The Key To Going From Beginner to Intermediate Is Creating The 'L' Shape

One of the key differences I see when golfers start progressing from a beginner to an intermediate level is the relationship between the left arm and the club shaft at the top of the swing.

When you look at more advanced golfers, you'll often notice that their left arm and the club shaft form approximately a 90-degree angle or 'L' Shape at the top of the backswing. This is an important position because it helps create a strong and powerful position from which to start the downswing.

When this relationship is correct, it helps the golfer return the club to impact with the left arm reasonably straight and the hands positioned in front of the clubface. This creates a strong impact position that can help produce both power and accuracy.

So how do you create this position?

The key is to gradually hinge your wrists as you move the club to the top of the backswing. At the same time, you want to gradually rotate the clubface as you hinge the wrists.

This gradual combination of wrist hinge and clubface rotation is one of the most important movements to understand if you want to improve your golf swing.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is golfers trying to keep their left arm completely straight for too long during the backswing.

While it might sound like a good idea to keep the left arm straight, trying to do this without allowing the wrists to hinge can actually create the opposite effect.

Your body instinctively knows that some form of hinge needs to happen as the club moves to the top of the swing. If you prevent the wrists from hinging, the body can start looking for another way to create that movement.

This is where you can often see the left arm begin to bend excessively at the elbow, creating a large collapse of the left arm at the top of the backswing.

Instead of creating the hinge through the elbow, we want to create it through the wrists.

A really simple way to practise this is with what I call the Hinge-Up Drill.

Start by setting up in your normal golf posture and maintaining that posture throughout the drill. From your setup position, simply hinge your wrists upwards until the club and your left arm create approximately a 90-degree angle.

Once you've created this position, rotate your body to the top of the backswing while maintaining your golf posture.

As you repeat this movement, you'll start to develop a better feeling for how the wrists should hinge while the body rotates, rather than trying to create the movement by bending the left arm.

The goal isn't to force the club into a perfect position. Instead, you're developing a feeling for how the wrists, arms and body should work together throughout the backswing.

If you're trying to take your game from beginner to intermediate level, improving this relationship between your left arm and the club shaft can be a great place to start.

Focus on one simple thought — gradually hinge your wrists as you rotate to the top of the swing.

If you'd like help improving your golf swing or taking your game to the next level, contact me at David Waters Golf Coaching, located at Emerald Lakes Golf Coaching Centre in Carrara.