Instruction
The Most Important Drill in Golf
First, let me say that I hate blanket statements in golf instruction. There are so few absolutes in the golf swing, which is why recommending one thing for all golfers is usually one of the most detrimental things you can do as an instructor. With every rule there is an exception, however, and I believe this drill to be that exception.
A ton of golf instructors, commentators, and average golfers have noted throughout golf history that there are hundreds of different combinations of golf swings that can produce world-class results. Even today, it is very difficult to find any commonalities that hold true, for all, or even a large percentage of PGA Tour players. I am here to tell you that much smarter scientists and biomechanists than me have discovered a very important commonality. Based on this commonality, I believe this is the most important drill for every golfer.
This picture always amazes me, and it’s proof of why function is so much more important than form in the golf swing. It always keeps me grounded as an instructor, and even as a player, to not always sweat the minute details of form. I know for a fact that all the golfers in the photo can hit the same shots when necessary despite the differences in their swings. When I was on tour with TrackMan, I saw all sorts of players hitting the same exact shot and delivering the same exact club path and face angle at impact. They were doing it in a multitude of ways, however, and none of their full club numbers were exactly the same. Having said that, there is one commonality between them all.
So, what is the drill? All I want you to do is to figure out how to hit straight shots with your non-dominant hand on the club. If you’re a right-handed golfer, use only your left hand. If you’re left-handed golfer, use only your right hand. All I want you to accomplish is to start the ball on line. Distance does not matter. I know this sounds really easy, but I know the first time I ever tried it I thought it was almost stupid. Boy was I wrong.
What you will find out pretty quickly is that this drill is not easy. Almost all golfers who first try it will either struggle making contact or always start the ball way right of the target line. There is some pretty in-depth science about why this happens, but I will try and explain things in the simplest terms possible.
In the swing sequence above, I’m demonstrating what happens when a golfer first tries this drill. The club face is open throughout the downswing and even more open at impact, which causes the ball to start significantly to the right of the target. There are a couple of reasons why this happens. When swinging with only my left hand, I don’t have enough strength to rotate my forearm or left wrist in time to square the club face. So when I pull the butt end of the grip down toward the golf ball in transition to try and create power, the club face remains open and the ball starts right.
Now, look at my second swing above. The ball started on target and was hit well. Hopefully, you notice quite a difference between these two swings. As you can see at impact, the club face is square and the ball therefore starts on target. You may be asking yourself, what is the trick?
In the second swing I am creating passive torque to help square the clubface. I know… I probably just lost you. What is passive torque? Well, in simple terms, I am creating a relationship between the club’s center of mass and the force I am applying to the grip that naturally helps square the club face up at impact.
For all of you familiar with this topic, I may not be saying it 100 percent accurately, but I want to try and describe it in a way most golfers can understand. If you are looking to fully understand this relationship and how it happens, I suggest you look up the work Dr. Sasho MacKenzie has completed. In the frames below, you can see a better representation of what the club head and shaft are doing differently in the two swings.
Swing #1
As you can see in Swing #1, I start to pull the butt end of the grip down toward the golf ball at the top of the backswing. This begins to steepen the shaft and open the club face through the transition. At this point, I do not have the strength with only my left hand to square the face, so the club face remains open and the ball starts right.
Swing #2
In Swing #2, you can clearly see that in early transition the club head and shaft shallow while the club face remains square. I am accomplishing this by relaxing my left hand and feeling like the left wrist bows in transition. Now that I have created passive torque, the club head wants to line up at impact and the face is square. It’s important to note that just because I am creating this look or relationship does not mean I am going to only hit draws. Plenty of drawers and faders of the golf ball create this relationship. Just look at Ben Hogan or Lee Trevino if you don’t believe me.
So why is this important?
According to the research from Dr. Sasho MacKenzie, all but one PGA Tour player he has measured has this relationship in the early transition. That means it’s very difficult to be a world-class ball striker if you don’t create this relationship in the early downswing. That’s why I believe this drill to be the most important drill in golf. Even if you already have this relationship, I think it is helpful to revisit this drill in your practice. I would compare it to taking a daily multivitamin. It really can’t hurt you, even if you’re eating all the right foods.
