I took this to the range yesterday and could not hit a bad shot. No one has ever talked about extending the right arm during the downswing. I no longer have that steep angle and can enjoy a much more shallow path into the ball. Thank you very much for finally adding some consistency into my game.
If you know your right arm is missing behaving or being mis applied during the downswing, I would incorporate some of these feels along with the exercises I prescribe in the Consistency Code.
It’s really amazing! 90 minutes before I teed off for a round of golf, I happened to see this video talking about unfolding right arm in the downswing. I didn’t practice in driving range but tried it in the first hole first drive. Boy! I couldn’t believe it! I hit at least 30yards longer and I felt easy and smoothly! The whole round I had almost every shot solid and first time I shot 7 strokes less than I shot normally! That was my best score in a year and I fell confident to play golf better! Thank you so very much, Mr. Allen! Next, I like to learn how to draw the ball. Best regards, Yuda
This may be the the final key to my golf swing. I started playing golf at 63 yrs old. I swear I did everything absolutely wrong. I’m now 73 yrs old. I’ve had many many lessons. I’ve joined 3 different online programs. I have watched too many RUclips videos to count and no one has pointed out what you did in this video. It makes so much sense. You basically unwind your backswing the same way it went up. When I do as you demonstrate and then just let my arms naturally swing through without trying to put them in some certain positions, I really hit it well. Thank you
another superb tip zach thats something ive also struggled with my right arm firing too soon causing the flip so this video gives me a great understanding of the right arms role, thanks so much zach
I just subscribed based on how good the content you provided in this particular video I have had hundreds of lessons and never seen it explained like that. Wow great tip !!
Zach, I tried this today on the range. Had to include the hip rotation simultaneously and concentrate on the impact, or it would be fat. But hit some solid in the clubface center. Best, there was no pull to the left, per my standard miss. Simple swing thought, unfold the right arm. Will continue. Thanks.
Went from an 18 to 13 hc in 6 months (posted my first sub 40 9 hole score a week ago) watching his vids, but still struggled with my woods and irons regularly. Tried this and everything suddenly felt right (no pun intended). Hit the first few fat, but then my body adjusted and contact was smooth and the plane shallowed. I now feel that my right elbow never leaves my right hip and there is effortless power at release. Best video I've seen. I'm taking no credit for my improvement. This guy is a great teacher.
hi Zach, this is the first video of yours I have ever seen. Yet some really positive points I would like to share with you on it. I appreciate this video, as I am taking lessons and dealing with this issue. Our group lesson teacher told me to try keeping my right arm straight in the backswing, but I find it unrealistic and too rigid. I really appreciate good use of language in describing golf mechanics and this video contains a really positive example in the term "unfolding the right arm." I can somehow understand that concept. The right elbow unfolds, as the body rotates, but just like any technique it is not an instant formula but then takes good old practice and muscle memory. I also appreciate your rare insight into bad experimental shots just after you have learned a new yet correct technique. I have never been told that, but as a teacher myself, it makes complete sense and shows lots of wisdom in teaching. Thanks.
When you get the swing coming from underneath like it should and both hands and arms working as a team you’ll get better immediately. With that you’ll understand and see the swing in your head which makes your impact zone more of a reality rather than a blur you hope to get right. Then it becomes a lot easier to repeat because your ball is flying straight and you have the feel of what it feels like at the top of your backswing. The rest is momentum and tempo. Fold the right arm after a wide takeaway w left hand then hold firm w both hands... turn with lower body and as you start your swing remember to keep your right elbow close to your body till it feels normal and passes by your belt buckle still bent. No over the top or and across the line! You must get your lower half out of the way first or it’s slice city...hang back a split sec or practice rotating your lower body out the way..then Make your body turn power the club until you get a controlled swing all balanced into finish. When you got that down then you can get all Dj n Brooks w it and add some of your own power, hand speed, or forced body torque. Control first hit fairway then go for bombs. These commercials make it sound like all pros are smashing 300 yd plus drives on every hole and they’re not!!! 280 290 some less than that so 240-250 for an am is 👍 so forget 300 and go for fairways first. This message is for me 4 years in the past lol.
Geep1778 I agree. My swing and distance immediately changed after nine holes of golf. And I repeat it the very next day with another nine holes. Not only is my driver going farther, my fairway hybrids are taking off like rockets! This is truly part of that magic move I believe and how fun it is to see instant results!
Zach, I'm a 79 yr. old golfer that shoots in the mid to high 90's. Among my golf problems I find that I come up and out of the shot to often...and applying that straight arm release after the shot. I'm confident if I can get a handle on one of those issues I'll be in the high 80's which would make me a happier golfer. Rich
This is a truly magic move for those millions of you who come over the top on the down swing. When I didn't know about this move, nothing could fix the over the top move.
This is a genius tip. As a life long ‘over the topper’ I have had live lessons and watched so many instructional videos that made sense but didnt solve the conundrum for me. This is so simple and so well demonstrated that its hard not to make it work, particularly when you break it down when drilling it. Thanks
I've played golf for over 40 years and never had the shallowing of the downswing explained so simply. I've been a single digit handicap all my life and struggle with coming over the top from time to time. This works and only took minutes to implement. Thank you!!
This makes a lot of sense. Big tennis player and a number of guys like Gasquet and Federer hit their respective backhands and forehands Iike this. They release it behind them and simply rotate and pull through. I bought the video ! I’ve had some wrist injuries comimg down too steep and hoping this shallowing out process will be more of a body move and less of a wrist , small joint moves.
I've been hit by the shanks on and off in the last few weeks. I discovered this drill this morning and went down the range and it instantly put me on the correct swing plane. A brilliant method tip, which I haven't seen explained quite like this before. Cheers Zach!
You all probably dont give a damn but does anyone know of a method to log back into an instagram account?? I stupidly lost my password. I would appreciate any assistance you can offer me!
