The bent left arm is very commonly seen in young golfers who lack proper equipment, coordination or are attempting to swing much too far back. Once given lighter, age-appropriate clubs and quick example of where to stop the backswing the issue goes away.
What happens if your left arm is bent on the golf swing?
Without this, players with a bent left arm will tend to pick the club up with their arms, without rotating their body as well, which will lead to inconsistent and less powerful ball striking. It’s clear PGA superstar Rory McIlroy has a slight degree of elbow bend during his golf swing.
Should you bend your left arm on the backswing?
Perry, Cabrera, and Watson all bend their left arm on the backswing. So, please remember that a left arm that is fairly straight, especially on the takeaway, and when you strike the ball, is a good thing. But this is a result of an otherwise good swing, not a primary swing thought for you to be focusing on as you swing.
Why is my left arm bent on the left side?
The bent left arm is very commonly seen in young golfers who lack proper equipment, coordination or are attempting to swing much too far back. Once given lighter, age-appropriate clubs and quick example of where to stop the backswing the issue goes away.
What happens if you lock your left arm in the backswing?
Complete locking of the left arm causes many players to turn their whole body and shoulders too far inside the swing plane. The only way they can then get any height in their arms at the top of the backswing is to lift them up, which in turn can create some poor movements – such as an over-the-top slice – during the downswing.
Why does my left arm bend in golf swing?
If you find your left arm is bending at the top of your swing it is most likely because your body has stopped rotating and you are trying to generate more reach and power with your arms. This only serves to make it harder for you to make a well timed and connected swing down to the ball.
How do I keep my left arm straight in the downswing?
5:477:29The Trick To Keeping The Left Arm Straight In The Golf Swing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo draw the circle around your head from face. On feel your chest up right shoulder up and backMoreSo draw the circle around your head from face. On feel your chest up right shoulder up and back until your head stays in it if you've gone toward the target.
Why can't I keep my left arm straight in golf swing?
Your grip may be too much in the palms therefore the wrists aren't hinging or setting the club properly in the first place. This causes forces you into bending that lead elbow to complete your backswing. From there you are forced into casting the golf club by releasing the angle in the lead arm during the downswing.
How do I stop my downswing from tilting?
1:293:16How To Avoid Over Tilting and Reduce Your Slide in the Down ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRight you're gonna rock your tailbone to the right on the backswing. And then from there just turnMoreRight you're gonna rock your tailbone to the right on the backswing. And then from there just turn it back so you feel like it's this way and then once it's tilted like that toward the target try.
How do I strengthen my left arm in my golf swing?
1:072:25Improve Your Golf Swing with the 'left arm only' drill - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYour lead arm only. Another good way would be to back up against something if you've got to fly toMoreYour lead arm only. Another good way would be to back up against something if you've got to fly to take away back up against a wall or maybe a net that's in your winter academy.
How do I keep my wrist straight in the golf swing?
1:583:38GOLF: How To Get A Flat Left Wrist In The Golf Swing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe lead wrist will still be in a slight cup or extension during the takeaway gradually from theMoreThe lead wrist will still be in a slight cup or extension during the takeaway gradually from the takeaway. Into about left arm parallel is where you'll start to get that lead wrist closer to flat.
Is left arm straight in golf downswing?
Golfers are often taught to keep their left arm straight on the backswing, but Bryson focuses on maintaining that straight left arm structure all the way throug his swing. It's only when that left elbow and arm breaks down through the ball that golfers start hitting shots left.
What does the left arm do in the downswing?
The left arm determines the swing arc for a shot and helps release and rotate the wrists and club on the downswing.
Why is it important to keep your left arm straight in golf?
It is extremely important for senior golfers to keep their left arm straight during their backswing as doing this allows you to make a great connection with the golf ball and secondly you will generate maximum club head speed when you swing and therefore hit the ball the maximum distance that you can.
Why am I sliding in my golf swing?
0:216:53How To STOP SLIDING In The Golf Swing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUsually people talk about the pelvis. And hips too much lateral motion too late in the downswing.MoreUsually people talk about the pelvis. And hips too much lateral motion too late in the downswing.
Where should shoulders be impacted?
Square shoulders at impact are important for shot distance and accuracy. Golfers who struggle with accuracy should focus on having their shoulders square at impact. Squaring your shoulders means that as contact is made with the ball, the shoulders are parallel to the target line.
