"Loading" the Right Arm

This instructional video on the backswing describes what really happens when the right wrist "fans" backward relative to the right elbow and right upper arm in the transition between backswing and downswing. This movement is known as an external rotation of the right shoulder joint and upper arm. I refer to it as a "loading" of the right arm, since the index finger of the right hand, the right wrist, and the right elbow, all bend together to make it feel as though the right arm is being screwed into the right shoulder socket. For maximum lag, it is critical to sustain this right arm "load" as close to impact as possible.

[@paso193]

I don't know who this guy is or where he came from, but, taking this concept to the range today had me increase my driver & 3 wood by a good 25+ yards. I need to adjust my distances now from wedges to 3 iron. Unbelievable! I've been playing 25+ years, could have bought a house with the $$$ I spent on lessons....not to mention the library of Congress golf lesson books bought thru the years. This 5+ minute video, for me, was like finding the holy grail. Thank you sir!

[@oregonone132]

Wish I'd have seen this when it came out---now three years later---thank you very much. I't the concept of loading the right arm that has impressed me. I've done it once in a while, and now it really makes sense. Wish me luck.

[@MrRepairmanjack]

Thanks again. First rate instruction on a commonly misunderstood aspect of the golf swing. Giving credit to Chuck Qinton for his help showed real integrity.

[@mcginnbros1]

Perfect description! The only one teaching the top of right arm on youtube! Well done.

[@grahamjones7371]

Im now doing it the correct way wrist -elbow -shoulder and Im down to 4hcp at 60.This was the 1st video i saved 4yrs ago, why the **** didnt i listen to him then!

[@Maui8Aki1]

Thank you! This is the best online explaination of the three hinges and the right arm sequence to the top. This will definitely help me correct my flying right elbow, steep top position, and re-routing of the club on the downswing.

[@johnnyparker9928]

This is golden. While watching Bobby Jones down the line shots, his hands return to position of address at impact. This is key to eliminate out to in shots. The right elbow must be tucked during impact as hips rotate.

[@bwadden]

Thank you Dr. James Ragonnet. I just ordered your book, Golf's Three Noble Truths. The reviews suggest it deserves a place in my library!

[@teewoods]

One of the best lessons on YT and contrary to what the poster below said you cant teach this as good with a good club in the hand.

[@bernardschacter5603]

This is exactly what I was looking for !!!!! It really made a huge improvement when I felt fully loaded at the top of my backswing.

[@rejuve50plus59]

So well articulated, I am really looking forward to implementing this and achieving a golf swing I have been searching for. Thanks again.

[@westonkoehn8364]

This is a great piece of advice for players who can't achieve external rotation of right arm on downswing if they have a flying right elbow. I know lots of good players who get the right elbow high and pointing behind them however, they add a shitload of side bend to help shallow the club (just like Jack). If you want to stay more centered with less side bend, this right arm position is a must as it allows you to get you arms and club head in front of your body while rotating hard through the shot. More than one way to swing.

[@gratickner]

Excellent instruction on what parts of the body moves and how. So many crap videos on you tube that do not describe how to perform the correct actions in order to achieve the required result.

[@roninbhaal2039]

This is the best golf vid I've ever seen and I've seen alot. Wish you would had shown the correct posture of the right arm at address.

[@2dolphins980]

Just great! After years of fighting with the club because my right arm was too abducted, this is going to help me a lot. Thanks!!

[@sonicdeviant]

Excellent video! Thanks. This is something my PGA pro has been helping me eliminate--the flying right elbow. Made me collapse my left arm at the top too.

[@clearskieshawaii]

Thanks for the video. I never knew how to use my rt arm properly before. I was always rotating my shoulder joint past 90 and out to the side!

[@bh5606]

Lots of detail which I do not like, but around the 3:30 mark he the supination of the right palm which keeps the right shoulder in an external rotation and that visual is excellent.

[@grahamjones7371]

The Stenson palms down drill then palms against a wall at top and then a right palm hand off halfway down helps me achieve something like this video.got me down to 4hcp at 60!

