The Secret of the RIght Arm

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For your own personal swing analysis from me, please visit zachallengolf.c... A video detailing the magic of the right arm, with drills and video analysis of Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood, and Dustin Johnson. How training your right arm can enhance your accuracy and distance

[@subwaytm]

I took a lesson with Zach over fifteen years ago out in Westminster. He got me into an impact position with my right elbow tucked into my body. My 9 iron went from 125 yards to 140 yards instantly. This video could also be titled “How To Stop Flipping Your Club” or “How To Compress Your Irons”.

[@kevingarm]

Zach the belt and the water bottle are amazing. I've take a million lessons attempting to get that right arm in the right place. Using the belt let me experience what it should actually feel like. It's amazing that I hit the ball almost as far with the belt on as with it off. Thank you for this my friend!!!

[@dlaird8]

Ben Hogan would approve of this vid. This is one of the biggest keys to the golf swing. Most people do not understand the roll of the right arm and how it is essential to staying connected in the golf swing.

[@mudmanKC]

Wow this is an excellent tip. I have a bad case of the shanks and after watching this video I went back and watched your other video about curing the shanks. I see that none of the example "shankers" held there elbows in tight during contact. all of their right elbows drifted away from their bodies. I had no problem with balance- just hands pushing out in the swing shanking the ball. Keeping my right elbow in tight REALLY was an improvement. I'm hitting the ball better than ever now- thank-you!

[@DagoGeorge]

I gotta say that this bloke can explain exactly what is required. But this video, I just wished I had seen this 20 years ago. Would have saved me about 100 'moves' I have wasted my time on just trying the get consistent. I have 100 swings that hit the ball well, but I just can't do it every time. The gap between my best and worst shots is too huge. But not after watching this. Thank You Zach.

[@peterf5353]

Tried so many different things to fix my inconsistent shots and this finally worked!

[@hectorlee4221]

Excellent piece of instruction Zach.One little adjustment and I am no longer slicing and losing yards. The game is so much more enjoyable these days. Thank you

[@pigslefats]

This is excellent. Added benefit is that by not straightening elbow at impact you are better able to keep spine angle consistent-ie you will find you're not early extending to prevent clubhead burying itself in ground a foot behind the ball as a consequence of straightening the right arm

[@timbucker]

To get into this position, at the beginning of the downswing focus on the left shoulder going up rather than around.

[@azipcode2u]

Nice explanation of how the often under-analyzed right arm is a KEY component in driving distance. I really liked your ‘belt’ drill (even though one reader thought it was dealing with the Cause & not the Effect). Good Instructors understand that, while most students hear & grasp concepts/ideas similarly, some of us (more than most folks realize) absorb information differently. After many years of teaching various sports, I’ve opened my mind to the differences in how we hear/process information. This really came to light while teaching beach volleyball to young adults especially when we got to the ‘overhand set’ (a very tough skill to learn and execute correctly for beginning students). After reviewing the basics of quickly positioning yourself under the ball, absorbing the pass as it descends with ‘soft-hands’/arms, letting the wrists naturally cock backward, etc., I noticed one student execute set-after-set almost perfectly: No spin, ideal height and trajectory. When I asked him how he was able to so quickly master the skill he replied, “Oh, it was when you said to SLIGHTLY FLEX THE KNEES to help absorb the ball on its descent.” I was totally surprised and thought, ‘What the . . .?!!!’ Yes, I did mention the use of the knees as ONE component to the skill set, but, it was a MINOR one (or so I thought). Then the lightbulb went on: For HIM it was all about the knees--THAT was HIS key component. So for ME , focusing on my right arm is a KEY component to successfully drive the ball better. And, the use of your belt-prop is one way for some of us to begin to 'feel' the process. FYI--One other detail I noticed in all of your visual swing videos (but don’t believe you mentioned) is how each golfer really keeps their head DOWN AT IMPACT (and even through the hitting area LONG AFTER impact). I know that when keep my head very stil AT & THROUGH impact, I always gain more distance. Thanks for sharing this important “Secret of the Right Arm” tip. Glad it’s not a secret anymore!!

[@georgefalcomer3076]

Great simple instruction for connection in your swing. The tip of swinging round the corner - behind you - after impact is a great mental thought

[@maxa3221]

This video is the path to golf heaven. This so many videos do not show the rib rest of the elbow. Very counter intuitive, resting your elbow there is just not a natural thing to think to do. But this is the answer.

