the early wrist break may work for me. Psychologically with the club already taken back I feel more comfortable turning the shoulders and lifting the arms staight up. I don't feel as if I have to move my arms back to keep the club on plane and just let the shoulder turn do the work.

[jambalaya]

You're trying to create a feeling, not hold a towel in place. Try a golf glove instead. Just something to visually tell you whether you have separation.

OK, that might work. As long as I don't have to hit balls with the towel in there I could do that.

[alf174]

I guess my question would be what is the difference between setting the wrists early and waiting for some other place in the swing to do it besides that it just looks weird? I mean at that point I don't care how I got there as long as I am in good position.

I think you can stop focusing on it if you've found it. I've messed around with both and I found I had more powerful accurate shots with a late setting of the wrist (I think its referred to a one-piece take-away) so I practice it to maintain the muscle memory.

[powerfade]

Well actually I am much better at getting the body turning that I used to be. Once I am at the top I try to get the left side planted to make a good turn. I think I do a pretty decent job with the hip and shoulder turn forward but it still needs work. I think if I develop a method to get in a very good position at the top my lower body work will only get better. This method of breaking the wrists early gets me in a very comfortable place at the top. It feels like everything is right. I guess my question would be what is the difference between setting the wrists early and waiting for some other place in the swing to do it besides that it just looks weird? I mean at that point I don't care how I got there as long as I am in good position. I am thinking eventually I will change it to a more gradual break that works more fluently with the backswing.

You can set 'em early as long as you don't overcock them going to the top. A good checkpoint is to see if you have full wrist cock by the time your left arm is parallel with the ground (looking at you from face on, your arm would be in the 9:00 o'clock position on a clockface). I know some pros don't have them completely set by that point with the driver...

but they're pros. If your wrists are cocked at 9:00, it's just a short body turn to complete the backswing. The wrists must not break down after they've been cocked. This is probably the most important thing to watch relating to your wrists on the backswing (along with a flat left wrist).