Incredible video guys. I have been struggling with my damn backswing for 30 yrs and "keep the arms between the shoulders" is the most enlightening thing I have come across. Thank you!
Thanks for this. Useful. I especially like that your suggestions and analysis are based on actual data - presumably using gears- and also find useful the specific simple drills, feels, swing thoughts. Perhaps from time to time when you do these keep in mind any adjustments a senior has to make - being in my mid 60s and though fit and a 12 handicap not as flexible as I used to once be. After scanning and looking carefully at over 1000 you tube golf sites across the world, there are only a handful that I rate highly, follow and regularly recommend to others including to golf course pros etc.
That's a great point. We basically do everything with an eye towards the aging golfer (because we're all either there or going to be there, lol). This video is a good example from the perspective of this info in our in-person lessons has been a huge benefit to older golfers losing some of the mobility they once had.
Go to 9.47 and 13.22 min in video and that is the total concept for the back swing. Perfect analagy! If I don't do this and start the club too inside I get off center toe hits.. which really sux!
The Left arm adduction, and your previous video on that....have been an important learning moment for me.. I can now see as the adduction angle is kept on the way back, the swing plane in honored... AND, as the adduction angle is narrowed on the downswing, the golfer gets the club to shallow and that lag occurs. That is the big takeaway for me.... thanks guys... .great flag!
Thanks for your videos! You demonstrate what the arms and wrists do independent of the body. And then show how when the body rotation is added you are at the top of a good backswing. Question: what does the golfer lose by getting to the top of the backswing that way vs. the "blended" motion we think of as the normal golf swing?
Those motions should definitely be blended. It just helps to break them down independently to see the full range and timing of the movements - but yes, they should be blended in the normal motion of the backswing👍
Guys this topic in this video is exactly what I struggled with,hence I never felt in a ready or athletic position for the downswing. Thanks for clearing up my misconceptions. Is it possible that you can talk about the the uncocking of the wrist in the downswing. Does the correct uncocking of the wrist add power in the downswing?
I keep coming back to this one! Question: based on your observations and measurements do the top guys have any torso rotation at address? Similar to how their torsos are rotated open at impact though their shoulders are square. I find that if I set a little torso turn at address I’m able to keep the lead arm from adducting too much.
Hi, Thanks great video. Would be great to see a video about hip movement and impact position. I have a friend where all rotation comes from navel area. Resulting in flipping, shaking, high ball flight. It does t seem to click with him that the whole lower body needs to do when the swing is started.
An excellent discussion. Had a lesson a few yrs ago from a pro who told me to get my hands deeper by pinning the left arm to my chest. I’m a 1 to 2 Hcp player but have been struggling with little push cuts for years. Do you think the deep hands stuff could be causing that? I just checked my left arm position. At left arm parallel I’m probably 25-30 deg in. I do tend to lift and get crossed from here. This might be my problem solved. Tx.
Yessir! That's a death move for golfer that we see every week. Don't know if you've seen this yet, but I think it will put in perspective what great players actually do regarding arm depth: instagram.com/p/B16Za6GFECw/
great video ! . thank you for the lesson today with the left arm elevation and right elbow at 90. thank you both. if possible, can you make a video the whole process of the swing would be great. Thanks in advance.
In a previous video you showed there is about 30 inches of arm lift in a proper back swing, which is more than just a right elbow bend. My question is where does the extra lift come from, right arm, left arm or both arms raising the club at the same time?
Would you be so kind as to describe what you see as to what would be a typical amount of left arm adduction at impact? And relatedly does maximum adduction happen before impact, at impact or post impact?
Question on shrugging my shoulder in backswing. I definitely notice on video and by feeling my swing that my shoulders shrug up towards my chin as I get my arms higher in my backswing I feel like this can’t be good what are your thoughts on this I feel like it’s a subject no one ever covers and I can’t be the only one to have done this wrong or thought about it I would appreciate your response I need a legitimate person to ask
Funny you asked this... we've been at this for a number of years now, and only this week has anyone asked us this... you're the second time we've been asked this question this week, lol. It's an important one too. A good goal is to always keep the shoulders "packed" in their sockets and down. They have a good deal of range of motion there while being at their strongest and safest. This is coming from a recovering shrugger who developed tears in both shoulders.