[@johnjrambo1979]

Brilliant video Zach, I follow all of your instructional videos. With the bad winter here in England I'm currently having lessons, and my teacher and I are working on that transition from backswing to downswing. Trying to drop into that "slot", and work the club from the inside. I will definetly try that belt drill.

[@danlee2191]

Exactly what I needed, immediately got solid contact and distance with less effort

[@AGCampagna]

You my friend are a master instructor. Thank you!

[@davidzheng8004]

Anthony Cam pagna

[@michaelstopak4963]

Best single golf tip i have ever reviewed. Zach, you have helped me tremendously, thank you for your expertise!

[@Performbettergolf]

Great drill with he belt Zach! I struggle with my right arm getting away and throwing it, but it stems from coming down to steep.

[@schutzrr]

Excellent video. I sprayed a little foot powder on my driver face to examine impact on the face. Too many towards the heel (club getting further away during down swing). Another example of the need to keep the right arm in close.

[@timhayes8071]

Hi ZaCh I looked at 50 tour pro swings they all hit with the right elbow coming thriugh first fantastic video absolutely the secret move I have just got to practice it now but after 20 years of over the top and spaghetti arms this is I know the absolute correct move As you say I noticed it also stabilised my chip and lob shots 9far more control Thanks for all your videos Tim Hayes

[@RandyKekipi]

Thank you for making me to remember about the right elbow positioning.

[@Jackknifegyp]

Best example of right elbow use i've seen and simple aid of a belt. Thank you.

[@Jackknifegyp]

....for a chip or pitch shot..... for a long swing, the rear elbow HAS to leave the side at least 3-5 inches (but as vertically oriented pointing to the ground, as your flexibility will allow), in order to extend the club head as far as possible away from the body, while maintaining balance and weight over the rear leg and foot, and the shaft over the top of the head, parallel or more to the ground. Then on the downswing, the elbow comes back into contact with the body, as it was at setup or more towards the zipper. A belt is ok for the chip, but will restrict the elbow from leaving the side, so it's not useful for a drive or long fairway shot.

[@MrPolus24]

Jackknifegyp I believe the belt drill is to develop a feeling of keeping the right elbow connected through impact so that when it's taken off and full swings are attempted, the student knows how the elbow should feel through impact.

[@ScottSanderz19]

Get a Callaway Connect training aid and it will help ingrain what Zach is teaching here. Having a bent Rt elbow and wrist at impact is imperative for consistent ball striking!

[@bh5606]

Fantastic teaching video.

[@izzreel3638]

This is what ive needed all these years thanks you!

[@COVRT]

Thank you Zach! This really helped me get a bit more consistent with my longer irons and driver.

[@martyferguson7572]

In my experience, this is a great way to hit shanks and blocks as the lower body can easily push into the ball enough to engage the hozel. What does touch is part of the tricep and lat. No pro I have seen has there elbow tucked and touching.

[@rudycramer225]

Just concentrate on the downswing to keep that right wrist bent as long as you can. Everything else looks after itself. All you have to do is maintain your spine angle and stay over the ball and keep turning and BANG! You just cannot hit a bad shot! Oh I'm so happy! I've been trying for so long to get consistent. I shot 7 over the other day. Only the third round that I have tried it. This is the one thing you MUST do if you want to play good golf.

[@rcooper9110]

great vids - I was trying to figure out what to do with my right arm today as my hits are either great or crap/shanks

[@freegolfschool]

Zach, I think you just saved my golf game. Thanks for the tip! Coach David

[@jamesdalecopeland2719]

Love watching Westwood hit balls! Such an odd move through the ball, with an amazing result!