[@sandwolf3608]

There is a tremendous amount of effortless power that comes from loading your right arm. In the take away and follow though your arms must pronate and some people don't do this automatic in the swing. Loading the right arm properly ensures that when you do a full shoulder turn and unwind through the ball, that automatic release of the loaded right arm through the ball creates proper arm rotation and supplies effortless power released through the hitting area. I felt this with just a sand wedge the other day and it flew 100 yards with what seemed like minimal effort.

[@jamesragonnet4952]

Excellent video. Many inept golfers mistakenly "yoke" both shoulders. However, you correctly demonstrate otherwise. What golfers should take away from your outstanding video cannot be understated: The ER of the right shoulder constitutes a separate, independent, bio-mechanical motion. Your recent comments on sequencing are also extremely important. Many thanks for your illuminating video.…James Ragonnet (author of GOLF'S THREE NOBLE TRUTHS)

[@timothycorey146]

It's amazing the analysis people put into the golf swing. The minutiae are way to much for me, but it's impressive that others can think about all that and still play good golf.

[@agusrubianto5817]

timothy , i like to know more about infrawork soft can u share it for me..?

[@MSTRto20K]

Super video and explanation. If you are not making terrific contact, try the Wadden method. For me, I've never made better contact and hit straighter shots. Just working on it with a PW and 9 iron. Once the new "move" is grooved, plan to move on to the longer clubs...prior to the first round in early May. At least for me, it really cuts down on the tendency to come over the top plus the impact into the finish seems much more coordinated. Like any "swing change", it takes a little time to groove the swing and get everything in sync.

[@jgb6802]

I still think that this is a great and helpful explanation of a key feeling and move, but after having tried it, I must remark that the (my) backswing gets way too flat and laid off if I apply it there and then, also resulting in a too steep transition. Instead, I now apply/load it that way in the transition and it works wonders on video and in practice- even better than the famous quarter turn!

[@harabas1]

Thanks a lot for posting this video. Big help for me.

[@swingtrade2]

This changed my game. The tilted Ferris Wheel - Sam Snead. "Hands go inside club goes outside:" is nice thought too. quote by Mark Crossfield

[@grahamjones7371]

Great video, found it when i put my thoughts on the right arm into goog,the difference for me is that maybe because im flexible or a feel thing but I have to get there using the opp sequence ie shoulder-elbow- wrist!

[@grahamjones7371]

Im now doing it the correct way wrist -elbow -shoulder and Im down to 4hcp at 60.This was the 1st video i saved 4yrs ago, why the **** didnt i listen to him!

[@golfcoachmarv]

Interesting point, very well put together

[@jsusna1972]

I haven't read through all the comments, so apologies if this has been mentioned before. I his book "Natural Golf", Seve Ballesteros refers to this position as the "waiter's tray". At the top of the swing, you imagine a waiter's tray full of plates that you are balancing on your right hand. This keeps your swing on plane and for me anyway, keeps me from the dreaded "over the top" move that robs me of distance and accuracy. Seve didn't invent that phrase as I've heard others use it as well, but that image helps to simplify the position you're seeking at the top.

[@bernardschacter5603]

Seve explained the feeling very well....it realy works well !

[@Golfsmithin]

Great fundamental, thanks

[@christophchristopher4020]

wow! incredible explanation.

[@anthonyphexac]

Very helpful. Thanks for the video

[@worddown9737]

makes perfect sense, especially for the other-the-toppers.

[@Dc-uf1ln]

good explanation

[@Nealydolo]

Awesome job

[@Jdeneik]

Great advice!

[@PeterKennedyMD]

Well described! I've always felt like that "loading" is why 2d & 3d basemen and shortstops make better golfers than outfielders.

[@bwadden]

Thank you Peter, I love teaching former baseball players!!

