The arms play a major role in producing speed and controlling the path of the swing. If you can get the arm movement down, the rest of the body will follow and a consistent swing can be yours. The arms can be utilized to create power and accuracy in a swing that is repeatable and dependable!
The more speed you can generate, the better! Speed is a game changer!
So, within the past 3-4 months I have really had a pretty major a-ha moment.
You know the one where you have been playing golf for so long and then you discover something within your swing that seems to be a game changer?
For years, I would think about my shoulder position or my hips and where everything was moving in the swing. Then I came across a Mike Bender video on youtube and realized that a high percentage of the speed in the golf swing is generated by the arms and hands in the golf swing.
I also came across a Monte Scheinblum video that compared the average hip speed on the LPGA Tour to the average hip speed on the PGA Tour and believe it or not, the hip speed is actually higher on the LPGA Tour, but the overall club head speed on average is close to 20 miles per hour slower!
Mind blogging, right?
All of those instructors promote the use of the ground forces and people are trying to use their legs, hips and shoulders to generate all of this speed.
In reality, these movements and swing thoughts might be actually slowing down their swing speed.
Have you ever wondered with all of the improvement in technology and promises from manufactures why golfers don’t actually hit the ball further or score better?
Around this same time, I purchased the SuperSpeed Training System to increase my swing speed.
More on that later (Check out Bonus Drill), but I have seen an increase in my driver speed of between 98-100 miles per hour up to 105-107 miles per hour with some swings measuring on occasion at the 109 miles per hour level.
When I combined the arm movements taught by Mike Bender with the Overspeed Training of SuperSpeed golf, this magic moment happened in my game! I started hitting drivers that would exceed where I would normally hit by 20-30 yards.
I continue to train with a goal of getting up to the PGA Tour average of 113 miles per hour and I feel that I can do that with several more months of overspeed training and the continue development of my mechanics in my swing from an arms driven swing.
Complete Review on the Arms in the Golf Swing!
Below, I will take you through the following topics related to the arms in the golf swing. They include:
- The videos that provided key information
- How to use your arms in the golf swing
- Bad advice about hands and arms and instead what you should do
- Measure your swing speed
- Bonus speed drill
Arms in the Golf Swing: The Videos that Provided Key Information
As discussed above, there were two key videos that provided some a-ha moments for me that have helped change my game for the better. After years of focusing on the movement of my shoulders, hips, letgs, etc.
I have realized that I simply need a arms driven swing and that I can still produce some impressive speed.
Video 1: Mike Bender Downswing
Key Takeaways that impacted my game:
- You don’t need to think about using your body to drive your arms through. The body will respond and help support the arm motion.
- From the top of the backswing to impact only takes a quarter of a second. Much like a race between a motorcycle and a 4 wheel drive jeep, the motorcycle will win the short race. The arms are compared to the motorcycle and need to be quick.
- The arms and the hands move quickly, similar to whipping a towel.
- Allow the arms and hands to accelerate. You should be trying to move the clubs as fast as you can with your arms and your hands.
- If you completely remove your body, you will still obtain around 90% of your normal swing. The rotation and turning of the body, will add around 10%.
- In transition, the body will act as resistance and allow the arms to fire or whip through. We want our lower body stable and still to really get acceleration with arms and hands.
- In reality, the body will still move even though we are focused on firing the arms and the hands in the golf swing. The body works as a responder or resistor and not as a leader. This leading of the body can cause a golfer to flip through the impact zone.
Compare your current speed to different levels of golfers:
| Senior | Average | Low Handicap | Tour Pro | |
| Driver Swing Speed | 91 and Below | 91-101 | 102-112 | 113-123 |
| Driver Distance | 210 and Below | 210-235 | 235-275 | 275-300 |
| 3 Wood Distance | 200 | 220 | 230 | 243 |
| Hybrid Distance | 190 | 205 | 215 | 225 |
| 4 iron Distance | 170 | 185 | 195 | 203 |
| 5 iron Distance | 160 | 175 | 185 | 194 |
| 6 iron Distance | 150 | 163 | 173 | 183 |
| 7 iron Distance | 140 | 153 | 163 | 172 |
| 8 iron Distance | 130 | 143 | 153 | 160 |
| 9 iron Distance | 120 | 131 | 141 | 148 |
| pw Distance | 110 | 121 | 131 | 136 |
| sw Distance | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 |
| lw Distance | 70 | 80 | 90 | 105 |
Video 2: Monte Scheinblum Hip Speed (Arm Speed vs Hip Speed)
Key Takeaways that impacted my game:
- When you hit a golf ball, it is more about arm speed and very little about hip speed.