[@CMEAGAIN]

i tried this at the driving range and i hit the ball beautifully thank you

[@cpv3golf]

I think what you show here is excellent. But what I think needs to be emphasized here is how to set up that right arm for success without even thinking of it before impact. Now DJ is a great example but you should have illustrated his swing from the face on view also. This would allow you to see DJ set that right elbow just before he takes the club back. As we all know DJ is famous for his flat left wrist. And that's the secret to setting up the right arm for impact. The difference between the correct right arm through impact and the sloppy arms out away from the body at impact is the difference between a cupped left wrist or a flat back of the left hand on take away. To make a long lesson short a cupped left wrist on takeaway means steep and a flat wrist where the back of the left hand is parallel with the left wrist means the club stays on plan. Cupped left wrist stops the takeaway body rotation where the flat left hand allows the continuing of the body rotation. If the top of the left hand is not parallel or flat with the left wrist then you will never be able to set the right arm through impact. You cannot set the right arm when the club is going back steep. This means the club will be coming down even steeper. So setting the flat left hand on the takeaway will guarantee the correct right arm through impact. I think this is a great video lesson whether you on a flat surface or not.

[@thexunknownxmusician4594]

where's your video then

[@stephprime]

the tip with the belt is just awesome! I am going to try it on the range next time! ;)

[@acershund1]

Atta Way Zack! Great idea- I checked out my position at contact and i stray a little bit- enough to make a difference. Thanks- I have a luggage strap!

[@craiglaw1001]

Does this compliment the "Bent Right Wrist" through impact. What a great way to keep on line. Does the right elbow drop down to the side at the start of the swing?

[@la8627]

Great VD, I know that my arms get extended and loose power now I hope i can adapt to keep that right elbow tucked in. At what point to you start to release the wrist and do I need to get closer to the ball since the right arm is closer to my rib cage?

[@Br54978]

Zach you are an excellent instructor, wish I lived in cali. Keep up the good work

[@1cleandude]

Zack how does this relate to your more current video where your right arm unfolds? I like the unfolding version to assist in a flatter arch and up angle of attack! Thanks again!

[@brown55061]

This really worked for me. The belt kinda hurts but it really makes you feel a compact and in-sync motion. Kinda forces you to keep your hips and hands timed correctly.

[@adygolf]

Excellent advice. never seen any pro's talk about this b4 Thanks for sharing

[@Rick9482]

I'm pretty sure this video generated a "light bulb" moment for many hackers. Very clear video!

[@whetedge]

I get much more distance and better accuracy by keeping BOTH elbows relative to the rib cage throughout the swing. Most instructors shun this notion because it "restricts" the amount of upswing. I disagree. The shoulder turn is the same, but height of arms indeed is much less; my hands barely get shoulder height. Most would call it a 3/4 or less swing. There is no "catching up" for the arms to do, and timing is a non-issue. I can put as much or as little power into the shot at the bottom as I want, with complete confidence of a square hit. This is very difficult to learn, especially for a lifetime "lifter" of the arms, but the quality and consistency of shots is well worth the effort.

[@ritterlott9914]

whetedge it's called ben hogan. I do the same. It's simple and compact. I swing 104 and I am 40.

[@anthonywillis7634]

Absolutely, Ben hogan remained connected. Wrist hinge is a factor but getting this right will have all golfers on the right track!

[@vreeke777]

this is not to bad what you are explaining thank you so much, IT EVEN WORKS

[@Jdeneik]

Jonny miller made these very same statements about the Right arm and hip in this month magazine of golf

[@plentyofouts]

Good vid. The fact is the top modern players don't really do this. Trevino, Hogan, Peete, Knudson, Player. They all did it. Modern players basically spray it all over the lot and rely more on short game than ball striking prowess. They hit it further with the disconnect swing, less accurate but who cares. The courses are wide open and everyone hits frying pan drivers. Golf swings don't need to be this sophisticated anymore. Good work USGA and R and A...

[@definitiveenergy1]

Love your instruction, Zach. Best memories at Da Bell back when the Bell was at hole #3.

[@son21387]

Best drill. Maintain the right arm bend for right hand golfer allows forward shaft lean, more compression and wayyy more consistency with irons.

[@Profrominglewood1]

john daly from waist high to impact was amazing

[@teewoods]

Nice! Looks like I am going to have to fly down all the way from England to take lessons with Zach. I just cant seem to hit it consistently and the teachers in the UK are just not that good.

[@godsdozer]

I had first hand experience playing with John Daley and witnessing that move for a couple of weeks at miss state university the year he won the PGA championship.

[@garyvale8347]

I have recently found keeping my ( right ) trail arm close at take-away really helps me , but how do I know exactly when it's ok to let my elbow drift a little further away from my body at the top of my back swing , otherwise I find my swing can become too inside to out, causing a hook.......thanks

[@gene06825]

Great golf instruction! Thanks so much!

