Perfect Golf Impact | The Left Arm In Crazy Detail

[@spencerferrell2339]

This by far is the best explanation I've seen on the left arm at impact. thank you for all your post!!! Very educational.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thank you Spencer. Always happy to help! Clay

[@thewardychannel1350]

Such a great video, no one gives much detail on the left arm from contact and beyond!!! THX

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@timgeneve9791]

My swing is definitely more right side dominant. This video confirmed that I overtime, I started neglecting my left humorous through impact. My misses were mainly push shots. Clays instruction is so clear that I’m easily able to confirm my swing miscues. He truly is the rockstar of online golf instruction. Thx man…. I’m likely to join the membership this winter so you guys can fine tune anything you see.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

That's awesome to hear! Glad we're helping you out. Keep it up!! 👍

[@gregboggs4721]

Great video Clay, as a senior golfer that has only been in the game for about 4 years I find your teachings are second to none. Wish you were here in North Carolina for some personal lessons. Take care.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks a lot Greg. I just took a trip there a couple of weeks ago. I played Tabacco Road. What a track!

[@janicetomaso2129]

Thank you for this great well explained golf lesson on the left arm role in the golf swing! 👏

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Glad it was helpful!

[@shewook]

Hi Clay thanks so much for this and others. This is the only one that actually made the difference for me. Not only am I hitting much solid the chipping is unbelievable( no chuncking or sculls!!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

My pleasure!

[@sammy76554]

Best darn video you ever made Clay. Clutch instruction on this one. Thank you!

[@nathanprotz7468]

Clay this has helped me TREMENDOUSLY! I've been swinging too much inside especially with my hands but it was all caused by the left arm not lifting. I stumbled onto the feeling of the left arm feeling like it's moving out and away as my wrists rotated. This started to help but wasn't easy to replicate. After watching this and seeing that the left arm needs to lift as it rotates now puts me on plane most of the time. I feel like I've made a major breakthrough on my swing! The feeling I get is that I'm instantly lifting my arm but because of how I was swinging I'm getting shoulder turn and rotation with it. Thanks a bunch for this!

[@roytubby]

Looking forward to the-right-arm-in-crazy-detail video! Nice job, Clay

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks. It's coming soon! Clay

[@proment89]

very clear instruction. easily understandable and enlightening

[@Hopper157]

Great work Clay! Changing lives one swing at a time!

[@MrEmbouy]

Great video Clay. Theres just one thing I have to mention about the left arm though which i suspect causes a LOT of players to overdraw and pull shots wildly from a seemingly square set up: To get forward shaft lean and push the hands forward at address I believe a lot of people rotate the left arm over clockwise at address as it feels like a very strong position and then when they swing the arm rotates back closing off the clubface massively so they pull from what looks like square address. Then they try to swing more from in to out to correct and start hitting huge draws. Try it Clay you'll see what I mean immediately. Very very confusing for people.

[@kevina7828]

These videos are excellent, I did the move he talks about at 3:35, huge improvement in my ballstriking

[@jonwill]

This was a breakthrough understanding for my swing. Took this to the range and hit the ball so well I had to swing by the pharmacy to get something to take for it. LOL Distance; accuracy; movement. Subscribed; thank you for posting!!!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Haha, hilarious!! Nice work! ~Clay

[@deonpersaud8502]

Man you are full of great information and tips. Just an awesome job teaching golf swings. Love all your videos. Thank you always.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks a lot Deon!! Hope your hitting it great! Clay

[@benjaminsarmiento8150]

Probably your best video that will put alot of players back swing!

[@benjaminsarmiento8150]

*swinging

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Benjamin, thanks for the kind words. Glad you liked the video. Keep up the hard work! Play well ~ Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@760284jackiegolf]

Another light bulb turned on! Sometimes I don't rotate enough at the top! My left hand is pointing straight in front of me! So it's tough to shallow out the club! Thanks Again! Have a great weekend! Todd

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Nice, glad to help Todd. I would agree with you 100%. I wouldn't say it is a huge deal and to focus tons of energy on this move, but would help your swing, no doubt. I will talk to you soon!

[@henrywalton2165]

Great video Clay! I am particularly struggling with letting my arms go through impact - my lead arm remains clamped against my left pec causing a late flip. Do you have any specific drills for this part of the follow through?

[@wclicker]

Thank you Clay for your detailed and clear explanation!!!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

No problem Alan!

[@robertclarkson5101]

Many thanks great instructional video.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@khojnks]

Clay, love your videos, thank you!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Glad you like them!

