How to Coil Around the Trail Leg

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As we move into full swings, learning how to coil around the trail leg is vital for effortless speed so you begin to feel the arms and club snap rather than being pushed through.


As we move into full swings, the way that you coil around your trail leg is everything.

You do not want to use your arms by pushing them or extending them or trying to push your body through.

You want to learn how to coil and use the fascial system in your body so that you feel effortless.

And what I mean by that is you don't want to feel that you're trying to move muscles to generate power.

The golf swing, when done correctly, truly does feel effortless.

And the way that you do this next move will determine whether or not you ever get to experience that feeling in your swing.

What it is, essentially, is that you are trying to twist and coil around like a spring on this trail leg.

So the more that you coil around this, the more it's going to naturally want to unwind.

The problem is most golfers start to pick the club up during the takeaway.

They use their arms, they use their hands, they use their shoulders.

And once this stuff gets activated, you're done.

And I'm going to show you a trick in the next part of this video that's going to show you how to get your arms to finally relax so they can snap.

So your wrist can snap through the ball instead of you pushing the club through the ball.

So the first thing is understanding how to coil and understanding the key of how to do it at the right speed.

So first, the coil.

So again, as I was talking about, If you were thinking like you were a pitcher in baseball and you were just kicking your lead leg back to coil around this leg as much as you could to twist it, that would give you a proper feeling of the coil.

But, of course, in the golf swing, we don't get to do that.

So what you want to feel is actually drop your foot back.

So I'm going to do this from down the line.

Drop your foot back to kind of give you an open stance.

This will force your body to stretch more because I want you to really get a good feel for what this coil is.

So I'm going to keep my lead foot back.

And I'm going to start just turning around this right leg as much as I can.

My core, my whole body is turning as much as I can.

I want you to feel everything stretching in a spiral fashion around this leg.

You should really feel it in your glute.

Now, this is key.

If I twist like this and I do it very quickly, what's going to want to happen?

I'm going to want to spring back the other way.

And that's the key.

And the trick to doing this is you have to do it fast, immediately off the ball.

I'm going to talk about the takeaway in just a second.

But you need to do this quickly.

Don't go and slowly shift over and slowly start turn.

If you do that, the fascia does not work like that.

The fascia has to be loaded very quickly and then it'll only hold that stretched energy for just a second.

Think of it like a piece of bubble gum.

As you pull a piece of bubble gum apart, if you pull it back really quick and let go of it, it'll spring back.

But if you just pull it real slow, it'll just get really thin and it won't have any elastic energy left in it.

And the fascia works in the same way.

So as you go back, get really quick and load into it and then let it unload you.

That is the next key.

If you don't load this fast and you don't have that fascial spring to unwind you, you're going to be forced to then use muscular energy.

And that's going to almost always move your head in front of the ball and cause you to stand up and lose your posture.

But when you coil into it and let it go, you naturally get back into the squatted position.

That's where your body is going to start to unwind.

I'm not trying to use my muscles to try and get myself to this position.

I'm letting that stretched fascia unwind me right back to this squatted position.

That's what you want to feel.

So get a feel for doing this quick and then letting it unwind you.

As you do this, you should go down.

You're going to feel yourself coiling.

And then as you start to shift your pressure back, your pelvis is going to recenter.

As you do that, your head is going to go down.

You're going to get into the squatted position.

But of course, you're not going to stay there.

You would keep moving through in the full swing.

Now, the key to getting this to work is that, A, you've got to move quick.

So your first move, off the ball, lateral shift to start to shift pressure over here.

And then load and coil around as much as you can.

And then let it go.

As much as you need to for this shot.

Obviously, on a wedge shot, that's why I didn't talk about it in the 80-yard shots.

Because they're such a small shot, you're not going to use your legs that much, that right leg coil.

But as we move into the full swing, you must use it.

It's so important.

So shift laterally and coil.

And obviously, the more that you keep this foot down, that's why I had you drop your foot back at the beginning.

The more you keep this heel down, the more quickly you're going to feel this stretch.

Now, if you're going for a really big swing, it's okay to let the heel come up.

If you're going to really try and nuke a driver, you're just going to turn more.

And it's going to take longer for you to feel that tightness, that coiling action in that hip, glute, and leg.

So that's why it's important to practice with kind of leaving this open so that you can feel this stretch right through here in a twisting fashion, spiraling up that leg.

That's what you want to feel.

Now, once you've got a feel for shifting laterally, and again, this goes right back to that waggle drill with the kettlebell that I was talking about, where you kind of swing it forward and then you kind of use your whole body to heave that kettlebell back.

