Step 3 - Add the Lead Arm

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How to integrate the lead arm in the golf swing


Okay, so you've made it through the first videos. We've got weight-shift happening, which is a huge help in the swing, helps everything sequence correctly. Now you've got rotation. The whole core of the rotation, which is really the golf swing. If you rotate correctly, the rest of it is really easy. If you've gotten these first two videos and you're doing those drills and you're doing them properly, everything's starting to go really, really well in your golf swing. It should be. Make sure you're doing these drills in sequence.

                Now, the third video is getting this lead arm. We've talked a lot about the lead arm in other videos, so I'm not going to go in detail about it or how important it is to work with the lead arm, but we're going to get this guy to start working with the other drills. We're stacking things. We're making these drills progressive. We're adding new components to them.

                Still shifting our weight. Now, we're turning and we're using our hips to unwind. We're going to get our left arm to play nicely with this stuff. If you're left-handed, obviously going to be your right arm. Lead arm, I'm going to shift my weight, I'm going to turn to the top, and now I'm going to try and leave my arm up here. I don't need it. I don't even have a club. Forget golf for a second. Just leave it up here. I'm going to shift my weight back to the left, post up, and look where my hand is. I didn't try to move my hand down here at all. In fact, I tried to leave it up here.

                This is the key to understanding how you power the swing efficiently and how you get the club to come down on plane and how you get the club to come on path and how you get the club to square. All of these things that you struggle with your whole life, swinging over the top, et cetera, it's all fixed by doing these moves in this sequence.

                Shifting my weight back, shifting my weight through immediately shallows out my arm, and as I begin to unwind my hips, it immediately brings the club back out in front of me and gets this pivot point in my lead shoulder into a perfect impact position, stacked right past the ball. I didn't have to do anything. I didn't have to do anything with my arms at all, which is the whole key to the swing.

                As I go back, I'm loaded up on my right. I've made a nice full turn. The turn is what's transported my arm to the top. The weight-shift is what's giving me some momentum to start the turn. See the whole sequence here. Weight-shift first, then rotation. Weight-shift helps move the hips to the right to give them some momentum. The turn helps move the arm. Guess what's going to come next. Moving the golf club. Right. Golf club's going to get moved by all of these things in this sequence. That's the whole beauty of it.

                Now, shift back to the left. Didn't do anything with my arm. I'm going to post up. Look where my hand is, right where it's supposed to be. I didn't even have to move it. I'm not that coordinated to get it there by myself, but I'm pretty coordinated to be able to move these little, these pieces a very small amount. They don't have to move very far to get the club right back where we want.

                Shifting back or turning back, shifting to the right, shift to the left, turn my hip, impact. Boom. It's that simple. Again, it's the sequence that you work through these videos that's critical, so don't try to skip ahead, skip the weight-shift stuff, skip the rotation stuff. The rotation stuff is really the central absolute part of the golf swing. When this is done correctly, where the arms go is really easy.

                Next, I'm going to show you just some simple drills that we're going to add in here, so you don't have to listen to me ramble on here. We're just going to focus on the drills in the next video.

