Trail Arm Positioning in Golf Swing for Improved Ball Striking

If you want to improve your ball striking in golf, it is very important to understand the positioning of the trail arm in the golf swing. We will walk you through some very useful methods that will help your swing mechanics, resulting in better shots and an overall improved game in the course.

The Importance of Controlling Low Point

Managing the lowest point of your swing is indeed the most important thing to do to hit the ball well on the green. The low point is the farthest point of the club during the swing, which is ideally at the lowest position just after the ball when hitting down on it. If you have difficulty doing this, you may experience hitting fat or thin shots.

The following pieces of advice will definitely assist you in overcoming your weak links:

• Focus on your weight transfer. Ensure you're shifting your weight to your lead foot during the downswing. This should start happening in the backswing.
• Practice your swing path. A proper path will help you maintain the correct low point.
• Drills can be helpful. Try placing a tee in the ground about 2-3 inches behind the ball and aim to strike it without hitting the tee.

In the image below the golfer on the left is in a good position. Their hands are in front of the trail thigh at club parallel in the downswing. 

The golfer on the right has their hands behind the trail thigh. This can cause fat and thin shots. You end up making compensations basically because you are out of position and sequence.

Common Issues with Backswings

A backswing is very commonly faced by many golfers as it often leads to poor impact or delivery positions. One widely experienced problem is the absence of width during the backswing. The arms are too close to the body, which can create a positional challenge affecting the downswing.

Shooting irregularly may be a direct result of losing control and timing. For instance, here are the steps that can be taken to fix them:

• Work on creating width by extending your arms during the backswing.
• Don't be afraid of putting some energy into the club early. Forget about going slow and low.
• It may seem trivial... but a good setup is also important for good arm structure.

Creating Width in the Backswing

In order to generate power and keep control, it is important to create width in your backswing. Backswing that is wide will let your arm move more and this will double the speed of the clubhead.

To create width, consider these exercises:

• Practice with one hand. Take your club with just your trail hand and make a backswing. Feel how the club extends away from your body. Point the butt of the club behind you.
• Keep your trail arm with more than 90° bend. This means keeping it straighter.
• Incorporate drills that emphasize arm extension. Stretching your arms out during practice can help reinforce this concept.

Focus on Trail Arm Positioning

In golf swing, the way you place your trail arm does matter a lot as it has physical aspect to it. A slip or misaligned trail arm will make it really hard for you to hold the racket as well as the correct angle that is needed for your shot to be more powerful.

The trail arm during the top of the backswing must be a little bit bent so that the player can maintain better control of the transition to the downswing. The following steps will help you to make sure your trail arm is in the correct position:

• Don't keep your trail elbow pinned to your body. This will only make you fold it more.
• Allow the clubface to open during the backswing with good wrist conditions.
• Practice feeling the weight of the club move during the swing. 

The Role of Trail Wrist

Your trail wrist is also instrumental in achieving a powerful and consistent golf swing. It helps maintain the right angles and positions that lead to solid contact with the ball. 

There should be a wrist hinge in your trail wrist at the top of your backswing. This position allows for a more natural transition in the backswing and helps avoid arms collapse.

• Ensure your trail wrist is angled correctly.
• Practice feeling the weight of the club in your trail hand only. This encourages a natural hinge of your trail wrist.

Using Lead Arm for Better Positioning

The importance of the lead arm equals the importance of the trail arm in making a balanced and effective swing. Disposing a lead arm in the right way can be a big help for you in reaching the width required for a downswing that's good enough. What you should focus on is creating space and keeping proper form during the full swing.

These recommendations will help you position your lead arm better:

• Focus on extending your lead arm away from your body during the backswing. This creates width and room for your body to rotate.
• Keep your lead shoulder down as you lift your arm. This will help maintain the correct angles.
• Think about keeping your hands up and wide away from your head. This helps you avoid collapsing your arm structure.

The Domino Effect of Proper Technique

As you adjust your trail arm and lead arm positioning, you might be surprised to see a domino effect of other changes in your swing. Mastery of these techniques can cause your body to rotate better, help you gain control over your low point, and thus, let you strike the ball in a more steady manner.

In the process of focusing more on the technical aspects of your swing, the following are the things that you might go through:

• Better sequencing between your backswing and downswing.
• Increased body engagement during the downswing, leading to more power.
• Improved face control and loft at impact.

Final Thoughts on Impact and Technique

Trail arm positioning in golf swing is one of the essential keys to the success of consistent impact and, in turn, your overall technique. If you concentrate on your wrist and arm positions, you could swing a lot better and, consequently, improve your results on the course.

Don't forget that the way to change is to practice and be conscious. Working on your mechanics for some time will help you to see the improvements in your game. Making just a few changes can allow you to perform much better.

FAQ: Trail Arm Positioning in Golf Swing

Here are the questions that are usually asked about the position of the trail arm in a golf swing.

• Why is trail arm positioning important? Proper trail arm positioning helps maintain control and creates the right angles for a powerful shot.
• What common mistakes should I avoid? Avoid tucking your trail arm too close to your body and ensure it remains slightly bent at the top of your backswing. It should be wider than 90°.
• How can I practice my trail arm positioning? Use drills that focus on your trail arm's movement, such as one-handed swings or using alignment sticks for guidance.