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Community Corner

Golf Tip: Be a One-Handed Wonder

One arm can be better than two when figuring out your swing.

Anyone struggling to hit golf balls with two hands on the club may want to give it a shot with just one. The suggestion may sound flippant, but working one-handed will help golfers with their regular golf swing.

Practicing one-handed improves the sequence of a golfer’s swing as well as balance and timing. One-handed practice swings will also help to build strength in forearms and hands.

Several things are more easily seen when swinging with one arm:

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  1. You will swing smoother and more in balance. It’s just awkward to swing too fast when you are swinging with one arm.
  2. You will notice a soft fold in your elbow at the top of your swing. You should have a slight bend in your elbow at the top of the swing. To see what works best, try hitting the one handed shots with your front arm locked straight and then hit some allowing your elbow to bend. When your elbow bends you will feel more natural and powerful.
  3. Your swing will be more compact. When using one arm, we don’t feel as strong and, as a result, most golfers tend to make a more compact swing. Take a few one-handed swings and notice where your arm and hand position are at the top. More than likely it will be shorter than where you normally are in your regular swing. If over-swinging has been one of your problems, swinging with one hand should help; a good checkpoint for the top of your swing is that your left forearm should be parallel to the ground.

There are a few things to take note of before when practicing one handed:

  • Don’t take too many swings when first trying this. Hitting balls with one hand is fun and challenging, but if you hit too many, your arm will be sore the next day. Start off with 10-20 swings and, as your arms and hands get stronger, add more.
  • Grip down on the handle. Start with your sand wedge and grip down on the handle; this will make the club lighter.
  • Let your body finish to the target. Often a golfer will try to hit a one-handed shot and just move their arm, not allowing their body to rotate so that their chest and belt buckle are facing at the target. When practicing, allow your chest to turn back and through and finish with your torso and belt buckle looking at the target.

To get the maximum benefit from this drill, make a one-handed swing with your left hand, then a one-handed swing with your right hand. Then address your ball as you normally would and swing with both hands and attempt to replicate the same balance and tempo.

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When you begin, hitting one-handed shots will be difficult and some will even think impossible. Bu with some practice, you can do it!  Once you figure it out, it is most rewarding. 

Wishing you great shots!

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