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Michael
I've rewatched this video AFTER watching several of the 'road Show" videos. The road show vids makes it look like the sequence is a little different. The road show vids make it look like the lead arm should be in front of the trail thigh after/at the post up and then release. This step 3 vid makes it look like the lead arm is at impact after/at post up. Confused!
May 24, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Michael. The hips will clear/post before you strike the ball. A lot of players under do the posting up, so sometimes we make sure they use the lower half before feeling the release in a sequenced drill. What you see in the road show. My mantra has always been to students shift/post/release. The word of caution is if you post up too soon you will fire the lag and release too early. Shifting will get the arms halfway down. Post and then let it go.
May 24, 2019
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Mikko-Pekka
Hello Graig! I have a question about my review. The reason my lead hand was too bend at top was that I tried to keep it as relaxed as possible. Should I keep my left arm straight manually (I feel tense when doing so) or what I should do? Now left arm feels dead to me when performing step 3.
April 8, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Mikko. I would manually just keep it a little straighter. It doesn't need to be locked out. What I am trying to delete is the need to overly straighten it during the downswing move. Take a look at Proper Muscle Activation. Alive, but not dead.
April 8, 2019
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James
How open should the hips be at impact? 30 degrees or so?
December 6, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Jay. Hips will be 30-45 degrees open at impact.
December 6, 2018
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Mikko-Pekka
Hello Graig! I have always wondered what is the main cause that some will get 30 degrees open and others 45? Is the mobility that causes it or something else? Body type?
April 6, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Mikko. Some is body types. Lack of internal hip mobility. But, most should be able to reach the 30-45 window which is plenty.
April 6, 2019
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Rich
In other videos there was extensive discussion by Chuck of the left arm leading to provide stability. Here, the arm is passive letting the weight shift and hip turn/post-up place it in to the hitting position. This leaves me confused as to when the left arm is used for stability or any other purpose. Or is it merely a difference in feeling from a somewhat more dynamic effect in the real swing vs this drill?
January 7, 2018
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Chuck
It's a feel and real. You're going to use the left arm more than you realize. Ideally, the feeling is the arm is relatively relaxed and passive, but no matter what, it is working to pull the club through no matter how relaxed you may feel.
January 8, 2018
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Rich
Thanks, that confirms the feeling I had last season. When I felt that leading pull, is when I hit my cleanest and best iron shots in particular.
January 10, 2018
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WILLIAM
A few weeks ago, I watched a video that really clicked. In that video Chuck described how the hands felt like they were dropping straight down from the top of the back swing. Can you help me find this video?
November 8, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello William. We have a ton of videos that deal with the transition. It is hard for me to isolate the exact one. How to Fix Plane and Path, Stop Coming Over the Top and Reshaping Your Swing For Lag would be my starting point to find. Could you tell if it was a newer video or older?
November 8, 2017
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WILLIAM
I believe it was a newer video. I'll check the Fix Plane and Path. I've already looked at the other two. It was one of Chuck's videos.
November 8, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello William. 2 Finger Release Drill, Drill to Learn Inside Path, How Swing Path Affects Compression, etc. Let me know if you remember anything else about the video.
November 8, 2017
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Ian
Having commenced "adding the left arm " I find I am still need a clarification on the feeling in the core movement . When I load the weight on to my trail heel in the backswing and then to the lead heel on the downswing the sensation is a heel to heel movement in a straight line laterally ( I realise in fact the rotation is happening ) and the trail foot rolls to the instep with weight evenly distributed front to back . If my weight is not mainly on the heel in the backswing I lose the straight line feeling and it results in the trail foot heel coming off the ground a couple on inches . Should I feel the heel to heel movement?
November 3, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ian. Using your feet and glutes are a good way to get the move down. It is your only connection to the ground and will provide you a lot of feedback.
November 6, 2017
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Ian
Hi Graig, Thanks for that . Just a follow up question . Is ia OK for the left heel to be an inch or two off the ground at impact?
November 6, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ian. If you are really trying to bomb one you might achieve some lift off of the lead foot. However, majority of shots lead heel should stay down.
November 6, 2017
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Ian
Sorry Craig -I meant to say right heel.
November 6, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ian. Same deal. Shouldn't lift unless you are trying for max yardage.
November 6, 2017
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Robert
I heard in this Video that one should initiate the swing with weight shift rather then rotation, is that correct?
August 5, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Robert. You may initiate the swing with weight shift or rotation. Weight shift is an easy way to get some momentum started and release some body tension. Therefore, more players chose to start with shift, than rotating. Neither would be incorrect though.
August 5, 2017
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Dylan
What does the lead wrist look like at the top of the backswing? Bowed, flat, or slightly cupped? I find my wrist naturally has a slight cup and if I try to manipulate it to flat there is pain and feels unnatural.
January 29, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Dylan. The lead wrist should be flat at the top of the backswing. If you have a slightly strong grip it may be causing the cupping. That will be okay as long as it isn't overly cupped or so strong it is manipulating the face in a bad way. Take a look at Using the Wrist Effectively and Efficiently.
January 29, 2017
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Douglas
One thing that really stood out to me in this video is that the left arm doesn't do anything in order to get to impact position.. just weight shift and core rotation. Is there literally no pulling from the left arm/shoulder? Also, does that imply the release is all from the left wrist and extension of the right arm?
January 12, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Douglas. Yes, you don't need to yank or pull really hard with the lead arm to reach impact. You do need to remain in control, but tone down the tension. Yes, the release is from the lead wrist (Arms vs. Body Release).
January 12, 2017
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T David
It seems from my swing analysis that I am leaving my arms behind, even though I am now shifting my weight. So, do we need to activate the muscles in the left arm, or slow down the downswing to get the core rotation to be in sync with the arms?
