Trail Arm Only — Golf Drill

Mastering the trail-arm-only drill can revolutionize your swing mechanics and unlock consistent ball striking that's been eluding your game. This powerful training method, expertly demonstrated by Rob Cheney Golf, teaches you to properly retract your trail shoulder—pulling it back so dramatically that it appears to move toward the front side of your head when viewed face-on. Whether you're a weekend warrior or scratch golfer, this drill addresses one of golf's most common swing flaws: the restri

How to practise it

  1. Set up with trail hand only on grip Address the ball normally, then release your lead hand completely. Hold the club with only your trail hand in normal grip position.
  2. Focus on extreme shoulder retraction Move the club back while pulling your trail shoulder so far back it appears to move behind your head when viewed from the front. Feel the shoulder blade pinching toward your spine.
  3. Push away to maintain width As you swing the trail arm, actively push the handle away from your body to prevent the arm from over-flexing. Feel like you're reaching for maximum extension.
  4. Make full trail-arm swings Complete full backswing and downswing motions with trail arm only, emphasizing the shoulder retraction and width maintenance throughout.
  5. Add lead hand for integration swings Return to normal two-handed grip but maintain the same trail shoulder retraction feeling you just rehearsed.

How does trail-arm-only training help improve my backswing turn?

Trail-arm-only training teaches you proper shoulder retraction, which dramatically increases your backswing range. As Rob Cheney demonstrates, when you retract the trail shoulder properly, you can move the club much further around your body compared to keeping your shoulders protracted or stuck in f

Can trail-arm practice actually help me keep my lead arm straight?

Yes, training with your trail arm teaches you to push away and maintain proper width in your swing. Rob Cheney explains that once you master the trail-arm-only motion with proper shoulder retraction, adding your lead arm back creates the sensation needed to keep it straight and extended.

What's the correct shoulder movement I should feel during trail-arm-only swings?

You should focus on retracting your trail shoulder rather than keeping it protracted or stuck in front of you. This shoulder retraction is what allows the club and arm to travel much further around your body, creating proper swing width and turn.

How each of them teaches it

Coaches who demonstrate the trail arm only drill, each linked at the second they start.

  1. Milo Lines Golf: Get Your Right Arm SLINGING! 💪 (from 0:11). Perform one-handed swings using only your trail arm, letting the weight of the club fall in line and sling through relaxed as if throwing the club head.
  2. Eric Cogorno Golf: Easiest Way To Add More Effortless Power To Your Driver #shorts #golfswing #golf #ericcogorno. Isolates the trail arm and shoulder during the backswing to build proper depth, trail leg extension, and chest extension for better transition tempo.
  3. Golf Monthly: We Asked Dan Grieve For His 5 Best Chipping Drills (from 5:20). Making short-game swings with only the trail arm and forward ball position helps feel proper club release and bounce usage for higher pitch shots.
  4. Eric Cogorno Golf: This One Move Will Stop You Rushing Your Downswing Forever (Not What You Think!) (from 7:38). Hold the club with only the trail arm to isolate proper arm abduction and shoulder retraction during the backswing.
  5. Rob Cheney Golf: If you struggle to hit solid chip shots around the green, then you’re not controlling the radius or. Chipping using only the trail arm to focus on keeping a stable relationship between the trail arm and club shaft throughout the entire stroke.
  6. Rob Cheney Golf: 🗣️ Comment “TQ” and I'll DM you FREE training videos from my Tour Quality Ball Striking (from 0:53). Perform a backswing using only your trail arm to feel the shoulder retract and the chest stretch, preventing the arm from over-flexing.
  7. Matt Baker Golf | Malaska Certified Coach: How to Control Low Point (Stop Hitting Behind the Ball) (from 5:34). Making small, one-handed hits with the trail arm only to feel the arm pushing the shaft through impact rather than throwing the clubhead.

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