The vast majority of golfers I see on a regular basis have no concept of this motion, which is why I consider this drill to be something than can help everyone. It’s a blanket statement I can get behind. This drill is easy, fun, and it won’t cost you anything to practice. And most importantly, it can be a game-changer.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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Mr. Divot
Nov 29, 2017 at 5:47 pm
I wonder who ‘the one’ guy on tour is that didn’t have this relationship? Bryson perhaps?
Steve
Oct 23, 2017 at 11:29 am
This actually has a bit of “gravity golf” intuition to it. Possibly, that is one of those styles that not so many people liked, but that basic structure really helped me understand pitching and chipping. Some days, it even shows up as a great full swing. “Passive torque” may be too abstract to explain, and I would not say that all of David Lee’s analogies made sense to me; however, drills like the one suggested here, are founded on a useful premise: the body likes to conserve energy, so the brain will find more efficient ways to deliver the club head to the ball (but, only when it sees a need to do so, and that will really only happen when we are in a position of weakness).
yobro
Oct 22, 2017 at 1:16 pm
WOW!!!! Here’s the best drill for right hand swinging::::
http://www.golfwrx.com/473818/a-great-drill-to-learn-the-proper-release/
Put the two instruction articles together and your golf swing woes are solved, permanently!!!!
This stuff is gold… GOLD!!!!
Andrew Cooper
Oct 22, 2017 at 12:54 pm
Hunter, i agree learning to hit decent shots with the weaker hand is a good exercise, but looking at the two sets of photos it looks like you’re going from one bad place to another, i.e. from steep and out, to inside and underneath?
iblak
Oct 22, 2017 at 9:22 pm
so how do you educate the weaker left hand to do its share of the work in the full swing?
Andrew Cooper
Oct 23, 2017 at 7:23 am
I’d suggest taking the last two fingers and thumb of the lower hand off the grip. That way you’ll still have some support from the right arm, which will make it easier to avoid the weight of the clubhead pulling you into bad places. And obviously start with small shots off a tee and build up from there. Definitely need to be wary of injury trying to hit shots one arm only-A club is heavy when being swung- it’s not designed to be used with one arm only.
bogeypro
Oct 22, 2017 at 11:42 am
I can’t only imagine how brutal a lesson with SteveK must be on someone…. lighten up man. Hunter, I like this idea for trying to give someone the feel of what should be happening. My son is left handed and swings a baseball bat and a golf club right handed, but throws left handed. All the drills about throwing side arm, etc means nothing to him. It would be like trying to get me to throw side arm pitches left handed…it would feel wonky. So, trying to find drills that give him the right feel is difficult.
yobro
Oct 22, 2017 at 1:11 pm
Okay, dad …. tell your baseball son to do this drill and assure him it will make him a better golfer. After all it makes eminent sense to swing a golf club one-handed to get the ‘feel’ of the golf swing.
Father knows best, because this golf tip is on a golf forum. Go for it and watch your son blossom into a great golfer.
bogeypro
Oct 23, 2017 at 8:55 am
Thank you for adding nothing to the discussion.
SteveK
Oct 22, 2017 at 6:56 pm
So you believe that this conscious drill will help your baseball son to ‘feel’ what is happening. Now, how does he make it automatic without consciously thinking about in during the golf swing? How many conscious repetitions must he do to embed the ‘feel’ into his unconscious mind?
Ask Hunter that question!
bogeypro
Oct 23, 2017 at 8:57 am
You offer alot of criticism, but never any swing advice of your own. You don’t add anything to these discussions. How about you post some links to some of your writings on the swing so we can see how you teach.
OB
Oct 23, 2017 at 4:50 pm
You obviously don’t know about Motor Control & Learning science that explains how the brain and body learn movements through the conscious and unconscious mind. It’s all there if you need swing advice.
Perhaps you should hit the books before you hit the ball…. because basic knowledge of the sciences is the start of basic learning of the golf swing.
David Kopf
Nov 8, 2017 at 10:56 am
@OB, what resources would you suggest for learning more about Motor Control & Learning?
SteveK
Oct 22, 2017 at 1:26 am
Hunter…. what is your take on The L.A.W.s of the Golf Swing by Adams et al ….. where they classify the optimal golfswing style to body shape and structure?
Surely a stout golfer’s swing is vastly different than a slim golfer’s swing….. and your one-arm drill must be adjusted for different body types.