[@haricsl]

Great video - i struggle with left arm being pinned to chest in follow through. Do you have any drills to prevent this from happening ie how do I teach myself to let the left arm leave the body post impact

[@pgomez2008]

Interesting analysis. On the backswing, some people advocate for a flatter path upwards. Isn't is proper to keep the arms in the same incline than the shoulders during the back swing?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Pedro, I hope your doing well. That is a very common thought. Most all players left arm will elevate above the shoulders in the backswing. The flatest swing plane players will be slightly above (Matt Kuchar) and the most vertical (Bubba Watson) will be way above the shoulders. There isn't an exact amount a player needs to be. It is mostly preference as to what you like best. Good luck with your game! ~Clay

[@hio164]

Love your vidoes. What happens if the arms don't "fall" in the start of the downswing?

[@kevinclayton8284]

I just went over this during a lesson yesterday afternoon. I tend to pull my left elbow in after contact instead of extend out the way you show in this video.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hope your playing well now!

[@amfohr]

I didn't know the left elbow had such a 'leading' role in setup and downswing. I still have that Hogan image of the elbow pointing to the hipbone.

[@rhaniyur]

Great detail...I find it extremely difficult to rotate further in the first part of the downswing to flatten the club and square the face at impact and get the power ?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

That is common, if you are leaving the face open. You want to bow the wrist a bit to square the face early. Good luck! ~Clay

[@dustinwatson8949]

Hi Clay thank you for the great content. I've played off a 0 but my golf has slowly gotten worse. I cross the line at the top and am quite inconsistent. I tried rotating my left arm on the back swing and now my swing looks great on camera but my contact is worse and feel like I have to do a lot of work to square the face compared to when I crossed the line with less forearm rotation. Should I go back to what feels natural or push through and keep trying to square the face earlier? thank you

[@TopSpeedGolf]

There is usually a ying and a yang to every change you make. If you turn your arm a certain way then you have to change the way you square the face most likely. If it is a better position then you need to just get used to square the face differently but if it isn't then go back to what you did before. You're a scratch so I can't imagine you were in a bad spot.

[@bubbafisk]

Awesome!! I've been searching for this information for months!

[@MannyCamRS]

Once you have addressed the ball and start your backswing, do you push the club away with your left arm/hand , pull with your right arm/hand or a combination of both? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[@VoodooZ]

What about the right arm? Being canadian and playing hockey it was only natural for me to play left but the side effect of that is that my trailing hand has the tendency to overdo it's supportive, pushing of the grip forward/down at impact. Compresses the hell out of the ball but timing can sometimes be an issue, causing pull-hooks. Would love to hear your take on the debate of "hitters" vs "swingers". Thanks.

[@MrBarrynicholas]

The right arm is a killer in golf. Relax your grip and let your left arm be the boss.

[@papahajek5383]

I remember years ago a lot of players used a forward press to initiate the swing. This resulted in the bow/cup wrist positions from the beginning rather than the mid backswing rotation you describe. Is there any difference when the wrists are set? Thank you.

[@nerd9992]

awsome detail Clay!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thank you!

[@roro-op1ks]

+Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard I follow both your tennis and golf videos. How some people can be that talented is beyond me...

[@michaelpope1710]

I like way you keep your head behind the ball.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks Michael!

[@amfohr]

That explains why I tend to pull shots, when left shoulder is not protracted through contact

[@congero113]

4:37 “my left shoulder is protracted”. What does protracted mean in this context?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi, protracted is the shoulder movement that moves your shoulder blade away from the spine. Retracted would be shoulder blade toward the spine. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@ilpetauroquantico6908]

The more I look at your videos, the more I'm confused. But it's not your fault, it's just that you produced so many great materials that I can't sort things out and understand my priorities. Is my swing bad because I don't control my left arm or because of my poor hip movement? Should I focus more on the position of the elbow or the head? I just can't put everything together at once

[@TopSpeedGolf]

If you cannot figure it out on your own, then I'd recommend working with an instructor. Play well! Nate | TSG

[@bobscottjnr]

Does the upper left arm stay internally rotated while the left wrist and forearm supinate?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Scott, your lead arm will externally rotate too in the downswing. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@CaribSurfKing1]

Most right handed golfers have much weaker left arm wrist muscles and grip. The right arm is the power arm and the left arm is the direction arm. Most golfers therefore use 80% of their strength and grip strength using their right hand and arm. This is why most golfers are incredibly un-repeatable. Good golfers have a balance between the arms strength and grip pressure, if not more pressure using their direction arm. Hers a drill, just concentrate on your lefthand and forearm throughout the golf swing. The left pinky and ring finger are applying alot more grip pressure. Try and a few times . You will notice a better lower ball flight, batter contact and most importantly, much more consistency

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks for sharing!

