Tyler Ferrell is the only person in the world named to Golf Digest's list of Best Young Teachers in America AND its list of Best Golf Fitness Professionals in America.

How to Shallow Your Arms for a More Consistent Swing

After this video, you'll be able to:

  • Feel how raising your arms in transition can improve your swing path
  • Visualize the correct arm position using a training tool for better feedback
  • Avoid common pitfalls of steep swings that lead to inconsistent ball striking

In this drill, you'll learn how to keep your arms up during the transition to promote a more body-centered swing. This technique will help you avoid steep angles that lead to inconsistency in your shots.

Video Transcript
WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000
This video is raise your arms to shallow.

2
00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:08.600
So, shallowing in transition is one of those key movements to having a more

3
00:00:08.600 --> 00:00:09.280
body centered

4
00:00:09.280 --> 00:00:13.000
swing, and it's one of the movements that many amateurs struggle with.

5
00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:17.480
They tend to have a look of pulling the arms down and kind of steepening the

6
00:00:17.480 --> 00:00:18.080
club like

7
00:00:18.080 --> 00:00:23.040
so, and then there's a whole host of consistency problems that can result from

8
00:00:23.040 --> 00:00:24.120
being too steep

9
00:00:24.120 --> 00:00:25.120
there in transition.

10
00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:29.800
So, what I'm going to show you with my little shark spin tool is a way for you

11
00:00:29.800 --> 00:00:30.760
to visualize

12
00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:36.950
and potentially train the arms staying a little bit taller up in transition and

13
00:00:36.950 --> 00:00:37.660
what I mean

14
00:00:37.660 --> 00:00:38.660
by that.

15
00:00:38.660 --> 00:00:42.190
So, I'm going to, I wore a shirt that's got a vertical stripe so that you'll be

16
00:00:42.190 --> 00:00:42.480
able

17
00:00:42.480 --> 00:00:48.970
to visualize it, but I'm going to use the shark spin, little training tool that

18
00:00:48.970 --> 00:00:49.480
I use

19
00:00:49.480 --> 00:00:52.560
sometimes for creating a stronger visual.

20
00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:58.330
So, now I've got basically a reference at about the bottom of my ribcage or it

21
00:00:58.330 --> 00:00:59.760
's about nipple

22
00:00:59.760 --> 00:01:00.760
level.

23
00:01:00.760 --> 00:01:07.060
So, what I'll see on 3D is when you get to the top of the swing, golfers who

24
00:01:07.060 --> 00:01:07.560
tend to

25
00:01:07.560 --> 00:01:12.040
shallow the club during transition actually go like this.

26
00:01:12.040 --> 00:01:17.190
So as they start down, that left arm is actually raising up compared to their

27
00:01:17.190 --> 00:01:18.600
upper body.

28
00:01:18.600 --> 00:01:24.620
It's not pulling down right away, so what ends up happening is they get up to

29
00:01:24.620 --> 00:01:25.240
the top

30
00:01:25.240 --> 00:01:29.610
of the swing and as they start down because of that left crunch and regaining

31
00:01:29.610 --> 00:01:30.160
that flex

32
00:01:30.160 --> 00:01:34.930
and turning, if the arms stay up compared to that or if the arms don't really

33
00:01:34.930 --> 00:01:35.480
change

34
00:01:35.480 --> 00:01:39.920
compared to that, then by definition that arm will actually be coming up.

35
00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:44.600
So, what you'll see is up to the top, they're basically going to keep those

36
00:01:44.600 --> 00:01:45.560
hands up above

37
00:01:45.560 --> 00:01:51.180
that chest level for a long period of time and get most of the down component

38
00:01:51.180 --> 00:01:51.920
through

39
00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:53.840
the body movements.

40
00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:57.050
If you get steep in transition then what typically happens is you're pulling

41
00:01:57.050 --> 00:01:58.400
your arms down which

42
00:01:58.400 --> 00:02:03.260
is creating more of the steep movements in the arms and then you have to stand

43
00:02:03.260 --> 00:02:03.920
up or hold

44
00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:06.960
your rotation back creating the shallow movements in the body.

