One of the most critical—and often overlooked—pieces of the golf swing is proper connection. When your arms stay connected to your torso, your body and club can move together as one unit. That connection is essential for a clean takeaway, better width, and more consistent ball striking.
When connection breaks down, golfers tend to get narrow, disconnected, and stuck—often leading to the dreaded chicken wing through impact.
Let’s break down why connection matters and show you a simple drill you can do anywhere to improve it.
What Happens When You Lose Connection
When the arms work independently from the torso, several common swing issues show up:
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Narrow takeaway
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Early arm lift or collapse
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Chicken wing through impact
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Inconsistent contact
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Loss of width and speed
Great players keep their arms and torso working together, which allows them to stay wide, sequence properly, and strike the ball with authority.
The Simple Connection Drill
This drill helps you feel how the arms and body should move together—without overthinking mechanics.
How to Do It
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Get into your normal setup position
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Soften your arms and feel your elbows lightly connected to your upper torso
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Make small, controlled swings
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Focus on the arms and torso moving together as one unit
As you make these small swings, you’ll start to feel the relationship between your arms and your body—how they load together and release together.
That feeling is the foundation of good connection.
Bonus Tip: The Towel Drill
If you really struggle with staying connected, this simple variation can help reinforce the feeling.
How It Works
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Take a bath towel and wrap it lightly around your ribs
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Let your arms rest softly against the towel
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Make slow, small swings
The towel gives instant feedback. If your arms disconnect, you’ll feel it immediately. This helps train your body to stay connected without forcing tension into the swing.
Why Connection Leads to Better Golf
When connection improves:
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The takeaway stays wider
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The swing becomes more synchronized
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Speed increases naturally
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Ball striking becomes more consistent
Instead of trying to manipulate positions, you’re training movement patterns that actually translate to the course.
Train It the Right Way with Hit It Great
If you struggle with connection, chicken winging, or inconsistent contact, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to guess your way through fixes.
Inside the Hit It Great app, you’ll find:
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Golf-specific connection drills
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Strength and mobility workouts
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Sequencing and speed training
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Programs designed to help you move better and hit it better
These drills are built to improve your body first—so your swing can follow.
Train smarter. Move better. Hit It Great.
