Arm feeling through swing

[tlkamps]

So I am a relatively new member here, long time lurker but only recently signed up for an account. Reading through pages and pages of information here has been great for me but sometimes its hard to replicate "feels" or ideas from the forums to my swing. I am a new golfer, first round was 4 years ago and only have seriously devoted time to my swing over the past 3 months. Trying to get some footage of my swing for a MySwing post but haven't worked it out yet.

I recently read Hogan's 5 fundamentals and had a question regarding your arms during the swing. He mentions (not in exact words) the feeling of squeezing your arms in and creating a pressure point on both sides of your chest.

In theory this idea makes sense to me as it will serve to anchor your arms and torso into one moving object. Rather than torso and arms moving independently and perhaps getting off line from each other. Was hoping that someone could talk about arm feelings mostly in relation to your torso..

Thanks!

[Ernest Jones]

So I am a relatively new member here, long time lurker but only recently signed up for an account. Reading through pages and pages of information here has been great for me but sometimes its hard to replicate "feels" or ideas from the forums to my swing. I am a new golfer, first round was 4 years ago and only have seriously devoted time to my swing over the past 3 months. Trying to get some footage of my swing for a MySwing post but haven't worked it out yet.

I recently read Hogan's 5 fundamentals and had a question regarding your arms during the swing. He mentions (not in exact words) the feeling of squeezing your arms in and creating a pressure point on both sides of your chest.

In theory this idea makes sense to me as it will serve to anchor your arms and torso into one moving object. Rather than torso and arms moving independently and perhaps getting off line from each other. Was hoping that someone could talk about arm feelings mostly in relation to your torso..

Thanks!

That is a key feel for me and I will sometimes exaggerate it to the extreme while hitting 1/4 swing shots. For me, maintaining that feel keeps everything in a good sequence and prevents me from over swinging and also seems to keep me "on plane". I can't really explain why or how it works but it's a big piece of what makes my swing work (when it does that is ). Try keeping both arms close together and as straight as possible and swing back and through. DON'T swing any further that you can while maintaining those two feels, it may feel really short but will much longer than you think it is. I also find that doing this drill helps promote proper weight shift.

[tlkamps]

That is a key feel for me and I will sometimes exaggerate it to the extreme while hitting 1/4 swing shots. For me, maintaining that feel keeps everything in a good sequence and prevents me from over swinging and also seems to keep me "on plane". I can't really explain why or how it works but it's a big piece of what makes my swing work (when it does that is). Try keeping both arms close together and as straight as possible and swing back and through. DON'T swing any further that you can while maintaining those two feels, it may feel really short but will much longer than you think it is. I also find that doing this drill helps promote proper weight shift.

So the feeling of squeezing my biceps into the sides of my pecs should be what I am going for? I did this on the range before a round yesterday and it seemed to produce some quality strikes. It also felt like it got on path (in to out) pretty well. That was one of my larger issues in the past was a very steep out to in swing.

[Ernest Jones]

It may be good for you or it may not, it's a feel. Video yourself doing it and not doing and see which produces better positions. Post the video here and people may be able to help. Hard to say anything definitive without video.

[scorpion12]

Isn't there a drill doing this involving placing a golf glove between your pectoral and bicep and keeping it there through a swing? I think I read/heard something about that...

[tlkamps]

Isn't there a drill doing this involving placing a golf glove between your pectoral and bicep and keeping it there through a swing? I think I read/heard something about that...

On both sides or just one?

[chspeed]

This may be a small point, but while I really like the idea of keeping the arms and torso "connected", I find that the image of squeezing, or of the famous drawing of Hogan's "rope" around the arms, can create too much tension in the arms. I like the feeling of staying connected, but always try to make sure I relax my arms and shoulder muscles before initiating the swing.

[Hammer 4]

On both sides or just one?

You can do both sides, but make a 3/4 swing back, and the same for the follow through, otherwise the gloves will fall out.

[Skenny]

I play so badly that I can probably instruct better than I play. Like someone else said, "when I do hit one right", I have typically done something similar with my arms to what you described. Although I try to keep my left arm relatively straight during my backswing, and my right elbow nearly "pinned" to my side through contact, when I hit a good ball, I usually don't sense my arms doing much of anything. If I ever feel like they are doing something, the result is usually not good.

And, interestingly, like you, an out-to-in swing path is one of my larger issues......

[tlkamps]

I play so badly that I can probably instruct better than I play. Like someone else said, "when I do hit one right", I have typically done something similar with my arms to what you described. Although I try to keep my left arm relatively straight during my backswing, and my right elbow nearly "pinned" to my side through contact, when I hit a good ball, I usually don't sense my arms doing much of anything. If I ever feel like they are doing something, the result is usually not good.

And, interestingly, like you, an out-to-in swing path is one of my larger issues......

I think the out-in swing path was/is really the result of my arms moving up and away from my body on the downswing. Sort of an over the top move. My take away would be good (outside and arms close) but then I would just throw my hands at the ball causing my arms to fly up and out.

Obviously this is something I am working on. My swing is not very repeatable right now and is frustrating to no end. One day...

[Ernest Jones]

This may be a small point, but while I really like the idea of keeping the arms and torso "connected", I find that the image of squeezing, or of the famous drawing of Hogan's "rope" around the arms, can create too much tension in the arms. I like the feeling of staying connected, but always try to make sure I relax my arms and shoulder muscles before initiating the swing.

Agreed. I like the Hogan image and squeeze feel as a drill, hitting with half swings , but on course I use the feel of a straight right arm/extensor action which produces less tension and allows everything to be more fluid. When things get sloppy I'll go back to that drill and it seems to help sort my stuff out.

[Mr. Desmond]

This may be a small point, but while I really like the idea of keeping the arms and torso "connected", I find that the image of squeezing, or of the famous drawing of Hogan's "rope" around the arms, can create too much tension in the arms. I like the feeling of staying connected, but always try to make sure I relax my arms and shoulder muscles before initiating the swing.

Great point about tension.

I feel the upper arms connected to the body in a relaxed way ... one key is keeping the connection in a relaxed fashion as you turn..