Right Arm Only Downswing Drill

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Once you've worked with the Throw the Ball Drill, you'll want to begin mastering this much more challenging drill and hitting balls with your new found club head speed.

  • The Right Arm Only Drill follows on the Throw the Ball Drill
  • Use a short club - a wedge, 7 or 8 iron
  • Start out slowly - too much speed is hard to control with one arm
  • Start with soft 50-60 yard shots & work up to 80% of your normal distance
  • It should still feel like the Throw the Ball Drill - the right shoulder feels like it stops
  • If you over-pull from the left, this drill may feel very right-side dominated


Now that we've done the throw the ball drill, now what we're going to do is actually take this out into the real world and hit balls with it.

And so when we pick up a golf club, you're going to start the right arm only drill with a golf club with a short iron.

You start with a wedge, seven, eight iron, something really short, we've got an eight iron here.

And this is to take that drill and put it into real world application.

There's a couple of things that you're going to feel that are different, but this is basically the exact same movement.

So go ahead and set up for me and go ahead and get to the top of your swing.

Obviously, we're doing this one arm only, so it's just your trailing arm.

If you're a lefty, it's your left arm.

For him, it's a right.

And now go ahead and make a practice swing and let everything go through.

Good.

Now, how does that feel compared to the throw the ball drill? Almost the exact same.

I mean, About the only difference is the weight of the club head and the kind of momentum of the club takes you all the way through.

Exactly.

So in the throw of the ball drill, you pretty much stopped at impact, which is great because that allows us to check whether or not we're neutral, whether or not we pushed off the right side, whether or not we spun our shoulders open, all those things.

But when the club's involved, That's how you get into a full follow-through position because the momentum continues to pull you around, but you're still feeling like you're trying to stop at impact basically, right? So do that again for me.

Good.

So, notice that he's in a good balanced position.

Everything's released.

He's on the left side.

So, this drill is basically the exact same thing, but it's a build upon of the throw of the ball drill.

So it's a continuation of what we just worked on so that you can actually go out and hit balls.

When you first do this, you're going to want to put a ball on a tee.

It's very, very hard.

And I'm going to show you a couple of really, really common faults that you're going to struggle with at first, especially if you're too left side dominant like Josh was.

So I'll just go ahead and set a ball up in here.

We won't actually hit this, but what I want to show is that the most common problem, go to the top, is for golfers to really keep shoving their right shoulder around.

So slowly come down to impact.

And if you kept pulling, notice that now the right shoulder's almost level with the ball.

It's too far forward, so the hands can't release, the club can't release.

And so at this point, he's going to top it.

And that's the most common problem.

So you've got to really make sure and now show where a proper impact position would be.

So now notice how his right shoulder stays back and it feels like, does it feel like your right shoulder, I should ask you, does it feel like it stops? It feels like it does.

It feels like it does.

It doesn't, but it comes very close, just like how the hips really decelerate to let everything else snap through in the right sequence.

The right shoulder practically feels like it stops and for all intents and purposes, that's a good feeling.

So, but the difference, it's a big difference between continuing to pull and that right shoulder gets stuck out in the way.

And now the club is jammed up here and it can't release.

And if it does, it's going to happen very late, but most likely you're going to top it, especially when you use the right arm only.

The other thing, go to the top again, is that when you try and swing really, really hard, Not only are you most likely to really pull really hard from the left and end up getting back where you're topping it again, but because the weight of the club adds a lot to it, the left arm is really, really helpful for helping support the club and swing it on plane and all these things.

I'll take this away.

If you try and swing really hard, Josh, go ahead and try and swing really, really hard.

It's really hard to control.

And so everything's kind of out of sequence.

So the goal of this drill at first is just to teach you how to take the right, the throw the ball drill and put it into real world application, hitting soft shots, 50, 60, 70 yards, and then to slowly build in sequencing, Which is going to feel very different that if you're used to just ripping your shoulders around and spinning your hips out, and then as you get better with this, you should be able to hit it at about 80, 85% of your normal distance.

But you have to learn the sequence first.

So just swinging really hard at first, you went right back and drilled tendencies, which is to really rotate everything really hard from the left side, and so the club and arms are stuck.

So everything releases late.

