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what does flying elbow do in golf swing

by Kamille Mills Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Flying Elbow This is a term used to describe the trailing elbow leaving the trailing side on the backswing. It is not necessarily a fault and many great players play golf with this motion. It can however affect the efficiency of the golf swing as it can create some sequencing issues on the backswing and downswing.

Part of a video titled Flying right elbow - YouTube
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Your movement so that as you swing back there's a small amount of rotation where your arm swings outMoreYour movement so that as you swing back there's a small amount of rotation where your arm swings out. So so from here if I have my elbow by my side.

Full Answer

Do you have a flying back elbow in your golf swing?

Most golfers with flying elbows in their back swing are faders or slicers of the ball. Unless other, equally stressful, body compensations are made, the natural tendency for a golfer with a flying back elbow is to throw the club from the top on an outside to inside swing path — a slicer’s nightmare!

How do you fix a flying elbow in golf?

The common compensation movement result is to lift the back elbow instead of rotating at the tight shoulder and, voila, a flying elbow is born! Once properly evaluated and understood, the cure, therefore, for the flying elbow is to increase the chest and shoulder flexibility of a golfer diagnosed to have this condition.

Which way should your elbows point when playing golf?

This right elbow’s going to be pointing behind my body. So if there’s a golf ball, my right elbow’s going to be pointing as far this way as I can. My left elbow’s going to be pointing as far that way as I can to make sure that I’m coming through and getting that full finish, all the way on around.

Why is the right elbow important on the downswing?

The proper movement of the right elbow on the downswing allows for so many complementary and fundamentally sound movements to occur. It allows the club to shallow and move behind the hands, which in turns promotes more rotation of the body.

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Is flying elbow OK in golf?

This is a term used to describe the trailing elbow leaving the trailing side on the backswing. It is not necessarily a fault and many great players play golf with this motion. It can however affect the efficiency of the golf swing as it can create some sequencing issues on the backswing and downswing.

How do you play golf with flying right elbow?

3:079:03Fix Your Flying Right Elbow In Just 2 Simple Moves - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI can get my elbow in a good position the top something like that. It's. So much easier to get it onMoreI can get my elbow in a good position the top something like that. It's. So much easier to get it on that correct down swing path. And hit the golf ball on the right plane.

What causes flying elbow in golf?

The tightness in the chest and shoulder creating the golfer's rounded spine also blocks their ability to fully rotate their shoulder. The common compensation movement result is to lift the back elbow instead of rotating at the tight shoulder and, voila, a flying elbow is born!

Can a flying right elbow cause a shank?

If the club hits the ball at or anywhere near the hosel, then it would result in a shank shot. A flying elbow happens when the right elbow (for a right-handed golfer) sticks out a little too much at the peak of the backswing. The elbow almost becomes horizontal and points away from the body.

What is the most important move in the golf swing?

The first move down from the top is one of the most important in the golf swing. No matter how you take the club back, the transition into the downswing has to be smooth, and the club needs to come into the ball from inside the target line. And the overall downswing has to start from the ground up.

Should you keep right elbow tucked in backswing?

Should the right arm be tucked in the golf swing? Yes, the right arm plays a different role than the left. On the backswing, the right arm and elbow should stay relatively close to your body. On the downswing, the right arm should tuck so that you can shallow the golf club.

How do you stop chicken wings in a golf swing?

5:258:34STOP Golf Swing Chicken Wing For Effortless POWER and Ball Striking ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe right arm a little bit more here. As we come through we're straightening the arms. This way okayMoreThe right arm a little bit more here. As we come through we're straightening the arms. This way okay but we're feeling like the left elbow is down so it's here the left elbow is pointing.

Can standing too close to the golf ball cause shanks?

Standing too close to the golf ball will result in a posture that's too upright, which could result in inconsistent shots and no control over the ball. Standing too close to the ball can result in slices and shanks, which are very common among average players.

Why am I suddenly shanking the golf ball?