Excellent and unique....going to help me for sure Update: Played today and this drill help me the most with my wedges...all of them were on target and I was 6" away from slam dunking a 60 degree wedge. Also I "felt" like I was swinging easier, and although I had a couple of miss hits, I feel I'm onto a good thing for sure....thanks again. Update no 2: Played 9 holes today.....pared the first 4 holes.....drove the ball as far as I've ever driven it, with less effort (so happy about that).....only one miss hit......score?....4 over, and I'm off 17
I am going to say this straight up. This is the best demonstration of shallowinv out the club I’ve watched and I’m telling you, i’ve watched ridiculous amounts of videos! Good stuff!
I've been struggling with this so hard for over a week, and this seems genius. I simply couldn't figure out how to shallow my damn club. I'm literally heading to my yard now to try this.
Thanks again Zach! Love your videos. This one in particular, unfolding the right arm, has made a big and immediate difference to my game. I'm making way, way better contact. I'm compressing the ball. I'm hitting it straight. Only played 2 9-hole rounds so far, but a 37 and a 40 for an 11.5 index is a big improvement! Thank you!!
Just came back from range. Never thought about my right arm in the down swing but now trying it with immediate improvement. Felt very natural. It’s like the last thing I needed to do for a easy swing. Thank you for this instruction.
Zach--great lesson. Sometimes I feel by dropping my right arm down, I may be releasing a little lag angle. Also, when I drop the right arm, should I feel that the head of the club is a little behind me? Thanks, Zach
THIS is absolutely 100% correct, right on the money, perfect. Right arm folds up and down while chest turns back and through. Combine these two movements and you're on your way to a great and CORRECT golf swing. Great job, Zach!
As one of the Golf Digest top 75 coaches in the world I want to say I think your explanations are fantastic! Clear step by step and mechanically correct instruction. Well done Zach
Zach, you are a golf god! Great advice and simple explanation. I was definitely one of the "throw-your-arms-at-the-ball-golfer" who struggled tremendously with swing plane. This helped! Thanks!
Brilliant! Most videos on the right arm focus on getting the elbow in front of the right hip but that has me getting all bundled up on the downswing, this tip really frees up the motion, thanks a million!
I purchased your BallStriking Blueprint video series and it has helped my game more than any lessons I have ever taken. I added the Right Arm unfolding from this video. Immediately my swing became effortless and my distance improved big time! Thanks Zach!
Zach, thank you so much for this video. It has made a large improvement upon my game. My score will improve the more that I try the right arm improvement, because I have been coming over the top four Time. Thank you very much keep the videos coming I enjoy your knowledge of the game. Thank you Woody Woodson
This video could not had came at a perfect time. I did not realize I was swinging over the top and it showed in a terrible round yesterday. Primarily with driver and long game. I couldn't hit anything. I was losing distance and every shot went right. No power/distance. I must had looked like I never played this game before. It's always fun to golf with your buddies but I actually couldn't wait to end the round. Discouraging. Short game showed up. Putted well but wow, something wasn't right so I waited to get home to analyze my swing from set up. I usually cool down after a round by hitting a small bucket of balls with light swings but no, back to drawing board and here is this video in my notifications. Wow...Thank you for the tip and how to correct it and work it in the swing. My right arm was just like one of the faults demonstrated. Very pleased to had subscribed! 👍
Hands down some of the best advice I've come to learn! I took this to the backyard with some rubber balls and hit thirty or so shots. I took it to a course yesterday and was very happy with my results -still plenty of work to do, but what a great start! I've struggled with the slice for years (mostly with my driver, but any club on any given shot). This method negated my slice and even had me hitting to the left of the fairway. It also helped with my weight transfer. My balls traveled further with each club as well. If you are an arms/shoulder first golfer, give this a try! You'll be impressed.
I watched this and some couple of other pro teachers videos abt downswing. The 👉unfolding right arm and left arm DOWN (not forward) to position the shaft in an angle of attack and turning the hips is the most important part of a golf swing. Now I'm hitting the ball solid and decent. Now it's golf I'm playing. It took me 20 years to figure it out. Many thanks from Brazil👍
I literally haven't even watched this video, but I read the email Zach sent out earlier. I retain better when I read. I broke 80 for the first time this year. Pulling my right arm down with the "inside" muscles instead of the outside muscles kept me in the slot all day. Only miss was a slight pull hook, and one slice when I slipped. Birdied a par five after reaching the green in two with a 265 yard 3wood approach shot. Between Zach Allen and Adam Bazelgette, I have everything I need to become a three handicap by next summer.
Zach Allen Golf great coaching. Thanks for the free content, and thanks for being so descriptive about the important but relatively small details. If there is any way I can support your let me know. A video or email on tips to teach kids around age 4 to play would be awesome.
Great video!. This concept made a huge difference in my iron striking which has always been way worse than my driver as the driver setup must have naturally helped me shallow out. I recently played and didn't stirke irons well though I hit driver great but I really think it's because I wasn't turning out my right elbow enough and especially not keeping the right arm inside the left if looked at from a behind and down the line angle. Basically my swing was slightly off but the set up wasn't right. Keeping that right elbow in connects the entire swing to the body and massively stabilizes it. It's easy for it to try to wander back out some if you're not careful though! Pretend you're doing curls and like one guy side keep that right elbow tight to your body.
This move is much easier to do than to actually "change" your entire swing to try and shallow the club. In fact, another YT instructor has said to NOT get rid of the over the top move, but just to drop the hands and arms whilst turning. If you look at Rory McIlroy dtl in slow motion, he does the same thing. This tip is actually really good and to the point. 👍
That was life changing... with respect to my golf life at least. I've been trying to get out of early extending in hopes of getting rid of mishits on the hosel (ahem, the "s" word), and the pull, pull-hooks (stronger grip tendencies due to the fact if I don't, we're cutting more than butter out there). So I suppose I stumble upon your video about early extension, then THIS video pops up in my suggested. I watch it on my break... grab a club and give it a try... ;_; My 5 iron has never been struck so semi-pure and straight so many times consecutively; now I can quit working on my short game and get back to the fun stuff (jk).
