2020-05-01_Golf_Digest

48 golf digest | issue 4. 2020 Photographs by J.D. Cuban

“Which of these looks like

I’m going to hit a good one?”

Play The Leading Edge by Michael Breed

Fast Arms, Slow Hands

Do what the pros do for better impact

L

et me explain that

headline, because last

I checked, the hands

are attached to the arms. But

I want you to separate them in

your mind for a minute. Good

players swing their arms down

at a high rate of speed, which

gets the body turning in

support (above, right). Poor

players often let their hands,

mainly the trail hand, take

over during the downswing.

That instinct to use the hands

practice

like you play

▶ With the spring

season here, it’s

a good time to

review how you

practice. Do you

work on things

that translate to

better play? Don’t

just bang drivers

into a wide-open

range or chip to one

flag from perfect

lies. Your practice

should simulate

playing golf.

Take the driver.

I want you to

practice hitting

wild slices and

hooks, so you get a

feel for what makes

the ball curve.

Change your grip,

swing to the left,

swing to the right.

Then figure out

what you need to do

to take away some

curve. For slicers,

that might mean

a stronger grip

or making more

body turn during

the backswing.

Do some self-

discovery. You’ll be

better equipped to

fix those curveballs

on the course.

▶ For more practice

tips that simulate

play, check out

my video series

“Michael Breed’s

Playbook” on Golf

Digest Schools at

golfdigest.com/

allaccess.

slows down the arm swing and

inhibits body movement

(above, left). The result: less

power and control.

So let’s get back to fast

arms, slow hands. Get it right,

and the shaft leans forward

at impact for a downward

strike that compresses the

ball. You also get centerface

contact with the face squaring

naturally, as opposed to

too much trail-hand action,

which can rotate the face

closed too early or flip it

upward through impact.

In short, when the arms lead,

it means better contact, less

curve and more distance.

Here’s a great swing

thought: Make your lead arm

beat the clubhead to the ball,

with your lead wrist flat or even

a little bowed. That’s how you

keep the hands passive and put

maximum punch into the shot.

—with peter morrice

michael breed is Golf Digest’s

Chief Digital Instructor.