The main cause of shanking the golf ball is a strike that is too far out of the heel of the club, close to the hosel. This generally comes about because your set up is too close to the ball, or you tip forward towards the ball during the swing.

Why do I keep shanking my irons?

When your hands get further away at impact than they were at address, a shank will likely be the result. If you stand too close to the ball, it will be easier to open the clubface too much leading to a shank. It also increases your chances of hitting the ball with the heel of the club.

How do you keep your elbow pointed down in golf?

6:4510:25How To Train Your Right Elbow In The Downswing With This Simple DrillYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI want to get this kind of my elbow kind of working in and in and the start of the downswing. ThenMoreI want to get this kind of my elbow kind of working in and in and the start of the downswing. Then you can start doing it without the ball. And start getting that club to shadow out really easily.

How do you keep your elbows in golf swing?

4:167:48Golf Keep Elbows Close Together More Consistency And AccuracyYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThrough trying to maintain that distance of those elbows. All the way through even to about here andMoreThrough trying to maintain that distance of those elbows. All the way through even to about here and it's not till. About right at the finish. You'll see those elbows come apart.

How do I fix my right arm in my golf swing?

8:4516:17The Role Of The Right Arm In The Golf Swing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipA lot of times it'll be a weak right hand grip. You want to have your right arm soft. Maybe evenMoreA lot of times it'll be a weak right hand grip. You want to have your right arm soft. Maybe even come in from kind of underneath your thigh. Underneath your left forearm and bent.

Where is the right elbow in the golf swing?

2:523:58CORRECT RIGHT ELBOW POSITION IN GOLF SWING - EASY GOLF DRILLYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPosition at the top of your back swing. So this is how it looks when you play cross-handed in thisMorePosition at the top of your back swing. So this is how it looks when you play cross-handed in this swing. To get that right elbow.

What is a flying elbow?

Flying Elbow. This is a term used to describe the trailing elbow leaving the trailing side on the backswing. It is not necessarily a fault and many great players play golf with this motion. It can however affect the efficiency of the golf swing as it can create some sequencing issues on the backswing and downswing.

Why does my elbow fly?

First and foremost, any shoulder joint or soft tissue mobility restrictions in the shoulder girdle will limit the range of motion in the trail side shoulder.

Where does the trailing elbow point?

The trailing elbow will fly away from the trailing side as the club reaches the top of the backswing, with the elbow pointing well behind the student. On most golfers the elbow points to the ground at the top of the backswing which would put the arm in a position to support the club at the top of the swing.

Can a thoracic spine cause elbow to fly?

Since thoracic spine limitation are usually coupled with loss of scapular stability, this can force the shoulder joint into positions that will limit external rotation and cause the elbow to fly.

What is a flying right elbow?

A flying right elbow is a common term that people use in golf. But, it's typically thought of as a bad thing and some instructors advocate that the elbows should remain in close to your body. Randy Miller sent in a question about flying right and left elbows. I think it's important to define what a flying right elbow is because I teach ...

What does it mean to keep your elbows tucked in golf?

Tucking your elbows is one of the deadly sins in a golf swing. If you keep your right arm tucked that means the width of the arc is defined by how far the right hand can go.

Why don't my shoulders go up in golf?

Remember, your shoulders don't go up in the swing because that's a flying right elbow. But the arm has to move away from the body. The left arm has a little bit of curviture, but it doesn't break. If you restrict your elbows in close to your body, you won't have the ability to make a full swing. Keep it vertical!

Which arm is the guide to creating your width and the guide that will tell your right arm where to go?

The guide to creating your width and the guide that will tell your right arm where to go is the left arm. You've got to have some separation, otherwise you won't be able to put a good swing on the ball. Remember, your shoulders don't go up in the swing because that's a flying right elbow. But the arm has to move away from the body.

Is it bad to have a flying right elbow in golf?

Please try again later. A flying right elbow is a common term that people use in golf. But, it's typically thought of as a bad thing and some instructors advocate that the elbows should remain in close to your body.