The first student was still holding back and using his body way to much (in relation to his unwillingness to unfold the right arm) , good video..thank you..👍👍
It's amazing how much this helps strike and direction and then even more amazing when you watch top tour pros with this knowledge and realise they all do the same thing. Right arm is nearly always extended far earlier than I would have thought.
Tried straightening the right arm through impact today - wow - incredible difference (although it didn't do my score any good because I hit a 9 iron 30yds over the back of a par 3 (my usual 9 iron goes 120) and then hit an 8 iron 168 while laying up short of a lake (usually 135) The quality of strike was out of this world and the trajectory was baby draw, which for me is the promised land after coming OTT and hitting weak fades all my life . . . . . But why doesn't it work with the longer clubs, especially the driver which I only hit 200yds?
Good video! Been working on this for a few months. What is the sensation being felt in the right hand? Is it a pulling motion(“centripetal”)? A dropping motion? I have a right shoulder injury and gives me difficulty recreating the motion and ‘feel’ through the arm. I’m gaining strength in the ‘palm-up’ position into delivery which is helping with distance-to-the-ball issues and helping with consistency clearing the slot. Thanks!
Hi Zach, is unfolding right elbow the same like Dropping of your arms? Dropping of arms provides great soft contact, flush shots, but only if you can time with your body roatation, otherwise I end up with fat shots. Please your thoughts are appreciated.Thank you
Great tip. I watched this video 2 hrs before my game. I unfold my right arm as seen, it was great to assessed my over the tip hitting. I got 10 strokes better score with 30 yards longer on my driver . Will repeat again next game. Thank you !!
So my problem is a bit different. I think my arm is doing pretty much what you’re saying, but I have my trouble when finishing the swing at impact with the ball. Sometimes I feel like my right wrist never catches up to my left wrist, especially when I’m really trying to get my hands out in front of the ball. I have a lot of stiffness in my right wrist, but I’ve been able to mostly fix a broken swing with a change in grip and now my swing feels a lot like it used to. I used to really be able to deloft the club at impact and hit low piercing shots and hit my irons very far. My stock 8 iron was carrying 170. Now because of fear of going off the hosel or hitting the ball with a wide open face, that 8 iron is now flying more like 150. I’m much stronger now than I was when I was hitting the ball very far, as I’ve spent a lot of time in the gym and made major gains. I searched this video because I want to get a feel where I’m able to swing freely at the ball like I used to, without even really thinking about my right arm or my right wrist. When I get to thinking about it too much, I’m in real danger of hitting catastrophic shots that could ruin an entire round. I want consistent strikes. My game isn’t bad, as I’m making major improvements and thoughts of breaking par are back in my mind after a few years of truly struggling. I just wish I could have a thought or position to keep my right wrist from lagging behind the rest of my golf swing and leaving the face WIDE open. It doesn’t happen on every swing, but when it does, it really messes with me and I don’t know what to do to fix it. I don’t want to throw my hand at the ball, as that is a recipe for a shank. I want an easy feel. Any tips would help
Nothing personal and I gave you a like; but, terrible advice that I have heard from countless PGA professional teachers over the years. On the other hand; Martin Hull only recently gave the best advice ever. Simply put he says at the top of the downswing the trail elbow leads the trail hand; never the trail hand leading the trail elbow. This aware activation of the trail elbow both shallows the club and opens up the lead side at the exact same time for a easy perfect strike of the ball every single time.. Just do it and stop trying to manipulate your hips, arms,and shoulders ever again in striking the ball. It's that simple. Cheers. P.S. Take this from a nobody; who at 72 finally learned how to consistently strike hard and straight at the ball.
Zach I have learned the most about how the club drops from unfolding the right arm. Thank you. There is another area I would like to address. The analogies of other sports to golf. OMG the outcome is so much different. In golf you must have extremely accurate contact into an extremely small field with tight distance control at high speeds starting from a standing still. I have played sports baseball, ice hockey and football at higher than normal levels and they don't MENTALLY/physically compare at all. In baseball the field is wide and not every swing requires a home run. You can bunt, hit to any filed just make contact. In ice hockey at least a slap shot analogie you can hit fat and the result is a little less speed. The other sport analogie like tennis or ping pong is with one dominant hand (for the most part) and it's easy to guide that dominant hand to make the racket move the ball ( there is no shaft from the head and a second hand). All the other sports your whole body is already in motion and doesn't require standing still and be a robot. The room for error to play well is SOOO much larger in other sports. In golf completely different. You have to hit the ball with a small blade on the end of a shaft away from your hands into a very narrow field with very little error consistently over and over with power. I am so athletic but yet golf is so perplexing. It drives me mad. If golf was just "close enough is good" I would have a 0 handicap. How to repeatedly get the club head onto the gold ball is a mystery I'm trying to solve.
I have recently found keeping my ( right ) trail arm close at take-away really helps me , but how do I know exactly when it's ok to let my elbow drift a little further away from my body at the top of my back swing , otherwise I find my swing can become too inside to out, causing a hook.......thanks
Hi Zach, recently I try to take my right elbow consciously to the front towards the belt buckle. Is your motion with unfolding right elbow a similar concept or maybe the outcome Is? Any thoughts. Thank you.
I just tried it out yesterday at the range. For me anyway, I found that it should be done as the first move down before anything else - not later on in the downswing or you will be over the top. So the feel is that after you turn your shoulders fully on the backswing, it will feel like you are doing it "behind" yourself. Then you can go ahead and make a connected turn. Should add that of course you start the downswing FIRST as instructed with the left knee and lower body.