Athletic Motion Golf That’s what I would think I noticed that when I hit balls my shoulder slowly starts shrugging up as my ball striking gets less and less consistent so I’ve been really trying to keep it as you put packed and man did that help get my shoulder slightly more open at impact in the ball compression stayed consistent throughout my range scession. I know there’s people that say been hogan shrugged his left shoulder up but I would say for the vast majority of the public this is something that I would stay away from. Thanks so much guys
At 6:11 there is an avatar showing a typical modern top of the backswing position. Upper trail arm is level with the ground. Lower trail arm is more or less parallel with the spine. Trail elbow at about a right angle. Nice symmetry between the lower arms. Lead arm a little above the angle of the shoulders. What I don't understand is the 78 degree angle. It just doesn't seem to tally with the above arm positions in relation to the chest. At 6:17 the avatar is gradually rotating to a perpendicular view but the angle does not seem to be connected to the trail shoulder either (particularly assuming that shoulder is retracted). What is the angle?
@@AthleticMotionGolf Ok. So more like the angle between the upper arm and the clavicle staying constant rather than the (skew) angle between the upper arm and the chest? So you feel a good stretch in the shoulder blade rather than feeling like your arm is pinned across the chest?
During your demo, your head moves forward significantly after transition. When I look at the best players, their heads either stays "fixed" or even moves backward after transition. Would appreciate clarification.
Doesn’t matter really. Just matter of setup. For example Adam Scott setup is rubbish hence he needs to move away from the ball with his head. Head movement is totally dynamic during swing. As long as is doesn’t come up massively in downswing towards hitting ball
Fantastic instructions. If everyone would just follow your commonsense instructions they would strike the ball so much better. Then work on the greens.
Guys thank you! Im a scratch player who has been struggling recently as I dont hit near as many balls as I once did. My hands have always appeared good on camera in rehersal swings but as Ive learnt from this video, far too deep in actual motion. I coud achieve the look on 2d camera but there obviously was no turn there. As a result I felt I lost distance. All making sense now. In the past I had a better turn albeit my hands were too deep, and often longer arm swing. I presume to become a decent ball striker I must have rerouted the hands off the chest on the way down to compensate. Getting to this vanilla spotnow dynamically I know will be a huge help. I feel it also encourages a shorter arm swing. So helpful for over swingers and across the line people. This is by far one of the best instuctional videos I have seen for better players, I think its a common fault from time to time even amongst elite amateurs. thanks again!
I think you're exactly right, SJW. We've been using this info no for awhile in our in-person lessons and it's connected a lot of dots for a lot of golfers. I wish we could say this is something we've known all along, but it's not. There was just no way to pick up on it with video.
I love this video, its cleared a lot of rubbish from my head regarding the backswing. I love the drills using a club but i'd love to see this level of detail with the driver as opposed to an iron. Thanks
My mind was blown that you actually see the left arm move away from body during initial takeaway. I"d have never thought that. The left arm getting too close to the body definitely major problem but this revelation really shows how problematic it is. Wow.
Just to be clear, are you saying your seeing that the lead arm stays nearer or goes slightly towards the target during the initial portion of the backswing?
@@BillyTheKidAudit I'm trying to picture what you're asking, and I can't wrap my head around the lead arm moving towards the target in the early backswing. It's been a long hot day so I very well could be missing something obvious here🤤
@@AthleticMotionGolf.....haha, that makes 2 of us!.......I thought you were saying the left arm begins to stay or leave the body during the initial takeaway. My question is what direction do you see it going during the start of the takeaway?
@@BillyTheKidAudit I think I got you now... looking at two major champs from under their feet looking up, at shaft parallel in the backswing both of their lead arms are angled outward towards the target line at a value of 5 and 7 degrees. For reference, 0 would be dead parallel to the target line. Is that what you were asking?
Wow, I’ve always tried to bring my left arm so far over. This is a revelation. After watching this at 12:30 at night I had to spring out of bed and try a few swings in the garage. Love you videos. You guys do such a great job. Love it!!
