What moves first in a golf swing?
Rachel Ellis
Published Jan 09, 2026
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 starts first in the golf swing?
The club and arms swing first, before the body. Shoulder turn comes from the club's momentum.
What body part moves first in golf swing?
To start the swing, it's important to remember to use your “big” muscles at first, instead of the “small” muscles. This means that the first movement is with the shoulders and arms, not the wrists. The shoulders and arms draw the club directly back along the target line until the hands reach waist-high.
What is the first move back in the golf swing?
And in the through swing, that sequence is reversed; so it's the feet and the lower body to move first, then it's the hips, then it's the torso, then it's the shoulders, then it's the arms and the very last thing to come through are the hands and the club.
What is the correct sequence of a golf swing?
The clubhead has the furthest distance to travel from the ground up to the top of the golf swing, therefore it must move first. The arms will follow in the sequence, then the torso, and lastly the hips.
28 related questions foundShould hips turn first in golf swing?
It is important that the hips get started in the downswing right from the top. In fact, they need to be the very first thing that starts to move toward the target. As the club is arriving at the top of the swing, your left hip should begin to open up to the left.
What is the most important move in the golf swing?
The first move down from the top is one of the most important in the golf swing. No matter how you take the club back, the transition into the downswing has to be smooth, and the club needs to come into the ball from inside the target line. And the overall downswing has to start from the ground up.
Do you pull down on the golf swing?
Pull Down. As your arms and hands start into the downswing, it is important to imagine pulling the butt of the club straight down toward the ground. This keeps your hands ahead of the clubhead – often referred to as "lag" – and keeps the power you've built up on the right side of the ball.
Which hand is dominant in golf swing?
The left-hand dominant golf swing is known to be very powerful, and it will help correct some misses golfers have in their game. If you are a player who wants power and you like the classic methods of pulling the golf club through your swing, then left-hand dominance is the right idea for you.
Which arm should control the golf swing?
Third, Hall said golfers must have their lead arm and hand in control of their swing. That's the left arm for right-handed golfers and the right arm for lefties. By leading, you avoid hitting at the ball.
Which arm is the power arm in a golf swing?
On your down swing the right arm becomes the power and the left arm becomes the guide. Continue to keep your left arm straight to maintain the maximum arc, and continue to keep the radius of your right arm as close to your body as possible.
Which arm is more important in golf swing?
Given the number of people who are right-handed, naturally, more golfers would say left is the proper dominant hand and arm when in-game. To correct this, Glenn Hall, a famous instructor, helps us with understanding this properly by clarifying that the hand must be used to hit the ball but the lead arm leads the swing.
Should you pull down with your left arm in the 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.
Do the arms rotate in golf swing?
Rotation in the golf swing isn't limited to the shoulders and hips. The arms must rotate correctly, too, in order to produce long, accurate shots. This is especially important during the downswing. If you fail to rotate (aka release) the arms and hands through the shot, you'll invariably slice or push the ball.
Do you pull with your left arm in golf swing?
Swing back to the top of your backswing and pause. Start down slowly following the correct sequence. Your lower body should begin rotating first, then your torso will follow. Your left arm should lag behind your torso, which indicates it's being pulled down.
Should you move your legs in a golf swing?
The legs in the golf swing are the primary movers, whereas the arms and torso follow, the legs lead. Making sure that your legs are in the proper position throughout your golf swing will allow you to unleash power that you never knew you had.
Is it better to swing hard in golf?
In golf, you should swing as hard as you can without losing your balance and posture. The longer you can hit the ball off the tee, the easier scoring becomes as you'll leave yourself less distance into the green.
Do you move your hips in a golf swing?
Even casual golfers understand that at impact the hips need to be open to the target. (Picture your belt buckle pointing to the left of where you want the ball to land.) In reality, your hips shouldn't just be open but continually rotating to the left until your swing comes to a stop.
Do hips move in backswing?
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While it's important to get your hips open in the backswing, it is the way in which they move that determines whether you'll strike the ball well or not.
Is the backswing a push or pull?
Many golfers believe that you use pull forces to take the club back on the backswing and then push forces to deliver the club on the downswing. When focusing on the left side your body when swinging the club, focus on the opposite — push the club back and pull the club through.
How do you transition weight in a golf swing?
In the golf swing, weight should be evenly distributed at address, slightly towards the balls of your feet. In the backswing, you should feel the weight shift onto the inside of your trail foot, before shifting forward again and through your left side when rotating through the shot.
What does the lead arm do in the golf swing?
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 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.