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Lead Arm, Elbow, and Rotation

The swing is powered by your body turning, not your arms lifting. Keeping your lead arm extended creates a wide, repeatable arc.

Golfer at the top of the backswing showing full shoulder turn and an extended lead arm
The swing is powered by your body turning, not your arms lifting. Keep your lead arm comfortably extended through the backswing and let rotation — not muscle — deliver the club.

Step by step

  1. On the takeaway, turn your shoulders and torso away from the target while keeping your lead arm (left arm for right-handers) comfortably extended.
  2. Let your wrists hinge naturally as the club swings up — don't force it.
  3. Start down by turning your hips and torso back toward the target, letting your arms follow rather than lead.
  4. Swing through to a full, balanced finish with your weight on your lead foot and your chest facing the target.

Check yourself

  • Your lead arm stays relatively straight (not rigidly locked) through the backswing for a wide arc.
  • You can hold your finish position for three seconds without losing balance.
  • Your belt buckle and chest point at the target at the finish.

Common mistakes

  • Bending the lead elbow early ('chicken wing'), which narrows the arc and saps power.
  • Swinging with the arms only while the body stays still.
  • Swinging so hard you fall off balance — if you can't hold your finish, ease off.
Go deeper: Tempo and Rhythm form

A beginner refresher only — not professional instruction. See a PGA pro for swing changes.