The Critical Role of the Trail Arm in Your Golf Swing (Common Mistakes + Fixes)

Most golfers tend to focus heavily on their lead arm throughout the swing. They often fixate on whether the lead elbow or wrist breaks down, or whether a new golf glove fits properly and feels comfortable. 

Yet the trail arm — the right arm for right-handed golfers and the left arm for left-handed golfers — is equally vital and far too commonly overlooked. Poor trail arm mechanics during the swing frequently lead to a slice, power loss, and inconsistent ball striking.

As illustrated above, one of the most prevalent trail arm errors is the flying elbow. This occurs when the trail elbow drifts away from the torso during the swing, particularly on the downswing and at impact.

Here are the key fundamentals for proper trail arm positioning:

1. Setup: Rest your trail tricep lightly against your ribs, with the elbow crease facing forward in external rotation.     
   
2. Backswing: Keep the trail arm connected to your body without becoming tense. At the top of the backswing, your arm should form approximately a 90-degree angle, resembling a waiter holding a tray.   
   
3. Downswing: Start the downswing by pulling your trail tricep down toward your ribs. Retain the angle established at the top to prevent an early release, also known as casting.      
   
4. Impact & Follow-Through: The trail arm remains bent at impact, then gradually extends outward in a motion similar to skipping a rock, maximizing clubhead speed.      
   

Proper trail arm mechanics not only help fix a slice, generate consistent power for longer shots, and improve overall accuracy, but can also correct another common swing flaw: the chicken wing, where the lead arm elbow collapses during the motion.