Tommy Fleetwood straight arm drill

[Smash Factors]

Tommy talks about the "Straight arm drill" that was the key to improving his ball striking.

 

I've tried this type of drill before but didn't think much of it. Do I give it another go?

 

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"https://instagram.com/p/Boz0aPFBSVQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_video_watch_again")

[strength115]

I’ve never tried this drill myself. Is it done with half swings?

[J13]

it's a 9 to 3 drill

[stingerfade]

Same thing dan (Iteach) had a long thread about a few years ago. Great drill to fee connected and what a proper hinge feels like. The planemate seems to promote this same thing from what I can tell as mine isn’t arriving till January

[danielt823]

> @stingerfade said:

> Same thing dan (Iteach) had a long thread about a few years ago. Great drill to fee connected and what a proper hinge feels like. The planemate seems to promote this same thing from what I can tell as mine isn’t arriving till January

 

Are you able to provide the link for that thread you’ve mentioned? I’ve done a search and haven’t been able to find the it at all unless I missed it during my searches.

[strength115]

> @stingerfade said:

> Same thing dan (Iteach) had a long thread about a few years ago. Great drill to fee connected and what a proper hinge feels like. The planemate seems to promote this same thing from what I can tell as mine isn’t arriving till January

 

Ok gotcha, I remember the video Iteach did on that now.

[royourboat]

Some old gold. Seems to be the same thing Tommy is talking about.

 

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http://www.golfwrx.com/70325/getting-in-sync/]( http://www.golfwrx.com/70325/getting-in-sync/ "http://www.golfwrx.com/70325/getting-in-sync/")

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https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/791161/get-your-arm-swing-and-pivot-in-sync]( https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/791161/get-your-arm-swing-and-pivot-in-sync "

https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/791161/get-your-arm-swing-and-pivot-in-sync")

[mikpga]

Two of the Ten Words...

[stingerfade]

https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/791161/get-your-arm-swing-and-pivot-in-sync/p1

[stingerfade]

https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/791161/get-your-arm-swing-and-pivot-in-sync/p1

[Milkers]

Fleetwood is talking about a completely different drill. Dan wanted arms (feeling) straight but wrists fully set, Fleetwood specifically says his drill had no hands and no wrists involved and was about just using the body.

[stingerfade]

When you do the drill the wrists set automatically because they have to. It’s the same feel. Fleetwoods wrists definitely set and the right arm bends. Feel isn’t real

[Scottbox]

It's based on the ol' Mac O'Grady hit and hold. Your goals or desired feels depend on what you're working on, but the results are the same and it's a good drill for everyone to use:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLYPci791rU

 

 

[Hilts1969]

Still not the same drill though. Using the Fleetwood. Iteach or say montes no turn drill will be dependant on where you are in your current swing and what faults you have.

[stingerfade]

Not sure how swinging from 9 to 3 with your arms straight isn’t the same drill? Call it what you want it is the same thing promoting connection/any change with the arms and body.

[jholz]

I associate the 9 - 3 Drill most closely with Slicefixer - he's where I learned about it, and I know he used it extensively with his students. It does seem like iteach and Fleetwood are describing the same drill.

 

From my recollection, Slicefixer was pretty minimal in his description of precisely how the arms, wrists, etc. were supposed to be positioned in the drill outside of straight trailing arms at both the 9 and 3 positions. Other than that, he seemed to like letting people dig it out of the dirt. But, perhaps I mis-remember.

 

Regardless, I think it is a wonderful drill for pretty much any golfer, and I agree that it really helps to improve ball striking.

[andrue]

Sounds like the 'L to L' drill that my first instructor taught me many years ago.

[stingerfade]

The term 9 to 3 I got from Slicefixer but he didn’t say to try it keeping your arms straight that’s the indifference to me and really opened up this drill

[dpb5031]

Slicefixer teaches the 9 to 3 a little differently than most teachers who often describe it as "L to L". Slice doesn't want you releasing the wrists to achieve the second L on the follow thru. He basically wants you to maintain an extended (bent back) right hand thru impact as well as a bent trail arm (if possible) depending on one's build/body type. Handle of the club follows your rotating core around, not DTL. It's a no-flip move designed to get you accustomed to squaring the club with your pivot rather than flipping it over with hands & wrists. In order to accomplish this effectively you have to meet other prerequisite conditions such as grip, set-up, and pivot motion. Similar to what Fleetwood is describing, I've seen him teach certain players to try to keep arms straight as described in the video.

