straight left arm

[irhyper2]

I posted this a few days ago and got no response. I want to post it again, as I am lost as to why a straight left arm is so important.

I have been hitting my irons with an in to out swing (I think), but the marks on the bottom of my driver, left by the tee, show a bad outside in swing with my driver. as well as an erratic contact point.(marks on the driver from toe to heal). Just yesterday, I concentrated on a straight left arm through out the swing (as well as keeping it closer to my body), and was hitting the ball much farther, and the tee marks were dead straight and more around the sweet spot. I was not hitting the ball any straighter (I have always hit it straight), but farther. Would a straight left arm have this much effect, or was I just "in the grove" yesterday. I was also hitting my irons much farther.

[Ian Hancock]

Re: straight left arm

Inhyper,

The simple reason that your ball will travel more distance is that with a Straighter (not stiff and straight) left arm is this creats a lot of width and a larger swing ark.

The further your hands are from your head at the top the wider the swing and the more power generated.

Be carefull not to tense up in an effort to have a straight arm, also dont forget to rotate it slightly as you swing back.


Hoipe this helps.


Ian.

[irhyper2]

Re: straight left arm

Inhyper,

also dont forget to rotate it slightly as you swing back.


Hoipe this helps.


Ian.

Sorry, but I'm slow. Rotate it how?

[Ian Hancock]

Re: straight left arm

As you take the club back your shoulders, stomach and arms all move together, as you turn you rotate your left arm clockwise a check point is at 9.00 O Clock, check the toe of the club is pointing to the sky.

I was making the point because by rotating the left arm it will stop you becoming to tense, a straight arm should not be a stiff arm......!!


Ian.

[jscerbo]

Re: straight left arm

Straight left arm this is one of the largest myths of the golf swing. It is absurd. A straight left arm creates tension. you may think that it creates more arc width, but in fact it shortens it at the most critical time, which would be impact. The reason for this is a straight stiff left arm creates tension, this shortens the arc width. You will start blading the ball and hitting thin shots. If you have enough time to do any research you will find that tour players bend their left arm a total of twenty degrees. This creates a third lever, which has the potential to create more speed and power. When a third lever is created is more challenging to time everything. But the reward is worth it. DO NOT BELEIVE THESE OLD ADAGES. 1. KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN (you limit rotation) 2. KEEP YOUR LEFT ARM STRAIGHT (this creates tension)

[Simon Woo]

Re: straight left arm

Can someone tell me, what's the position of the left arm at the top of the swing? When I go as far as I can, the left arm is more than horizontal. Coupled with the cocking of my right (and left I guess) wrists, my club then actually point downwards, but I know it should not go beyond horizontal. So now the question is, am I cocking my wrists too much or I am raising my left arm too much?

[Ian Hancock]

Re: straight left arm

Hi Simon,

Two things could be your problem a very steep swing with the left arm to high, however this will not cause the overswing.
Look at your grip, the last three fingers of the left hand should hold onto the butt of the club tighter than the others. A good tip is put a tee peg between your pinkie and the butt, if it falls at the top of you backswing then you are letting the club go at the top.


Hope this helps


ian.