LEFT ARMPIT FOR MORE POWER IN YOUR GOLF SWING.
March 28, 2014
Science in golf has allowed us to pin point and gather data on exactly what makes the best players in the world as good as they are. From this information we can dilute this into drills that help amateur golfers in their mission to reducing the ever-stagnant golf handicap.
All amateurs are striving for more power! Even if your friends say their not, are you telling me they wouldn’t like 20 more yards off the tee? I once heard the great Martin Hall say, “If someone tells you they don’t want to hit the ball further they will lie about other things also.”
When we talk about power we often talk about the down swing sequence where the lower body starts the down swing followed by the torso, then the arms, then the hands and club. With this article I thought I would talk about the link between the arms and torso and in particular the role the lead arm and the torso.
Tests have shown that if the lead bi-cep can maintain contact with the lead chest on the down swing you will generate more power. This connection helps maintain the link between the torso and arms in the down swing which acts as a sling shot as the torso transfers energy to the arms.
The best drill to simulate this is to place a head cover or glove under the lead armpit and hit mini shots seeing if the object stays in place. If it drops out as your hitting shots there is a good chance you are not maximizing distance.
If you do drop the object you now have a new drill to put into your practice regime. As you get better at the drill up the tempo and start put in full power, it will feel a bit restricted at first but it is a great dill for improving sequencing and connection in your down swing.
Let me know if this helps you start to out drive your playing partners.
Share With Friends
Comments
8
Total and I mean TOTAL nonsense
Concur. Check out many of Hogan’s swings you’ll see his left arm exit his upper torso half through his downswing. Great arm swingers i.e Leslie King followers have no part of restricted action like c…
Concur. Check out many of Hogan’s swings you’ll see his left arm exit his upper torso half through his downswing. Great arm swingers i.e Leslie King followers have no part of restricted action like connection advocates.
Hey Guys!
Great drill but what is the difference between putting an object under the left or the right arm pit? you see a lot of tour players using this drill with an object under the right arm pit…
Hey Guys!
Great drill but what is the difference between putting an object under the left or the right arm pit? you see a lot of tour players using this drill with an object under the right arm pit, tiger did it often and some put it under the left?
Is there any difference or is it just something you feel more comfortable? right arm pit or left?
would be nice to get a reply from you guys.
BR
Hi Sebastian. Thanks for the comment. They are both very similar actually. In our opinion the one under the left arm helps the initial move away and back swing whereas the right arm is mainly for the …
Hi Sebastian. Thanks for the comment. They are both very similar actually. In our opinion the one under the left arm helps the initial move away and back swing whereas the right arm is mainly for the later half of the back swing. Hope that helps?
Thanks
Andy
Great drill. It helps you maintain a good swing-plane and An outside-in swing will cause the glove to drop. Having the glove under the right arm encourages a shallower start to the backswing. All in a…
Great drill. It helps you maintain a good swing-plane and An outside-in swing will cause the glove to drop. Having the glove under the right arm encourages a shallower start to the backswing. All in all, it’s definitely a drill worth trying out. Keeping your arms tucked against your torso will do wonders as you develop a consistent/repeatable swing-path that uses body rotation to produce power (not your arms)
Been watching Dr. Rob McNiel’s Wedge Works and they emphasize this connection a lot for finesse wedges, distance wedges, and the full swing. As I’ve progressed in getting and keeping this connect…
Been watching Dr. Rob McNiel’s Wedge Works and they emphasize this connection a lot for finesse wedges, distance wedges, and the full swing. As I’ve progressed in getting and keeping this connection, I’m hitting with a lot more power; and that is Fun! Thanks for the info.
Great Jim. Yes Rob’s stuff is amazing. He knows his stuff and he’s a great guy. Glad it’s progresed
Thanks
Absolutely 100%. My first ever handicap was 13 (and I thought that was generous, at that time 30 years ago you put in 3 cards and was given a handicap. The cards I put in were 8 over, 11 over and 7 ov…
Absolutely 100%. My first ever handicap was 13 (and I thought that was generous, at that time 30 years ago you put in 3 cards and was given a handicap. The cards I put in were 8 over, 11 over and 7 over). Was always able to hit the ball. Found that really easy. That handicap very quickly went down to 8. I played with my cousin who was off 5 and distance wise I could stay with him no problem from the first ever ball I hit. I actually found the long side of the game very easy. I didn’t know what the fuss was all about hitting a ball long and straight. I really did find it so easy. Was hitting a wooden driver 260/270 yds and didn’t miss many fairways. Just lucky I suppose, a naturally good swing. Short game I couldn’t get that good at…and then I took a lesson or 3. You have no idea how long it took me to get a good swing back. Nobody talks about lead arm connection. I’m 66yrs old now and still play single figures on a championship links. Its lead arm connection. It squares the club for you, adds power to the release (it makes linear speed change to angular clubhead speed I’ve come to realise). I did it from the start without knowing anything about this, just was lucky with a good swing “pattern” I had starting off. A comment from somebody below about Hogan ?? He absolutely keeps his lead arm connected. Look at a slo-mo side on view of his swing. A dtl view of any good swing will show the lead arm being pulled off the ribcage by the momentum of the club in the follow through 18 inches or so after the ball has gone. NOBODY talks about lead arm connection. Best swing in golf…Fred couples, he looks as if he’s forcing his lead arm into his ribcage as he strikes the ball. Wish I’d seen this 20years ago. NOBODY goes into depth about this. Rarely even mentioned. In my (humble) opinion the most important thing in the golf swing that most get wrong. If it doesn’t work for you you have some other major fault in your swing. Throw the club with the trail side, keep the lead side connected to release the club, job done. Thank you, if only 20 years ago. Sigh. Weep.