Right elbow

[Simon Woo]

Is there a drill where you put a cushion under your right armpit to make sure your elbow doesn't stray too far? I've seen a lot of pros' swings and at the top of the swing, it certainly looks like a cushion can't stay under the armpit. So how far is the right elbow actually allowed to go???

[gord962]

Re: Right elbow

The right upper arm should be parallel to the ground at the top of the backswing: http://members.shaw.ca/gord962/drills/top_position.htm

The drill is much better used with a headcover under your left arm, allowing the head cover to drop after you get to the impact position.

[SlicersHell]

Re: Right elbow

The right upper arm should be parallel to the ground at the top of the backswing: http://members.shaw.ca/gord962/drills/top_position.htm

The drill is much better used with a headcover under your left arm, allowing the head cover to drop after you get to the impact position.

I'm guessing you mean perpindicular, correct?

...and I wouldn't put anything under my right arm to swing a club. Your right elbow isn't supposed to fly (as gord was getting at), but it doesn't mean your right arm should remain attached to your body.

[gord962]

Re: Right elbow

Nope - parallel. You do not want your bicep/tricep area of your arm straight up and down, you want it parallel to the ground at the top of the backswing.

[SlicersHell]

Re: Right elbow

Whoops, I read that as meaning the forearm for whatever reason. Sorry about that.

[Simon Woo]

Re: Right elbow

Haha ok now it makes more sense. I was wondering how on earth I'm gonna keep the headcover under my right arm

So rule of thumb, 90% (body and upper arm), 90% (upper arm and lower arm) and 90% (lower arm and hands) right? Sounds simple enough.. Thanks!

Hmm just gave it a try, and it seems like in that position, my left wrist gets cupped (as in it folds in) in order for my right wrist to get to 90%. Is that ok?

[gord962]

Re: Right elbow

your right wrist goes 90* up and down, not side to side. If you are moving your wrist as if someone is pusing your fingers backwards, that is NOT the way to bend your wrist. You want your wrist to hinge up and down. See Greg's video: http://members.cox.net/gregjwillis/LESSON1.htm
Your left wrist should stay flat from address through impact.

[Simon Woo]

Re: Right elbow

Of course! How could I have forgotten that? My gosh, the past few practice sessions have gone down the drain. Believe or not, I have diligently gone through diligently all the instructions and drills from yourself gord, as well as Greg's.

So in that case, the 90% wrist bends back to the same angle as the upper arm, right? My oversight for forgetting this and practising wrongly the past few sessions

[Simon Woo]

Re: Right elbow

Need some advice here. I've tried hinging the right wrist on the back swing and hanging it back down at the impact zone. Was able to hit a lot of nice feeling shots that way, but I also do feel like I might be chopping down (choking?) on the ball? Not sure if that has any effect on causing a backspin and possible robbing me of some distance?

So I'd like to get some clarification, is this how it's supposed to feel with the irons? I'm also not sure if this same movement is supposed to be duplicated with the woods?

Thanks!

[leftygolfer]

Re: Right elbow

Nope - parallel. You do not want your bicep/tricep area of your arm straight up and down, you want it parallel to the ground at the top of the backswing.

What about Tiger? His bicep/tricep is always pointing down, even with his driver... http://redgoat.smugmug.com/gallery/80234/1/2789455.

[gord962]

Re: Right elbow

His elbow is pointing down, but his upper arm is not STRAIGHT up and down. There is obviously a bit of roomto work with in saying this - I am not going ot get a level out to check to see if everyone is exactly parallel. But at the top of Tiger's backswing, his upper arm is almost parallel.

This one shows it best, http://redgoat.smugmug.com/gallery/80234/1/2789456 where his club is parallel tot he ground at the top, (top right frame) his right upper arm is almost parallel to the ground as well. Yes, his elbow is still pointing down, but only very slightly.

[Simon Woo]

Re: Right elbow

Maybe it's alright to stay on the lesser side of the 90% concept, ie. you can keep the angle smaller (in other words keeping your right arm/elbow closer to your body), but not larger (in other words chicken wing). I did try some variation, and realised that even if I keep the angles small (try to keep my right arm close to the body), I am still able to hit decents shots as compared to allowing my right arm/elbow to really fly out.

[msklar92]

Re: Right elbow

The drill for right hand golfers, is to have the head cover or towel under the LEFT arm. You want to keep the connection between the left arm and the body. This also promotes the folding up of the left arm on the follow through. If the left elbow does not stay connected to the body, it tends to promote a blocked release.

[Cliff]

Re: Right elbow

Half swing only with a head cover under right arm pit, full follow through will promote a good balance swing and the head cover will fall out at about half way through the full follow through.

Don’t over do the practice because you will tend to get to tight on the back swing, and the freedom that is required to get to the top will be lost.

The drill is a good one for any golfers that have a tendency for what is called the flying right elbow that is prominent at the top of the back swing.

Remember today’s cure is tomorrows fault, meaning don’t over do any changes in your swing. Practice the changes first over a period of time to let them bed into your natural swing, before moving on to the next element that will inevitably be incorporated into your swing in this never ending circle of the game that we have all learnt to hate.

[Simon Woo]

Re: Right elbow

Go to this site and look at the video swing of Reed on the upper right of the page.

1. http://www.golfswingcontrol.com/apply.html

I love the look of the swing. Wish I could emulate it