November 15, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Dave. Slowing down will help with the sync issues. But, it's more tension in your lead shoulder. It is a blend of pull and gravity. You need to take the "glue" factor out. Take a look at the Re-Shaping Your Swing for Lag Video. Don't worry too much about, but listen about the tension.
November 16, 2016
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david
I'm Having problems finding the "Re-Shaping Your Swing for Lag" video. Can you assist?
November 18, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello David. Try "Reshaping Your Swing for Lag." The hyphen was taken out of the title.
November 18, 2017
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T David
Thanks, Craug. I didn't quite understand the part about taking out the glue factor. Can you provide more details on what that means. I like the other video you suggested, It is very helpful.
November 16, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Dave. I'm referring to glue as don't glue your arm too tightly at the top in your shoulder joint. That you must remain tension free. Not stuck together.
November 16, 2016
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T David
Got it now. Thanks for the quick response, Craig.
November 16, 2016
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T David
Hey Craig - This advice about my lead shoulder really helped. I focused in on this with my round yesterday and my full swings... Driver, fairway woods an long irons were long in straight with keeping a soft left shoulder and wrists during the downswing. My short game needed some work, but I'm still encouraged on my full swing. I pulled 6 pars for the round, which is something that usually doesn't occur with my game. So, a big THANKS to you, Craig. I appreciate all your help and encouragement.
November 18, 2016
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john
Hi Craig and company: I have really been working hard on my takeaway using my rotation much better. My irons have been better and my driver, too, but I find I'm slicing with my driver and hitting some shots to the right with my irons, something I've never done. I have always swung from in to out and used my hands to try save certain shots. Now I'm not flipping but sometimes the face is left wide open. What am I doing wrong??
October 29, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello John. You might be a little under plane (Trace the Plane Line Video) and not releasing enough (Stop Slicing and Start Releasing/Fix Your Release Drill).
October 31, 2016
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john
Hi Craig: I now realize I was not releasing the club properly. I'm getting better at that, but now I'm hitting my driver, and only my driver, off the heel and top of the club face. It's a brand new driver and the same length as my last one. It's driving me crazy, pun intended. I hope you guys can help.
November 5, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello John. Make sure you aren't pushing in the tush line moving the heel closer and causing a little stand up motion. Chair Drill Video.
November 5, 2016
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hubert
Chris, Chuck, Craig, Guys words can't express how much I've learned from these 2 series (RST 5 Step Quick start system & Play the best golf of your life in 6 weeks) of golf instruction. They've really helped me with improvement of my golf swing and game. I'm really looking forward to the day when Chuck set-up a golf tournament of some type where all of his members from the site can meet him in person and thank him for founding this great way to teach the golf swing. I for one would like to meet him in person and shake his hand and, thank him for all his hard work over the years. Chris as I've met you in person and have thanked you I feel a personnel connection with you & you're not just someone I'm viewing on the web. It's on my bucket list to hopefully meet Chuck Q one day. Thanks again guys for all your HARDWORK & help with this great game. RST FOR LIFE!!!
June 11, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Hubert. You've met Chris. Bucket list is for Chuck. What about me? No, meet and greet? Thanks for the kind words and post. All of us truly appreciate the compliments and glad you find the system very helpful. Hopefully, one day you can get down to Orlando and take care of that bucket list.
June 13, 2016
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George
I'm a little confused. Craig has recommended this video series, as well as the frisbee drill for me. In this video, the lead arm is completely passive during the downswing and is delivered to impact first by weight shift and rotating the lower lead side, and then by posting up on the lead leg. I get that and it makes sense. So the frisbee drill seems to me to slightly disagree from this video in that the left arm is making a throwing motion down to the impact spot while the lower body is rotating and posting up. Or do I just throw a frisbee incorrectly and I should have the same passive feeling in my lead arm?
May 31, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hey Patterson. I think you might throw a frisbee incorrectly . Just kidding. In all seriousness, when throwing a frisbee you use the same principles. Weight, pull from the lead and then release the frisbee. The drill above is trying to re-enforce that you have to use some lead side pull to help bring the lead arm down. In both moves you still will be releasing the arms/hands into impact. Take a look at the Throw the Club Head at the Ball Video to see the similarities of the motion.
June 1, 2016
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David
Hi Craig, In this video Chuck show's that the left arm is brought down back into impact by virtue of hip rotation due to weight shift and posting up - two distinct step's if you like which blend together to form the downswing. On other video's this sequence has been done in three step's, one as a result of weight shift, a second one where the hand's are pulled down a bit more to the right thigh or delivery area and the third posting up for the club to release into impact. Could you clarify this 2 versus 3 step's and where the intentional pulling of the left arm occur's please.
May 11, 2016
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Chris (Certified RST Instructor)
Hi David, Chris here...you have to remember the lower body is making a very dynamic move from the top of the swing down. You are shifting and rotating the hips. This movement is bringing the arms down into the hitting area for the post up and release of the swing. In some videos, we chunk it up slowly (3 pieces) to try and focus on the lower body being the primary downward movement of the club. There is not really a difference per say, just a different way of communicating the lower body doing all the work to pull the arms down into the release point of the swing. Hope that helps.
May 11, 2016
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Greg
I have two questions. One, can you feel a stretch in your left lat as you do your initial lateral move to the left side? Two, should I resist the urge to fully cock my wrists at the top of the backswing so I can better feel the creation of lag in the downswing? Do I need to work on initiating the downswing before the backswing is completed? Sorry that was three questions.
May 1, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Greg. You can feel the left lat, but you shouldn't overly tense the pull down of the lead arm. The wrist won't be maxed out with wrist set at the top. Only requirement is the gradual setting from the full swing and still enough room to increase coming down. You can work on initiating first especially if you struggle with lag or commonly over swing. But, while beginning to get the drills down. No worry on pausing to learn the new motor patterns.
May 2, 2016
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Nils Arild
Fine explanation. In addition I like to see my left shoulder getting away from my chin again. Leaving it there spells disaster for me. Nils
April 30, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Thanks Nils for the compliments.
April 30, 2016
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