Insight - Using A Foam Ball Training Aid
Golf Training Aid: Ball Between Forearms Drill
Using a golf training aid ball between forearms can significantly improve your connection throughout the swing. This video demonstrates two simple drills that promote a one-piece takeaway and a more coordinated transition.
After this video, you'll be able to:
- Feel the correct one-piece takeaway by keeping your forearms connected
- Identify and correct internal rotation of the trail elbow during your swing
- Practice effective follow-through mechanics by squeezing the foam ball
Tyler Ferrell. Golf Digest Best Teachers in California, 2026-27. The only person named to both Golf Digest's Best Young Teachers in America and Best Golf Fitness Professionals lists. Author of The Stock Tour Swing.
Video Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.080
In this Golfsmore Insight we're going to look at using a foam ball to help with
2
00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:08.640
connection between the forums. So I actually had a recent question about this
3
00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:11.760
and I figured a video would be the easiest way to kind of demonstrate. I've got
4
00:00:11.760 --> 00:00:12.120
two
5
00:00:12.120 --> 00:00:16.200
different examples of foam balls that you can put between your forums to help
6
00:00:16.200 --> 00:00:21.420
with the two common places where golfers tend to have poor arm mechanics. So I
7
00:00:21.420 --> 00:00:22.040
've
8
00:00:22.040 --> 00:00:25.920
got the impact ball which we'll look at in a second. I just got this cheapo
9
00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:31.640
foam ball from Target or the Dollar Store, but this one is squishy to the point
10
00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:34.880
where you can basically compress it to almost nothing and I think that's
11
00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:38.830
important if you're doing these drills and I'll show you why. So either of
12
00:00:38.830 --> 00:00:38.880
these
13
00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:42.160
drills will help with the two major times where you're going to lose your
14
00:00:42.160 --> 00:00:47.600
your forearm movement or your body pivot. One would be during the takeaway so a
15
00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:51.550
lot of golfers will do more of a takeaway with their shoulders kind of like
16
00:00:51.550 --> 00:00:51.720
that
17
00:00:51.720 --> 00:00:57.160
and then the ball would fall out. So this encourages a little bit more of that
18
00:00:57.160 --> 00:01:02.700
one-piece takeaway and then as I start down in transition one of the common
19
00:01:02.700 --> 00:01:08.040
tendencies is to have that trail elbow kind of work into internal rotation just
20
00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:13.080
like that. Neither of these balls will help keep that connection there. Now the
21
00:01:13.080 --> 00:01:16.640
place where these two have a drastically different effect is if I'm actually
22
00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:21.480
trying to hit golf balls with it. So with this one when I get down into the
23
00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:26.040
release so from about here through to that follow-through my elbow should
24
00:01:26.040 --> 00:01:29.720
actually squeeze closer together. So you can see from that down the line that I
25
00:01:29.720 --> 00:01:34.560
can squeeze this golf ball or this foam ball very very good. So if I was to
26
00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:42.480
actually hold a club put it in place I could actually do little or full swings
27
00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:46.680
because it wouldn't necessarily impact my ability to get those elbows to
28
00:01:46.680 --> 00:01:46.960
squeeze.
29
00:01:46.960 --> 00:01:52.660
I think it might still just a little bit but for training purposes it's not too
30
00:01:52.660 --> 00:01:58.800
bad. The problem with the impact ball is it's so firm that I physically you can
31
00:01:58.800 --> 00:02:03.760
see I cannot get that same impact position. What ends up happening is my
32
00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:08.160
elbows end up working in staying the same distance part and so what ends up
33
00:02:08.160 --> 00:02:12.000
happening is I I compensate through my shoulder. So I tell people if you
34
00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:12.160
actually
35
00:02:12.160 --> 00:02:16.840
hit balls with the impact ball in between your forms the ball should
36
00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:21.640
actually flare off to the right. If you're able to hit it straight it usually
37
00:02:21.640 --> 00:02:25.520
means that you have you have poor shoulder mechanics and this ball is just
38
00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:30.740
allowing that compensation to work. So if you're using impact ball I like it
39
00:02:30.740 --> 00:02:31.080
for
40
00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:35.200
backswing end or transition. I just don't like hitting balls with it because it
41
00:02:35.200 --> 00:02:40.320
really interferes with the release. So if you like the way we break down how to
42
00:02:40.320 --> 00:02:43.640
use training aids you'll love the way we break down the swing into concepts and
43
00:02:43.640 --> 00:02:48.000
drills here at GolfSmartAcademy.com. If you are lost with your swing feel free
44
00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:48.080
to
45
00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:51.640
submit a video and we'll tell you what area of your body or what part of the
46
00:02:51.640 --> 00:02:57.440
swing you need to focus with on to ultimately reach your potential.
