Is the lead arm defunct?

Hope you're all enjoying the season so far. So as time goes by and my game steadily improves under Tom's methods, after discussing with a playing partner last week, I wondered if my "lead" arm, my left arm as I'm right handed, has any useful role in my golf swing. When i explained the fundamentals of my swing he said well if you were skimming a stone or throwing a ball, you wouldn't dream of using your left hand or arm. When i practice swing on the tee, it's with my right only, it helps me define an in to out path. Maybe we should rename the "lead" arm to the "nothing" arm. I feel like now all the power and direction are coming from the "trail", right side. To me this seems now natural and after all it's the dominant side so I'm left wondering why so many golfers have some funny fascination with the lead arm. I used to feel like my swing was like rowing through toffee with my left arm, now it's like skimming that 13 skimmer stone across a loch with my right side. Thoughts welcome...or maybe this might help a little for some of you.

5 comments

5 Comments

Russell Hogue, PhD

Jun 04, 2022

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@CJL are you still doing the trail arm hit with the passive lead arm? How is it going? Are you still keeling confident with the trail side power source?

Tom Saguto

Apr 28, 2022

@CJL - I second what @Ronald Burkholder says as it relates to your personal "feels". (For others, they may need to feel the lead arm, or the shoulders, or whatever it is that works best for them.) The straight lead arm (radius) is a key to maintaining our swing circle, which itself is the key to consistently crispy compression, repeatable ball flight, and power.

I love that you have ingrained that feel, as you now know what Mr. Hogan meant when he said he wished he'd had three right hands.

Keep skimming those stones - the more skips across the loch the better. Just don't piss off Nessie....😎

Ronald Burkholder

Apr 28, 2022

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The lead arm is important because, when kept straight in the backswing and downswing, it establishes the radius of the swing circle. It is a minor source of swing speed when you pull it off the chest in the downswing. I think of the left arm as the guide for the right side power moves.

CJL

May 06, 2022

Replying to

thanks for your input. I've been thinking about this, the trail (right) arm traces precisely the same radius, obviously. Some don't maybe have the strength in one arm to be able to do so but I like to do a practice swing with the right arm only. It really helps promote a powerful in to out path. Also doing so removes the variables that the defunct lead arm might introduce. I think alot of golfers would benefit from this, it also helps strengthen the trail arm and shoulder to help do what is needed (hit). My left arm is now just along for the ride and I feel like I can truly hit with much more power by doing absolutely nothing with the left. I no longer feel like I am pushing the ball, but instead now hit the ball with more purpose. Not saying you're wrong of course, but think alot of flaws are generated by an overly involved lead arm, which maybe/actually contributes little or nothing other than faults. Trail side rules for me now and maybe this view would be of benefit to some.

Tom Saguto

May 09, 2022

Replying to

@CJL - There is a mini course in the school called The Simplest Golf Swing Ever. It's very much a trail arm-driven motion. The trail arm feel works well for some. The lead arm feel works for others. The body-only (no arm) feel performs best for still others. In every case, however, no matter the desired "feel" the swing motion does not deviate from the overarching system being taught here.

As I often convey, my instruction provides a standard blueprint for the stock swing and offers different feels for various components where possible. It's kinda like plans for a model home with some alternate color options. From there you are not only free - but also encouraged - to customize it to your individual tastes, as long as you keep the foundation intact and stay under the original roof design. Let your ball striking and shot shape be your guide, and keep up the great work!

Thanks for sharing!