Notes for me... 0:30 is me 0:55 - 1:14 is the fix (unfold during downswing turn/pivot) 2:12 - what i do wrong immediately followed by an example of how to unfold the right arm. 2:53 how to work on it with a club 4:20 - 6:05 student example of my swing fault and the fix
Zach could you do a tip on shoulder plane I've been working I'm trying to get my left shoulder to move downward in my backswing and or my right shoulder working more up and behind my head.I tend to get my shoulders a little too flat when I do a correctly I hit the ball really solid
Hi Zach Great teaching advice about when trying something new in the golf swing. It feels different. So i am committing to learn a new habit. Get my swing technically correct. So i shall stay with the uncomfortable uncomfortable
This is very key to my swing at the present since I'm working on staying under the plane of my backswing. Wondering if Zach Allen holds lessons in person?
I've been hanging on to my angles too long causing a slight over the top movement and to steep at impact , ok for short irons but bad for long irons and driver . I have practiced this shallowing movement with a club and it feels different by giving me more width and time in the downswing to reach impact . I like it and will try on the practise range tomorrow. Thanks Zach , and keep up the good work that we are all trully thankful for .
I have watched hundreds if not thousands of videos and been to dozens of often very well-known Pros in the US and Europe and on the robot twice, with a focus on trying to shallow the club more in transition. THIS is the ONLY tip that makes a huge/THE difference- for me, and that immediately and consistently. For me, THIS is the transition/start of the downswing move and 'secret'. Fwiw: the one for the proper backswing pivot is left side bend. I think 'leading with the right elbow, lag focus, later release, avoiding to let hands go down faster than the right elbow' were all misleading ideas that kept me from figuring this out earlier and myself. This seems to be the proper way and feel of 'pulling the chain down'. Now, please just tell me how to get more clubhead speed with that new transition and downswing. Rotating hard from the delivery position/slot onward and left arm frisbee seem to work best sofar, but not to a hugely discernible speed difference-yet. Many, many, many thanks for discovering and sharing this true 'secret' with us!
I think you are exactly right. Throughout the years I have tried countless ways to start the downswing. None of them ever get exactly right or lead to lasting results. I believe this one to be superior.
Hi Zac, came across this video after reading an email you sent me last week and what a difference its made with contact with the ball, better contact, flight and distance. THANKS.
I've been working on trying to shallow the club on the downswing for over a year and could not for the life of me make any improvement. Watched this video and saw huge improvement in about five swings.
Crazy cool lesson, the quiver analogy has been used many times but you showing the simple right arm unbend is made even simpler. I am really enjoying your ballstriking blueprint.
I majored in pure math (literally one of the hardest and most abstract area of human study) and somehow golf technique seems harder and more confusing.
Tried what Zach is talking about and although it took a bucket or 2 it works. Other instructors talk about carrying a try with your right hand but the way Zach teaches it works! Try it and you will see! Thanks Zach
This is like a eureka moment. Struggled with shallowing and coming down above plane in a steeper manner. This seems so simple, can’t wait to try later. Thanks zach
I notice that Rory McIlroy and a lot of players keep their right arm very straight for very long in the backswing, would this be a good thing to work on?
DO you get the same feeling by pulling down more with you left hand? What is the proper swing thought to start your downswing? I see your tip on the right arm and will try it, hopefully tomorrow
He kind of looks like a younger Arnold Schwarzenneger lol Great content! His explanations have had a more significant impact on my game than any other channel. Keep it up!
I tried this at the range today and eventually went from slices to nice baby fades. Does this mean I’m doing it correctly or should I be hitting draws?
The straightening the the right arm is the best explanation of how to get down onto the lower swing plane in the downswing. The backswing starts back on the address shaft swing plane and then is lifted up onto a higher but parallel swing plane by bending right arm as you swing to the top. Makes sense to reverse this in downswing by straightening the right arm to get back down onto lower swing plane thru impact.
Seems like really good tips. I have always learned that golf was a left sided sport for right handers, but this video challenges that paradigm. Did a bunch of practice swings inside and the consistency of the swing was really amazing. Looking forward to trying this on the range!
I took this to the range yesterday and could not hit a bad shot. No one has ever talked about extending the right arm during the downswing. I no longer have that steep angle and can enjoy a much more shallow path into the ball. Thank you very much for finally adding some consistency into my game.
Thanks great instruction
I have all your training videos the biggest problem I am having is the down swing
I just not getting much distance
Philip Johnson Any clubs in particular suffering w/ distance? What’s your usual shot shape?
This is probably the BEST golf lesson I have seen. This must be the key to the golf swing. Thank you
Thx Zach 🙂
Unfolding of the right arm along with continued rotation appears to be a simple, straightforward and effective way to shallow the club. correct?
Yes, but definitely needs to be blended correctly, and does not usually come naturally for most.
Trailing arm! Lefty's golf too!
Christian Fuchs I stand corrected.
How does this fit in your consistency code?
If you know your right arm is missing behaving or being mis applied during the downswing, I would incorporate some of these feels along with the exercises I prescribe in the Consistency Code.
It’s really amazing! 90 minutes before I teed off for a round of golf, I happened to see this video talking about unfolding right arm in the downswing. I didn’t practice in driving range but tried it in the first hole first drive. Boy! I couldn’t believe it! I hit at least 30yards longer and I felt easy and smoothly! The whole round I had almost every shot solid and first time I shot 7 strokes less than I shot normally! That was my best score in a year and I fell confident to play golf better! Thank you so very much, Mr. Allen! Next, I like to learn how to draw the ball.
Best regards,
Yuda
Wow that is fantastic! Well done
This may be the the final key to my golf swing. I started playing golf at 63 yrs old. I swear I did everything absolutely wrong. I’m now 73 yrs old. I’ve had many many lessons. I’ve joined 3 different online programs. I have watched too many RUclips videos to count and no one has pointed out what you did in this video. It makes so much sense. You basically unwind your backswing the same way it went up. When I do as you demonstrate and then just let my arms naturally swing through without trying to put them in some certain positions, I really hit it well. Thank you
another superb tip zach thats something ive also struggled with my right arm firing too soon causing the flip so this video gives me a great understanding of the right arms role, thanks so much zach
I just subscribed based on how good the content you provided in this particular video
I have had hundreds of lessons and never seen it explained like that. Wow great tip !!