Ron
Oct 21, 2017 at 1:47 pm
This drill is perfect for anyone who struggles with coming over the top, casting, or too active with their dominant side. Your non-dominant arm should do most of the work in your swing. The dominant arm is there just to add speed and power. But the problem is that most people take over with their dominant side and with that comes all the swing flaws I mentioned above. I can’t advocate enough for this drill. It has worked wonders for me in the past. Word of caution, take it slow at first and grip down an inch or two. Also use a PW or other short iron. YOu can gradually work up once you’ve gotten the hang of it.
SteveK
Oct 20, 2017 at 4:53 pm
“So, what is the drill? All I want you to do is to figure out how to hit straight shots with your non-dominant hand on the club. If you’re a right-handed golfer, use only your left hand. If you’re left-handed golfer, use only your right hand. All I want you to accomplish is to start the ball on line. Distance does not matter. I know this sounds really easy, but I know the first time I ever tried it I thought it was almost stupid. Boy was I wrong.”
——————–
You”re wrong on two counts….. one on doing the one-armed/handed drill, and two on the Motor Learning & Control aspects of teaching your brain this stupid drill.
If you only use your non-dominant left hand you only involve the right side of your brain’s Motor Cortex, and the left side Motor Cortex is not only idle, it’s confused when you try to add your right hand to the swing. Kinesthetic training is clear on that point. Try again, Homer.
Hunter Brown
Oct 21, 2017 at 9:46 am
Hey Steve, thanks for taking the time to read and provide constructive criticism. I was happy to see I didn’t have to sort through anonymous childish put downs and dismissive rhetoric to get to your point. Also you are probably correct this drill does not necessarily teach you the mechanics of this movement with two hands on the club however it absolutely teaches you the concept of the motion so you can then apply that to your full swing. Understanding can only be positive right?
MB
Oct 21, 2017 at 9:46 pm
No, you are completely wrong and just as immature as the others as you can’t take the put downs so you reply with:
” I was happy to see I didn’t have to sort through anonymous childish put downs and dismissive rhetoric to get to your point.” and “Understanding can only be positive right?”
But you’re not understanding and just as dismissive as anybody else, because you know you’re wrong but can’t admit it.
SteveK
Oct 22, 2017 at 1:09 am
No, Hunter, you can’t learn the full swing with this ‘drill’; you only learn to uncontrollably lash out a golf club with one arm and that’s it. Sorry, but that’s the brutal truth.
Swinging the arms is only about 10% of the golf swing and the other 90% is what happens from the soles of your feet/shoes up to your shoulders and in your head.
Golfers want to believe that arm swinging the club is a ‘golf swing’ and they ignore the function of the rest of the body because their body is usually non-athletic and they don’t want to train their inadequate body because training hurts and is not ‘fun’.
So, is understanding the brutal truth a positive thing or not golfically correct?
MK
Oct 22, 2017 at 7:04 pm
Hunter. Appreciate this article. Some of these tards probably still think/teach that the end all be all is to swing inside out and release hard with the right hand. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of ignorance when it comes to the golf swing there.
Dennis Mcmahon
Oct 20, 2017 at 3:33 pm
After trying this drill i strengthened my grip to having 3 knuckles showing. I was able to achieve the goal of the drill with less effort.
Jeff Lebowski
Oct 20, 2017 at 2:40 pm
I understand that using only one hand creates the proper torque. However, how does one transition from this drill to full swings? Does the drill correct your mechanics unconsciously? At some point I would like to swing using both hands.
SteveK
Oct 20, 2017 at 4:55 pm
Good point … see my above comment on this stupid drill… potentially injurious too.
Hunter Brown
Oct 21, 2017 at 9:51 am
Hey Jeff I like where you are headed here. This drill really just teaches you the concepts and gives you greater understanding of how the club head and shaft need to react in early transition. When applying to full swings video your swing and see if the shaft shallows while the club face remains square. You can accomplish this by flexion (bowing like hitting the throttle on a motorcycle) in the lead wrist and external rotation of the trail arm/shoulder (think losing at arm wrestling or skipping rocks). Hope this helps when moving to a full swing!
