Deke
Journeyman Pro
Hi forum,I am currently struggling with the above problem,any tips to help keep my left arm nice and straight? Thanks in advance.
Bending left arm during backswing.
- Thread starter Deke
- Start date
JustOne
Ryder Cup Winner
Yep... keep your right arm straighter :thup:
Deke
Journeyman Pro
Can you elaborate please JustOne? My right arm should remain straighter for longer before it bends into my right side? Cheers,I always appreciate your advice bud!
JustOne
Ryder Cup Winner
That's actually about right Deke, normally your right hand gets too close to your right shoulder and the left arm is forced to collapse. The feeling you want is that you can trap a headcover under your right armpit whilst keeping your right hand as far away from your right shoulder as possible, then it's a case of allowing your SHOULDER TURN to do the work in getting the club up and behind you. Your right arm should never bend more than 90 degrees.
Deke
Journeyman Pro
Cheers man,much appreciated! Will try at the range tonite.Stack and tilt swing getting better by the day,I need to work on taking proper divots and keeping my arm straighter.Onwards and upwards!
JustOne
Ryder Cup Winner
To be more specific you need to be able to feel like you've trapped a headcover under your right armpit whilst at the same time keeping your right ELBOW about 4" - 5" away from your ribs..... your elbow then moves in towards your ribs on the downswing. Your right hand should be a good 12"-14" away from your head at the top of your swing.
Foxholer
Blackballed
There isn't REALLY a problem bending your left arm during backswing.
It is pretty desirable that left arm is straight at impact though.
If you really want to get left arm straighter, try keeping the 'Y' of arms and club by simply turning the shoulders. The right arm is liable to bend early and it is important that you don't over-emphasise the action (by locking the left elbow). The golf swing should be 'natural' rather than forced! There was never any way to make Seve and Woosie swing the same way!
Oh and JO's headcover, angles and distance stuff is pretty spot on - even if the distance stuff is a bit too specific imo.
It is pretty desirable that left arm is straight at impact though.
If you really want to get left arm straighter, try keeping the 'Y' of arms and club by simply turning the shoulders. The right arm is liable to bend early and it is important that you don't over-emphasise the action (by locking the left elbow). The golf swing should be 'natural' rather than forced! There was never any way to make Seve and Woosie swing the same way!
Oh and JO's headcover, angles and distance stuff is pretty spot on - even if the distance stuff is a bit too specific imo.
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Deke
Journeyman Pro
Thanks again! After some practice in the garden I am making improvements already,thank the gods you don't charge for your advice mate!
Foxholer
Blackballed
The other 'feeling' that my coach suggested to me - as a left arm bender - was to have the feeling that my left wrist was pushing/stretching into the small finger of my left hand. Had the effect of straightening my left arm pretty effectively. That was also with a mid-plane - neither seriously flat, nor particularly upright. The headcover under the right armpit that JO mentioned would just fall out just before the top of the back-swing.
fundy
Ryder Cup Winner
I have a bent left arm at the top, never seen it as a real problem as long as its straight again before impact on the way back down. Not sure its a "fault" id be getting overly hung up about
RGDave
Money List Winner
Ohhh, now I feel way better.
My left arm straightens on the way down.
and, nice anecdote, I played with a teaching pro (who's written books and all that jazz) who had a wicked left arm, and he hit it good (not to mention going round 3 under
Having said that, I'd love to fix it...it looks weird.
Deke
Journeyman Pro
Thanks a bunch Foxholer! Fundy,when my left arm bends I find it hard to straighten out before impact.
Deke
Journeyman Pro
RGDave,I don't think my left arm will ever be totally straight,but I agree it does look wierd being too bent!
garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
my dad folds his left arm almost at the start. takes him way inside and plays a draw/hook!
ScienceBoy
Money List Winner
From what I know (which is not much) its not meant to be straight as in locked but just straight as it not bent much. Keeping it straighter means you create more width, if you bend and not re-straighten then I guess you will lose clubhead speed. If you correct for it and re-straighten then you should not lose anything.
Foxholer
Blackballed
And it's not absolutely essential that the arm is straight at impact either.
This guy seems to play quite well! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e-FQbMWfok
This guy seems to play quite well! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e-FQbMWfok
Deke
Journeyman Pro
Thanks for your input lads! I never noticed that about Fowler's swing,and I am a big fan. Its a draw shape I am after,maybe I should bend it more! ;-)
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ScienceBoy
Money List Winner
Its more the body that moves, the arms are as straight (as in up/down rather than towards/away from the camera, as they should be IMO. This creates fantastic width in the swing with little lateral (ie non in this case) body movement. Great swing, me likie!
Just dont pull into your body too much without moving your body out the way like he does! Thats a swing width killer!
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