Most golfers misunderstand the role of the lead arm. You’re told to keep it straight, but not rigid. Connected, but still wide. Active, but don’t overuse it.
Somewhere in that mess, there is probably the right answer. This video from Performance Golf, Eric Cogorno, and Hall of Fame instructor Rick Smith explains a simple drill you can use to correct the lead arm position.
The most common lead arm mistakes golfers make
While not keeping the lead arm straight tends to get all the attention, it’s not the only mistake golfers are making with the lead arm. Others include:
- Lifting the arms away from the body during the backswing.
- Starting the downswing with the arms, not the body.
- Losing pressure between the arm and torso too early in the backswing or downswing.
What the lead arm should be doing
The video above talks about the classic glove under the arm drill, which you may have seen before.
However, this version goes beyond basic connection. Rick Smith explains it’s not just about keeping the glove in place. It’s about understanding when to apply pressure. Here’s how to do the glove drill with the added focus on pressure.
- Place a golf glove under your lead arm’s armpit (upper bicep area)
- At setup, feel a light squeeze between your upper arm and chest.
- As you start the backswing, maintain that same pressure.
- In the transition, increase the pressure slightly, which helps the arms work down while the body rotates.
- Through impact, keep the connection alive a little longer, and the glove can fall away.
Why this works (and who it helps)
I’ve tried this drill and love how it takes all focus off mechanics and switches it to feel. That’s something that works well for my game, and I highly recommend it. In addition to being just a good ball striking drill, here are some other things that it works well to fix:
- If you slice: You’re likely disconnecting early and pulling across the ball. This drill promotes a shallower, more inside path.
- If you hook: It helps you rotate through impact instead of flipping the hands.
- If your game is inconsistent: By using your trunk and keeping a consistent radius, you improve strike location and swing repeatability.
Rick Smith says in the video, “Anytime I have a drill that’s fixing eight things at once, I know it’s a good one.” I agree with him on that one.
Final thoughts
If your swing feels inconsistent or you’re sick of steep slices or handsy hooks, check your lead arm. Odds are, you’re disconnecting too early and trying to recover the rest of the way down.
The glove drill keeps your arm in the right place, simplifies your movement, and gives your swing a better chance to repeat under pressure. More importantly, it teaches you how to feel pressure at the right time, not just where to put the glove.
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