For many years my misconception about this move caused many problems in my backswing. I’m a big guy who works out regularly, and I thought that my chest size had something to do with why I was not getting in a proper top of the backswing position. I was pulling my left arm across my body which caused pain in my left shoulder. When I learned that the arms for the most part move vertically and that the depth is created from rotation, it changed everything. This video explained that so very well. Wish I had come across it sooner.
Here's a show idea. Do a video showing the setup adjustments for a guy with a big gut like the older presenter on this video. Nobody has that kind of information, and it is needed. All the content assumes a relatively flat belly. Show me the proper compensations for the big gut fella. Thanks!
Hi, could you please make it more complicated, I watch your great lessons and think I've mastered it because you make it look so easy, and then I try it out,,,,,,, it is so hard,,,, on a serious note, best lessons and advice on RU-vid., keep them coming.
Awesome video and a very mis understood part of the swing. And I have people on my lesson tee every day trying to get the lead arm more across the chest and nothing good comes from it
I have a horrible habit of taking the club back to far outside the ball line then I lay the club off at the top. The swing is way too steep as well. I know some pros have laid the club off at the top, Jon Rahm comes to mind, but obviously they have freakish talent. Would your recommend fixing the issue of being laid off at the top?
Know I'm late to the party. In regards to the Nick Price drill. If after you "swung" the left arm under the right arm then moved the right arm under the left arm so that the wrist were touching then went to the top of the backswing would that put you in a correct position at the top of the swing?
The more I watch you talk about the golf swing the more I realize that the meat is in the takeaway! These backswing videos have helped me change some really bad concepts about swinging the club. I need to make this stuff part of my instinct. Thanks again, guys.
When you have the ability to measure what those "different backswings" are actually doing, you can see SEVERAL similarities between them all... this is one of them.
This whole "fix" can be summed up by stating rotate your chest & arms until the hands are opposite the right shoulder, & then, articulate the right elbow so that it points down at the ground as much as possible.
Good work guys, this topic always seems to get overlooked. I find keeping the club outside the hand on the takeaway gets me in the best position at the top. good players keep right arm bend to a minimal by P3 with good rotation.
Another great video! I am a member of the unbelievable affordable All-Access. Anyone who isn't a member is missing out on the best golf information and drills available.
LPGA players seem to get their arms very deep across their chest ... almost 90 degrees adduction ... is that an illusion? What do your measurements with LPGA players show? Love and appreciate your channel ... you guys are awesome! I hope to get an in-person lesson someday.
Excellent observation, Dan. Very much an illusion because of their incredible mobility and ranges of motion in the torso and shoulders... sometimes to their detriment.
So said to get used to where the hands and club are coming from there in the drill. I feel as though I don't complete my turn with such an abbreviated (to me) feeling and my timing gets dorked up and the results are poor contact, weak shots and lazy rotation. Is that something I just need to trust?
Watching golf swings forever on TV from a rear view made it look like they were pinning their arms to their chest on the backswing to get depth. Never saw a face on view that showed you how far their hands were extended from the chest. Confused me forever!
I have been handicapped by the rigidity of left arm connection and the one piece takeaway- this video offers me hope that I might actually get some swing in my golf swing. In demonstrating theft arm only swing, you seem to use a fair amount of hand and wrist to swing the club to left arm parallel- none of this connected triangle. It seems very fluid and free rather than tightly connected. Am I interpreting this correctly?
Best comment was what Freddie Couples does (I'd kill to have Fred's swing). His arm goes outside the line to start the backswing, increasing the angle of arm-to-chest. Great tips guys 👍🏻
Love your stuff... I'm the owner / instructor here at The Meadows Golf Center here in the Catskills and your video representations are so valuable... Thank You!
Got this point about keeping the arms and hand in front of the body a while ago from another source. However, your explanation and drills made it really clear and much easier to get into and feel the proper positions. Really promotes a balanced fluid feeling in the back swing and down swing.
The awesomeness of these gentlemen is their ability to keep things straight ahead ( no Flexions here!) and to find simple drills where positions are hit organically👍👍
Y’all explain things so well. Going on this concept, how can this be addressed with the driver? How is it different? How does it effect distance? Is there any driver specific drills for this.