Thanks for the sub!
Zach, I tried this today on the range. Had to include the hip rotation simultaneously and concentrate on the impact, or it would be fat. But hit some solid in the clubface center. Best, there was no pull to the left, per my standard miss. Simple swing thought, unfold the right arm. Will continue. Thanks.
Working on the "Magic Move". Played yesterday, and my playing partner says, "You're close!" Good reinforcement. Thanks, Zach! Keep up the good work.
Really means a lot when your friends notice the improvements. 👍🏻
Is it okay to "feel" the lead arm rolling down the chest if you can't feel the unfolding the trail arm?
Went from an 18 to 13 hc in 6 months (posted my first sub 40 9 hole score a week ago) watching his vids, but still struggled with my woods and irons regularly. Tried this and everything suddenly felt right (no pun intended). Hit the first few fat, but then my body adjusted and contact was smooth and the plane shallowed.
I now feel that my right elbow never leaves my right hip and there is effortless power at release. Best video I've seen.
I'm taking no credit for my improvement. This guy is a great teacher.
hi Zach, this is the first video of yours I have ever seen. Yet some really positive points I would like to share with you on it. I appreciate this video, as I am taking lessons and dealing with this issue. Our group lesson teacher told me to try keeping my right arm straight in the backswing, but I find it unrealistic and too rigid. I really appreciate good use of language in describing golf mechanics and this video contains a really positive example in the term "unfolding the right arm." I can somehow understand that concept. The right elbow unfolds, as the body rotates, but just like any technique it is not an instant formula but then takes good old practice and muscle memory. I also appreciate your rare insight into bad experimental shots just after you have learned a new yet correct technique. I have never been told that, but as a teacher myself, it makes complete sense and shows lots of wisdom in teaching. Thanks.
When you get the swing coming from underneath like it should and both hands and arms working as a team you’ll get better immediately. With that you’ll understand and see the swing in your head which makes your impact zone more of a reality rather than a blur you hope to get right. Then it becomes a lot easier to repeat because your ball is flying straight and you have the feel of what it feels like at the top of your backswing. The rest is momentum and tempo. Fold the right arm after a wide takeaway w left hand then hold firm w both hands... turn with lower body and as you start your swing remember to keep your right elbow close to your body till it feels normal and passes by your belt buckle still bent. No over the top or and across the line! You must get your lower half out of the way first or it’s slice city...hang back a split sec or practice rotating your lower body out the way..then Make your body turn power the club until you get a controlled swing all balanced into finish. When you got that down then you can get all Dj n Brooks w it and add some of your own power, hand speed, or forced body torque. Control first hit fairway then go for bombs. These commercials make it sound like all pros are smashing 300 yd plus drives on every hole and they’re not!!! 280 290 some less than that so 240-250 for an am is 👍 so forget 300 and go for fairways first. This message is for me 4 years in the past lol.
Geep1778
I agree. My swing and distance immediately changed after nine holes of golf. And I repeat it the very next day with another nine holes. Not only is my driver going farther, my fairway hybrids are taking off like rockets! This is truly part of that magic move I believe and how fun it is to see instant results!
Zach, I'm a 79 yr. old golfer that shoots in the mid to high 90's. Among my golf problems I find that I come up and out of the shot to often...and applying that straight arm release after the shot. I'm confident if I can get a handle on one of those issues I'll be in the high 80's which would make me a happier golfer. Rich
Zack, how about moving to fl.? Really like and understand your explanations.
Amazing, i have been working on shallowing the club for so long and this made it so easy!!!! Thank You
Never thought of unfolding the right arm everybody the hip then shoulder start the swing. I’ll try that
This is a truly magic move for those millions of you who come over the top on the down swing. When I didn't know about this move, nothing could fix the over the top move.
I've been battling over the top for years and too many lessons but this cured my over the top move. Thanks.
Another video where I have to constantly translate 'right' to 'left'... the pain of being a lefty :P
For a lefty listening to a righty:
Left = lead side
right = trail side
This is a genius tip. As a life long ‘over the topper’ I have had live lessons and watched so many instructional videos that made sense but didnt solve the conundrum for me. This is so simple and so well demonstrated that its hard not to make it work, particularly when you break it down when drilling it. Thanks
I've played golf for over 40 years and never had the shallowing of the downswing explained so simply. I've been a single digit handicap all my life and struggle with coming over the top from time to time. This works and only took minutes to implement. Thank you!!
This makes a lot of sense. Big tennis player and a number of guys like Gasquet and Federer hit their respective backhands and forehands
Iike this. They release it behind them and simply rotate and pull through. I bought the video ! I’ve had some wrist injuries comimg down too steep and hoping this shallowing out process will be more of a body move and less of a wrist , small joint moves.
Took me 35 years to learn how important the movement of the right arm coming into impact was. It completely changed my game when I discovered it.
I've been hit by the shanks on and off in the last few weeks. I discovered this drill this morning and went down the range and it instantly put me on the correct swing plane. A brilliant method tip, which I haven't seen explained quite like this before. Cheers Zach!
You all probably dont give a damn but does anyone know of a method to log back into an instagram account??
I stupidly lost my password. I would appreciate any assistance you can offer me!
@Branson Marco instablaster =)
Excellent and unique....going to help me for sure
Update: Played today and this drill help me the most with my wedges...all of them were on target and I was 6" away from slam dunking a 60 degree wedge. Also I "felt" like I was swinging easier, and although I had a couple of miss hits, I feel I'm onto a good thing for sure....thanks again.
Update no 2: Played 9 holes today.....pared the first 4 holes.....drove the ball as far as I've ever driven it, with less effort (so happy about that).....only one miss hit......score?....4 over, and I'm off 17
Wow, great playing, glad this helped you straight off.
I am going to say this straight up. This is the best demonstration of shallowinv out the club I’ve watched and I’m telling you, i’ve watched ridiculous amounts of videos! Good stuff!