[@Hudson510]

Thank you, sir

[@golfswingbodymechanicsinte2854]

I would like to help educate you more about how your body works in the golf swing. I can do that in a much simpler way that requires less "thinking" and easier to explain to your clients. You will really be their favorite person!

[@lanettebosch9937]

Biv, this is exactly what I'm working on right now so was happy to find your video here! Any drills you recommend to "load" the right arm and then drop the arms as the first move in the downswing rather than the shoulders and hips rotation overtaking the downswing?

[@bwadden]

Hi Lanette! Nice to hear from you! The key to dropping the arms while maintaining the right arm in external rotation is to get your right side to laterally bend into the downswing. Find the lowest rib in your right rib cage and push it down into your right hip. Your right side should drop. This compression between the bottom right rib cage and the hip should occur in the early part of the downswing as the hips and shoulders rotate toward the target. The ideal is to get the right elbow, right rib cage, and the right hip joint all converging in the mid-to-late downswing pre-impact. Once those three points are converging, you'll be more more inside-out rather than over the top. Say Hi to Erik for me!!

[@oscarc618]

+Wadden Golf Academy more easily achieved by focusing on transition to be able to apply vertical pressure on lead leg, and then push up with lead leg.

[@amfohr]

sounds good

[@seansunyoon]

Good luck hitting consistently with that kind of right arm that is so disconnected from the torso. This video basically tells people to open their arm pit during the backswing and some how close it back again at the impact. Very few people can time that. And even for the people who can, just because they can doesn’t mean they should. Where the trailing elbow points is secondary. Tucked in is better than flying in general, but it doesn’t really matter that much when your arm is disconnected. “Connected arms” is one of the most important building blocks of modern golf swing and key to consistency and power. If your bad days are significantly worse than your average days, most likely you have disconnected arms, which this video promotes. lol. Agree or not, good luck!

[@GG-ks6ii]

You've lost the plot, Sean. Let me know if and when you manage to break 100

[@chillyerbeans3756]

i am a left hand dominant right handed golfer. I struggle with the right arm getting dragged out of position by the left. The golf glove under the right arm drill definitely works for me as it does for fred couples and tiger. feels connected and improves distance and accuracy for me any thoughts?

[@jtsimikas]

Can you tell me if feeling that my right elbow stays low is the right feeling. Especially w/ irons I feel I can really get the right elbow loaded if I keep it low as I turn on backswing. However I'm not sure if I'm overdoing this by trying to keep the right elbow low. I get a nice springy feeling on the downswing, but seem to have a little harder time with hitting straight shots with longer clubs.

[@TheAtkinson118]

Hi nice explanation!!,but have i been misinformed that the release comes from the left arm rotation,so that the left elbow gets into position so that the arm folds to complete the follow through?thanking you from the U.K.

[@ahmadghanem2414]

I would have liked a demo with a club in hand.

[@JayZoop]

You are explaining that quote only in terms of the backswing. What about the swing itself? I personally feel that staying connected means that "the shoulders should be connected with the hips on the swing." If you have the feeling of turning your shoulders with your lower body, then the arms only do what the shoulders are doing.

[@renzovanderark6365]

+JayZoop ....??????

[@bwadden]

The external rotation of the upper right arm should not be prematurely "used up" in the early or mid-segment of the backswing. If your right elbow feels low in mid-backswing, your probably getting the right shoulder into max ER too soon. That "springy" feeling on the downswing develops when the upper right arm goes begins to go into ER late in the upswing with enough left over for the elbow to beat the wrist as the downswing begins. The objective is to carry the "loaded" right arm all the way into impact without releasing the ER of the right upper arm. Sorry - I could have been clearer in this video regarding optimal timing of these moves.

[@vimalmittal5603]

Agree.

[@elizelbothwell]

Good tip it must be said tho its not for everyone u wil hav to b a bit flexible to externally rotate ur shoulder like that, Jack nicklaus played wit a flying ryt elbow, enough said..

[@elizelbothwell]

Funny you mention chuck quinton, over there at the rotary swing camp they tok abt straightening the right but keeping the bend in the right wrist you are not really straightening, do u disagree with them or?