The drill is great for learning how to compress the ball with what Slice calls a "leveraged impact". It's awesome for syncing up arm swing and pivot so they're working together, and really improves efficiency and strike compression. Once you "get it" and advance to full swings, the 9 to 3 pattern is ingrained into the full swing move so you achieve the "leveraged impact" but let it all go what will "feel like" after impact to a full finish with no hanging on required. Great drill!

[Hilts1969]

I have seen that interview with Fleetwood in full and seen other comments. He says keep the arms straight and do nothing actively with the wrists. He also says he feels the arms lag behind.

 

If you think telling people that as a drill is the same as the iteach one knock yourself out. Just hope the player has good wrist angles and doesn't suffer from the arms trailing the pivot.

I think Tommy probably had good wrist angles and a great pivot to start. The difference is one says set your wrists early and try keep the right arm straight. But the right arm must go forward as quick as possible.

I don't believe iteach or Monte like passive or lagging arms. I'm sure they will correct me if I'm wrong

[stingerfade]

That’s the whole point with the iteach drill is that you can’t lag your arms behind because they are connected to your pivot. It’s the actual whole point of the drill Is to teach correct arm and wrist feels and movement with your pivot so not really sure why you’re arguing that fact but have at it. Enjoy

[Hilts1969]

I’m aware of what the iteach drill is, all I’m saying and it comes straight from fleetwoods mouth is he states

you don’t use your hands/wrists

you keep both arms straight

you use your body to rotate

your arms are a dead weight they feel like they drag behind

 

this is not the same drill. We can argue all day long and still you will think you are right and I know that I am right:-)

 

[hoselpalooza]

yup. here's what tommy has to say on the matter in an instagram post:@tommyfleetwood_1 words on his swing technicallyI square the club at impact by keeping my body turning. There's very little forearm rotation or flip, where the right hand rolls under the left. I see amateurs do that, and it's very hard to control ball flight if you're too active with your hands.Instead, keep your hands and arms passive, letting the club follow your body through impact. That means you gotta keep turning. I want my body rotation to stay ahead of my hands and club, as if they are being dragged. Do that, and you can swing down from the inside and square the clubface without forearm rotation. Even after I hit it, my forearms haven't turned much. This type of swing relies a lot less on timing. Even if you're off, your misses won't be as bad.A drill to get a feel for this is to take a 7-iron and hit shots that go only 100 yards. Do this simply by propelling the club with body rotation. Your arms stay long throughout the swing—like a windmill—but act like they're dead weight. This will help you feel how to square the club without trying to do it with your hands. Big-muscle swings are a lot easier to control.

[dpb5031]

This is EXACTLY what Slicefixer advocates and teaches. I think it's a great and reliable pattern, but it does have prerequisites. Your grip, particularly the lead hand, must be sufficiently strong enough so that the club will be square rather than open when you pivot aggressively with no stall. Your arms also must be synchronized with your pivot. If your arms overrun and you rotate like heck on the downswing trying to leave them behind, it's a disaster. Ideally, arm swing must stop in backswing when shoulder turn is complete, otherwise there's a huge timing element to get them back in front and reconnected. Fleetwood has a great swing!

[stingerfade]

Which is exactly what I’ve been saying. Like talking to a brick wall. Cheers guys I’m out smh

[stingerfade]

So funny because what you describe IS THE ITEACH DRILL. It’s really mind numbing this place sometimes. Hit em straight armed like Tommy (and Dan)

if you still think they’re different go try and not use your wrists with straight arms past hip level and just turn your body. You can’t. It’s impossible if you turn. It’s not actively using your hands and wrists just like Tommy himself said. Not sure why it’s so difficult to comprehend. Everything posting trying to show the differences only prove my point. I’m out

[hoselpalooza]

grip doesn't have to be sufficiently strong but i would agree it simplifies the drill. e.g. i use a neutral grip and have to add flexion in the lead/left wrist before beginning the downswing or everything goes right. it just took some getting used to for the 1/2 swing drill but it's not terribly awkward since i do it with the full swing anyway.

[hoselpalooza]

@stingerfade, sorry to see your frustration.
this is your main point:
That’s the whole point with the iteach drill is that you can’t lag your arms behind because they are connected to your pivot.here are some of fleetwood's comments on his drill, which is clearly different from the iteach drill:
I want my body rotation to stay ahead of my hands and club, as if they are being dragged.... Your arms stay long throughout the swing—like a windmill—but act like they're dead weight. This will help you feel how to square the club without trying to do it with your hands. Big-muscle swings are a lot easier to control. hopefully this clears it up for you.

[mikpga]

[glk]

certainly looks like the iteach drill