overuse of the right side

Question
Hi Eddie
You have tried to help me in the past and I appreciate it. Can you help me again please? I am right-handed. I have a real problem in that I pull the right side back (right arm, hip, side, leg) and then then when I get to the top I pull it back a little further(to get a little more?). In the downswing I push the right side through and the club comes too much from the inside. When you and I have chatted in the past I told you about my left shoulder pulling up. Now I know why this is happening. It's because of the pushing through of the right arm and side. One thing that may be contributing to the problem- when I get to the top of the backswing my right arm gets really high and away from the body. Then I am probably recovering by pushing the right side through to get the right arm back in the correct position. Eddie, thanks for your help. The last time I played I shot 77 so I am not a bad golfer. It could have been a lot better if I can get this problem solved. Thanks and please let me know if I can clarify anything further. Regards Ken

Answer
Hi Ken:

We've talked about this before.  The first step is to get a beach ball (yes a medium sized  beachball from Target for the pool), blow it up and put it between your knees.  Now you can finally practice your backswing by using your arms and hands to swing the club away from the ball and allowing your upper body to turn back with it. Notice how I worded that last sentence Ken.  

The you say it, you always talk about what your body is doing.  THAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I SEE with this.  Let's pay more attention to swinging the golf club and allowing the body to move with and support it.  I know that sounds backwards to you, but if you were standing in front of me, that is exactly what I would do with you.  

So, once the beachball is between your knees, make some backswings and see what you feel.  Your lower body will be very quiet.  You won't be able to "pull back" anything, otherwise, you'll fall off balance.  Your knees should remain bent (flexed) like they were at address.  Your arms and hands will swing the club away from the ball and your shoulders and upper body will turn with that swinging motion until you reach the top of the backswing.  Your right arm should be folded, soft with no tension in it.  A good checkpoint there is that the inside part of the forearm should be at the same angle as your spine.  Look in a mirrow and check it out.  If your right arm flies away, the inside part of your right arm will be almost parallel to the ground.  

Then, once you've have done this exercise about 20-30 times, then allow the upper body, arms and hands (in that order) to unwind back to the ball (impact area with club on the turf).  Notice again how it is not your body that is doing this!  It is basically your arms and hands that control the swinging motion.  

After you've done that about 20-30 times, take the beachball away and start hitting some shots.  Start small and concentrate on swinging the club.....not on what your body is doing.  See what happens.  You're a good player Ken, but if you continue to be so mechanical and paralyzed by that pulling thing you talk about with your body, you'll continue to be plagued by it forever.  

I know that is not what you might want to hear, but it is what I would tell you and show you if we worked together.  I have found if golfers get too caught up with what moves when and where and why and in what order, they forget to do one very important thing, and that is "swing the club".  

Best of luck.  

Eddie