So this drill is going to help you a ton, but like I said, start out with the ball on a tee and then slowly work up to hitting shots, but you are going to feel the things that Josh described.

He feels that he's still doing the throw the ball drill.

It feels like his right shoulder stops.

What do your hips feel when you do the drill? When I'm doing the drill? The hips feel like they're really starting to slow down too.

It's like I don't pull the same way I used to where I just kept going and going and going.

Exactly.

So you're going to feel a lot of different things, but this is going to, if you struggle with this, of course, if you don't, great.

For most people, I think that you're going to find that.

You really tend to pull too much from the left side and you keep rotating and nothing gets to release in the kinetic chain, And this is going to help you pick up a lot of club head speed and start to get that right arm to actively work.

And as I said in the earlier video, it's not that the left side's not working.

Trust me.

It is doing a ton of work.

You're just not going to feel it as much because it's already something that's ingrained in your brain.

You already know how to do it.

Your brain doesn't have to think about it.

So it's doing it.

It's doing the work, but we need to get the right side to more actively participate.

And so for a lot of you, you're going to feel like you go to the opposite extreme, that it's all right sided.

As long as you look at it on film and you've pulled yourself over from the left side and your hips are 40 degrees, 45 degrees open, that's perfect because momentum is going to continue to pull your hips on around.

Once you get to the top, you may feel like you don't move your hips at all.

Perfectly okay.

If you feel like your shoulders don't move at all, check it on film or have your instructor look at it.

It's very, Very likely that everything's still moving and this will help a ton for picking up club head speed and building the synchronization into your swing.

