Loose Arms Golf Drill: 3 Steps to a Softer Swing
Softer arms and swing rhythm
Softer arms can help the club swing more freely. Holding your arms rigid can make the movement feel forced and harder to repeat. The relaxed rehearsal and gentle toss give you a familiar feeling to borrow, so you can explore an easier rhythm and carry it into a controlled short shot.
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Watch the drill
Take one idea from the video: soft arms. That is enough to work on for this session.
Step 1. Start slowly
Make a slow backswing without a ball. Let your lead arm bend comfortably and let the club travel behind your shoulders. The original drill uses the shaft touching the neck as a rehearsal feel; touching your neck is not the target. Keep the movement within your comfortable range.
| Rehearsal | What to do |
|---|---|
| Start slowly | Make three easy backswings without a ball. Keep your hands on the grip and your movement comfortable. |
Step 2. Rehearse a softer movement
| Rehearsal | What to do |
|---|---|
| Notice your lead arm | Allow a little bend during this rehearsal. Feel the difference between holding your arm rigid and letting it move. |
| Try a gentle toss | Put the club down. Gently toss a ball underarm towards a nearby target in a clear space. Notice how little effort your arm needs. |
| Return to the club | Make two small practice swings with that same easy feeling. Return to your normal address position for the shots. |
A worked example
“I make three slow rehearsals, then two gentle tosses. I pick up my club and make a small swing with the cue ‘soft arms’. Now I am ready to hit a short shot.”
Watch for these easy mistakes
| Instead of… | Try… |
|---|---|
| Forcing the shaft to touch your neck | Letting the club travel only as far as feels comfortable. The rehearsal is about the feel. |
| Making a long, fast practice swing | A small, slow movement you can control. |
| Trying to copy the bent arm on every shot | Using the rehearsal to find softness, then hitting from your normal setup. |
| Adding several swing thoughts | One positive cue: “soft arms”. |
Your focus: Softer arms and swing rhythm
Step 3. Complete your round
What to do
Choose one club and a comfortable short-shot distance. The original drill suggests around 50–100 yards; use a shorter distance if that is easier to control.
Complete 18 shots. Before each ball, make a small rehearsal, use the cue “soft arms”, then play an easy swing and finish in balance. Reset before the next shot.
| Score | When to award it |
|---|---|
| 1 point | You complete the shot, routine or movement described above. |
| 0 points | You do not complete the attempt. |
FAQs
What equipment do I need?
Club + balls.
How do I set up this drill?
Make a slow backswing without a ball. Let your lead arm bend comfortably and let the club travel behind your shoulders. The original drill uses the shaft touching the neck as a rehearsal feel; touching your neck is not the target. Keep the movement within your comfortable range.
What should I focus on during practice?
A worked example
Watch for these easy mistakes
How should I record my practice?
Choose one club and a comfortable short-shot distance. The original drill suggests around 50–100 yards; use a shorter distance if that is easier to control.
Complete 18 shots. Before each ball, make a small rehearsal, use the cue “soft arms”, then play an easy swing and finish in balance. Reset before the next shot.
What should I keep in mind when practising?
I would rather practise 18 comfortable shots with one useful cue than rush through a bucket while trying to fix everything. With this drill, that cue is simply soft arms.
Use the rehearsal to explore the feel, then see whether it carries into a normal short shot. Record what helped and take that one idea into your next session.
What drill do you recommend I do next?
Try Connected Backswing Drill next to practise turning your chest and arms together.
You could also use Jason Baile’s Rain Jacket Drill to explore comfortable backswing width without hitting a ball. For another focused practice task, try Shorter Backswing Drill to compare nine usual swings with nine shorter backswings.
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