Constant Arm Pressure - Golf Swing

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I’ve mentioned many times over the years that you should maintain constant grip pressure throughout the entire golf swing. This concept really lets the body take control for a more repeatable swing.

I’ve discovered that some golfers keep their grip pressure constant but allow their arms to take over through impact, trying to add speed or distance. When the arms take over, the body stops rotating to support and help “sling,” or speed up, the arms. This works against what we’re trying to accomplish by using the large muscles.

If the arms take over, they usually move ahead of the body’s rotation, pulling the shot if the clubface is square or cutting the shot if the face is slightly open.

The answer is to learn to rotate your body without letting your arms help or take over through impact. Start with a short, shoulders-only backswing, then rotate fully to the finish at a medium pace, as you would for a 40-yard shot. With this exercise, you can really feel whether your arms are taking over.

Practice this shot until you can rotate without any change in grip pressure or arm tension. Then, as you improve, gradually lengthen your backswing.

There’s nothing wrong with maintaining firm, constant grip pressure to keep the clubface square, along with gently squeezing your elbows toward each other to help maintain control.

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