Left Arm

[Sam]

How straight do you have your left arm during the backswing? I am having lessons and finding that a straighter left arm promotes better rotation (and cleaner hit) but has taken quite a bit off my distance (wedge down from say 125 to 110)
Getting mixed messages from 2 other pros locally.

 

[USER1999]

People tell me mine looks straight, but I know it isn't. I am not convinced locking out the elbow is a good idea, it certainly makes my driving erratic, although like you, if I do do it, I get very good contact with my irons. Maybe I just need to practice with it a bit more.

 

[Twire]

I try to keep mine as straight as posible, I don't think I ever lock it out, but I do notice whenever a break my arm I tend to hit the shot fat.

 

[marmar]

Was trying to 'lock mine out' last night at the range (bloody cold) Found it made my swing feel so alien that I couldn't carry on with it. Totally threw me out and ended up with my worst session since I took the game up - Resulted in a back to basics lesson bing booked with my local pro!

 

[TWM]

Think "extended"

 

[jeffc]

Think "extended"

beat me to it there, think about it being "stretched out" rather than "locked out" with a full shoulder turn

 

[RGuk]

How straight do you have your left arm during the backswing? I am having lessons and finding that a straighter left arm promotes better rotation (and cleaner hit) but has taken quite a bit off my distance (wedge down from say 125 to 110)
Getting mixed messages from 2 other pros locally.

I can't see why you should be losing distance. I've never been able to keep my left arm straight but consoled myself in the fact that the guy in one of my "instruction" books (who my pro knew personally) played of +1 with a distinctly bent left arm!!!

As it happens, my latest practice (after lessons) has involved working on the first part of my swing. My pro wants me to take the club back to a very specific place and just before a I cock my wrists to get the club as far away from my right hip as possible (width, and all that jazz!). To do this, my left arm is straight. From there, he's asking me to cock my wrists much more aggressively and with this new method, getting to the top (club parallel to the grass, horizontaly) is much easier and more direct, I think the arm is straighter too.

I reckon as you settle into any changes, your distance will return and all will be well!!

 

[CarpeDiem]

Everybody's swing is unique, he has just made it work for him.

 

[RGuk]

Everybody's swing is unique, he has just made it work for him.

Absolutely....

I have long been considering starting a thread on faults vs. unique "style". Think of all the players down the years who have made good pros (or even top pros) who have aspects to their swing that a coach would try to eradicate!!

 

[Herbie]

Everybody's swing is unique, he has just made it work for him.

Absolutely....

I have long been considering starting a thread on faults vs. unique "style". Think of all the players down the years who have made good pros (or even top pros) who have aspects to their swing that a coach would try to eradicate!!

That would be a good thread, I often feel a lot of golf is hampered by a pros genuine efforts but limited ability to see the unique and separate it from the text book. Some pros are great at it but some can only follow the text book methods. Crikey if you look at players like Travino he would be a nightmare for some modern pros.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I've spoken many times about how I was taught to play in the 80's and learnt to swing with an agressive leg action (look at pictures of Jonny Miller and Howard Clarke) and it was about using the leg action to deliver a lot of the power through impact.

The modern swing dictates that you hit against a firmer left side and that the power comes from a wider one piece takeaway. I have tried to change my swing but it is indoctrinated now and so my coach and I have looked at just making sure the swingpath is good and that I come into impact on plane. As long as I am in a decent position at the top and I don't get too long (reverse pivot and lateral head movements my chief faults) and that I work on a slower tempo (give myself time to finish the backswing before transition back to the ball) he isn't unduly worried whether my arm is extended.

I think the modern technique is to have the arm parallel with the ground to about hip height before allowing the wrists to cock and the shoulder turn to the top of the swing. I definitely don't do that. The only thing I would say is that there is a possibility of losing distance if the swing becomes too upright or the arm is extended but brought too far inside the line. Both may result in a slight over the top action which won't be too noticeable in terms of left to right ball flight with a wedge but would lose a few yards.

 

[backwoodsman]

I have long been considering starting a thread on faults vs. unique "style". Think of all the players down the years who have made good pros (or even top pros) who have aspects to their swing that a coach would try to eradicate!!

Is it not Furyk whose swing has been described as being like "wrestling an octopus in a telephone box"? Which is a style I don't recall seeing in any of the instruction books

 

[Doh]

How straight do you have your left arm during the backswing? I am having lessons and finding that a straighter left arm promotes better rotation (and cleaner hit) but has taken quite a bit off my distance (wedge down from say 125 to 110)
Getting mixed messages from 2 other pros locally.

Sam

The reason you may be losing distance is because you are keeping the arm to tense there has to be a balance between straight and stiff, to stiff you become to tense hence you will lose distance

 

[Imurg]

Is it not Furyk whose swing has been described as being like "wrestling an octopus in a telephone box"? Which is a style I don't recall seeing in any of the instruction books

But you've got to admit it works. Same a Daly's - you wouldn't find that in any book.