left arm direction

[pinyo8]

Ok, I have been trying to get rid of my shut clubface at the top for a long time. And while trying to work out what is causing it, I have noticed that my left arm at setup is actually pointing outwards (or the left elbow is pointtowards my body. It seems that because of this, it is difficult to let the clubface open up. I tried having a few practice swings where I tried to point my left elbow towards the target more and it seems to help get the club up to a better position at the top. I have looked at most pros and their elbows does tend to point towards the target.
What is right and what is wrong? does it matter? Could this be the problem that I have had with my swing all along?

[msklar92]

Re: left arm direction

I know you are an excellent golfer and have a great swing so I'm not sure how much I can offer. Not sure if this applies, but position of the hands = position of the clubface. If you have a shut club face at the top of the swing, it may be shut at address. When you take your normal address position and hinge the club up is the toe pointing straight up? I'm wondering if the face is shut in your hands and you are rotating the arms at address to the right to make the club face appear square. This might account for the elbow facing the target.

[biggaryT78]

Re: left arm direction

yes I would agree... I say you are gripping the club with a strong grip with your left hand then rotating your arm back toward you which closes the face. Try and hit some LEFT arm only shots or with a really light grip on your right hand... you will quickly get the club at the proper top position because it feels better and should be fluent?

Also I fiddle with my Grip to the extreems of Strong and week to see what it does to my natural motion. This lets me check if im gripping the club the same... or make minor adjustments on the course if something is happening..

Good luck
gary
9.7hc

[Simon Woo]

Re: left arm direction

Hi pinyo how have you been? Haven't seen you around in a while

I know exactly what you're saying. My pro told me this, and I just read it in Five Fundamentals also. The elbows at set up are supposed to point to the respective hips. This tip is useful for my right arm because it forces it to relax and take less control over the swing, and so that I can bring the club inside on the backswing easier. But for the left arm, the effect is that I seem to be pushing/drawing.

I'm still working on this too, would be great to know what you can make out of it

[pinyo8]

Re: left arm direction

msklar92, any advice is appreciated. I always like to hear different people views on the golf swing and how it should be. Different things work for different people (ofcourse, you get these people that thinks that only their opinion is correct....).

I think my explanation in the previous post wasnt very good. What I mean to say is that my elbow is pointing more towards my body and not the target. My left elbow especially is pointing well inside of my body and not the left hip. I think I picked up this habit from trying to keep my arms close to and infront of my body　but instead, roll my elbow inwards.

I looked at all the pros swing sequence in golfdigest and noticed that their left elbow is definitely not pointing to the hips and is actually well outside the body and towards the target. There is a swing sequence of Ben Hogan on here too that shows his left elbow is pointing outside of the body at address.

So people, what are your thoughts? I know that when I swing, I dont feel like I can really release my hands through and I actually hold them back. Again, I do want to move up to the next level (still thinking of the pro path) where I can play better and am thinking if this is worth it for me to change this.

Matt

[spankit]

Re: left arm direction

check to see if your left forearm is rotating correctly(towards you) on the backswing.If you are just swinginging back without allowing this to happen,the clubface will be closed halfway back instead of the toe pointing skyward as it should.Post back with what ya find out.David

[pinyo8]

Re: left arm direction

Spankit, I always had a problem with having a shut clubface halfway back. I used to correct it by really fanning my hands open causing me to be too handsy.
I will try to go to the driving range and see how it goes where I keep my left elbow pointing more towards the target. It seems to help already when I do practice swings.

[spankit]

Re: left arm direction

forget the left elbow if you dont mind me saying...as you take the club back straight up the line,concentrate on allowing the toe of the club to lead the parade after about an inch or two.This will let your left forearm rotate in towards your chest and by the time you get halfway back..the clubface will be totally square in relation to the target line with the toe pointing skyward..then just let your hips push the club on back and around.Try it tomorrow and see if you see what im saying.Once you get in this position the club will be sqaure again halfway down and you will make solid contact.Just dont try and overswing..there will be no need once you master this move.Its a simple move but a hard move.Yeah trying to intentionally fan the club open will kill the shot.This move will happen naturally once you get the club going back with the toe leading.I use to not allow this to happen as i would hold the club closed so to speak.The hands merely hinge it into this position.Let me know how it goes.David

[nickwbryant]

Re: left arm direction

Spankit, I always had a problem with having a shut clubface halfway back. I used to correct it by really fanning my hands open causing me to be too handsy.
I will try to go to the driving range and see how it goes where I keep my left elbow pointing more towards the target. It seems to help already when I do practice swings.

piny08 - the more you point your elbow to the target the more the forearm is rotated at address and thus the less it has to rotate in your swing. As you say with the elbow pointing too much to your body you are struggling to rotate club to square. I think pointing the elbow to the target should help you with squaring the face. Good luck

nick