SteveK
Oct 22, 2017 at 1:18 am
Sorry, but there is no way this single ‘drill’ can be kinesthetically transferred to a two handed golf swing because the right and left brain hemispheres of the Motor Cortex must work together to produce a golf swing. Training only one side of the brain and leaving out the other side is simply wrong when both sides must be utilized.
Now, if you told up to train both arms separately and then tried to meld the two together into an arm swing, that might fly…. but only winging one arm is deleterious to the complete golf swing … and the brain…. believe it.
MK
Oct 22, 2017 at 7:07 pm
Can u even break 80 dude? Seriusoly bud, relax. If you ever want to become a better player, or hit better shots you have to understand controlling the face. That’s what this whole article is about.
iblak
Oct 22, 2017 at 9:25 pm
you must be operating with only half yer brain by swinging with yer left arm only.
TeeBone
Oct 20, 2017 at 1:44 pm
The clubface squares up very naturally and easily when swinging with only the lead arm, as it takes no more strength than to be able to hold onto the club to allow the left wrist to roll back. It is actually improper right arm participation that inhibits the clubface from returning to square. The researchers of “Search For the Perfect Swing” found a greater tendency to hook, not slice, when swinging the left arm only.
SteveK
Oct 22, 2017 at 1:23 am
Right on, TeeBoner ….. your comment is the only other legitimate comment on this topic thread…. next to mine.
What do you think about doing single arm swings for both the left and right arms and then attempting to blend them together into a proto-swing?
ted
Oct 20, 2017 at 1:00 pm
Very..very interesting! I will for sure try this. Would this help with 2 other issues i have? weight transfer and my out to in swing?
Aot
Oct 20, 2017 at 11:50 am
Total and utter tosh.
yoyo
Oct 20, 2017 at 11:46 am
What length irons would this be best practiced with when just starting them?
Hunter Brown
Oct 21, 2017 at 9:52 am
I would start something light like a wedge
yobro
Oct 22, 2017 at 1:06 pm
Just use a 5/8th inch diameter steel rod 18 inches long with a golf grip and you will get a decent workout. A lightweight golf club is too awkward for one armed swinging…. unless you believe swinging a golf club will get you closer to a golf swing.
iblak
Oct 22, 2017 at 9:26 pm
i got one of those and it works great
Chris
Oct 20, 2017 at 11:38 am
+1
Steve
Oct 20, 2017 at 11:36 am
“Now that I have created passive torque”
passive torque?
David Ciccoritti
Oct 20, 2017 at 10:59 am
Would this work if you’re a LH golfer with right hand dominance?
painter33
Oct 20, 2017 at 11:09 am
That was going to be my question too. I play right handed but am left handed – the opposite of Phil Mickelson and Mr. Ciccoritti. In essence, my lead arm is my dominant arm.
Ian
Oct 20, 2017 at 12:42 pm
+1
SteveK
Oct 20, 2017 at 5:11 pm
Curiously, tennis star Pete Sampras who is right handed, swings his golf clubs left handed. Why, you ask?
Because his tennis backhand stroke is done with his dominant right hand and he just transferred that skill to golf.
MikeC
Oct 22, 2017 at 9:13 pm
To SteveK: What about Tiger Woods? If you classify the best putter as the person who consistently made the most important putts that mattered then he is clearly the greatest putter of all time. His favorite putting drill which he’s done countless times: The right hand only drill. Wouldn’t this also violate the left/right sides of the brain theory? Clearly it worked for him. It trained him to release the putter when he transitioned from a hold release to more of a full release stroke in about 1999. I think there is so much we don’t know about the brain so to try to hold to these absolute truths is foolish.
OB
Oct 23, 2017 at 4:54 pm
Yes, but it took Tiger 10 years of solo practice before his putting stroke was established securely. It’s not something you can learn on the practice green by doing it a few times before you go to the first tee.
BCKnoll
Oct 21, 2017 at 4:46 pm
add me to the list of a LH playing from the right side…….using extensor action seems to place my right arm as dominate……..
Hunter Brown
Oct 21, 2017 at 9:53 am
absolutely!
SheaM
Oct 22, 2017 at 8:34 pm
Great article Hunter! In my experience I teach this same concept using the golfers trail arm. I find that this allows the club to drop into the correct position while still keeping the club face square. Just wondering what your thoughts are teaching with the trail arm vs the leading arm?
Thanks