How important is a straight left arm in golf?
Emily Ross
Published Jan 21, 2026
Why Keep Your Left Arm Straight? Although it isn't the dominant arm for right-handed players, the left arm is vital to the golf swing. It largely determines the spacing and arc of your golf swing, it helps control the clubface and ensures power through impact.
Is it important to keep your left arm straight in the golf swing?
The reason players are encouraged to keep their left arm as straight as possible through their golf swing is to create as much width as possible during the takeaway and backswing. You should try and make the biggest arc possible with your club, as this will generate the most speed and consistency in your golf swing.
Which arm is most important in golf swing?
Overview. For right-handed golfers, the left arm is one of the most important aspects of the golf swing. The left arm determines the swing arc for a shot and helps release and rotate the wrists and club on the downswing.
Should left arm be straight at address?
When you address the golf ball your left arm should be straight. You do not want to lock it tightly and tensely, but you do want to achieve a fully extended position with your left arm. Your address position is basically the position that you are wanting to get back into when you strike the ball.
How do I strengthen my left arm in my golf swing?
Hold the squeezed position for two seconds and slowly release during a four-second count. Slowly release the contraction and repeat for up to two sets of ten repetitions. A second helpful exercise for keeping a straight, firm left arm during the swing is a “Downward Arm Pull”.
15 related questions foundShould right arm be tucked in golf swing?
Should the right arm be tucked in the golf swing? Yes, the right arm plays a different role than the left. On the backswing, the right arm and elbow should stay relatively close to your body. On the downswing, the right arm should tuck so that you can shallow the golf club.
Should elbows be tucked in golf swing?
Your right elbow should be consistently tucked throughout the backswing and downswing, because that arm position will help you trace the proper swing path with the club. If you let the right elbow get away from your body early in the swing before trying to recover later on, it will be too late.
Should you pull down with left arm in golf swing?
Golfers who can play the game every day and who start off by having exceptional control of their body action—which the average golfer doesn't—can inaugurate the downswing with their hips. For the average player, though, the best way to launch the downswing is to pull down with your left arm.
Which hand leads the downswing in golf?
indeed, the world's longest hitters lead with the left. The best way to feel the proper start of the downswing is to imagine that your right arm is being pulled by the left for as long as possible.
Is the golf swing a push or a pull?
While we have gone to great lengths in this chapter to emphasize the pulling motion desired to create centered rotation, it should be noted that this is not the only force that is going on. In fact, technically speaking, it is a "push-pull" throughout the golf swing.
What body part should start the golf swing?
The golf swing starts from the ground up. Even as the upper body and arms are still going back, the lower body is starting the downswing. Putting pressure into the lead foot early in the transition is a big key to setting up the rest of the downswing.
Should right arm be straight at address?
Ideally, you want your right arm to be down near your side, with your right elbow pointing down at the ground. If you were to have started with a straight right arm at address, you would have to do more work in order to find the correct spot at the top of your swing.
How close should arms be in golf?
The Perfect Arm Position at Address
Your hands should hang between your feet, about level with your toes, and in front of the zipper on your trousers (which moved towards the target when you shifted your hips to tilt your spine) — see Figures 1 and 4.
Where should your elbows be in the golf swing?
You want your elbow to move freely during the backswing to increase power, and you want it tucked during your downswing to hit it straight at your target. To do this is simple, all you must do is tuck your elbow right in front of your rib cage as you swing through the ball.
How do you keep your left arm straight through the impact?
Some golfers struggle to keep their left arm straight during the takeaway. A good thought is to push your left arm away from the ball by rotating your shoulders and trunk with your left shoulder working down and under your chin.
How do you keep your left arm straight in follow through?
One drill to practice keeping the arm relatively straight is to grip the club with the left hand, then hold the left wrist with the right hand. Begin the takeaway and extend the left arm to the top of the takeaway. Begin the downswing and physically rotate the left arm with the right hand.
When should you straighten your right arm downswing?
Keep your right arm slightly bent during impact with your left knuckles facing the ground. After striking the ball, continue straightening your right arm until it becomes fully extended in the follow-through.
What moves first in the golf swing?
The first move down should be a pulling motion initiated by the left leg (pictured above). From the top, the left knee shifts toward the target and starts pulling the rest of the lower body into its forward rotation.
What is the number of the last hole on a golf course?
It's the last hole on the golf course. The finishing hole for a round of golf is usually the 18th hole, but is sometimes the ninth, and, in less common instances, might even be any given hole on the golf course. The key, in both respects, is that the finishing hole is the hole that marks the finish of play.
What starts first in the golf swing?
The club and arms swing first, before the body. Shoulder turn comes from the club's momentum.
Which hand controls the clubface?
The left hand (the right for southpaws), is responsible for the rotational movement of the golf club, which, in turn, controls the direction of the clubface.
What is the simple senior swing?
The Simple Senior Swing system is the only golf swing training program designed specifically for senior golfers. It covers simple golf swing strategies any level golfer can follow adding 30 – 60 yards of distance to your drives. No complex swing changes!
Should your hands be in front of the golf ball at impact?
The grip and hands must be in front of the clubhead and ball. Many amateur golfers believe that the grip and clubhead come back to the position they are in during the setup. The hands and grip must move forward before the clubhead in order to properly compress and control the ball.