1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.080
In this Golfsmore Insight we're going to look at using a foam ball to help with
2
00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:08.640
connection between the forums. So I actually had a recent question about this
3
00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:11.760
and I figured a video would be the easiest way to kind of demonstrate. I've got
4
00:00:11.760 --> 00:00:12.120
two
5
00:00:12.120 --> 00:00:16.200
different examples of foam balls that you can put between your forums to help
6
00:00:16.200 --> 00:00:21.420
with the two common places where golfers tend to have poor arm mechanics. So I
7
00:00:21.420 --> 00:00:22.040
've
8
00:00:22.040 --> 00:00:25.920
got the impact ball which we'll look at in a second. I just got this cheapo
9
00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:31.640
foam ball from Target or the Dollar Store, but this one is squishy to the point
10
00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:34.880
where you can basically compress it to almost nothing and I think that's
11
00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:38.830
important if you're doing these drills and I'll show you why. So either of
12
00:00:38.830 --> 00:00:38.880
these
13
00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:42.160
drills will help with the two major times where you're going to lose your
14
00:00:42.160 --> 00:00:47.600
your forearm movement or your body pivot. One would be during the takeaway so a
15
00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:51.550
lot of golfers will do more of a takeaway with their shoulders kind of like
16
00:00:51.550 --> 00:00:51.720
that
17
00:00:51.720 --> 00:00:57.160
and then the ball would fall out. So this encourages a little bit more of that
18
00:00:57.160 --> 00:01:02.700
one-piece takeaway and then as I start down in transition one of the common
19
00:01:02.700 --> 00:01:08.040
tendencies is to have that trail elbow kind of work into internal rotation just
20
00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:13.080
like that. Neither of these balls will help keep that connection there. Now the
21
00:01:13.080 --> 00:01:16.640
place where these two have a drastically different effect is if I'm actually
22
00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:21.480
trying to hit golf balls with it. So with this one when I get down into the
23
00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:26.040
release so from about here through to that follow-through my elbow should
24
00:01:26.040 --> 00:01:29.720
actually squeeze closer together. So you can see from that down the line that I
25
00:01:29.720 --> 00:01:34.560
can squeeze this golf ball or this foam ball very very good. So if I was to
26
00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:42.480
actually hold a club put it in place I could actually do little or full swings
27
00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:46.680
because it wouldn't necessarily impact my ability to get those elbows to
28
00:01:46.680 --> 00:01:46.960
squeeze.
29
00:01:46.960 --> 00:01:52.660
I think it might still just a little bit but for training purposes it's not too
30
00:01:52.660 --> 00:01:58.800
bad. The problem with the impact ball is it's so firm that I physically you can
31
00:01:58.800 --> 00:02:03.760
see I cannot get that same impact position. What ends up happening is my
32
00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:08.160
elbows end up working in staying the same distance part and so what ends up
33
00:02:08.160 --> 00:02:12.000
happening is I I compensate through my shoulder. So I tell people if you
34
00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:12.160
actually
35
00:02:12.160 --> 00:02:16.840
hit balls with the impact ball in between your forms the ball should
36
00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:21.640
actually flare off to the right. If you're able to hit it straight it usually
37
00:02:21.640 --> 00:02:25.520
means that you have you have poor shoulder mechanics and this ball is just
38
00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:30.740
allowing that compensation to work. So if you're using impact ball I like it
39
00:02:30.740 --> 00:02:31.080
for
40
00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:35.200
backswing end or transition. I just don't like hitting balls with it because it
41
00:02:35.200 --> 00:02:40.320
really interferes with the release. So if you like the way we break down how to
42
00:02:40.320 --> 00:02:43.640
use training aids you'll love the way we break down the swing into concepts and
43
00:02:43.640 --> 00:02:48.000
drills here at GolfSmartAcademy.com. If you are lost with your swing feel free
44
00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:48.080
to
45
00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:51.640
submit a video and we'll tell you what area of your body or what part of the
46
00:02:51.640 --> 00:02:57.440
swing you need to focus with on to ultimately reach your potential.
