Cheat Sheet: How does your arm-length affect your golf swing?

World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame member Mike Adams has been a pioneering voice in instruction for four decades. One of his most helpful lessons is rooted in an oft-asked question: How does arm length affect the way you swing a golf club?

Based on years of research, Adams found that golfers whose forearms are shorter than their upper arms need to swing more around their body, getting the club shaft to a “flatter” position at the top of the backswing. Players with longer forearms should elevate the club in a more upright position.

Curious how you compare? Well start be taking this simple test:

STEP 1

Hinge your right arm at the elbow, with your thumb in a hitchhiker’s position.

STEP 2

Look at your thumb relative to the top of your right shoulder. If it’s even or below your delt (1), you’re a candidate for a flatter backswing. If it’s hovering above (2), start experimenting with a steeper swing.

Of course, it goes much more in depth than this, so to take the full set of tests to discover your golf swing DNA, refer back to our 2017 article: Find Your Personal Power Move.