And then you're re-centering back here and then using your body to swing that kettlebell through.

Your arms are not muscling that.

That's not the point.

That's why you use a heavy kettlebell to force you to learn to get your arms to swing.

That's what you want to feel as you're doing this with your golf club.

Because the golf club is so light and because everybody tends to kind of use their arms and pick the club up, it kills this entire fascial load.

So I'm going to give you a simple little drill that's going to help you feel this.

All you need to do is take your trail hand only, put the club on your shoulder, and relax your arm just like this.

Now, what I want you to feel as you swing, as you coil back, you're going to feel that your arm is doing nothing, including in the downswing.

You do not want to extend your arm at all.

You actually want to try to keep your arm close to your body and let your wrist supinate.

And it's going to do this for you.

You're going to feel this because I'm not wanting you to use your arm at all.

Your arm is dead.

Shoulder's dead.

Nothing's happening here.

But as you begin to uncoil, what's the club going to It's going to supinate.

Your wrist is going to supinate and the club is going to sling out in front of you without you doing anything.

That's the trick to feeling effortless.

The moment you pick your arms up from your shoulders and start extending from your tricep, the swing's done.

It's going to be all muscular effort and you're never going to have that effortless whipping feel where your club and wrists snap through the ball.

But this will give you the feeling of it, of turning, coiling back.

My arms did nothing.

Now, watch again.

You can hear a little whoosh there.

I'm literally not doing anything with my arms.

The club, as I begin to uncoil this hip and let my wrist supinate, the club is snapping my arms straight.

It's pulling my arms straight.

I am not pushing my arms straight.

That is a massive distinction.

So get a feel for doing this quickly and you'll feel the club just whip right off your shoulder.

And now I've got all the speed in the world, but I'm literally doing nothing.

I'm just letting my wrist do this.

Obviously, if I didn't move my hand, it would just look like a helicopter, right?

But as I start to increase my spine angle, my arm starts dropping down.

My wrist is no longer at this angle.

It's now at this angle.

And that's what brings it all the way back down.

As you get a feel for this, you can do it with both hands too.

Just relax both arms and hands.

Coil back.

Through.

Coil back.

My arms are dead.

I'm not trying to move them, but yet you can hear the speed that I have in my swing.

Now, in the real swing, it's much more dynamic, right?

Because we're not obviously just starting with our arms frozen like this.

So in the real swing, what I want to feel is that my arms kind of wait and they get, they kind of, I feel like I'm heaving them back just like I did with the waggle and the kettlebell drill.

And then as I start down, my arms don't kind of finish setting until I'm already starting to recenter and my, that coil on my right leg is starting to uncoil and then my arms get whipped down.

So it's a little bit more dynamic than that, but you'll get a feel for this.

Don't try to pick your arms and club up.

Try to shift your pressure to your trail leg so that you've got some, some weight over there and then coil around it and that will get your arms going.

So I really like to feel that this happens really fast.

I'm trying to really coil to rip my right arm back, but my arm right now is truly getting moved by my pelvis coiling into this right hip socket and my arms are just along for the ride.

When you get that feeling, that is the best feeling in the world because as you start down, all of this fascia then dynamically stretches in the downswing and then your arms just rip and snap through.

And that is what the goat code is all about.