[@alancarlyon3928]

I was going through a bad few months with my swing due to having (creating) a flying right elbow, resulting in most of my balls going right, so now I ensure my right elbow stay's close to my torso throughout my swing with the left arm still being the dominant arm! Remember this and swing through with hips before your tits and you will witness a marvellous ball flight!

[@dry509]

How in the heck do I do that with a golf club?

[@simonflr]

This wasn't so "Bad" for Jack N. His elbow did exactly what you say not to do... I don't mean any disrespect, but there are a lot of ways to swing the club.

[@gingercat777]

Jacks flying right elbow was always his idiosyncrasy. For 99% of golfers a flying right elbow is the easiest way to slice the ears of a ball. This drill, even if you don't follow it to the nth degree will help a lot of golfers start their downswing on a better path.

[@Annmariemaher]

Right arm load-backswing

[@wordofmo]

I looked at Adam Scott's, Tiger Wood's and Sergio Garcia's swings on KZbin with views from behind. Each one of them brought his arm back to about 135 degrees from his chest, not 90. When his shoulders are at 90 degrees (facing the camera since it's behind him), according to your video, his right upper arm should be pointing at the camera but it's another 45 degrees further back. I'm not expecting to have a touring pro's swing but should I aim for what they do or more of what you show in the video?

[@stephenmoskal368]

Poor old Nicklaus never gets any respect for him right arm! Simply wrong.

[@ricksterling7628]

Use a golf club to demonstrate dude

[@BBigolflab]

Please do not give Chuck Quinton credit for something he had no part in discovering. He learned and stole my life’s work in 2008-2009. I have the story on my channel. That said, I respect you so much for mentioning me at all. However, please review the video regarding Chuck not able to provide any evidence in court that he created any of Rotary swing tour. It was all taken from me as he launched into the market w/ out me and took credit for my life’s work for 10 years! He is a FRAUD.

[@grahamjones7371]

Hi Alison this was the 1st YT video i watched 5 yrs ago,if only id found you then i would have saved a few years of frustration! as your SB glide and Lat box was the missing link in my swing sequence and has had a great knock on effect.Thanks for all the great videos.

[@dennislaux]

Here's a guy that is a perfect example of someone that can't teach and makes it so complicated with no clue what words to use to make it clear. No wonder no one survives most lessons and always plays so much worse after getting one.

[@mr.fatbasstard648]

how to simplify your golf swing...lmao

[@dennislaux]

There are more aliens from foreign planets living on this earth than there are good golf instructors, or at least ones any of us can afford. I play to a 3 handicap and that's after going through 5 teachers that ruined my game until I hooked up with Mr. Ben Toski one of the best teachers and a great man as well. He's one of the few gentlemen in the game even if he did drink a bit too much I still loved him and he earned all my respect. At 75 he could still play a solid game and had no care about money and was NOT rich at all but just loved the game and teaching anyone that loved it also. If you were a punk, rich pushy jerk or thug....he wouldn't teach you a thing or even give you a lesson, but gosh what an extraordinary gentlemen that played with Hogan, Snead and Byron Nelson and all the greats. I miss him greatly.

[@ggkk6474]

Sure you did!....the name is Bob Toski not Ben and why didn't you find Mike Malaska they were partners and taught the same way.

[@dennislaux]

You're the biggest fool I've had to endure yet. His brother was BEN you idiot and he taught Bob all he knew at least according to Ben, and he was one of the best teachers and best men I ever knew in golf. One day you'll realize that you don't know near as much as you think you do but until then we all have to deal with guys like you.

[@ggkk6474]

Really!

[@bobbiebobbejaan9519]

What a load of rubbish

[@bh5606]

Good idea...poor presentation.

[@seansunyoon]

way too complicated.

[@johnbarchi3302]

+Sean Lee Really?

[@johnclark3697]

do People really take notice of this DRIVEL.he ain't got a clue what he's talking about.