45
00:02:06.960 --> 00:02:11.440
So, if you're working on shallowing and you're just not quite getting it

46
00:02:11.440 --> 00:02:12.400
through the wrist

47
00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:17.170
movement, then thinking about this arm coming up or what I've had some guys try

48
00:02:17.170 --> 00:02:17.760
and feel

49
00:02:17.760 --> 00:02:23.050
is almost like you're trying to kiss your bicep as a way to basically keep that

50
00:02:23.050 --> 00:02:23.440
arm

51
00:02:23.440 --> 00:02:29.660
up all the way down until you get to delivery position and then you can start

52
00:02:29.660 --> 00:02:30.720
lowering the

53
00:02:30.720 --> 00:02:33.600
arm as you go into more of the release movement.

54
00:02:33.600 --> 00:02:38.250
So, if you're struggling with your transition shallowing move, hopefully this

55
00:02:38.250 --> 00:02:39.160
little visual

56
00:02:39.160 --> 00:02:44.480
here of the shark spin helps give you a visual of what the arms need to do.

57
00:02:44.480 --> 00:02:48.340
If you feel that when you hold your arm up, you can't create power, then it

58
00:02:48.340 --> 00:02:49.200
probably means

59
00:02:49.200 --> 00:02:53.110
that you're creating more of your power with a vertical pull and not enough

60
00:02:53.110 --> 00:02:53.840
power using

61
00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:56.960
your hips and your core in order to shallow effectively.

62
00:02:56.960 --> 00:03:00.910
So, that might be a good little side project to work on your hip, strengthen

63
00:03:00.910 --> 00:03:02.040
flexibility,

64
00:03:02.040 --> 00:03:05.940
work on your core activation so that then your transition move can be powered

65
00:03:05.940 --> 00:03:06.400
more with

66
00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:11.060
your body less with your arms, creating that more shallow path that hopefully

67
00:03:11.060 --> 00:03:11.680
sets you

68
00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:15.610
up into a good delivery position so that you can just turn through and extend

69
00:03:15.610 --> 00:03:16.240
your arms

70
00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:18.160
and consistently make a solid strike.

Have questions?

Ask Mulligan for help
Related topics
This video hasn't been assigned to any topics yet. Browse all topics in the sidebar.
Tyler Ferrell is the only person in the world named to Golf Digest's list of Best Young Teachers in America AND its list of Best Golf Fitness Professionals in America.

How to Shallow Your Arms for a More Consistent Swing

After this video, you'll be able to:

  • Feel how raising your arms in transition can improve your swing path
  • Visualize the correct arm position using a training tool for better feedback
  • Avoid common pitfalls of steep swings that lead to inconsistent ball striking

In this drill, you'll learn how to keep your arms up during the transition to promote a more body-centered swing. This technique will help you avoid steep angles that lead to inconsistency in your shots.

Video Transcript
WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000
This video is raise your arms to shallow.

2
00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:08.600
So, shallowing in transition is one of those key movements to having a more

3
00:00:08.600 --> 00:00:09.280
body centered

4
00:00:09.280 --> 00:00:13.000
swing, and it's one of the movements that many amateurs struggle with.

5
00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:17.480
They tend to have a look of pulling the arms down and kind of steepening the

6
00:00:17.480 --> 00:00:18.080
club like

7
00:00:18.080 --> 00:00:23.040
so, and then there's a whole host of consistency problems that can result from

8
00:00:23.040 --> 00:00:24.120
being too steep

9
00:00:24.120 --> 00:00:25.120
there in transition.

10
00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:29.800
So, what I'm going to show you with my little shark spin tool is a way for you

11
00:00:29.800 --> 00:00:30.760
to visualize

12
00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:36.950
and potentially train the arms staying a little bit taller up in transition and

13
00:00:36.950 --> 00:00:37.660
what I mean

14
00:00:37.660 --> 00:00:38.660
by that.

15
00:00:38.660 --> 00:00:42.190
So, I'm going to, I wore a shirt that's got a vertical stripe so that you'll be

16
00:00:42.190 --> 00:00:42.480
able

17
00:00:42.480 --> 00:00:48.970
to visualize it, but I'm going to use the shark spin, little training tool that

18
00:00:48.970 --> 00:00:49.480
I use

19
00:00:49.480 --> 00:00:52.560
sometimes for creating a stronger visual.