[@ly6792]

my head will move along with my shoulder. any drill to prevent that? thank U Zach!

[@gkrgolf]

Thank you Zach

[@slugcrazy777]

totally werks , awesome in depth analysis

[@billygraham5589]

Very good advice.

[@movieguy992]

This is an area that I struggle with. Its tough because on the backswing we are suppossed to build a big swing arm by disconnecting our arms from our bodies but then we have to reconnect the arms so that we can power the swing with body rotation.

[@taylormilton3]

Zack thank you very good tip you may have just nailed my issue

[@Tommyve000]

I wish I had knewn before that you teach close to LA!

[@karemariuslunde2009]

An Exellent video - thank U.

[@minhdangtran9147]

very useful and helpful, thank you sir

[@zygmuntpc]

Excellent advice. Thanks for sharing.

[@DagoGeorge]

Hey Zach! Your a champ!

[@theot71]

I have tried this at the range for a couple of days and had mixed results. I believe my Left Arm is being pushed away while I try to keep my right arm connected. Is there a drill or feeling to get the left arm working with the right arm?

[@anthonywillis7634]

It is crazy how much disconnection Daly has but somehow brings his elbow in at impact!

[@jamesdalecopeland2719]

Seriously! Dude is a freak!

[@MrDoner6961]

Thank you, very very useful to me, gonna work on this. And boy, do i need to work.

[@pebblebeach4868]

When I am swinging my best , both arms are getting past the ball without tension, post impact. Add to that a flat left wrist, bingo you're swinging at an elite level of golf. The swing you're teaching is from the 1970-80 were players having to flip at impact because they were so stuck. Modern day golfers are covering the ball, Nick Faldo the forefather of today's elite swingers & teachers.

[@bigcreekbroker]

Humorously, this lesson actually proposes the exact opposite of what you're saying. Your comment is bad and you should feel bad.

[@thomasfrenette5010]

Matt Martin I think you're wrong. Look at Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan swings and you see what is proposed in this video. Look at Tiger, Ernie, Mickelson and Faldo...and you see what Pebble Beach is describing here. Your comment is bad and you should really feel bad.

[@Tonyconner74]

Excellent video!....👍

[@oregonone132]

Well described --- excellent--and thanks

[@mikedeming12]

you're amazing dude, keep it up

[@hasbiabbas315]

i am suitable this swing, i ,ll try and i hope i will hit long distance thanks

[@StrdFrgman]

He’s EXACTLY right. Keep your left cheek behind the ball thru impact, (for a righty) Compression. Like “squirting “ a marble on a table.

[@Stevecollin28]

Excellent Thank you

[@ricodegranby]

brilliant like every time ;-) Thank you Zach, another good thing to work during the winter.

[@BourneAccident]

Very helpful tip. Thanks.

[@rackum44]

Am.are going to get the wrong idea thinking they keep their elbow against their body through the hit,what you said at

[@JetskiMike]

Thanks for this video!

[@deckertone]

Thank you! Finally it clicks!

[@sessien]

Great video!

[@rayblackburn9187]

Very nice thanks for sharing!

[@schlepplifthasser]

iam not a native speaker, sorry for the bad grammar. the disconnection of the right arm is not the reason, its the consepuence of a wrong move and a complete misunderstanding. you have to hold the external rotation of the right arm as long as you can !!!! Thats the key for that. EVERY good golfer does it!!! EVRYONE!! if you do that, you have to rotate your body harder and your arm will be connectetd automaticly. It took me 3 years and a lot of rangeballs to figure that out. a lot of average golfer try to to hit the ball with the arms. because of that they start to rotate the right arm internal to early. when you do that, the club will get steeper. when the club gets steeper you cant rotate that much, because when you rotate with a steep club, you will hit to far from outside. you have to stop your rotation and "save" the shot. thats what you see all the time. it starts with the internal rotation of the right forearm. thats the beginning of a bad kinematic chain. but why erybody does it with internal rotation?? the reason is, its a naturtal move to close the clubface and bring it to the ball. its much easier and feels better to rotate the arm, then to hold external rotaion and rotate the body instead. what happens when i try it with external rotaion?? its and annatural move when you try it first. it feels like your clubface is open. your brain will tell you you cant do that, you will hit a slice. and its true the clubface will be more open. with more rotation and a bowed left wirst, the clubface will be closed. two other things you will see from every good golfer. what is it good for?? when you hold the external rotation you can rotate harder and you can realease the clubface later ------ MORE DISTANCE, MORE CLUBFACE CONTROL!!!!! so it starts with rotation of the right arm. think about that and try to figure out this unnatural move. HOLD THE EXTERNAL ROTATION OF THE RIGHT ARM AND TURN AS HARD AS YOU CAN!!!!! You will hit it further with more control and better contact. its not a quick fix. it will take you maybe, weeks, month or years to learn it probably!!!!

