GOLF: HOW TO MOVE THE UPPER BODY IN THE DOWNSWING 

Wow! 2 years of lessons, hundreds of videos, and help from fellow golfers and FINALLY you have isolated my issue! I have been standing up out of my posture for years and I finally understand what the motion should be. I thank you!

I played on a golf scholarship in college, played mini-tours and former assistant club professional. This is one of the best instruction videos and clear explanations of the golf swing through impact. There are many "systems" that confuse amateurs and result in an "annuity" for continued lessons for alot of teachers. Why haven't we heard more about this guy. Someone needs to get ahold of this guy and promote the heck out of him. Cheers

What a great golf swing! Don’t see the ball flight but the sound confirms how correct the look is. Your talent adds credibility to your instruction.

Finally there is this someone whom I gonna follow and stick to what he is teaching. Everything is well explained. A fan from philippines!

BIG THANKS...right elbow move has kind of sorted my struggle to bring the club on plane during downswing..and not come from out to in...

Russ, Loving your explanations of the sequence in bite size chunks that are easy to chew and digest. Thank you!

Many explain the shoulders' angle in relation to spine, and hip movement. But Mr. Heritage's comment on "left rib-cage feeling" made my swing more fluent and easy. Many thanks from South Korea. I visited Scotland and Ireland 7~8 times. My best score on St Andrews Old course was 84, but it was in my 40s. Now I am mid-60s, and my golf is still getting better, mainly thanks to 3 or 4 RU-vid teachers. Mr Heritage the best to me these days.

I follow several RU-vid and online instructors and even a couple pay sites and for some reason I keep coming back here for instruction that breaks through the stubborn bad habits of decades of golf. And this lesson by far addresses my number one problem, right elbow position through the downswing. I get it for a while and it works great and then my mammal brain kicks back in and go back to my early releasing and slight casting and over the top. Tough and extremely frustrating habit to break but Russel’s drills and “feels” have definitely worked the best. He is the best teacher out there right now.

Possibly the best golf video I have ever seen. While I don’t quite yet have this in my “bones”, I have already seen a huge improvement in my ball striking and had a new low score at my club today. And I am seeing my early extension disappear as well. I am watching this video over and over, then hitting balls, to engrain this new swing. Many thanks.

This guy is the next big thing in teaching. Brilliant 👍

This is still one of the best videos ever for the downswing! Thanks, Russell!

This is so vitally crucial and explained so well . Thanks indeed !

There is everything we wish for in this video. Technical issues, physical issues, from general perspective to precious details. Great job, really ! Thank you Russel, once again

You are the best, plain and simple. Keep doing what you're doing, clear, articulate and intelligent. Many thanks, you make the game better for a lot of people.

This is an awesome video. The explanation of what the body needs to do and the position of the elbow, hips and shoulders as the swing moves is beyond words for me. Truly appreciate the break down.

I'm 72 years old and after watching this video I have a much better understanding of how detrimental my lazy flat shoulder swing is. This will completely change my upper body movement and I'm anxious to work with this information. Very clear instruction and good demonstration of the concepts you reference. Thank you.

Brilliant, best explanation of the downswing that I've ever seen.

Thanks excellent material, that's two of your videos I watched this week that explained simply and easily important moves that nobody else seems to be able to explain in a way that works.

I am going to mirror what everyone else is saying "wish I would have seen/known about this when I started". I find is feels so odd, because I have been training myself to do it wrong. Many thanks for the DETAILED insights, I haven't been this excited to try something new in what feels like forever. all starts with that elbow (and up until right now, I have been starting wrong every... single... time) many thanks, and cant wait to see where this goes

Very good instructional video. Dropping the right elbow down and driving it forward and upward is very good in getting that upper body rotation. Excellent.

This is the most clear and very understandable golf video I’ve seen in all my playing days. Excellent!

Thank you I am practicing this at the range at the moment as it is something I am working in with my pro, but it is good to watch somebody else break it down and something I can watch again before I go back to range and course to practice!

