How to Keep the Golf Club in Front of You

If you're tired of hitting weak slices, suffering from inconsistent contact, and feeling like your arms are in a different time zone than your body during the golf swing, then the feeling of keeping the club "in front of you" is what you're looking for. This concept is a game-changer for golfers of all levels, and it's simpler to achieve than you might think. This guide will break down what it means to keep the club in front, why it helps, and provide practical drills to make it a natural part of your swing.

What Does "Keeping the Golf Club in Front of You" Actually Mean?

You’ve probably heard a friend, a pro, or a commentator say it: “He really keeps the club in front of his body.” It sounds simple, but what does it mean in practice? Think of it this way: for the entire swing, there should be a constant relationship between your chest, your arms, and the club head. They should all work together as a synchronized unit.

Imagine a large triangle formed by your shoulders and hands at address. The goal is to maintain that triangle - or at least the feeling of that connected structure - as you turn back and through. When golfers get into trouble, it’s usually because one part breaks from the system. Most often, the arms and club get disconnected, either being whipped too far inside on the backswing or getting trapped behind the body on the downswing.

Keeping the club in front of you means your body rotation, not an independent arm movement, is the primary driver of the swing. Your chest turns, and the club follows. Your chest unwinds, and the club is delivered to the ball. It’s the secret to effortless power and consistency because it eliminates one of the biggest variables in golf: timing your arms with your body.

The Foundation: A Connected Takeaway

The first foot of the backswing sets the tone for everything that follows. The most common mistake amateur golfers make is initiating the swing with their hands and arms, immediately pulling the club head off the swing plane and inside. This instantly disconnects the club from the turn of the body.

From here, you’ll spend the rest of the swing trying to make compensations to get the club back on track - a battle you’re unlikely to win consistently.

The feeling you want is a "one-piece takeaway." The arms, hands, and club start moving back together, powered by the rotation of your torso.

How to Feel a Connected Takeaway:

• The Headcover Drill: Place a headcover under your lead armpit (left armpit for right-handed golfers). Your goal is to keep it tucked there during the first part of your backswing. If you start the swing just by lifting your arms or pulling them across your chest, the headcover will drop immediately. To keep it in place, you are forced to turn your shoulders and chest to move the club away from the ball. This is the exact feeling of a connected start.
• Focus on Your Sternum: Imagine a laser beam shooting out from your sternum. At address, that beam points at the grips of your club. As you begin your takeaway, try to feel like you're turning your chest so that the laser beam stays pointing at your hands for as long as possible. This promotes a wide, connected arc instead of a narrow, armsy lift.

The Top of the Swing: Maintaining Width and Structure

Even at the top of the swing, the club should still feel "in front" of you. This doesn’t mean it’s literally in front of your face, but rather that your hands are in a position in front of your chest, not collapsed behind your shoulders or head. Golfers who get the club "stuck" often let their arms get very deep and behind their body, an almost impossible position from which to start the downswing in the proper sequence.

When the club stays in front, you maintain what golfers call "width." Width is great for two reasons:

1. It gives the club a longer arc, which translates to more club head speed and power.
2. It gives you time and space on the downswing to let the club drop into the correct position without getting rerouted.

Your checkpoint at the top should be this: you should be able to see your hands in your peripheral vision. If they disappear completely behind your head, you've likely lost your connection and width.

The Magic Move: Syncing the Downswing

This is where the real payoff happens. Almost every high-handicapper starts the downswing incorrectly. Their first move is to use their hands and arms to throw the club at the ball from the top. This action, often called "coming over the top," moves the club outside the correct path and away from your body, resulting in a steep downswing that produces slices and pulls.

Feel the Proper Sequence:

1. Hips First: As you complete your backswing turn, the very first move to start down is a slight shift and rotation of your hips toward the target. It’s a subtle move, not a wild spin. This simple action creates space for your arms.
2. Let the Arms Fall: Because your hips have started to clear, there is now a "slot" for your arms and the club to drop into. Don't pull them down. Instead, feel like you're letting gravity do the work. Imagine your arms are heavy, and they just fall downward, staying in front of your turning torso.
3. The Throwing Analogy: Think about throwing a ball underhand. You wouldn't just use your arm. You would step forward as your arm trailed behind and then rotated through. The downswing is a similar sequence: your body leads, and the club is along for the ride, passively delivered to the point of impact.

Drills to Make "In Front" Your Normal

Understanding a swing thought is one thing, but it requires practice to overwrite old habits. Here are a few simple drills you can do anywhere to build this correct swing sequence.

Torso Turn Drill

• Hold a golf club across your shoulders with your arms crossed, like a yoke.
• Get into your normal setup posture.
• Now, practice rotating back and then through, focusing on how your torso and hips unwind to "deliver" the right side of the club to the imaginary ball position without your arms interfering.

The Pump Drill

• Take your normal setup to a ball and then swing halfway back - roughly to the position where your lead arm is parallel to the ground.
• From here, "pump" down once or twice: feel your lower body starting the rotation and your arms "dropping." Don't actually hit the ball during the pump.
• After one or two pumps, go ahead and complete a full swing. That little rehearsal grooves the correct transition feeling.

Alignment Stick Extension Drill

• Place an alignment stick in your club at the top so it extends several feet past the butt of the cap. (Please take extra care when doing this drill).
• Take a slow, half swing. If your downswing starts with the arms or the club gets inside and stuck, the alignment stick will hit your side, leaving a big telltale bruise. The goal is to make a smooth back-and-through motion, letting your body turn lead the way so the stick moves freely without stabbing your side.

Final Thoughts: Your best golf swings have probably felt effortless and powerful - that's what happens when you keep the club in front of you. It's the result of quiet hands and an active body directing the entire motion. If you practice focusing on that connected turn, staying wide in your takeaway, and then starting down with your lower body so the arms can simply drop in front, you will transform your consistency and power over time. A well-sequenced swing feels fantastic, but visually seeing your swing is an ideal way to help you understand and improve your own specific movements. We designed Caddie AI to give you that expert second opinion, analyzing your swing and helping you see how you are applying a concept. You can ask for personalized feedback or even get help choosing a strategy on the course, taking the guesswork out of both practice and play and empowering you to make smart, confident decisions.