Why do you use your right elbow on a downswing?

It allows the club to shallow and move behind the hands, which in turns promotes more rotation of the body. This makes it much easier for the hands to lead the club into impact and provide a powerful ...

How to keep elbows from flying?

A good drill is to swing to the top and focus on maintaining your elbow spacing. The Swing Align swing trainer with its flexible connection belt will keep your elbows from flying too far apart and away from your body during the transition from backswing to downswing. With your trail arm in a good position the lower body can initiate downswing ...

What is the proper position for a trail arm?

Having the right elbow in the proper position at the top allows the trail arm to move externally and under the lead arm resulting in a shallowing of the club shaft.

What is the trail arm in golf?

The trail arm plays a massive role in one's ability to deliver the club head consistently into impact. Here are the top three areas of the swing that it influences. The first move off the ball is one of the most important parts of the golf swing. Hogan called it one of his “crossroads” where things could easily go one way or another.

Why do you tuck your right elbow in golf?

You want to tuck the right elbow close to the body in order to let the club head move behind ...

Why is the trail arm important?

Not only does it help you stay more connected going back, but it helps you maintain arm structure at the top as well so that you can develop the muscle memory needed to be more consistent. It provides a great visual of where the trail arm is coming down relative to the lead arm .

Who has a flying right elbow?

There are several elite players who have been successful with a “flying right elbow” such as Nicklaus, Fred Couples and in modern times Matt Wolfe. These players were all able to quickly and efficiently externally rotate their trail arm back into position and deliver it beautifully into the impact zone.

What is the flying elbow in golf?

One common swing habit many golfers find difficult to change is the “flying elbow” at the top of their backswing. This is an elbow that lifts to high (see picture #1a) instead of properly rotating from the shoulder and allowing the forearm to align in a more parallel fashion with the angle of the spine (see picture #1b).

Why do golfers have flying elbows?

The problem with having a flying elbow at the top of the back swing is two fold; 1) Shoulder injuries can develop with repeated back swings because this shoulder position creates excessive pressure in the rotator cuff and surrounding structures that will eventually cause damage to those structures , and 2) It is difficult to bring the club back on plane from this elevated elbow position. Most golfers with flying elbows in their back swing are faders or slicers of the ball. Unless other, equally stressful, body compensations are made, the natural tendency for a golfer with a flying back elbow is to throw the club from the top on an outside to inside swing path — a slicer’s nightmare!

Why does my elbow fly?

The cure to the flying elbow syndrome is to first understand “why” the elbow is flying. For most golfers the problem starts with poor posture in standing and in their golf address posture. A forward bent or rounded middle (thoracic) spine due to a tight chest and frontal shoulder muscles will prevent a golfer from making a complete rotational back ...

Why does my golfer have a rounded spine?

The tightness in the chest and shoulder creating the golfer’s rounded spine also blocks their ability to fully rotate their shoulder. The common compensation movement result is to lift the back elbow instead of rotating at the tight shoulder and, voila, a flying elbow is born!

How to get hips and knees to bend?

To perform this exercise, simply stand with your back against a wall or locked door. Walk your feet several feet away from the wall or door and slide your body down the surface you are supported by until your hips and knees are bent approximately 30-60° .

Can flying elbows be cured?

Your flying elbow will be cured and so will your slice tendencies for good.

What elbow should I use for a swing?

It doesn’t need to be pointing straight down, but it helps to have it in that position. However, if you have a flying elbow, that doesn’t mean you can’t make a good swing.

What happens if your golf club is too flat?

If the club is too flat and nearly parallel with the ground, then your left arm is starting to roll over the right arm. If you’re swinging at these extremes, then adjust accordingly by rotating your arms.

Should elbows be pointed at address?

Elbows at Address. Make sure your elbows are relaxed in a natural position at address. Some instructors recommend that both elbow pits pointed open, but there’s little evidence to support doing that. Also, I haven’t seen many pros force their elbow pits open either.

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