Great instructions! More slow motion videos would be great. Thanks for your instructions!

Great explanation, which has been very informative for where I’m currently at with my swing development. Thanks for sharing

Best teacher on RU-vid thankyou

The information here is excellent. The breakdown of how to move the upper body in the downswing is unlike any I've seen before. I haven't been doing any of this, which is quite obvious in my golf swing and the resulting ball flight. Thank you, Russell!

For me this was the best instruction very informative Russell which I hope will help me with my follow through I'll certainly be trying this within the next couple of days.incidently I've never seen any other professional discuss this part of the swing,and fingers crossed this will be the answer to me struggling to follow through.

Russell I don't know if you will see this comment because you posted it in DEC. but i just got rid of over 50 videos that I have saved and will watch only yours. I have never seen or heard of a more simpler instructional video more clear than the one I have seen from you thank you very much from a loyal subscriber from now on.

Hi Russell, I am 70, confined and secluded in France at home.No regrets, I have big garden to practice. Few years ago, the regretted Calvin Peete was my teaching Pro and since than, your video is by far the Best on RU-vid. Your sequencing explanation is a jewel. Thank you and Best regards

great lesson as always...the swing thought of "creating space" for the swing is essential for me.

As ever clear, instructive, simple, and inspirational. Thank you Russ.

thank you from canada.. we can only golf 5 months a year here. so over winter we forget some fundementals.. great channel .great teacher. thanks.

That part about the right elbow losing the arm wrestle....great visual !

One of the best descriptions on the downswing sequence. Makes it very clear on what happens and when.

By far one of the best RU-vid coaches out there ,clear well explained and to the point . Thank you

Hips and upper body videos both great material Russell.Love it.Makes me realise what i haven't been doing right but plenty to work on.

Great video. Been suffering with early extension and flipping for a long time, and I’ve watched loads of videos, but this one explains it really well, much better than “ just put a chair behind you and don’t move away from it“

I have been chasing the post impact position forever and your explanation shows exactly how to get there. Clearing space is something I have never done, best explanation I have ever heard, many thanks!!!

This helps immensely for straight and easy sweeping impacts. Problem, time for me to tune up again and why I re watched the video. Thx Russell.

Thanks your last few videos on the hips and shoulders and weight shift really helped. Now to put it all together on the course cant wait.

Very clear and concise instructions, lots on information packed tightly into a rather short video. You get right to the point and are very generous to boot!!!!!

One of best break down of the swing i have heard in a while and was almost exactly what i was doing wrong but never had anyone iedentify both issues and how to address them. Well done Russell.

Exactly what I was looking for. Left arm was way out of position and didn’t realize what on earth was going on. Thanks so much! Forgot to mention I had already subscribed. Like the simple style of teaching.

Good instruction, nice work Russell. Helpful to hear your comments too about feeling... the swing changes

I have read all the books and have seen many internet lessons from a variety of teachers. This is the best visual and conceptual lesson I have ever seen. Can’t wait to get to the range and try to implement these moves into my swing. Much thanks.

Keep this type of video coming! Thank You!! Everyone should be able to bring your advise to the course. Best instruction I have ever received on line!

This video made all the difference to me. Brought together a lot of the concepts. Great stuff.

Nice! I have tons of issues with swinging the club with my arms. Never could understand how the pros start right in to of the ball and stay on plane. Elbow first, then some lower body rotation. I’ll give it a go.

Simply the best explanation\Visualization I have ever found. Thank you sir!

This video made me click "subscribe". Thank you so much, Russel! you're a great teacher.

Quality information again, thanks. I like that there are no stupid intros on your videos - just straight to the gold. Cheers Russell

Great Russel ! Probably you are the only guy from whom I could get the insight of the specific sequences of the swing which needs to be happening by inculcating your own feel ( the diffucult part to adopt and remember ). Hope to improve my ball contacts and release with the proper sequence of movements of the body parts thats appears to be very different in every single day causing the disaster in finding a consistent swing ! Hope you can help get more lessons on how to inculcate the same pattern of swing in ones body and mind !

