arm collapse

[takinitdeep]

At impact, its important to keep the angles and impossible to do if one or both arms breakdown. In the pulling motion, its easy for the left arm to bend and for the elbow to point forward, this is collapse and leads to thinning, topping, and loss of angles.
Opinions?

[BrianW]

Re: arm collapse

Hi Tom,

I am not sure if I am on the same track here but this link is to a good video by Mel Sole (Who has made some recent posts on this site) Mel shows how breaking the elbows leeks power in the swing, especially in seniors with poorer flexibility.

Golf Schools » Ritson-Sole Golf School » March 2006: Drills for increasing your power » Top 25 golf instruction

[bulldog2k]

Re: arm collapse

Great vid ^^ When you posted it first time, Brian, I made both my parents watch it, and I found it very useful myself

[takinitdeep]

Re: arm collapse

I am an old phil ritson student from way back as is KJ Choi. Yes, good video and not only for old folks, many, many high handicappers lose their angles and flip at the ball. On the other hand, many older players with low handicaps learned how not to do that years ago but they aren't telling anyone how it is they are able to outdrive and outplay the big bombers who live in the woods not the shortgrass.

[BrianW]

Re: arm collapse

I am an old phil ritson student from way back as is KJ Choi. Yes, good video and not only for old folks, many, many high handicappers lose their angles and flip at the ball. On the other hand, many older players with low handicaps learned how not to do that years ago but they aren't telling anyone how it is they are able to outdrive and outplay the big bombers who live in the woods not the shortgrass.

Yes I agree, I was not being ageist with my comment by the way, I'm getting on a bit myself. I do see many seniors with this problem but as you correctly suggest it is also quite prevalent in younger golfers. Point taken.

[takinitdeep]

Re: arm collapse

Good points all. I still think the chicken wing is no way to hit a golf ball. The rumor back then about Cal Peete was that he had his arm set bent after he broke it to keep the angle. Don't know if that is true or not-locker room rumors.
Back to the left arm, I do like it fairly straight going back and very straight at impact, otherwise I can't keep my angles. The angles I am talking about are the angles of the wrist and hands at impact. Personally, I like the left wrist flat which is not possible without a straight left arm. I also like the right wrist bent back on itself which is easier to do with the left arm straight.
When there is chicken wing left arm or complete breakdown of left arm, all angles are lost.
Agree?
Florida is finally getting rain; very humid-have limited my time on the range to 1 hour instead of two to avoid dehydration/stroke. You know its hot when your sweating so much, your feet slide around in your shoes and pours off the brim of your hat like its raining.
Take care.

Takinitdeep:

Did you yell for the old? Here I am, one hot, burned out old man. It is so humid here.

2 Schools of Thought:

1. The long lever of the left arm and you maintain the extension in the follow through.

2. The Pinch Factor can happen with extension but it works better with rotation, allowing the left elbow to bend and the lft wrist to hinge after impact. The clubhead makes impact and then travels straight over the left shoulder after impact for the right handed golfer.

In either case you do not want the real strong grip or close clubface and come in from the outside to the inside in the downswing because that will put the left elbow in the old chicken wing.

Taller players have the wider swing arch and they work better with long levers. Fat men like me have a shorter swing arch, therefore a shorter lever to work with and we need the extra hinging of the elbow.

The swings are different because of an adjustment that is made in the backswing which effects the downswing and the 2 swings do not mix and match.

Calvin Pete with the bent elbow was one of the best for moving the ball down the fairway.

Why is that not written about much anymore? It is a series of events that must be learn. The old archives also teaches the flex left elbow. Think about those guys who got the ball out there 280, 290 yards with the ball being a 1/4th of the ball we play with today and the equipment.

The bent elbow does not work well with a vertical type swing, same theory as swinging the baseball bat and that is where many makes the mistake. Does not Mix and Match.

Then you also here so much about firming up the left hip. There is also the swivel action of the knees.

Sometime after Payne Stewart died, I went to Golf Digest with the interactive swings and put his face on swing on my computer. Look at the knees and how the come around and sometimes I do the same. He was tall and could get the big swing arch and whip the club around and I can see the power coming out of him. 2 Schools of Thought on the hips and knees.

[BrianW]

Re: arm collapse

Good points all. I still think the chicken wing is no way to hit a golf ball. The rumor back then about Cal Peete was that he had his arm set bent after he broke it to keep the angle. Don't know if that is true or not-locker room rumors.
Back to the left arm, I do like it fairly straight going back and very straight at impact, otherwise I can't keep my angles. The angles I am talking about are the angles of the wrist and hands at impact. Personally, I like the left wrist flat which is not possible without a straight left arm. I also like the right wrist bent back on itself which is easier to do with the left arm straight.
When there is chicken wing left arm or complete breakdown of left arm, all angles are lost.
Agree?
Florida is finally getting rain; very humid-have limited my time on the range to 1 hour instead of two to avoid dehydration/stroke. You know its hot when your sweating so much, your feet slide around in your shoes and pours off the brim of your hat like its raining.
Take care.

If you would like some rain then please take some of ours, we have extensive flooding, many towns cut off, many with no water supply etc. We had 4 inches of rain last Friday.

Yes, I like those angles at impact. I don't like to be too rigid with the left arm though, a nice gentle crescent shape on the backswing gives a tension free feel, it straightens out quickly on the downswing.