Tension Is Your #1 Enemy - BY FAR

[BrianW]

Re: Tension Is Your #1 Enemy - BY FAR

Without disagreeing with the good advice given in this post I would like to add a thought that does not differ greatly and may seem a little semantic but may help.

I think that tension is not necessarily the problem with the arms but rather strength. What I mean is that the arms can be tense but only in extension, what they must not have is muscular tension.

If you stand with your arms hanging by your sides they will naturally lie with a slight bend at the elbows. In the golfswing we need the arms to extend fully so that they create the widest arc possible, this can only be achieved if they are extended with slight tension. Again with the arms hanging down if you now grip your fists as tight as possible you will create a bowing of the arms and muscular tension in the wrists, arms and shoulders that will inhibit a wide arc and flowing swing.

So we need to apply slight tension to extend the arms but we must not use muscular tension to grip and swing them.

[keiko]

Re: Tension Is Your #1 Enemy - BY FAR

I like to think of good tension as that I have with shaft lean with irons; no more or less than that. If I can maintain that "good tension" throughout my swing and not amp it up or down, I am swinging smooth and effectively.
I agree we do not want so little tension as to have the club flopping around.

Without disagreeing with the good advice given in this post I would like to add a thought that does not differ greatly and may seem a little semantic but may help.

I think that tension is not necessarily the problem with the arms but rather strength. What I mean is that the arms can be tense but only in extension, what they must not have is muscular tension.

If you stand with your arms hanging by your sides they will naturally lie with a slight bend at the elbows. In the golfswing we need the arms to extend fully so that they create the widest arc possible, this can only be achieved if they are extended with slight tension. Again with the arms hanging down if you now grip your fists as tight as possible you will create a bowing of the arms and muscular tension in the wrists, arms and shoulders that will inhibit a wide arc and flowing swing.

So we need to apply slight tension to extend the arms but we must not use muscular tension to grip and swing them.