There are so many important elements of the golf swing, but one of the most critical ones is where the trail arm is both in the backswing and coming down through impact.
For instance, if the trail arm in the golf swing is too far behind, you get “stuck” and usually hook the ball. When the trail arm is too far in front, it leads to a more over-the-top swing, resulting in a slice.
One common “cure” for this is the belief that you need to tuck that trail arm against your side during your takeaway and in the downswing. For many amateurs, this is to help them keep the club on plane in order to make center-face contact.
But GOLF Top 100 Teacher Kevin Sprecher says it’s time to ditch this myth once and for all and explains what to do instead. Check out the video below.
Where the trail arm in the golf swing should be
We’re all guilty of taking golf advice from our buddies — especially mid-round when we’re not having the best ball-striking day. So, somewhere along the way, most of us probably started tucking the trail arm close to the body, which, as mentioned, is supposed to help keep the clubhead behind the hands in order to make better contact.
But Sprecher says this is a “huge mistake” that he sees from a lot of his students.
“They’re trying to keep their [trail] arm against the [trail] side in the backswing,” Sprecher says. “Or they’re trying to keep it [in that same position] as they’re coming down to impact.”
Instead, Sprecher says the trail arm should be more fluid during the takeaway and backswing, which helps increase your chances of getting more speed.
“Your [trail arm] needs to float in the backswing a little bit, and it needs to separate from your [trail side] a little if you want to generate any power. If you keep your [trail] arm against your [trail] side too much, you tend to get the club inside,” Sprecher says. “It’s also hard to release it when you get it against [your trail side] too much.”
Breaking down the lead arm vs. the trail arm in the golf swing
While he does admit the trail arm gets near the trail side, Sprecher thinks it should happen naturally based off your swing movement and sequencing, not due to a preconceived notion that it has to be in that exact spot.
“Yes, the [trail] arm gets close to the [trail] side in the swing, but it’s a function of your movement,” he says. “If I wanted to throw this club and throw it far, I’m going to get my [trail] arm [higher up in the backswing] so that there’s separation. Then I can get more narrow on the downswing to generate some power.”
Sprecher suggests ditching the idea of tucking your trail arm and recommends taking some swings to release your natural athleticism, which will then determine the trail arm’s proper location during your swing sequence.