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Geoffrey
As you move back you show a very relaxed arm structure (it looks like you leave the clubhead behind your hands then it whips back), yet in previous videos you talk about maintaining arm structure (the hub and spoke analogy). I'm struggling to be very relaxed on the backswing yet keeping width/structure. How to reconcile?
May 14, 2025
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Geoffrey. You don't want to see a dragging back of the handle in a normal swing. This is to get the feeling of the core winding to move the club. It's great for training, but as your rep more the movement will get more precise to the hub/spoke.
May 14, 2025
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Geoffrey
I've always struggled with trying to "position" my club in the backswing and have lacked a more relaxed takeaway. I'm just struggling with staying relaxed yet getting into the correct position. Do I simply turn the brain off and focus on moving the core? If so, it then leads to the question about how to maintain strucuture and be relaxed? I'm thinking just focus on the core and let it happen... Thanks!
May 14, 2025
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Geoffrey. That's why we start with the short game. You build structure feeling how the core moves the arm and the necessary grip pressure. But, for now reading your notes. Focus on the core. If you don't turn/coil you won't have the ability to fix the arm position. As you start controlling the swing by coiling/turning the arms will be able to relax more and you can focus on keeping them a bit more structured.
May 14, 2025
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Geoffrey
Been doing the drills and have steadily improved with ball flight and roll. Just rewatched the video. Had an a-ha moment. Feels like throwing a ball from the outfield into the infield trying to get a runner. Very quick, full and relaxed windup where torque moves the arm/hand back naturally. Thanks for the feedback, very helpful.
May 14, 2025
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Exactly. Give it the Bo Jackson move
May 14, 2025
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Thomas
Hi Chuck, thank you for all these great videos I'm really learning a lot. I didn't realize how important this one is until Craig pointed out that I'm not coiling around my trail leg which was leading to me picking my arms up in the second half of the back swing. When working on this and trying to coil and stretch more, it feels natural to me to straighten and even lock the trail leg. However I read that this is not a good thing to do, and I see that you and Tiger don't fully straighten your leg. Is it important to not fully straighten, and if so why? Or is it more of just whatever feels comfortable as long as you are fully coiling? Thanks.
April 13, 2025
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Thanks Thomas. If you lock out the leg you can put some wear and tear on the knee especially since it has to rebound in the transition.
April 13, 2025
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Gary
Chuck, is there an adduction of the trail elbow/humerus) across the chest in the start of the downswing? Thank you.
March 14, 2025
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Chuck
It comes into the body yes, but not something that is a very active movement
March 14, 2025
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philip
I have a question on timing. In other videos, you say the takeaway should be core-driven with both arms supinated, that the hands should move slightly inside, that the clubhead should stay outside of hands, and that, once the club gets about parallel to the ground, the backswing is just a hinge up and then lifting the arms. (At least, that’s what I think you say.) This has helped me get away from my bad habit of pronating my arms while rotating my hips and snatching the club inside. Assuming I understand the takeaway correctly, when does the twisting and coiling around the right leg start: toward the end of the takeaway or from the initiation of the takeaway. If the latter, I’m concerned it will lead me back into the wilderness of snatching the club inside.
February 27, 2025
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Chuck
You load into the trail leg or at least begin this process before the club even moves. Then the coiling process begins I have a video coming out on the back swing later this week that will get into this more in depth
February 27, 2025
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philip
I love the backswing video, but I am still confused on timing. Should the takeaway feel like it is complete or almost complete before the side bend and spine extension takes place? Or does it all blend together? As I mentioned, my concern is that the earlier I start the loading/twisting (especially since we are supposed to do it quickly to stretch/load the fascia), the more likely I am to revert to my habit of snatching the club inside in the takeaway.
February 28, 2025
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Chuck
The sidebend is happening basically right away but it is all blended together. If you practice with your shadow like I show in the video that will be the easiest way to get the timing
March 1, 2025
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Nathan
Hey just want to give a shout out to Anthony for my recent review. I finally felt like I had a few light bulb moments from out about not using my arms. Was hitting my 8 iron 155m yesterday at golf which felt amazing. Also learning to coil into the trail leg. Just want to see if I’m doing it correctly. I’ve posted a video and just would like to know if I’m moving to laterally trying to coil. Shout out to you to Chuck for this group and content. Really starting to feel like I’m understanding the swing and will finally find the missing pieces.

February 2, 2025
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Anthony (Certified RST Instructor)
Hey Nathan, I do see a little more lateral movement than coil in the trail leg, but it is looking good. Very excited for you that light bulb moments are happening more frequently my friend
February 3, 2025
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Todd
I found the answer under webinar.
January 30, 2025
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Todd
When do you stop Supinating on the down swing and start pronating?? there is so much timing involved that this would be a day to day or shot to shot success? the speed in the wrist , body , arms and hands will be very difficult to time every time.?
January 29, 2025
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Chuck
That’s not how it works at all. You are not trying to actively supinate the wrist with force.
January 29, 2025
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Craig
Hi Chuck I really struggle with rotation, especially in my hips: am I trying to get my right rear trouser pocket (butt cheek) rotate and face the target? Thanks
January 26, 2025
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Chuck
The right butt cheek will start to face more toward the target, but you gotta keep in mind that the hips need to work as a unit which means that you’re not just loading up the right hip, but the left hip must be loaded in the back swing as well
January 26, 2025
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Matt
Hi Chuck- I think this is a pretty good drill to focus on the uncoiling around the right leg. One question I do have is I find it pretty hard to get club to bottom out and hit the ground where the ball would be. I either completely miss the ground or I maybe graze it quite far ahead of the ball. I know you mentioned in a previous comment on this video to a user where they were extending their right arm too quick. Is there a point where you feel that right arm to extend or is it all supination and dropping your head with the uncoiling that should eventually just make that work automagically?
January 3, 2025
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Chuck
You never want to try and extend your right arm. It will be extended for you by the club if you try and extend it, you’ll never get the club to bottom out and the correct spot over and over.
January 4, 2025
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Matt
So if I am consistently not hitting the ground or just brushing it way in front of where the ball is, does that mean my shoulders are taking over too much instead of letting the leg uncoil?
January 4, 2025
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Chuck
I'd have to see it to no for sure, could be arms, could be shoulders, could be driving off trail leg laterally too much
January 4, 2025
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Matt
Here are a couple. The second swing I actually hit the ground but first and third I didn't.