❤
I've been struggling with this so hard for over a week, and this seems genius. I simply couldn't figure out how to shallow my damn club. I'm literally heading to my yard now to try this.
Thanks again Zach! Love your videos. This one in particular, unfolding the right arm, has made a big and immediate difference to my game. I'm making way, way better contact. I'm compressing the ball. I'm hitting it straight. Only played 2 9-hole rounds so far, but a 37 and a 40 for an 11.5 index is a big improvement! Thank you!!
What a great swing thought. Unfold your right arm. Will be on the practice ground in Spain tomorrow working on this.
That's wonderful! I will be in Antarctica tomorrow working on this as well.
Just came back from range. Never thought about my right arm in the down swing but now trying it with immediate improvement. Felt very natural. It’s like the last thing I needed to do for a easy swing. Thank you for this instruction.
Glad to hear it worked fairly easily on your first trip out.
Zach--great lesson. Sometimes I feel by dropping my right arm down, I may be releasing a little lag angle. Also, when I drop the right arm, should I feel that the head of the club is a little behind me? Thanks, Zach
Yes exactly right. And also a great point, it is easy to unhinge the wrists, as you unfold the right arm, which is not correct.
This move makes a lot of instruction redundant as this has been misunderstood for too long make sure you have a light grip
This is absolutely new info for me. Can't wait to try it out. Thank you!
THIS is absolutely 100% correct, right on the money, perfect. Right arm folds up and down while chest turns back and through. Combine these two movements and you're on your way to a great and CORRECT golf swing. Great job, Zach!
Thanks, really does simplify it when broken into separate parts. Than blended together.
As one of the Golf Digest top 75 coaches in the world I want to say I think your explanations are fantastic! Clear step by step and mechanically correct instruction. Well done Zach
Zach, you are a golf god! Great advice and simple explanation. I was definitely one of the "throw-your-arms-at-the-ball-golfer" who struggled tremendously with swing plane. This helped! Thanks!
Brilliant! Most videos on the right arm focus on getting the elbow in front of the right hip but that has me getting all bundled up on the downswing, this tip really frees up the motion, thanks a million!
Spectacular good advice and a fantastic tip. Tried it at home and it felt great and natural. Will update once I take it to the range and course.
How’s it going now?
@@swisstrader Probably poorly
Really like this example of what to do with the right arm. I'm 9 handicap.....Thank you
I purchased your BallStriking Blueprint video series and it has helped my game more than any lessons I have ever taken. I added the Right Arm unfolding from this video. Immediately my swing became effortless and my distance improved big time! Thanks Zach!
Dang, love to heat it. Glad to hear your work
Is paying off.
Brilliant video. Thanks - could be the missing piece for me.
For me, this might be the best video out there... And I've seen the lot.. Fantastic stuff, this might very well be the missing link for me👍
Zach, thank you so much for this video. It has made a large improvement upon my game. My score will improve the more that I try the right arm improvement, because I have been coming over the top four Time. Thank you very much keep the videos coming I enjoy your knowledge of the game. Thank you Woody Woodson
This video could not had came at a perfect time. I did not realize I was swinging over the top and it showed in a terrible round yesterday. Primarily with driver and long game. I couldn't hit anything. I was losing distance and every shot went right. No power/distance. I must had looked like I never played this game before. It's always fun to golf with your buddies but I actually couldn't wait to end the round. Discouraging. Short game showed up. Putted well but wow, something wasn't right so I waited to get home to analyze my swing from set up. I usually cool down after a round by hitting a small bucket of balls with light swings but no, back to drawing board and here is this video in my notifications. Wow...Thank you for the tip and how to correct it and work it in the swing. My right arm was just like one of the faults demonstrated. Very pleased to had subscribed! 👍
Thanks for the sub!
I fond that very enlightening. Thx you
Hands down some of the best advice I've come to learn! I took this to the backyard with some rubber balls and hit thirty or so shots. I took it to a course yesterday and was very happy with my results -still plenty of work to do, but what a great start! I've struggled with the slice for years (mostly with my driver, but any club on any given shot). This method negated my slice and even had me hitting to the left of the fairway. It also helped with my weight transfer. My balls traveled further with each club as well. If you are an arms/shoulder first golfer, give this a try! You'll be impressed.
I watched this and some couple of other pro teachers videos abt downswing. The 👉unfolding right arm and left arm DOWN (not forward) to position the shaft in an angle of attack and turning the hips is the most important part of a golf swing. Now I'm hitting the ball solid and decent. Now it's golf I'm playing. It took me 20 years to figure it out. Many thanks from Brazil👍
I literally haven't even watched this video, but I read the email Zach sent out earlier. I retain better when I read. I broke 80 for the first time this year. Pulling my right arm down with the "inside" muscles instead of the outside muscles kept me in the slot all day. Only miss was a slight pull hook, and one slice when I slipped. Birdied a par five after reaching the green in two with a 265 yard 3wood approach shot. Between Zach Allen and Adam Bazelgette, I have everything I need to become a three handicap by next summer.
Congrats, great playing!
Zach Allen Golf great coaching. Thanks for the free content, and thanks for being so descriptive about the important but relatively small details. If there is any way I can support your let me know. A video or email on tips to teach kids around age 4 to play would be awesome.
Great video!. This concept made a huge difference in my iron striking which has always been way worse than my driver as the driver setup must have naturally helped me shallow out. I recently played and didn't stirke irons well though I hit driver great but I really think it's because I wasn't turning out my right elbow enough and especially not keeping the right arm inside the left if looked at from a behind and down the line angle. Basically my swing was slightly off but the set up wasn't right. Keeping that right elbow in connects the entire swing to the body and massively stabilizes it. It's easy for it to try to wander back out some if you're not careful though! Pretend you're doing curls and like one guy side keep that right elbow tight to your body.