Should shoulders be closed at impact?
There is a lot of conflicting advice about whether the shoulders should be open, square, or even closed at impact. The real answer, like most things in golf, is “it depends.” The key to shoulder position at impact is matching your pivot with your arm swing.
How do you keep the lead arm straight after impact?
4:507:48How To Keep The Left Arm Straight In The Golf Swing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf my shoulders keep on going my arm is gonna stay straight so the chest leads away in the downswingMoreIf my shoulders keep on going my arm is gonna stay straight so the chest leads away in the downswing. We just turn it the other direction visualize.
How do you keep your arms straight in follow through?
0:343:38Golf Swing Extension - How to Release your Arms & Hands after ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe hips pull. The right elbow. And turn the body into impacts of the hands get back to theirMoreThe hips pull. The right elbow. And turn the body into impacts of the hands get back to their address position where they're pointing at the left hip.
Should left arm be straight at address?
When you address the golf ball your left arm should be straight. You do not want to lock it tightly and tensely, but you do want to achieve a fully extended position with your left arm. Your address position is basically the position that you are wanting to get back into when you strike the ball.
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What happens when your left arm over bends?
When the left arm over-bends that much during the back swing it tends to create a very steep back and down swing. With a steep swing you may hit your nine iron a little further than you should, but the longer irons and woods will be very difficult for you to hit consistently.
What does it mean when your left arm moves back in the back swing?
Obviously this means your body must move in an athletic manner with the hips moving towards the target to start the downswing.
How to hit a golf ball straight?
Remember, your arms hook the ball and your body slices the ball. To hit a ball relatively straight the arms and body sequence and speed must match up. Once you learn to curve the ball left with proper arm rotation you will then need to change the sequence of your body motion. Most amateurs have their hips facing the ball at impact. If your arms work correctly and your hips are square to the ball at impact you should hook the ball. After accomplishing a ball flight that curves left next try to get your hips to move laterally from the top of the swing and then try to get the hips 20 to 40 degrees open at impact. This may take a little time but it is well worth it. This is how a good athletic motion produces extremely long consistent shots.
How to swing your arms?
Stand in front of a mirror and make small swings watching how your arms work. Keep the back of the front or left arm firmly against the chest on the down swing . Notice that your arms can rotate easier before, at and after impact.
How far does the left arm stay in the ball striker?
The left arm will stay at or around a 30 degree angle across the chest from the half way down position of the down swing and not move forward until after impact and not until the hands get around chest high on the follow through. This means that your front elbow will stay closer to your belly button than your front hip at impact and stay there until your hands reach about shoulder height. This may sound odd but this is what most of the best ball strikers in the world do.
How many golfers do proper front arm motion?
I would estimate that only about 3 to 5 percent of golfers accomplish proper front or left arm motion which is also in line with the percentage of players that break 80. The biggest problem with this is that it feels powerless and all “bunched up” through impact. If you were to see this on video you would notice the exact opposite is the case. By keeping the left arm firmly against the chest, (tricep pressing against the center of the left peck or chest) this allows your right arm to become fully extended through impact. This motion also allows your arms to extend and rotate properly.
How long does it take for the left arm to work after hitting a golf ball?
If you slice the golf ball please read this part carefully. A person who slices can learn to hit a ball curving left within 40 minutes after learning proper use of the left arm. The typical comment during the change is how unnatural or uncomfortable it is to move your left arm correctly after impact.
What does it mean when your left arm is bent?
The bent left arm is very commonly seen in young golfers who lack proper equipment, coordination or are attempting to swing much too far back. Once given lighter, age-appropriate clubs and quick example of where to stop the backswing the issue goes away.
Why is my lead arm hanging straight?
Your lead arm is now hanging straight. Locking your arm at the elbow is a hyperextended condition . Before even beginning to work on your left arm, first consult with your instructor to verify the arm is bent to a degree that is actually causing a problem. Different degrees of straight can be seen even among golf’s professional players.
What is the fix for more mature golfers?
The fix for more mature golfers is in what we will identify as e xtensor action. This term can be found in Mr. Homer Kelly’s book “The Golfing Machine”, chapter 6-B-1-D.
What muscle is the picture on the left?
The picture on the left is an example of activating the triceps muscle to keep myself from touching the chair. This triceps condition will give structure to my left arm when performing a golf swing. The picture on the right picture is an example of my biceps being contracting, which would cause my left arm to bend at the top of my swing.