Tyler Ferrell. Golf Digest Best Teachers in California, 2026-27. The only person named to both Golf Digest's Best Young Teachers in America and Best Golf Fitness Professionals lists. Author of The Stock Tour Swing.
Insight - Using A Foam Ball Training Aid
Golf Training Aid: Ball Between Forearms Drill
Using a golf training aid ball between forearms can significantly improve your connection throughout the swing. This video demonstrates two simple drills that promote a one-piece takeaway and a more coordinated transition.
After this video, you'll be able to:
- Feel the correct one-piece takeaway by keeping your forearms connected
- Identify and correct internal rotation of the trail elbow during your swing
- Practice effective follow-through mechanics by squeezing the foam ball
Video Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.080
In this Golfsmore Insight we're going to look at using a foam ball to help with
2
00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:08.640
connection between the forums. So I actually had a recent question about this
3
00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:11.760
and I figured a video would be the easiest way to kind of demonstrate. I've got
4
00:00:11.760 --> 00:00:12.120
two
5
00:00:12.120 --> 00:00:16.200
different examples of foam balls that you can put between your forums to help
6
00:00:16.200 --> 00:00:21.420
with the two common places where golfers tend to have poor arm mechanics. So I
7
00:00:21.420 --> 00:00:22.040
've
8
00:00:22.040 --> 00:00:25.920
got the impact ball which we'll look at in a second. I just got this cheapo
9
00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:31.640
foam ball from Target or the Dollar Store, but this one is squishy to the point
10
00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:34.880
where you can basically compress it to almost nothing and I think that's
11
00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:38.830
important if you're doing these drills and I'll show you why. So either of
12
00:00:38.830 --> 00:00:38.880
these
13
00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:42.160
drills will help with the two major times where you're going to lose your
14
00:00:42.160 --> 00:00:47.600
your forearm movement or your body pivot. One would be during the takeaway so a
15
00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:51.550
lot of golfers will do more of a takeaway with their shoulders kind of like
16
00:00:51.550 --> 00:00:51.720
that
17
00:00:51.720 --> 00:00:57.160
and then the ball would fall out. So this encourages a little bit more of that
18
00:00:57.160 --> 00:01:02.700
one-piece takeaway and then as I start down in transition one of the common
19
00:01:02.700 --> 00:01:08.040
tendencies is to have that trail elbow kind of work into internal rotation just
20
00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:13.080
like that. Neither of these balls will help keep that connection there. Now the
21
00:01:13.080 --> 00:01:16.640
place where these two have a drastically different effect is if I'm actually
22
00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:21.480
trying to hit golf balls with it. So with this one when I get down into the
23
00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:26.040
release so from about here through to that follow-through my elbow should
24
00:01:26.040 --> 00:01:29.720
actually squeeze closer together. So you can see from that down the line that I
25
00:01:29.720 --> 00:01:34.560
can squeeze this golf ball or this foam ball very very good. So if I was to
26
00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:42.480
actually hold a club put it in place I could actually do little or full swings
27
00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:46.680
because it wouldn't necessarily impact my ability to get those elbows to
28
00:01:46.680 --> 00:01:46.960
squeeze.
29
00:01:46.960 --> 00:01:52.660
I think it might still just a little bit but for training purposes it's not too
30
00:01:52.660 --> 00:01:58.800
bad. The problem with the impact ball is it's so firm that I physically you can
31
00:01:58.800 --> 00:02:03.760
see I cannot get that same impact position. What ends up happening is my
32
00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:08.160
elbows end up working in staying the same distance part and so what ends up
33
00:02:08.160 --> 00:02:12.000
happening is I I compensate through my shoulder. So I tell people if you
34
00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:12.160
actually
35
00:02:12.160 --> 00:02:16.840
hit balls with the impact ball in between your forms the ball should
36
00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:21.640
actually flare off to the right. If you're able to hit it straight it usually
37
00:02:21.640 --> 00:02:25.520
means that you have you have poor shoulder mechanics and this ball is just
38
00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:30.740
allowing that compensation to work. So if you're using impact ball I like it
39
00:02:30.740 --> 00:02:31.080
for
40
00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:35.200
backswing end or transition. I just don't like hitting balls with it because it
41
00:02:35.200 --> 00:02:40.320
really interferes with the release. So if you like the way we break down how to
42
00:02:40.320 --> 00:02:43.640
use training aids you'll love the way we break down the swing into concepts and
43
00:02:43.640 --> 00:02:48.000
drills here at GolfSmartAcademy.com. If you are lost with your swing feel free
44
00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:48.080
to
45
00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:51.640
submit a video and we'll tell you what area of your body or what part of the
46
00:02:51.640 --> 00:02:57.440
swing you need to focus with on to ultimately reach your potential.