This move is much easier to do than to actually "change" your entire swing to try and shallow the club. In fact, another YT instructor has said to NOT get rid of the over the top move, but just to drop the hands and arms whilst turning.
If you look at Rory McIlroy dtl in slow motion, he does the same thing.
This tip is actually really good and to the point. 👍
That was life changing... with respect to my golf life at least. I've been trying to get out of early extending in hopes of getting rid of mishits on the hosel (ahem, the "s" word), and the pull, pull-hooks (stronger grip tendencies due to the fact if I don't, we're cutting more than butter out there). So I suppose I stumble upon your video about early extension, then THIS video pops up in my suggested. I watch it on my break... grab a club and give it a try... ;_; My 5 iron has never been struck so semi-pure and straight so many times consecutively; now I can quit working on my short game and get back to the fun stuff (jk).
Amazing, I've been looking for a true explanation of how the right arm transition works. Very well done!
The first student was still holding back and using his body way to much (in relation to his unwillingness to unfold the right arm) , good video..thank you..👍👍
Yes, I think in an effort to pull the club down, the right arm gets really stiff, and does not unfold correctly.
It's amazing how much this helps strike and direction and then even more amazing when you watch top tour pros with this knowledge and realise they all do the same thing. Right arm is nearly always extended far earlier than I would have thought.
Tried straightening the right arm through impact today - wow - incredible difference (although it didn't do my score any good because I hit a 9 iron 30yds over the back of a par 3 (my usual 9 iron goes 120) and then hit an 8 iron 168 while laying up short of a lake (usually 135) The quality of strike was out of this world and the trajectory was baby draw, which for me is the promised land after coming OTT and hitting weak fades all my life . . . . . But why doesn't it work with the longer clubs, especially the driver which I only hit 200yds?
Great video. Makes more sense than anything I’ve heard in 50 years.
Good video! Been working on this for a few months. What is the sensation being felt in the right hand? Is it a pulling motion(“centripetal”)? A dropping motion? I have a right shoulder injury and gives me difficulty recreating the motion and ‘feel’ through the arm. I’m gaining strength in the ‘palm-up’ position into delivery which is helping with distance-to-the-ball issues and helping with consistency clearing the slot. Thanks!
Tried it today and control and power were excellent.Great tip & never saw anyone teach this before.Thanks
Hi Zach, is unfolding right elbow the same like Dropping of your arms? Dropping of arms provides great soft contact, flush shots, but only if you can time with your body roatation, otherwise I end up with fat shots. Please your thoughts are appreciated.Thank you
Great tip. I watched this video 2 hrs before my game. I unfold my right arm as seen, it was great to assessed my over the tip hitting. I got 10 strokes better score with 30 yards longer on my driver . Will repeat again next game. Thank you !!
So my problem is a bit different. I think my arm is doing pretty much what you’re saying, but I have my trouble when finishing the swing at impact with the ball. Sometimes I feel like my right wrist never catches up to my left wrist, especially when I’m really trying to get my hands out in front of the ball. I have a lot of stiffness in my right wrist, but I’ve been able to mostly fix a broken swing with a change in grip and now my swing feels a lot like it used to. I used to really be able to deloft the club at impact and hit low piercing shots and hit my irons very far. My stock 8 iron was carrying 170. Now because of fear of going off the hosel or hitting the ball with a wide open face, that 8 iron is now flying more like 150. I’m much stronger now than I was when I was hitting the ball very far, as I’ve spent a lot of time in the gym and made major gains. I searched this video because I want to get a feel where I’m able to swing freely at the ball like I used to, without even really thinking about my right arm or my right wrist. When I get to thinking about it too much, I’m in real danger of hitting catastrophic shots that could ruin an entire round. I want consistent strikes. My game isn’t bad, as I’m making major improvements and thoughts of breaking par are back in my mind after a few years of truly struggling. I just wish I could have a thought or position to keep my right wrist from lagging behind the rest of my golf swing and leaving the face WIDE open. It doesn’t happen on every swing, but when it does, it really messes with me and I don’t know what to do to fix it. I don’t want to throw my hand at the ball, as that is a recipe for a shank. I want an easy feel. Any tips would help
Nothing personal and I gave you a like; but, terrible advice that I have heard from countless PGA professional teachers over the years.
On the other hand; Martin Hull only recently gave the best advice ever. Simply put he says at the top of the downswing the trail elbow leads the trail hand; never the trail hand leading the trail elbow.
This aware activation of the trail elbow both shallows the club and opens up the lead side at the exact same time for a easy perfect strike of the ball every single time..
Just do it and stop trying to manipulate your hips, arms,and shoulders ever again in striking the ball. It's that simple. Cheers.
P.S. Take this from a nobody; who at 72 finally learned how to consistently strike hard and straight at the ball.
Zach I have learned the most about how the club drops from unfolding the right arm. Thank you. There is another area I would like to address. The analogies of other sports to golf. OMG the outcome is so much different. In golf you must have extremely accurate contact into an extremely small field with tight distance control at high speeds starting from a standing still. I have played sports baseball, ice hockey and football at higher than normal levels and they don't MENTALLY/physically compare at all. In baseball the field is wide and not every swing requires a home run. You can bunt, hit to any filed just make contact. In ice hockey at least a slap shot analogie you can hit fat and the result is a little less speed. The other sport analogie like tennis or ping pong is with one dominant hand (for the most part) and it's easy to guide that dominant hand to make the racket move the ball ( there is no shaft from the head and a second hand). All the other sports your whole body is already in motion and doesn't require standing still and be a robot. The room for error to play well is SOOO much larger in other sports. In golf completely different. You have to hit the ball with a small blade on the end of a shaft away from your hands into a very narrow field with very little error consistently over and over with power. I am so athletic but yet golf is so perplexing. It drives me mad. If golf was just "close enough is good" I would have a 0 handicap. How to repeatedly get the club head onto the gold ball is a mystery I'm trying to solve.
Maybe Lydia Ko should watch this video as apparently she is looking for a new swing coach !!
