Stop Coming Over the Top with the Driver: Drop the Trail Arm
Does your driver fly too high and veer off course? According to Mark Crossfield, the culprit is often a right elbow that stays up too long at the start of the downswing. Here are three simple tips to create space at the top, then bring your arms down before turning.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
Mark Crossfield sees the same mistake in many amateurs: they start the downswing by turning with his right elbow still in the air, which sends the club flying up and down. Pros, on the other hand, know how to lower that arm before turning. But to do that, you need room at the top of the backswing. First tip: Don't bend your right arm too much. His guideline: his left hand in the crook of his right elbow. If it’s squished, the arm is bent too much. He aims for an angle of about 90°, under 100°, while many amateurs—including himself in the past—are around 120°.
Second tip: Stop at the top, look at the space between your arms and your body, then Close it a little by pulling your arms down, with your back to the target and weight shifted toward your front foot. Third tip: focus on the sensation of pushing through the grip downward and outward, as if they wanted to get him out of the club. The club then finds a better path—from the inside—leading to a more solid contact and straighter drives.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Place your left hand in the crook of your right elbow and raise the club using only your right hand.
- Bend your right arm less: your left hand should be pressed lightly against the top.
- At the top, pause and look at the space between your arms and your body.
- Keep your back to the target and shift your weight toward your front foot.
- Close that gap a little by pulling your arms down.
- Add the sensation of pushing the grip down and outward.
- Only then should you move on to the rotation, and then hit a few drives.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Bending your right arm too much during the backswing and keeping your arms close to your body.
- Turn at the start of the downswing with your right elbow still in the air.
- Bring the grip closer to your body before “diving” at the ball.
- Turn your back toward the target as soon as you begin your downswing.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- One-handed hand control in the crook of the elbow
- Stop at the top: look at the space, then close it again
- Slow swings: arms down, then out
- A few drives while maintaining at least two of the three sensations
Your Questions
How can I tell if I'm bending my right arm too much at the top of the swing?
Mark Crossfield suggests slipping your left hand into the crease of your right elbow. If it gets pinched at the top of the backswing, your arm is bent too much. He aims for about 90°, whereas many amateurs are around 120°.
I've always been told to keep my right arm close to my body—is that wrong?
In his view, on the contrary, you need space at the top of the backswing. Without that space, the arms can't come down before the rotation, and the club goes over the top.
What does it mean to push the grip “outward”?
At the start of the downswing, the grip lowers and moves slightly away from the body, as if you were trying to pull the club out. The amateur does the opposite: the elbow stays high, and the hands move closer to the body before impact.
Should you follow all three tips at once?
Not necessarily. Mark Crossfield points out that sometimes just two of the three elements are enough to see improvements in the club path and contact.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Mark Crossfield). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.