Athletic Motion Golf Where the pivot point is in a good putting stroke. Is it between the shoulders, lower down, left or right. If that makes sense 💁♂️
@@Melted_Butter That's not really something GEARS would be able to tell us. It will track the center of the ribcage and the pelvis and the force plates will track the pressure... There is (should be) very little movement in any of those during the stroke.
Wow! I've been golfing for 25 years and never correctly understand this concept. May I help you simplify further, or please correct me if I am still wrong: Shoulders and hands form a firm triangle structure, lifting right hand 90 degrees while maintaining straight left arm will automatically reposition the triangle into new firm geometry and that is the perfect slotted position (once accompanied by hip+shoulder turn)
What is the level of tension/relaxation in arms/wrists/shoulder sockets as you go through the swing? For instance, if I let them be really loose and just reacting to the body turn, does physics take over (pendulum physics like in a medieval trebuchet rock launcher), or have a lot of tension, or shift from lotta tension to lotta relaxation, or vice versa? What's the right pattern? How can I learn to feel it?
Great video guys, I have been struggling with this for a very long time, I have been a where, but just could not figure out the correct way to get the club up on plane..
Coming back to this video, as made good strides with hip and pelvis motion, but still closing that gap between my arms and my chest. The magic words here are "it's a chest rotation to finish the backswing". Thinking that keeps my arms in good position, and better shoulder tilts, turning more up instead of flat and pulling my arms round behind me. BOOM. thanks.
What do you think about a backswing drill with a balloon between your elbows or forearms? How about hitting half shots with the balloon? I've never seen this online but thought it may help keep arms in front of chest and stop excessive flipping or rotation of forearms in backswing and throughswing.
I always had my hand cover my right bicep at arm parallel. You're saying it's optimal to have my hand more in front of my body - hands cover my right shoulder?
A question: How many degrees of total left-arm adduction in the backswing is accounted for by the amount of left arm adduction at address? I understand that it may vary from player to player and club to club, but I'm curious to know how much of the adduction angle at left arm parallel was preset at the address position. Thanks.
@@AthleticMotionGolf Golf is like rubbing your stomach and patting your head at the same time! The Big muscles take car of strength and stability and work against the ground moving fractionally early both ways .the small muscles provide speed and work against the handle.
I have watched a ton of golf videos and this is the AHA moment video for me. It’s amazing how easy the golf swing is when your lead arm is t pinned against your chest. Awesome explanation! Awesome video!
I’m definitely guilty of pulling back too close to my chest, makes my head roll forward and takes backwards & off the ball. Hoping this helps, watched this a couple times, maybe you can clear it up. Heard some different number but what is ideal or what are the pros hitting for an angle? Thought I heard 20 but then also mentioned. What angle should I aim for, 45 degrees ???
Watched this earlier and it really helped me hitting my fade shots ,I’m a 1 handicapper and this was one of me issues, The drill t to get my arms in position then turned is a real winner for me ,,Thank you gents .
Very nice. I’ve been wondering if it would be good to hit balls doing the second drill. I’ve continued to struggle with run off and a little laid off at left arm parallel. Think this would be a good drill for me? When hitting balls this way, do you do the pressure shift after lifting the arms into position and before turning back? Thanks guys
Ok as a Civil Engineer who struggles at golf, especially the backswing, this helped a lot. Maintaining the angle between the chest and the left arm is a great swing thought for me. Additionally turning into the left arm in the downswing was great too. Feels good. Can’t wait to try on the range. Love your videos.
With the left arm arcing in on takeaway, what is the right arm doing? I have a problem straightening the left Goin back. My wife took pics of me at the range and my backswing looks to narrow or more straight up. Also heard to keep the right arm less bent allowing the left to get more straight Goin back.
This help a great deal. I'm quite muscular and couldn't seem to keep my left arm straight while pinning it to my chest. I'll try filming from above to see if I'm close
Agree its the chest/shoulder blades area that rotates Fractionally before the arms move. Its all about sequencing!For me this area Feels like it rotates flat but isnt when I look in mirror. Also Rotation doesnt start from the ball, the body is a barrel/tube this is hard to describe! but very important!