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Stefan
Hi Craig, In your last review you advised me to do some right arm only swings to get a better sequence and more lag. Should I also hit balls like you suggest in this video (although unfortunately it is not shown)?
November 1, 2023
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Stephan. I think it would help to hit some with the trail hand hitting the checkpoints. That way you can feel the proper speed delivery/release point.
November 2, 2023
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GC
also right wrist does very little, the only upper right side that's working is the arm. Shoulder is reactive (quiet), wrists are reactive (quiet) - only the arm is really controlling?
January 9, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello GC. The shoulder should be quiet, wrists soft and it will feel more like throwing a ball with the arm.
January 10, 2018
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GC
whenever I use my right arm and right hand one handed or two handed...the launch angle just goes up immediately. I find the left hand helps to compress, but the right hand keeps increasing the launch angle significantly. How to solve this?
January 9, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello GC. That usually means you are over using it and the lead wrist is breaking down because of the overuse.
January 10, 2018
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Brian
Hi, I have a problem with a double cock on my first move down from the top, I lose width in my right arm as it comes in towards me. Sort of Sergio look but this gets me trapped and loss of power? Anything you can suggest? Many thanks Brian
January 6, 2018
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Brian. Work on both arms with the How Swing Speed Affects Compression Video.
January 7, 2018
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Brian
Excellent! Many thanks Craig.
January 8, 2018
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Donald
When Chuck's student is doing this drill is he consciously attempting to hold the angle of his right wrist through the release of the club? My challenge is that I tend to let my right hand take over, the wrist releases, and I scoop the ball. So should I consciously be holding the right wrist angle and, if so, for how long. Thanks much!
September 26, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Donald. Compare it to the throw the ball drill. If you tend to throw the ball or club early it will bottom out too soon. For early casters you will need to feel you maintain it (the wrist angle) longer at least until you reach the trail thigh with the club parallel to the ground. Take a look at How Swing Speed Affects Compression.
September 26, 2017
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Donald
Why does Chuck not mention the "squat to square" move in this video. If I am to incorporate the "right arm only downswing drill" into my full swing shouldn't I be incorporating the "squat to square" move? FYI, I have had a couple of sessions at the range where I keyed off the throw the ball drill and found magic, really hitting the ball great. However, my excitement waned when the next time I hit balls I struggled. Having been a long time hip spinner, this is a nasty habit to break! FYI, my name is Donald, not Donal.
April 17, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Donald. This video was filmed prior to coining the phrase "squat to square." And, is geared more towards players that get stuck and have a hard time getting rid of lag. Squat to Square and the Chair Drill will help with the hip spinning.
April 17, 2017
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charles
I am practicing the drill with a pitching wedge on a golf mat with no ball. When it feels right, I notice my club strikes the mat about 2 inches to the right of where my belt buckle is at address (I am right-handed). It this ok? Or where should it strike the mat? Also, the path at mat impact is a little in to out. Is that ok? or should it be down the line?
April 19, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Charles. It can tend to be a little in to out. Naturally using the trail hand will cause the club to bottom out sooner. Try to get it to bottom out a little more at the strike.
April 19, 2016
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Chan
How do you know if you are overpulling from the left?
March 9, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Chan. A few different factors can occur. 1) Too much lag and not enough time to get rid of it. 2) Coming under the plane. 3) The shoulders start to bail out early due to yanking the arm down to quickly messing with the ground up sequence. Also, take a look at the video How Lag Affects Your Club Path.
March 9, 2016
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Gary
Hello, when I do this drill I'm hitting a lot of pulls and/or hooks. Does that mean my shoulders are still open too much?
September 2, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hell Gary. It could mean that you are controlling the release or the squaring of the face too much with the trail arm and hand. Take a look at the Golf Swing Release Drill.
September 2, 2015
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Jennifer
Hey guys this is Brent, just seen this on my moms computer and found it very interesting. I play college golf and tend to get stuck sometimes just like this guy. However ive been told by a teacher in the past to "feel" like my arms drop before my lower body starts to get out of it. And it works for a while, but then i start getting too much upper body and not enough lower. Then i go back to feeling like I turn more/pull from my left side more and start hitting it great again. Haha I know right? its annoying. but based on what this video talks about, wouldn't it be better if I trained both at the same time? Instead of going back and forth between feelings, it makes sense to me that i should work on pulling from my left leg/hip/obliique, into my left side, without pushing off my right, as i fire my right arm and shoulder down at the ball right? And obviously staying in my spine angle as i do it. Sorry this is alot but i've got one more thing. Once i have got the correct feeling, would it be a good way to add the slingshot move in there also? And use it as a way to time impact by straightening my left leg and feeling like i drive the left heel into the ground at the same time i release my right arm and fire my right shoulder down at the ball and toward the target? Thanks for your time and would greatly appreciate your opinion.
August 14, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Brent. I agree with you that the swing sequence should still start form the ground up. However, getting stuck sometimes isn't just due to vertical drop. The key would be to understand why you get stuck. Do you get stuck because of lower body spin? I would slow the hips a little with the Belt Buckle Drill. Also, if you push too hard from the trail side you are getting too much secondary axis tilt (Level Shoulders Drill). Without seeing your swing it could be tough to figure out the culprit. I wouldn't worry too much about the slingshot until you cure the stuck issue. Overall, I would work on keeping the body a little more passive. Shift, pull and release. Start working on the Re-Shaping Your Swing for Lag. Get the feel of a more effortless downswing without the body getting in the way. If you struggle when adding pace. I would combine with the feeling of the Belt Buckle Drill and Level Shoulders Drill.
August 15, 2015
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David
Hi, I am working on trying to get my right shoulder to stop, so I can get my right elbow in front of my right thigh before releasing the club. In slow motion it is easy, but for some reason, at speed I never seem to allow my hands to get far enough forward before I release my lag. Any specific thoughts on a good drill to focus on? (I have been using the right arm throw, and right arm only drills, together with the other downswing drills) It feels like I just need one key swing thought to break through. Any suggestions? Thanks!!
September 17, 2014
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello David. Try taking a look at the Sledgehammer Video in the Downswing Advanced Section.
September 18, 2014
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Wendi
I'd like to purchase a small rotary connect, when will they be ready for purchase? Thanks, Wendi
July 24, 2014
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Wendi. Rotary Connects are one size fits all. I know it says medium on the page. But it adjust from small to large.
July 24, 2014
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Greg
When Josh does the correct swing and the right shoulder stays back there appears to be minimal shaft lean at impact in fact it would appear if struck the ball would be hit high. Is this correct and does the delofting that occurs come from the release and not forward shaft lean?
June 28, 2014
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
This drill is for people that over do pulling from the left and end up having too much they can't get rid of. The de-lofting will be a combo of shaft lean and proper release.
June 29, 2014

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