I'm usually a high 80s - mid 90s player. I watched this video a few times and played this past Sunday and broke 80 for the first time (79). The explanation here is the secret of the swing that most "instructors" will never show you in order to keep you coming back. Thanks Russell.

"Two Elbows Up" for you Russel! By far the best instructor online. Always struggled with trying to flatten the downswing and when i think i did it, im stuck! Your golf advice is excellent and has finally given me a chance to unlock this challenge I have. Thanks Russel. Brilliant

Spot on again Russ. I struggle a lot swaying and moving ahead of the ball instead of turning and staying in posture. I'm working hard on driving through the ball with my right arm, keeping my left arm firm and the right elbow in position. For me This produces much more acceleration through the hitting area and when I get it right the feeling of power through impact is awesome. Anything up to 30 yards more distance and a lot more accurate. When it's wrong the giveaway is the chicken wing and poor contact and little if any follow through. Work in progress. BY the way every credit to your wife for her perseverance and enthusiasm.

Super great video. Love the comprehension and feeling of the rib cage extension (instead of only turning). THANKS A LOT RUSSELL. Keep going

Thank you Russel. Your material is gold. I have put a few people onto your videos now. I have been struggling with the swing for a few years. Have a British mate that helped me get better and put me onto your training material. Only started late in my life. Did a lot of sports well in my life. There are many coaches and material out there that are just wrong or half wrong causing confusion and bad swings. I was starting to think these coaches are like psychiatrists and dermatologists. They don’t want you to get better so you come back all the time. Problem with that is that most amateur golfers rather give up in the end. Anton Perth WA

Can't express how glad and lucky I am to stumble upon your channel. Awesome contents. It really helped me out.

Thanks for the video. Great video for me as a begginner golfer. Helps a lot.

This is definitly one of my biggest problems in golf. The standing up with the chicken wing finish is me. While I understood parts of how to fix this, this video really brings it all together.

First time I have ever heard of driving the lead elbow forward to get a proper roation through the ball. Genuis! A game changer for me.

Very clear, to the point, understandable. already helped me out so much.thank you so much!

You just explained exactly my two faults....early extension and not enough rotation but it's so hard to get out of and it's absolutely killing my club speed. I know that this is my problem and I will just have to keep working on it, thanks for the advice.

pure gold !!! this is the video that has this "wow" or "aha" effect. I love the tip where you say your rips are going forward and upwards - I NEVER thought about this. I would love to see a video where you combine this content with the right movement of the right elbow and the release and how the impact works!

Wow Russel!!!!! I have been watching golf videos for at least 4 years now and nobody explains these key points as clearly as you do. The first aha moment for me was when somebody, which I will not mention, first talked about the outward turn of the left knee as the initial point of the downswing. This looked and felt so awkward and illogical, and yet the distortion which ensues is what generates the power that doesn´t occur unless one understands all the incredible feelings and further twisting of the body you describe with such unbelievable clarity. You have given me the missing links I required to perfect this masterful craft. Performing it is another story but you have empowered us with the knowledge to know what we need to strive for. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!

Russell this is an excellent instructional video. Jordan Spieth added this move to his Pre-shot routine during the 2021 US Open, so he doesn’t get stuck.

The comment at 13:10 regarding the feeling of the right elbow during the downswing going forward and UPWARD is golden.

concept is very informative and clear, now I know why I kept getting stuck. Thanks!

Right shoulder down or left shoulder straight up were great swing thoughts for me in helping me shallow in transition. Exactly what you’re talking about here. And of course in videos it didn’t look like anything dramatic even though that’s what it felt like to me. Enjoyed your take on this.

Russel, you are a gifted communicator of the golf swing! Keep up the excellent work. I've always been an up body swinger and your videos are of great help because the at ease detail you speak too. Thank you

Love idea of the back rib cage clearing and lower right shoulder, I add to this by doing what you said about keeping right elbow close and I front of right hip, excellent Russ!