Maybe she should ride the horse that took her there.
I have recently found keeping my ( right ) trail arm close at take-away really helps me , but how do I know exactly when it's ok to let my elbow drift a little further away from my body at the top of my back swing , otherwise I find my swing can become too inside to out, causing a hook.......thanks
Just like skipping a rock with your eyes closed and you body will naturally make golf swing . Great video . That is a simple swing. Great job
Hi Zach, recently I try to take my right elbow consciously to the front towards the belt buckle. Is your motion with unfolding right elbow a similar concept or maybe the outcome Is? Any thoughts. Thank you.
I love it, easy to learn. Up until now I ve been strugling to get a decent ball contact and distance with my irons. Works like a charm. Thanks Zach.
I just tried it out yesterday at the range. For me anyway, I found that it should be done as the first move down before anything else - not later on in the downswing or you will be over the top. So the feel is that after you turn your shoulders fully on the backswing, it will feel like you are doing it "behind" yourself. Then you can go ahead and make a connected turn. Should add that of course you start the downswing FIRST as instructed with the left knee and lower body.
Great instruction. Easy to understand and adopt. Striking ball better than I have in years. Each new lesson refines the process further. Thanks.
Notes for me...
0:30 is me
0:55 - 1:14 is the fix (unfold during downswing turn/pivot)
2:12 - what i do wrong immediately followed by an example of how to unfold the right arm.
2:53 how to work on it with a club
4:20 - 6:05 student example of my swing fault and the fix
Thus, leave the hands passive in the downswing.
Zach could you do a tip on shoulder plane I've been working I'm trying to get my left shoulder to move downward in my backswing and or my right shoulder working more up and behind my head.I tend to get my shoulders a little too flat when I do a correctly I hit the ball really solid
Hi Zach
Great teaching advice about when trying something new in the golf swing. It feels different. So i am committing to learn a new habit. Get my swing technically correct. So i shall stay with the
uncomfortable uncomfortable
Great video, I will work on that. I do have a problem taking divots when hitting a ball but when practice swing I take good divots? Any idea's
This is very key to my swing at the present since I'm working on staying under the plane of my backswing. Wondering if Zach Allen holds lessons in person?
I've been hanging on to my angles too long causing a slight over the top movement and to steep at impact , ok for short irons but bad for long irons and driver . I have practiced this shallowing movement with a club and it feels different by giving me more width and time in the downswing to reach impact . I like it and will try on the practise range tomorrow. Thanks Zach , and keep up the good work that we are all trully thankful for .
I have watched hundreds if not thousands of videos and been to dozens of often very well-known Pros in the US and Europe and on the robot twice, with a focus on trying to shallow the club more in transition.
THIS is the ONLY tip that makes a huge/THE difference- for me, and that immediately and consistently.
For me, THIS is the transition/start of the downswing move and 'secret'.
Fwiw: the one for the proper backswing pivot is left side bend.
I think 'leading with the right elbow, lag focus, later release, avoiding to let hands go down faster than the right elbow' were all misleading ideas that kept me from figuring this out earlier and myself.
This seems to be the proper way and feel of 'pulling the chain down'.
Now, please just tell me how to get more clubhead speed with that new transition and downswing.
Rotating hard from the delivery position/slot onward and left arm frisbee seem to work best sofar, but not to a hugely discernible speed difference-yet.
Many, many, many thanks for discovering and sharing this true 'secret' with us!
I think you are exactly right. Throughout the years I have tried countless ways to start the downswing. None of them ever get exactly right or lead to lasting results. I believe this one to be superior.
No other word---BRILLIANT!!! Thank you.
Well I did it....I won the monthly medal at the week end....thank you so much.
Congrats!
Hi Zac, came across this video after reading an email you sent me last week and what a difference its made with contact with the ball, better contact, flight and distance. THANKS.
I've been working on trying to shallow the club on the downswing for over a year and could not for the life of me make any improvement. Watched this video and saw huge improvement in about five swings.
Now that's👍👍👍 golden
The annoying brian diagnostically chop because patio congruently tip between a dreary side. bewildered, successful ocean
Thank you for this tip... my swing looked Exactly like the 2nd example you shown that top’d the ball upon changing his swing.
Crazy cool lesson, the quiver analogy has been used many times but you showing the simple right arm unbend is made even simpler. I am really enjoying your ballstriking blueprint.
Excellent tip
Can it possibly be this easy. I’m way over complicating the swing! Thanks, paul
I majored in pure math (literally one of the hardest and most abstract area of human study) and somehow golf technique seems harder and more confusing.
Tried what Zach is talking about and although it took a bucket or 2 it works. Other instructors talk about carrying a try with your right hand but the way Zach teaches it works! Try it and you will see!
Thanks Zach
This is like a eureka moment. Struggled with shallowing and coming down above plane in a steeper manner. This seems so simple, can’t wait to try later. Thanks zach
I notice that Rory McIlroy and a lot of players keep their right arm very straight for very long in the backswing, would this be a good thing to work on?
DO you get the same feeling by pulling down more with you left hand? What is the proper swing thought to start your downswing? I see your tip on the right arm and will try it, hopefully tomorrow
He kind of looks like a younger Arnold Schwarzenneger lol
Great content! His explanations have had a more significant impact on my game than any other channel.
Keep it up!
I tried this at the range today and eventually went from slices to nice baby fades. Does this mean I’m doing it correctly or should I be hitting draws?
The straightening the the right arm is the best explanation of how to get down onto the lower swing plane in the downswing. The backswing starts back on the address shaft swing plane and then is lifted up onto a higher but parallel swing plane by bending right arm as you swing to the top. Makes sense to reverse this in downswing by straightening the right arm to get back down onto lower swing plane thru impact.
Seems like really good tips. I have always learned that golf was a left sided sport for right handers, but this video challenges that paradigm. Did a bunch of practice swings inside and the consistency of the swing was really amazing. Looking forward to trying this on the range!