[@scoffer9999]

Do you have a drill for the right arm and keeping it in front of your body through the swing?

[@grahamjones7371]

Howabout right arm only swings! or if youre not to strong or athletic split hand swings, the body moves before the arm/ arms in the backswing which guess what keeps the arms in front!

[@jacobr4558]

So basically you are swinging back "below" the plane so you must compensate through impact by moving your left shoulder upward? What would happen if you swing back barely above the plane and slightly shallowed in the downswing? Could you not "use" gravity instead of "fighting" it?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Jacob, you're not necessarilly swinging back below plane. You'll usually see pros swinging slightly under plane on the downswing. The backswings can vary greatly. Look at the difference between JB Holmes and Rickie Fowler. Very different backswing plane but downswing plane will be identical. The left shoulder moving upward helps the club shallow out through impact. The lead shoulder moves up while the club moves down which levels things out. Something you may have hear Clay refer to as "impact glide." Gravity does naturally help the club shallow out but it plays a small roll. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@jacobr4558]

@@TopSpeedGolf thanks so much for the reply. Still not totally making sense in my mind. If you swing back on plane can you shallow it coming down? Or are you saying that they shallow it then lift it?(with the left shoulder move). It seems like the shoulder move would be going against gravity. When you watch Ryan Moore or Matt wolf swing they go WAY above the plane going back then shallow it dramatically.just seems like it makes more sense to go "above" the plane in the backswing in order to "shallow" it coming down. By way of contrast if you get below then you are forced to get back "on" plane going upward? Is that a thing? Something else I noticed in your comment about shallowing the club through the hitting area confuses me. Do they shallow the club in the "transition" or "the hitting area" or both? In other words if you swing the club back "on" plane then you shallow it in the transition and shallow it in the hitting area then how are you not way below the plane? By going upward with the left shoulder? Sounds like a lot of compensations to my mind.

[@jacobr4558]

@@TopSpeedGolf In holmes swing makes no sense at all. He swings well below the plane, steepens it dramatically then spends the entire downswing swallowing it. That is a mess from a technical point of view. Tons of compensations which work for him but hardly a "model". Fowler to me appears to go above the plane and shallows it in the transition and has pretty square shoulders at impact(I don't see this upward left shoulder move.) Obviously there are many ways to do this. I am just looking for clarification on this left shoulder idea. Is it not just a compensation for being below the plane? Why else would you need to go "upward" unless you were out of position. If I told you to dramatically pull the handle downward through the hitting area would that not imply that it is for a reason?

[@jacobr4558]

@@TopSpeedGolf I guess what I'm trying to understand is how many options do you have going back?(within reason obviously) A. Above plane B. On plane C. Below the plane... In order to "shallow" the club coming down how can you be anything other than "above" the plane going back? If you are on plane going back then you cannot shallow the club coming down(without compensation) And if you are below the plane going back then you can only get back up on the plane. Is this thinking wrong? If so why?

[@jacobr4558]

@@TopSpeedGolf both Fowler and Holmes keep their arms tight to their body in the backswing BUT the clubhead is above/outside their hands. Clay's swing and what he is demonstrating gets the club MUCH further "behind"/below the hands. For the average player that translates to stuck because they don't grasp this principle. The club doesnt have to get that far "behind" you...unless you want to flip or stall to compensate.

[@Godisnotjesus1967]

With spinal cord fusion and limited spinal(28% less) turn....I adapted my swing. I dont suport the left arm straight myth. Connecting that to consistancy is just a theory! Most golfers cant achieve the straight vertical left arm...club perfect horizonal on top. It complicates golf......setting unrealistic demands...resulting in negative feedback! It takes REPITION.....PRACTICE......10 OOOs of shots to achieve a skill. I am convinced with the years of effort Tiger...Rory.....Phil..Rahm have dedicated and acnieved.....(Modern, popular swing dynamics).....that they would have done the same....had they started of with unconventional(arms only) type of swing. NOT KEEPING LEFT ARM STRAIGHT THROUGH OUT SWING. Golf has become showbiz.....looks....photo finish...media trends....brands.....and the IMAGE......is dominant. Lets see if my unconventional swing land the ClaretJug! Stick around till St.Andrews 2021.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks for sharing!