[@myshkalovespythons]

WOW. Never knew that! Thanks!

[@chestermicek]

"Scrape your left boob on the backswing and bop your right boob on the downswing!". That's the way to do it. For corroboration, check the LPGA's top players. They have the saying, "Keep your boobs in the game to stay in the game." it works just as well on the PGA. Simply put, brush your left pec with your left triceps muscle on the backswing, and push your right pec, (or hooter) with your right triceps muscle on the downswing. I use the outrageous phrase "Boob bopping" because it makes it easier to remember a critical part of the golf swing. Another phrase they use on the LPGA, according to Dottie Pepper, is the "one over; one under" rule. It means don't lose contact with your pecs during the golf swing. For validation, look at the photo/video of Ben Hogan bopping his right boob with his right triceps in the KZbin video, "The Hogan Pivot Drill". If Hogan did it... One more hard learned point from me - my swing had to be flatter & my shoulders had to stay in the same plane for me to get this "boob bopping" tip to work, but I adjusted and it works. I went from a golfer who had a 50-50 chance of hitting the green or the fairway to one who hits one or the other about 75% of the time. Last time I played, 8/10 of my tee shots split the fairways, or were dead on the pin. Boob bopping & swing flattening work for me; I hope they work for you.

[@johnnorth5705]

This is probably the best golf tip ever

[@Wasabigangbang]

hey im 16 and i shoot around the high 80s. My swing looks pretty good in my opinion, but i want to swing like tiger woods. can i send u video of my swing and help me out a little?

[@coachrsp212]

Would this be the same for the driver?

[@ZeppelinFan70]

this is golden

[@dannydeva]

thanks mate

[@joebonfanti3698]

Great video and tip but seriously. Out of all the places to film this, couldn't you find a level area and one where your not aiming into trees?

[@enriqueurrego1011]

excellent !!!!

[@josephdituri6536]

i'm a lefty in golf and was wondering how many knuckles should be showing on my right hand when gripping my clubs.

[@plentyofouts]

I'm not talking on the way down. I mean through the ball. Right arm either thrusting or being pulled off the body, pivot stalling, hands flipping.

[@teewoods]

There is one thing that forgot to be mentioned here. And its that the right elbow has to drop faster than the arms.

[@cameltryde]

BACK AGAIN...hoping you aren't on any pros hit list...it is that right elbow that lets go and extends out to unload that lag that is so talked about, but not given how to, thanks again...that is a BIG SECRET.... noticed when hitting badly, the right elbow is doing its thing, but as soon as I get the elbow to do what, such crisp ball like Ive never heard....

[@GioGio-fj6sx]

Right arm close to the body is a must for each golf swing. This does not imply that the right arm must be "attached" to the body, this occurs to golfers who use to drop the club at the top of the backswing (see Andy Garcia slowmo clips) or to golfers who use to squat a lot (see Rory clips). Other players, like for example Ernie Els or Luke Donalds, who dont drop the club and dont squat a lot, keep their right arm of course very "close" to the body, but not so "attached" to the body as we see in the above Zach tip. So this video is very useful, drill well worth to try and repeat, but it is not a bible. Concept is right arm close, to what extent "close" to the body depends on your swing. My 2 cents here...

[@coltoncorley4343]

Ive tried this before and cant seem to get the clubface back to square... I even strengthened my grip and still no luck!

[@mikemomberg974]

Would like to see example with a iron.

[@mcdamike]

Allen knows what he is talking about. This is Hogan's swing, a more consistent ball striking swing. I think a lot of modern player play this way. IMHO

[@8613942187]

isnt this disconnection coming from scooping?

[@johnnyparker9928]

Thanks a lot Zack, you just gave my secret away. Hope my buddies don't see this.