How to Use Your Lead (Left) Arm to hit the ball more solidly, straighter, and longer.

This video shows how to use your lead arm (left arm for righties) to dramatically improve your ball striking.
Play better FASTER with golf coaching from PGA Master professional John Dunigan GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teacher and Golf Digest Top 50 Teacher.
www.JDGolfTV.com
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[@johnaitchison9531]

There are so few videos demonstrating the left arm swing which is a pity because I have found that it helps me to swing through instead of hitting at. I also find that it encourages me to lead into the swing with my body and prevents me hitting from the top. It's never too late to learn - I am 80 yrs old!

[@JohnDunigan]

YES!!!

I am left hand dominate and play golf right handed. This video confirms what has taken me years to figure out on my own. I wasted a lot of years trying to apply instructions from right handed instructors that don't work for me. When I trust my left side I play better golf. Us lefties thank you.

[@canceracar]

I'm also left handed and swing right. My problem is coming over the top and casting because my trail arm takes over. I think it's a mental thing so I don't overtake my swing with my left side but I'm figuring out that's exactly what I need to do lol

@@canceracarIt’s basically a strong backhanded shot with the trail hand lightly riding along. I don’t think golf instructors realize how many of us there are. Maybe they just don’t know what advice to give us.

[@JohnDunigan]

Yes! Keep your right arm/hand/shoulder relaxed. Make sure you don't strangle the club at the top of the backswing!!!

[@JohnDunigan]

Also use the image of a lefty frisbee throw.

[@guitar1950]

I'm right handed playing left. Same issue

[@13ccmc]

John, This video along with the ones you did with Eric Cogorno really helped me understand how to close the clubface. Been playing and taking lessons for 20 years and never understood how the left arm was supposed to swing and rotate. Tried it on the course for the first time today and it was great. Over-hoooked a few but I feel like over time I can get a feel for it now. Thank you!

[@JohnDunigan]

Once you get the movement, you can improve the timing of it! Keep up the good work!

[@jasonkelley6185]

Just saw a video of Tiger warning up doing this too. I always warm up by swinging with no ball with just my lead arm, because it more naturally moves the way a golf swing should by itself. Arm goes forward and without flipping early. It’s easy to feel that shoulder stretch properly with a little weight shift.

[@JohnDunigan]

Yes!

[@richardc6932]

I’m hitting the like and subscribe buttons , this is an excellent drill and hopefully your other videos contain some of the moves that I need in my practice.

[@JohnDunigan]

Thanks for watching!!! Tell your friends!

[@patrickbcox]

Really like this video. I struggle with my arms lagging behind my body and my left arm pinned across my chest the whole swing and I’m having trouble changing. I’m hoping this drill will help!!

[@JohnDunigan]

This will help for sure! Also check my Swing-Swing swing.

[@js_golf_cours6217]

Simple and brilliant as usual 👌 Thanks JD

[@JohnDunigan]

Thank you Julien! I hope you're having a great season!

[@bshiro4153]

Excellent and thanks.

[@JohnDunigan]

Most welcome

[@littlerockpro]

John Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@JohnDunigan]

Thanks for watching Tom!

[@zazenforever4940]

Thanks John! I still have your book The Secret of the Golf Swing, and it's my go to for golf!

[@JohnDunigan]

That's AWESOME!!! I am going to have to update that one before too long!

[@mohammedsarthar5815]

Great tips 👌 simple and very effective 👍 Great teacher 👏 sir 👏👍

[@JohnDunigan]

Thank you Mohammed!

[@jacksaintjack2844]

I turn my back completely to the target and with my back to the target, I swing the left arm straight down from the left shoulder joint as fast as I can. The left arm is literally "swiveling" from the joint. It produces incredible speed and pulls me around to a perfect finish.

[@JohnDunigan]

Excellent!

[@oliverobrien1765]

Hi ‘ like this try and understand this more ‘ pulling from left shoulder joint theory ‘

[@rodriguehebert2057]

So do i, same swing

[@jdietzVispop]

Love it. Feel techniques instead of all the crazy mechanics mess spreading out there.

[@JohnDunigan]

For sure!

[@rabidas6133]

Excellent 👌

[@JohnDunigan]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@NeedaBoom]

So in the transition from the backswing, does the lead arm power the swing?

[@JohnDunigan]

No it does not! theres a sequence that does include the lead arm tho.

[@jjpac2011]

Great drill and great principal. Question though.. why did Ben Hogan want 3 right arms if the right arm is not dominant, even a part of the swing? I guess there are all kinds of ways to play this game because many great ball strikers emphasize crushing it with the right arm once club is back down to near parallel. Mike Austin hit his drive over 500 yds (favorable conditions of course) and he emphasized striking with the right side.

[@JohnDunigan]

Hogan was a lefty so he NEEDED more right arm!

[@jtyrell5150]

@@JohnDunigan Excellent point and I never thought about that!

[@blakewoods8090]

If you taught someone to just swing like you did at the beginning and just turned, swing, with no rotation through, they would be the best ballstriker ever. Humans can create more speed with their shoulders and a bent left arm ( another lever) than they realize. Turning causes inconsistency. ( pros hit 60%of fairways) golf creates back injuries. ASK TIGER. We are meant to swing like the smartest man on earth teaches. I WILL SHARE HIS NAME AFTER I WIN A FEW EVENTS. HIS IQ IS LEGITIMATELY IN THE TOP .01% of the population.

[@take5DD]

Someone's wrong here. You're saying using your left arm. Others are saying to use your right arm, like skipping a rock. Then guys like Paul Wilson says not to use arms at all. Someone's wrong. It's hard to know who to listen to.

[@JohnDunigan]

Nobody is wrong- each golfer has to explore the options to find what fits best.

