Arms at Address - Connection to upper body?

[redmen1892]

Hello all,

Whilst being extremley bored in my hotel last night I used the time to revist some of the basics (GRASP), primarily because I have been struggling with my shoulder alignment (see earlier post). Whilst stood upright with the club extended straight out in front of me I gently lowered the club to ground by bending from the hips, what I noticed was a sense of connection between the upper chest and my forearms. Normally at address my arms would be brushing th sides of my body.

Should the forearms and the upper chest be gently connected in this way or is this just a feeling of power created by trying something different.

Thanks

[oldwease]

Re: Arms at Address - Connection to upper body?

That's the connection you want. Essentially, the arms should hang down naturally, as this is the position they will most easily return to on the downswing. If your arms are brushing the side of your body, you're either standing VERY upright (not ideal), or your hands are too close to the body.

[Timothy Slaught]

Re: Arms at Address - Connection to upper body?

Redmen:

The connection you felt with the upper portion of your chest and upper arms is correct. Pay attention to your elbows at address as well. The elbows should point roughly to your repective right and left hip area. This should not be an overly forced or uncomfortable position and there should be a soft feel to the arms. The left arm will be relatively straight and the right arm with a slight bend. Make sure your left elbow does not point at the target (overly rotated) and the right not away from the target at address. Again, the elbows should point more towards the hips. This position of the arms allows the proper folding action for both arms during the backswing and downswing. It also keeps the arm body connection more intact throughout the swing. By keeping the connection, you are keeping the arms which are swinging at a high rate of speed connected to the more stable and slower moving torso mass. It should give the sensation of "knowing where the arms are" during the swing.This connection should not feel overly stiff or forced with either arm but you will feel more of the connection with the left arm than the right.

[BrianW]

Re: Arms at Address - Connection to upper body?

Redmen,

This is all good advice. I would only add: To check positioning of your arms in the address position. remove your right hand from the grip and let your right arm hand freely. If it hangs forward or backward from your address position then move yourself nearer or further from the ball so the natural hang of your arm is straight down.

Hope this makes sense to you.

[redmen1892]

Re: Arms at Address - Connection to upper body?

Thanks to all who posted a response, i've always been concious of keeping a soft right elbow, however, when I checked my left elbow I found it was pointing somewhere between the target and my left hip, at my next range session i'll practice with turning my left elbow more in towards my left hip and see what difference that has to my swing.

Warm Regards

Jon

[jambalaya]

Re: Arms at Address - Connection to upper body?

Thanks to all who posted a response, i've always been concious of keeping a soft right elbow, however, when I checked my left elbow I found it was pointing somewhere between the target and my left hip, at my next range session i'll practice with turning my left elbow more in towards my left hip and see what difference that has to my swing.

Warm Regards

Jon

Also check your grip. It seems to me your grip helps to determine where your elbows point. With a neutral grip you shouldn't have to work too hard to get your elbows to point to your hips. I would suggest you maintain the relaxed feel in your arms and shoulders througout your swing that you probably felt by just letting the arms hang. Don't tighten up when you begin the backswing in order to maintain the connection you have.