How does a lower handicap player benefit from these drills?
Lower handicap players can also benefit from these drills by sensing extensor action during the downstroke. Better players sometimes need to feel more width through the ball, and an earlier straightening of the right arm. The same drills apply.
How to swing golf without a club?
Adopt your golf set up without a club, with your arms hanging completely relaxed and left arm straight (not rigid or hyperextended). Close your left hand into a fist and then extend your left thumb. With your right hand, reach across your chest and grip your left thumb as if gripping a golf club. Now, swing to the top and feel how the pushing of your right arm keeps the left arm structured. Also notice where your shoulder turn stops and your left arm is straight. This is the true top of your golf swing. To swing beyond this point will require a breaking down of your lead arm or loss of posture and spine angle.
How to make a golf belt?
Straight Through Structure. Make a loop with your belt and slide your left arm into it, including your shoulder. Adopt your golf posture and let the belt hang limp. Reach across and grip in your right hand, wrapping the belt around your index finger and pinching with your thumb.
What is the left arm in golf swing?
When it comes to the left arm in the golf swing, two main areas to focus on. The first is the back of the left hand or left wrist, and the second is the elbow on the left arm.
How does the left arm work in golf?
From here, down into impact you want to check that the elbow is at about 90 degrees, the wrist is 90 degrees, they're nice and flat and working into the solid strike position where everything is in alignment over the left foot.
What is the position of the left arm when hitting the golf club?
These dynamics also affect the position of the left arm at impact. When we look at impact, we often check the position of the back of the left hand or wrist as it is primarily controlling the club face through the hitting area. Because the left arm must be pulled across the body in the golf swing in order to get into a leveraged position at the top of all swings, there is some rotation that occurs.
How to rotate your wrist in golf?
As you go to the top, start working on keeping your shoulder shut and pulling your left arm down so that your elbow is pointing down the target line and you're rotating your wrist.
What is a left arm downswing drill?
The Left Arm Downswing Drill (LADD) is also covered in two phases, both without a golf club and with a golf club, allowing you to master these impact positions that are so vital for directional control.
How many degrees does the golf swing go back?
That arm has basically rotated from just outside of neutral - it's slightly internally rotated - then as it goes back it rotates about 50-60-70 degrees. It just depends on the swing and your build. As we get to the top, now my arm is in this position, versus neutral.
What arm controls the club face in golf?
That's why I have spent a great deal of time talking about the right arm to this point but not as much talking about the left arm. The left arm has an equally important role to perform in the golf swing, perhaps even more so in that it directly controls the club face through impact.
Why is it important to keep your left arm straight?
In a properly-executed swing, the left arm will stay fairly straight, and this is desirable. A bent left arm robs power from the shot, and will return the clubface to the ball inconsistently.
What is the left arm straight tip?
I much prefer to phrase the “left arm straight” tip as “swing so that your left arm stays relatively straight throughout the swing ” — especially at the takeaway and at impact. This phrasing emphasizes the turn, the release, the lag, and so on, rather than focusing on your left elbow. Who wants to focus on the elbow anyway? You need to focus on the ball — that’s what you’re trying to hit!
Which elbow is bent at the top?
The left elbow is quite bent at the top, and stays so until just before impact. Have a look: Perry, Cabrera, and Watson all bend their left arm on the backswing.
Is it necessary to keep your left elbow rigid?
Indeed, keeping the left elbow rigid throughout the swing is not necessary to hit great golf shots and may in fact be hurting you a lot more than it is helping.
Is Jordan Spieth bent?
You will see it is bent even a bit more than Kenny’s! Jordan Spieth has a beautiful, rhythmic golf swing, and some fairly significant left elbow bend at the top. Jordan’s is a swing that the Occasional Golfer can imitate with success.
Why do you have a straight left arm in golf?
Keeping a straight left arm during your golf swing is critical for creating width, speed and consistency, but it should be done so without tension.
How do I keep my left arm straight during the golf swing?
The best swing thought to have when trying to keep your left arm straight during your swing is to have soft arms, but a secure grip. The club should be able to move freely during the swing using centrifugal force, as opposed to you forcing it into certain positions. As the saying goes, tension is the biggest killer of every golf swing.
How many degrees should a golfer's left arm be?
