Fix Head Movement & Improve Trail Arm Structure with These Two Simple Drills

/ Dennis Sales Golf Academy/

How to Stop Your Head from Moving in the Backswing and Improve Trail Arm Transition

Do you notice your head moving back and up in your backswing? Or feel like your trail arm collapses and causes inconsistency in your swing?

You’re not alone—these are two of the most common faults I see in golfers across all skill levels. They often stem from poor control of your upper center of rotation and misunderstanding how the trail shoulder and arm should move through transition.

In this post, I’ll walk you through two simple golf swing drills—both of which are easy to apply whether you're training indoors or out. These drills are part of how we help golfers stay centered, build better trail arm structure, and improve their consistency through impact.

Watch the videos below to see each drill in action and try them for yourself.

🎯 Drill 1: Ball Roll-Back – Control Head and Shoulder Movement

If your head moves away from the ball in your backswing, this is your starting point.

The ball roll-back drill is designed to reduce early extension of the upper body by teaching you to stabilize the shoulders and head during the takeaway.

What it improves:

  • Keeps your head from lifting or drifting back

  • Helps maintain a centered upper body rotation

  • Promotes better backswing control and body awareness

👉 Watch the first video below to see how the drill is set up and what to look for.

This drill is especially helpful for players who tend to lose posture early or swing with too much upper-body sway.

Great drill to help golfers maintain their inclination to the ground!

🎯 Drill 2: Ball Between Arms – Fix Trail Arm in Transition

Once you've trained a more centered start, the next step is improving your trail arm position during transition.

Placing a ball between the arms after setting the trail arm into 3&1 (a checkpoint we use at the academy) teaches you how the trail shoulder should rotate through transition instead of lifting or disconnecting.

Why this works:

  • Reinforces proper arm-body connection

  • Helps the trail shoulder rotate, not elevate

  • Builds structure through transition for better delivery into impact

👉 In the second video, I break down exactly how to set this drill up and how to feel the correct trail arm motion.

If your trail arm collapses or you struggle with early casting or flipping, this drill gives you a clear reference point to fix it.

How to fix your trail arm from getting stuck behind you in downswing.

Consistency Starts with Understanding the Task

Most golfers try to fix symptoms without fully understanding the cause. At Dennis Sales Golf Academy, we take the guesswork out by combining simple, effective drills with clear instruction backed by GEARS Golf 3D motion capture, TrackMan, and other elite-level tools.

Whether you’re battling head movement, trail arm issues, or general swing inconsistency, we help you build a swing that holds up under pressure.

For Golfers Near Argyle, TX

Located near Denton, Lantana, and Flower Mound, our indoor golf training center is the perfect spot to train year-round.
📅 Book your swing evaluation or lesson at our indoor training center near Denton, Lantana, and Flower Mound.

For Remote Golfers

Not local? No problem.

We offer remote golf coaching, complete with video analysis, personalized drills, and follow-up feedback to help you improve your swing from anywhere.
Click here to get started with remote coaching

Train with purpose. Build structure. Play better golf.
– Dennis Sales, DSGA