[@looneycollin2143]

For me I found the easiest way to achieve this motion is to finish off the swing with the left elbow turning over or pulling away close to the hips. Basically the left elbow gets out of the way and allows everything else to break through.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi JayZoop, thank you for sharing. It sounds like you're on the right track. Play well ~ Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@jrhatcher1]

How does one keep from over rotating the left arm on the backswing so that the club isn't laid off at the top?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Great question. You would do the opposite feeling, where you will "feel" like the elbow is pointed down. It's ok to exaggerate at first, as long as you check it on camera every once in a while to make sure it is looking good. Play well! Clay

[@mpg20011]

TOPIC: WORKING THE RIGHT SHOULDER UNDER THE LEFT. Interesting video, but with all the detail, I didn't see anything about working the left shoulder under the right. Meaning, the the left shoulder moves up on the through swing (without the high-handi "pick-up" move). I bring this up because Jim Handy is pushing his new book with the "RIT" swing; and people are being taught by some of his PGA professional followers to go strongly from inside-to-inside. From what I'm being told , in the RIT release your left shoulder would just spin out. - which would be death for most swings. The small percentage of golfers who understand the rotation of the upper left arm know that working the left shoulder under the right stops that shoulder rotation from causing pull hooks. Clay, you should make a video only on that left shoulder rotation you mention, or, as I mention bellow, early face rotation. It's the most important move in all of golf. The beginning golfer begins golf life with a "square to square " (scoop and keep face to the target) idea and adds the baseball fallback - with the casting move - to find a force vector to "get the ball in the air". I start everyone I teach to lay the blade (fan) wide open with their left thumb and index finger ( I call it turning the key). What "turning the key" does is sets in their mind that there exists another lever (besides lift and push) that can make the ball move. I can get any duffer to hit snap hooks in a matter of minutes. And once you hit 100 snap hooks you are on your way to learning how to hit a golf ball. All that said, here is a note on your instruction about rotating the shoulder more to start the downswing: the average golfer will never be able to execute this move. It's necessary to get the blade in the right position but they are already freaking out about how little time they have to get back to the ball when they are at the top of the back swing. God created casting for a reason: it's the only way it makes sense for the average golfer to get any speed, so adding more actions up there is highly problematic. I have people do the rotation at the beginning of the swing, it works much better.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi mpg2011 Thank you for your comment. There's a lot to think about here. I would normally give a comment back but it wouldn't do your comment an justice. I like your analysis on the golf swing. You would be the first one to say keep casting the club for amateurs and maybe you have something there, definitely worth some research. Keep up the good work!

[@JayZoop]

I've improved a lot since I lift my left upper arm off my chest for freedom of motion. I use to pinch the left arm against my chest and that really limited my motion and freedom. People that go inside right away on the backswing have problems with this.

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Glad to help! Keep up the good work! ~Clay

[@sportsman214]

wow I recognized your voice from your Tennis lessons...!

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Alex, thanks for watching! Glad you like the tennis channel too. Play well ~ Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@grahamjones7371]

PPs left arm only swinging is the ultimate drill for this hitting the rubber teepeg at the range or collecting and flinging a sponge ball, but be careful, work up to this or you will injure yourself due to the weight of the club!

[@jasonpitts8395]

If the left arm flattens the club coming down how are you not laying off the club face?

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Hi Jason, you want the club face to square earlier so that you can rotate more in the downswing. This allows you to release the club more out in front resulting in forward shaft lean. This is what we talk about in The Move on the website. Play well! Quentin | TSG Instructor

[@jasonpitts8395]

Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard thanks! I’ve learned a lot from your videos.

[@scottyament4105]

yes you know the truth,

[@TopSpeedGolf]

Thanks!

[@grahamjones7371]

Its a golf fling not a swing! ie its a left arm frisbee thro,you could throw a frisbee using just your left arm because of its light weight but you can throw it further if you sequence/connect youre bigger muscles ie legs hips back shoulder, this would be essential if the frisbee was heavy, guess what the golfclubs heavy so practicing with something under your arm gives you the groundwork of sequencing,connection to then be able to fling/release,

[@grahamjones7371]

PS if youre a reasonable sportsman you are better thinking of the athletic motion ie a fling to target rather than breaking it all down!

[@nathanprotz7468]

graham jones I disagree. I'm pretty athletic but I've been missing how the left arm is supposed to work. Now that I know, I can work on the motion and the feeling of that motion to replicate an on plane swing. Until now I had been misusing my left arm on the way back

[@stangetz534]

7:03 $