1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.080
In this Golfsmore Insight we're going to look at using a foam ball to help with
2
00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:08.640
connection between the forums. So I actually had a recent question about this
3
00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:11.760
and I figured a video would be the easiest way to kind of demonstrate. I've got
4
00:00:11.760 --> 00:00:12.120
two
5
00:00:12.120 --> 00:00:16.200
different examples of foam balls that you can put between your forums to help
6
00:00:16.200 --> 00:00:21.420
with the two common places where golfers tend to have poor arm mechanics. So I
7
00:00:21.420 --> 00:00:22.040
've
8
00:00:22.040 --> 00:00:25.920
got the impact ball which we'll look at in a second. I just got this cheapo
9
00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:31.640
foam ball from Target or the Dollar Store, but this one is squishy to the point
10
00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:34.880
where you can basically compress it to almost nothing and I think that's
11
00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:38.830
important if you're doing these drills and I'll show you why. So either of
12
00:00:38.830 --> 00:00:38.880
these
13
00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:42.160
drills will help with the two major times where you're going to lose your
14
00:00:42.160 --> 00:00:47.600
your forearm movement or your body pivot. One would be during the takeaway so a
15
00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:51.550
lot of golfers will do more of a takeaway with their shoulders kind of like
16
00:00:51.550 --> 00:00:51.720
that
17
00:00:51.720 --> 00:00:57.160
and then the ball would fall out. So this encourages a little bit more of that
18
00:00:57.160 --> 00:01:02.700
one-piece takeaway and then as I start down in transition one of the common
19
00:01:02.700 --> 00:01:08.040
tendencies is to have that trail elbow kind of work into internal rotation just
20
00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:13.080
like that. Neither of these balls will help keep that connection there. Now the
21
00:01:13.080 --> 00:01:16.640
place where these two have a drastically different effect is if I'm actually
22
00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:21.480
trying to hit golf balls with it. So with this one when I get down into the
23
00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:26.040
release so from about here through to that follow-through my elbow should
24
00:01:26.040 --> 00:01:29.720
actually squeeze closer together. So you can see from that down the line that I
25
00:01:29.720 --> 00:01:34.560
can squeeze this golf ball or this foam ball very very good. So if I was to
26
00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:42.480
actually hold a club put it in place I could actually do little or full swings
27
00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:46.680
because it wouldn't necessarily impact my ability to get those elbows to
28
00:01:46.680 --> 00:01:46.960
squeeze.
29
00:01:46.960 --> 00:01:52.660
I think it might still just a little bit but for training purposes it's not too
30
00:01:52.660 --> 00:01:58.800
bad. The problem with the impact ball is it's so firm that I physically you can
31
00:01:58.800 --> 00:02:03.760
see I cannot get that same impact position. What ends up happening is my
32
00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:08.160
elbows end up working in staying the same distance part and so what ends up
33
00:02:08.160 --> 00:02:12.000
happening is I I compensate through my shoulder. So I tell people if you
34
00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:12.160
actually
35
00:02:12.160 --> 00:02:16.840
hit balls with the impact ball in between your forms the ball should
36
00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:21.640
actually flare off to the right. If you're able to hit it straight it usually
37
00:02:21.640 --> 00:02:25.520
means that you have you have poor shoulder mechanics and this ball is just
38
00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:30.740
allowing that compensation to work. So if you're using impact ball I like it
39
00:02:30.740 --> 00:02:31.080
for
40
00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:35.200
backswing end or transition. I just don't like hitting balls with it because it
41
00:02:35.200 --> 00:02:40.320
really interferes with the release. So if you like the way we break down how to
42
00:02:40.320 --> 00:02:43.640
use training aids you'll love the way we break down the swing into concepts and
43
00:02:43.640 --> 00:02:48.000
drills here at GolfSmartAcademy.com. If you are lost with your swing feel free
44
00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:48.080
to
45
00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:51.640
submit a video and we'll tell you what area of your body or what part of the
46
00:02:51.640 --> 00:02:57.440
swing you need to focus with on to ultimately reach your potential.
Related topics
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