January 4, 2025
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Chuck
The first thing to focus on is snapping your left knee straight notice how it’s still bent and as it’s bent, you’re going to continue to move down and laterally instead of back up and back away from the target as you snapped the left knee straight, it will push the hip back, which will spin the hips and help move the bottom of the swing arc further forward
January 5, 2025
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Matt
I was solely focusing on coiling around my right leg, do I need almost feel like after i unwind i need to snap that leg faster?
January 5, 2025
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Chuck
That can do it, but either way you still have to understand that the left leg must push back and this will be very easy to do when you stay back on the right foot by keeping weight off the lead side the left leg should snap back, but not everybody does this Naturally so for some they have to be trained how to do it specifically
January 5, 2025
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Carver
sorry not the RSA section but pully exercise is in GOAT drill.
January 1, 2025
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Carver
Chuck, this is probably the right place to ask this question. In the 2nd video on technique in the RSA series you illustrate the correct way to use the pully machine in the gym. I did this today correctly with cable off left shoulder and was shocked to see how different it feels to pull down so cable does not get wrapped around the neck. i had not been doing this in my swing. But trying the correct down swing move with the club i tend to hit a little behind the ball. Now with this video it emphasizes dead arms as the trail hip unwinds. Am I likely not shifting forward fast enough if still hitting a bit behind? Hope this question makes sense.
January 1, 2025
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Chuck
Hey Carver, this is almost always caused by overuse of the arms or casting the club - they go hand in hand most times. Your core and trail leg need to unwind the arms and pull the arms down. If you try and yank the arms down by themselves all your momentum will be pulling you backward. Let your core and trail leg unwind you to ensure you get your pressure back forward.
January 2, 2025
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Reed
Excuse the quality and angle….its off my ring camera and zoomed in…
December 31, 2024
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Chuck
I don’t see a file here. Make sure you wait for it to fully upload before clicking submit.
December 31, 2024
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Reed

December 31, 2024
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Chuck
So these are really close, you uncoil pretty well, just don't add extending the right arm to it - let the club extend your arm for you as it's actually faster and requires less effort. You want your wrists to be able to snap at the ball and by extending the right arm you force the release to both slow down and happen a little too late.
January 2, 2025
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Reed
I'll try that! Thanks Chuck!
January 3, 2025
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Reed
December 31, 2024
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Matt
Hi Chuck- I know you mentioned that you didn't talk about this in the 80 yard wedge shot because you don't necessarily need to feel the quick coil on the right leg, but for people who struggle with early extension or flipping, would we still want to feel this coil at some smaller level to we don't activate our arms to much even on these wedge shots?
December 31, 2024
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Chuck
Yes
December 31, 2024
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Matt
Expanding on this for wedge shots is it more that stay more centered and just coil around right leg immediately and not shift laterally to the right much or you still do that kind of shift. Just trying to understand in my simple head...lol
December 31, 2024
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Chuck
You still wanna make a small shift to the right even on the shorter wedge shots because it provides initial momentum to start moving the club back so you don’t pick it up with your arms
December 31, 2024
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Dennis
Happy to be the 1st commenter on this vid! This makes it more natural to get into the bswing spiral w/ the quick body motion that propels the arms! I was focusing on the arms 1st and like you say in the vid, that kills the body coil. Can't wait to try this in the sim! BTW, love the drill with the club resting on the shoulder! BTW, could you post the most recent additions to the Goat Code on the "Welcome to the Goat Code" page ? I am always scanning the outline of vids for something I haven't seen but if the opening page had a "Recently added: 4.15 How to Coil around the Trail Leg" it would make it a whole lot easier!
December 29, 2024
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Chuck
Ya Dennis, we have been discussing how to best present new videos and are working on a solution to it.
December 29, 2024

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