Keeping the left arm straight promotes a full swing amplitude. Indeed, by pushing the hands farthest away from the body, you are forcing your hands to travel the most distance during your swing. Furthermore, not allowing your left arm to bend also promotes shot consistency and reliability.
Full Answer
What it promotes
Keeping the left arm straight promotes a full swing amplitude. Indeed, by pushing the hands farthest away from the body, you are forcing your hands to travel the most distance during your swing.
What it tries to cure
Golfers who have a tendency to over rotate at the top of the swing may benefit from incorporating this feature into their game. Indeed, some golfers will resort to bending the elbow when they reach a point where they can’t turn any farther. Oftentimes, this results in over-extension, and ultimately in shot inconsistency.
Why it works
Because your left elbow is not allowed to vary its flex, it is much easier for your mind to keep track of what it is doing and to know how it is positioned at every step of the swing.
When is it most useful?
This golf tip can be incorporated into most swings. Indeed, there are no shots that really benefit from your left elbow bending at the top of the swing.
When to ignore?
Golfers of a certain age whose flexibility is no longer what it used to be often resort to bending the left elbow a little bit. This helps them coil further in order to compensate for what would otherwise be a too narrow swing and it helps them gain yardages. In such instances, allowing the elbow to ‘give’ a little is fine.
How to keep your left arm straight in golf?
Proper Left Arm Positioning. There are several key positions worth noting — takeaway, left arm parallel to the ground, the top of your backswing, downswing, and impact — that you can focus on to keep your left arm straight through your golf swing. First, as you start your backswing, keep your left arm straight and close to your body ...
What arm is the dominant arm in golf?
Although it isn’t the dominant arm for right-handed players, the left arm is vital to the golf swing. It largely determines the spacing and arc of your golf swing, it helps control the clubface and ensures power through impact. Too much bend in your left arm can throw off the timing of the rest of your body, costing you power ...
What arm is used in golf swing?
Every part of the body has to be insync for a golf swing to work, but the role of the left arm in golf swing is one of the most crucial and easy to check components. This article will discuss proper positioning for your left arm in a golf swing, when to think about it, and how it should move throughout your swing.
What is swing align?
There are many tools in the marketplace that claim to help with your left arm positioning, but Swing Align is the only product that allows you to see and feel every position in your golf swing. It allows you to feel the proper connection between your left arm and your upper body during the takeaway and follow through.
What is the right arm in golf?
The straight left arm – or the right arm for lefties – is a key building block of an efficient, on-plane back swing. A bent left arm usually causes an overlong golf backswing that, ironically, robs golfers of distance by adding an unnecessary hinge. In fact, many beginners allow the left arm to bend thinking they’ll hit the ball farther.
Why do golf balls slice?
The fundamental reason the ball slices is due to an open club face at impact. However, the golf swing works with a cause and effect relationship. Often a move created in the set up or even backswing promote a slice. Therefore, the following golf swing slice tips will all help straighten that unwanted slice.
Where does the ball start in golf?
The ball starts in the middle of the stance for the shortest club and moves slightly forward as each club gets longer. Each club should increase in length by a half inch. Therefore, think of ball position moving forward a half inch for each club. Ball position with a driver is just off the inside of the left foot.
What is the target line in golf?
The target line is an imaginary line that runs both directions through the ball and out toward the target. Position the club face square to the target and your feet, knees, hips and shoulders parallel to the target line. Remember the set up promotes a fundamentally sound golf swing.
What is the triangle in golf?
The triangle between the arms and shoulders staying intact is a key element of a fundamentally sound golf swing. Breakdowns in the triangle such as the “flying right elbow” are created when the right elbow separates during the backswing and the “chicken wing” occurs when the left arm is bowed at impact.
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How to keep your left arm straight in golf?
In order to keep your left arm straight throughout the backswing, you are going to have to make a great shoulder turn. Without a good turn in your shoulders, your left arm will be forced to bend simply to move the club all the way around your body.
How to get a straight left arm?
To encourage a straight left arm during your backswing, work on achieving the following: At set up, create a straight line from your left shoulder down your straight left arm to your left hand and then down the club shaft to the club head. Work on pushing your hands away from your torso as you swing back, rather than pulling your hands in ...
How to start backswing golf?
Take your time, turn your left shoulder fully under your chin, and start forward when you are sure your backswing is complete. All shoulders at the start. It is common for amateur golfers to begin the backswing by using the hands and wrists to move the club. This might feel right, but it is actually all wrong.
Which arm controls the path of a golf club?
Golf Instruction. The left arm is the one that primarily controls the path that the club will travel on. For this reason we need to try to keep the path from changing during the swing to produce consistent results. That means you will need to feel as if you keep the arm straight from the set up position until impact.
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.
Should your left arm be straight?
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. Most golfers, however, don't know the fundamentals that allow you to keep your left arm straight in a golf swing.
How to keep your left arm extended?
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. You should feel like you are pushing your hands away from your chest to keep your left arm extended.
How to grip a golf club?
Grip the club in the fingers of your left hand (for right-handed golfers). You should see two or three knuckles of your left hand grip. 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 ...
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.
Who is John Wagner?
John Wagner is a certified golf instructor and professional golfer with more than 10 years of experience. As a certified GolfTEC, TPI Level 3 and Chuck Cook Golf Instructor, he has given more than 9,000 golf lessons.