Golfers should try and keep their left arm as straight as possible without it being rigid, or locked, but some bend is fine. Most professional players start with a straight left arm at address, which bends to around five degrees at top of their backswing. Their left arm continues to flex slightly in the downswing and will have around eight degrees ...
Why do golfers lose their arm width?
As a result, they lose the width in their swing – resulting in a loss of speed and consistency – and will also tend to ‘cast’ the club out behind them, leading to slices or pulls.
Why is it important to keep your left arm straight in golf?
How important is keeping a straight left arm in golf? The reason players are encouraged to keep their left arm as straight as possible through their golf swing is to create as much width as possible during the takeaway and backswing.
What causes a player to turn their body and shoulders too far inside the swing plane?
Complete locking of the left arm causes many players to turn their whole body and shoulders too far inside the swing plane. The only way they can then get any height in their arms at the top of the backswing is to lift them up, which in turn can create some poor movements – such as an over-the-top slice – during the downswing.
How to guard against bending your arm?
The main thing that we want to guard against if we’re bending our arm a little bit in the backswing, is we want to make sure we’re rotating our chest. Some players are going to bend their arm a little bit at the top of the swing, but they’re still going to make that good chest and shoulder rotation, and that’s completely fine. We just need to guard against picking (the club) up with the arms, and not rotating the chest. The main goal is getting that big turn with your core, and that’s going to allow you to get that great swing speed whether the arm is a little bit bent or not.
Tomputt
Previously I would bring the arms back with a stiff left arm...even though I would try and maintain a light grip, on the down swing I would tighten up and end up hitting with a tight grip...There was just a lot of tension that was built up during the swing.
Tomputt
You hit on a good point....you mention keeping the arm rigid. This will introduce tension which is the killer of any golf swing. I think it is a personal thing on how much bend is necessary. All I'm suggesting is that individuals who are stuggling should try and relax their left arm a little bit more.
mvmac
Overall I think golfers overemphasize the importance of whether the left arm bends or not. Some amount is fine, I'd rather see someone with a "soft" lead arm than a ramrod straight one. There are/have been great players with "straight" lead arms and other with some bend.
inthehole
Spieth is a good example of someone who bends the left arm a bit ... much more noticeable than, say Rory's straight arm technique.
DownAndOut
Sorry for resurrecting an old thread but I think the bent left arm is something that could be used to good effect by those who have flexibility issues with regards their shoulder/hip rotation. I've been trying it out and it certainly helps limit the amount of tension I feel in my left lat/arm/shoulder areas.
iacas
Before I respond, I'll go on record as I have in the past in saying that if the goal was to build a swing to hit the ball really far, you'd almost absolutely bend the left arm. It creates another lever.
Rainmaker
I've been doing some thinking about this over the last couple months. I used to have a bend in my lead arm at the top but that was because I was swinging beyond my flexibility. Like . .my body stopped turning but my arms kept going back . .so the left arm bent.
How to keep your left arm straight in golf?
Keeping your left arm straight during the swing requires the proper grip, arm swing, downswing path and body turn. Learn these fundamentals and you will consistently be able to create a powerful swing.
How to get a golf club to swing down?
Downswing. Start your downswing by moving your lower body to the target. This will help you bring the club down along a proper inside-out path. Turn your hips toward the target and keep your left arm extended as you continue swinging down to impact. Turn your hips through the impact position and hold onto your wrist hinge until just before ...
How to swing a golf club backwards?
Swing the club back with your shoulders and begin hinging your wrists. Keep your left arm extended as you turn your shoulders and hinge your wrists. Stop your backswing when your left shoulder is under your chin and your arms are slightly higher than your shoulders .
How to follow through on golf swing?
Follow Through. Keep turning your hips as you swing through impact and strike the ball. Let the club rotate over as your arms extend out to the target. Halfway through the follow-through the left arm should finally bend as you fold both arms to a finish position. Your shoulders and hips should face the target at your finish.
What arm should be straight at the top of the backswing?
By John Wagner. The left arm should be straight at the top of the backswing. One common phrase heard around driving ranges and golf courses is "keep your left arm straight.". This advice can help right-handed golfers create power in their swings.
Where should the V point on a golf club?
The "v" formed by your left thumb and index finger should point toward your right shoulder. Grip the club in the fingers of your right hand with the right pinky finger overlapping the index and middle finger of the left hand. This grip will give you leverage to hinge your wrists while keeping your left arm straight.