20
00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:58.330
So, now I've got basically a reference at about the bottom of my ribcage or it

21
00:00:58.330 --> 00:00:59.760
's about nipple

22
00:00:59.760 --> 00:01:00.760
level.

23
00:01:00.760 --> 00:01:07.060
So, what I'll see on 3D is when you get to the top of the swing, golfers who

24
00:01:07.060 --> 00:01:07.560
tend to

25
00:01:07.560 --> 00:01:12.040
shallow the club during transition actually go like this.

26
00:01:12.040 --> 00:01:17.190
So as they start down, that left arm is actually raising up compared to their

27
00:01:17.190 --> 00:01:18.600
upper body.

28
00:01:18.600 --> 00:01:24.620
It's not pulling down right away, so what ends up happening is they get up to

29
00:01:24.620 --> 00:01:25.240
the top

30
00:01:25.240 --> 00:01:29.610
of the swing and as they start down because of that left crunch and regaining

31
00:01:29.610 --> 00:01:30.160
that flex

32
00:01:30.160 --> 00:01:34.930
and turning, if the arms stay up compared to that or if the arms don't really

33
00:01:34.930 --> 00:01:35.480
change

34
00:01:35.480 --> 00:01:39.920
compared to that, then by definition that arm will actually be coming up.

35
00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:44.600
So, what you'll see is up to the top, they're basically going to keep those

36
00:01:44.600 --> 00:01:45.560
hands up above

37
00:01:45.560 --> 00:01:51.180
that chest level for a long period of time and get most of the down component

38
00:01:51.180 --> 00:01:51.920
through

39
00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:53.840
the body movements.

40
00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:57.050
If you get steep in transition then what typically happens is you're pulling

41
00:01:57.050 --> 00:01:58.400
your arms down which

42
00:01:58.400 --> 00:02:03.260
is creating more of the steep movements in the arms and then you have to stand

43
00:02:03.260 --> 00:02:03.920
up or hold

44
00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:06.960
your rotation back creating the shallow movements in the body.

45
00:02:06.960 --> 00:02:11.440
So, if you're working on shallowing and you're just not quite getting it

46
00:02:11.440 --> 00:02:12.400
through the wrist

47
00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:17.170
movement, then thinking about this arm coming up or what I've had some guys try

48
00:02:17.170 --> 00:02:17.760
and feel

49
00:02:17.760 --> 00:02:23.050
is almost like you're trying to kiss your bicep as a way to basically keep that

50
00:02:23.050 --> 00:02:23.440
arm

51
00:02:23.440 --> 00:02:29.660
up all the way down until you get to delivery position and then you can start

52
00:02:29.660 --> 00:02:30.720
lowering the

53
00:02:30.720 --> 00:02:33.600
arm as you go into more of the release movement.

54
00:02:33.600 --> 00:02:38.250
So, if you're struggling with your transition shallowing move, hopefully this

55
00:02:38.250 --> 00:02:39.160
little visual

56
00:02:39.160 --> 00:02:44.480
here of the shark spin helps give you a visual of what the arms need to do.

57
00:02:44.480 --> 00:02:48.340
If you feel that when you hold your arm up, you can't create power, then it

58
00:02:48.340 --> 00:02:49.200
probably means

59
00:02:49.200 --> 00:02:53.110
that you're creating more of your power with a vertical pull and not enough

60
00:02:53.110 --> 00:02:53.840
power using

61
00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:56.960
your hips and your core in order to shallow effectively.

62
00:02:56.960 --> 00:03:00.910
So, that might be a good little side project to work on your hip, strengthen

63
00:03:00.910 --> 00:03:02.040
flexibility,

64
00:03:02.040 --> 00:03:05.940
work on your core activation so that then your transition move can be powered

65
00:03:05.940 --> 00:03:06.400
more with

66
00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:11.060
your body less with your arms, creating that more shallow path that hopefully

67
00:03:11.060 --> 00:03:11.680
sets you

68
00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:15.610
up into a good delivery position so that you can just turn through and extend

69
00:03:15.610 --> 00:03:16.240
your arms

70
00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:18.160
and consistently make a solid strike.

Have questions about this video?

Ask Mulligan for personalized guidance on technique, drills, or how to apply what you've learned.

Ask Mulligan
Related topics
This video hasn't been assigned to any topics yet. Browse all topics in the sidebar.
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