[@NonStoppp3332]

Only person thats wrong is anyone who says theres only one way to swing and hit it well.

[@jimpalmer4916]

Golf is a journey :) But do anything it takes to achieve a proper impact position. That’s all that really counts in the end.

[@gj0116]

Soft wrists and left arm only backhand is a game changer for me. My 6 iron was carrying 195 and the sound was turning heads at the range. Right hand is only along for the ride.

[@JohnDunigan]

Beautiful!!!

[@timsorrentino7534]

This was a major light bulb moment! Thanks so much John!

[@JohnDunigan]

Thanks Tim!

[@VoodooZ]

I found this by accident while experimenting last winter in the garage. I was striking so much better than I kept doing it. It made me realise how much my swing was fighting the physics and depserately trying not to release the club... Started doing with my pitches too! I do move my body in my case as it teaches my body to get to the lead side and then pull lead shoulder back and up to prevent flipping. The secret is in the body movement.. Would love to see another video on that... I'm assuming it's where the whole ground forces and jumping comes into play.. I'm also curious how to integrate my trail hand as things break down as soon as I try that.. That's where your second drill will help maybe. Thanks

[@JohnDunigan]

Excellent!

[@angeloc700]

I find that I am way, way, way trail hand dominant in my swing. I can flop and hit out of any bunker. I can hit my driver well and straight, roughly 270 yards (probably because of the flat swing). But I’m like a cripple with my irons and can’t make solid contact, hardly ever. I’m going to ingrain this into my routine and hope for the best!! Thanks for sharing!!

[@JohnDunigan]

Trail arm can work , but relaxing it for awhile and adding some lead arm may help fast!

[@injenDan]

so far the most relevance golf swing drill

[@JohnDunigan]

Thanks!

[@cartgolf]

“the club is actually going the other way… that’s weird” 😂 “If you want to hit shanks and fat, this is a great motion” 😂😂😂

[@alvor2762]

Many thanks for this instruction that has helped me very much. Very calmly explained. Benefits of the wisdom from someone that clearly has a wealth of experience. All the best for 2023

[@JohnDunigan]

You're very welcome!

[@flarpymcknicklenutz700]

Had many back surgeries ,so I'm trying to pull down more with my left arm... it saves the back and squares the club... New swings take so much time lol...thanks for vid

[@JohnDunigan]

You may get more out of swing the arms than just pulling down--very similar, but different

[@johnpritchard9753]

This is really interesting. I've never seen this idea shown in this way. Got to give this a go. Thanks

[@JohnDunigan]

Let us know how it works out!

[@johnpritchard9753]

@@JohnDunigan I found it great with irons. I think it must be because the head is heavy and just letting the L arm fall provides momentum. However, I found it difficult with driver, perhaps because the head is light. I feel I have to provide the momentum and start pulling the club - don't know.

[@alanharbinson9004]

Just broke my right wrist… looking for ways to keep at least swinging a club over next few weeks so this will be useful thanks!

[@JohnDunigan]

Oh man! Yes lots of left arm only swings may make you a far better player when your right is healed!

[@joehernandez5600]

Hi John, great video. I also saw the one you did with Eric C. I tried this and it helps a lot. I have also heard someone on KZbin describe it as throwing the right arm at the ball and then roll the wrist over the left. Doesn’t this do the same you’re describing? It seems to work better for me.

[@JohnDunigan]

Very similar for sure. Experiment to find which works best.

[@method341]

Am I meant to supinate my arm through impact or should I just let it happen automatically?

[@JohnDunigan]

Let the ball be your guide. If you need to make the ball curve less right or want to draw the ball, do it!

[@method341]

@@JohnDunigan yes I think I need to do ot because I have a neutral grip and the clubface is way too open at impact.

[@thomaslahr9022]

Is there value in a right hand only swing drill? I see some pros doing these in practice.

[@JohnDunigan]

Very useful BUT in the full swing, make sure you allow your elbow to bend on the backswing and then coax it to straighten AFTER ball contact. You can also use it, though differently for chipping: Let the arm straighten earlier so that you get the club shaft nearly vertical to the ground at impact to use the bounce.

[@patrickwheeler1979]

Nice video thanks for sharing John

[@JohnDunigan]

Thanks for watching!

[@williammakolin1432]

Thank you crushing the ball now

[@JohnDunigan]

Excellent!! And you're very welcome!

[@gregoryedwards8781]

This is awesome 👍

[@JohnDunigan]

Thanks for watching Gregory!

[@vreeke777]

Pulling with left is a draw punching with right is a fade

[@PC-pd7hl]

Thanks so much for the great lesson. I'm still confused about the exact movements of the left shoulder/left arm/ left wrist from impact to the end of the swing when BOTH HANDS are on the grip. Could you please continue the lesson on this part of the swing detailing the exact movements of the whole left arm in an actual, not practice, swing. I couldn't find any teacher on youtube explaining this part of the swing FOR THE LEFT ARM in a 2 handed swing.

[@JohnDunigan]

I will get on it!

[@benjaminsarmiento8150]

I have very talented hands yet I been so confused instinctively that I don’t use it lol

[@JohnDunigan]

Educate those talented hands!!!

[@benjaminsarmiento8150]

@@JohnDunigan yes and this video will help me, I seriously just turn through/yank with my lead shoulder to get the club through with the driver. Thank you! To bad you're not in my area I could use a lesson. I'm 6 hc

[@mikewarner5583]

This man has an American accent. #skip

[@JohnDunigan]

That's just funny!!

[@mikewarner5583]

​@JohnDunigan u like that? Im here all week. ❤ u john

[@markhuru]

Great drill, but now I want a kind studio 🏌️‍♂️

[@JohnDunigan]

I love mine!!!