Thanks for another terrific instructional video. The way you articulate and demonstrate the right swing technique is very clear and compelling. You are giving me a better functional understanding of the body movements to sequence a good golf swing.

Fantastic illustration. One of the most difficult things to discern in the golf swing is cause and effect.

This is a great video for any golfer to build on. The presentation is first class. I will be revisiting this video many times in the future to improve my golf. Thanks Russell.

I've never heard anyone just absolutely Crystallize this information like this man is doing right now maybe it's just me but I've never understood the golf swing more than I do after watching this man in video

This channel is pure gold!

Russell - love your cause and effect explanation for creating a working model in my head of what needs to happen in my swing. i was taught to "squat to initiate downswing" where in reality, yet, it can appear to be a squat but it's really the trail leg initiating rotation by un-torquing onto the left side (which naturally causes increased knee bend in left side). your channel has helped me clarify these classic teachings more than others yet. THANKS :)

So happy I found this video. This is the move I’ve been trying to work on by trial and much more error!! Thanks!! 🙏🏻 🙏🏻

Great video, great tips! I think you’ve answered a lot of questions that golfers like me don’t even know how to ask. Keep up the good work! Thanks!

Thanks a lot !this is really detail breakdown 🙏🏼

Very useful. Especially your point about elbow needing to point up. I had thought about the elbows (and the head) but weren't sure how they were related. Will watch it again.

Forget RU-vid, Russell is HANDS DOWN the best golf instructor on the INTERNET!

So well explained and broken down. I think only for golfers who have already mastered their backswing. Can’t wait to get on the range to give this a go- I’m one of those who is guilty of getting caught up. To send you my swing, should I send. A video from the back or side on? Cheers Russell and keep up the good work!

This is one of your best videos.

Some people just explain things uniquely and you sir are one of them! 👍

Excellent, most amateurs including myself have this problem. I didn’t realize why I was toeing and hooking shots until I started watching my swing on my iPad, I realized I was losing my posture just before impact. after searching YOU TUBE I Finally found the solution . Time to start working on it, Thanks and more thanks.

Brilliantly explained yet again Russell! You're in a league of your own when it comes to articulating how to swing a golf club. In all my years, have never seen this quality of instruction. Plse keep it coming!

Very detailed important downswing movement Russel will be trying it at the range and fingers crossed it will help with my follow through

oh my lord, i am going to have to watch this one over and over again...so much info and insights as to the 'why's'...great stuff..

I have been watching a few of your lessons as of late, and there is something that I like and it is good! I can see myself doing the lessons while you are showing them. Must be your teaching style and the content of information. Thank-you, Russell.

Thank you for a good video. Easy to understand you. Like your accent and easy explanation. Now in lockdown situation in Toronto Ontario. Hoping we can play golf this summer.

It is a very detailed and specific demo for rotion feeling during the down swing comparing to other instructors. thank you for the great illustration.

Thanks Russel, I wish I had discovered your channel earlier. You’re explanation of the golf swing is superb, and extremely helpful. Keep up the great content!!

Incredibly useful content and so beautifully explained. Thank you!!

Great tips. Turning chest toward target will try that.

I have been and am still struggling with my swing path . This elbow concept seems to address some of the swing path issues I have . I will give it a try . Thanks for posting this Russell .

Great video Russell. Easy to get stuck in a stall as you mention and lose strike, shape and distance. This is a terrific reminder of completing key swing components

This instruction is excellent! I am a 7 handicap but had kind of "lost" my swing. This movement helped almost immediately, although it doesn't feel natural yet because I had let bad habits creep into my swing. Thanks!

Thank you for this incredibly helpful lesson! I've been standing up at impact for 25 years. I began trying to fix the problem a year ago - but a hard habit to break without the sequence described here... Finally, a map w directions out of shanksville!

Wow. One of the best videos out there. This is inspiration, can't wait till I get to the range. Well done. Again.