- Monte shows a measurement and compares the speed when hitting off his knees and then off of his feet.
- The speed range off his feet was between 118-125, off his knees between 107-112, about a 10 miles per hour difference. Whereas the difference in hip speed he had half the speed, but only lost 10 miles per hour.
- Hip speed and club head speed do not have a direct correlation.
- The hip speed is more about directing the speed in the golf swing.
| Driver Swing Speed Average | |
| PGA Tour | 113 |
| LPGA Tour | 94 |
How To Use Your Arms in the Golf Swing
Tip #1: Allow your arms and hands to fire or throw from the top
Too many golfers are stuck trying to get into difference positions. If you allow your body to react to the movement and the arms you will can have a sequenced swing that allows to hit the bal accurate with plenty of distance.
When golfers get out of sequence, they start to lose significant difference and it takes a lot of timing to get it just right.
While the ground does play a role, it isn’t a swing thought you should have when on the course.
Tip #2: Go As Fast As You Can with your arms in the golf swing
Don’t be afraid to throw it hard from the top. Too many golfers think this is casting, but in reality the body and the throwing motion will time up perfectly and actually help you increase the amount of lag in your swing.
The lag position that you see in many still photos is not a result of golfers trying to get to that position by holding the club head back, but rather a result of the proper release and sequencing with the body.
Check out :56 of this video by Mike Bender for a Practice Drill:
Also, check out this video by Monte of the No Turn, Cast Drill:
This video above is one of my all time favorites. It shows that you can actually get into a quality impact position by throwing or feeling like you are casting from the top. Let’s start to activate those hands and arms in the golf swing to maximize our distance.
Bad advice about the hands and arms in the golf and what you should do instead
Too often, some bad advice is received where golfers are told to take their hands out of hte swing. This is actually some of the worse advice someone could ever use. The hands and arms drive the swing and should be utilized.
Many golfers come to golf after playing other sports and have some athletic ability. In no other would someone tell you not to use your hands. Could you imagine swing a baseball bat with your arms or hands?
Could you imagine throwing a baseball or football by putting your arm in place and then only moving your shoulder and your hips?
See? It sounds ridiculous when put it in the context of other sports.
Instead fire away and throw from the top. Allow your body to support or provide resistance and to flow through the swing with your arms.
Measure your golf swing!
Too many golfers hear advice, give it a shot, but never truly measure what works. With today’s technology with launch monitors, you can now understand whether something works for you and actually increase swing speed and increase accuracy.
There are three excellent options in today’s market that allow you to measure your swing at the driving range, in a net, or in a home golf simulator. These versatile options below give you instant feedback and the information you need to experiment and see what works best for your!
I would recommend one of the three launch monitors listed below:
I personally use the SkyTrak Launch Monitor and am able to use it in my golf simulator setup in my garage and take to the driving range or course. The real time data on ball speed, spin rates and spin axis gives me the feedback I know to test out different clubs and setups on my drivers or what clubs I am hitting the best.
The affordability of these products is rather impressive and if you are serious about improving your game, you have to check these out!
BONUS DRILL: Increase your swing speed through overspeed training
- Check out SuperSpeed Overspeed Training Protocols
- Train every other day for 10-15 minutes.
- See a 4-6% increase in swing speed as early as the first training protocol.
The number one thing that has helped me gain significant distance is the SuperSpeed Training System. This overspeed based system where you train every other day for about 10-15 minutes with different swing sticks can help you increase your swing speed by 5-8% which can be 20-30 yards. Who wouldn’t want an extra 20-30 yards. Plus it helps improve your mechanics.
SuperSpeed Golf – Use Discount Code Golfjourney365 for some savings!
The analytics are pretty clear on the importance of speed in the game of golf. Would you rather hit your approach shot from 130 yards of 160 yards? The answer is pretty simple!
We know that over the course of time, we will hit shots from 130 yards much closer than from 160 yards, whether we are an average amateur golfer, a scratch golfer, or a PGA Tour member!
The key is having shorter approach shots, so we can hit the ball closer to the hole and then make more putts! Speed is king in the game of golf! Make sure you check out SuperSpeed Golf!
My Secret To Golf Improvement
Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently. About three years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage.
I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.
This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer. I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day.
I can practice or play rounds of golf. I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.
It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.
Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor. Here are some options:
Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:
2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed. Here are some options:
Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:
3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier. Here is a series on breaking through:
We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.
4 – Practice Frequently
Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system? It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:
- Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator?
- What is the Best Golf Simulator?
- Golf Simulator Accessories?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
- Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
- Why Build A Golf Simulator?
- What Space is Needed?
- Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
- How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
- Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.