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. You should try and make the biggest arc possible with your club, as this will generate the most speed and consistency in your golf swing.
Full Answer
Should your left arm be straight in a golf swing?
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. You should try and make the biggest arc possible with your club, as this will generate the most speed and consistency in your golf swing.
How do I keep my left elbow straight during the golf swing?
The left elbow should be kept as straight as possible during the golf swing before hinging after impact in your follow-through. 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.
How do you swing a golf club?
The first move down should be a pulling motion initiated by the left leg ( pictured above ). From the top, the left knee shifts toward the target and starts pulling the rest of the lower body into its forward rotation. If the lower body leads the downswing, the club drops to the inside, and you can sling it out to the ball.
What is the downswing in golf?
The downswing occurs right after the top of the swing position is reached. It consists of the movements that occur as you bring your hands and the club back down. The downswing ends with the ultimate impact with the ball. The full hinge that was set progressively in the backswing should be kept intact as you being the downswing.
Why should I flatten my golf swing?
Some other flat golf swing benefits include: Compressing your irons and wedges. Hitting your driver longer and straighter. Having less movement in your golf swing which makes it easier to hit it consistently day in and day out.
Why is the lie angle important in a golf club?
Being fit for lie angle is important because it affects the direction and flight of the ball. For instance, if the sole of your club at impact is interacting with the grass more toward the toe then the lie angle is too flat. If impact is more toward the heel then the lie angle is too upright.
Do you keep both arms straight in golf swing?
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.
Does lie angle affect swing path?
Having correct lie angles will not only improve your swing but also stop from developing bad habits. The purpose of lie adjustments are to level out the clubs' sole parallel to the ground lie. Lie angles are based off of many aspects such as height, wingspan, knee bend, and swing path.
Does 2 degrees upright make a difference?
What Does 2 Degrees Upright Mean On A Golf Club? If a club is 2 degrees upright that can mean a couple of different things depending on the context. Most likely, it means that a club is 2 degrees more upright than the standard lie angle for that brand and model.
Does flattening lie affect loft?
The first thing to know is that lie angle being incorrect is the most important on clubs with more loft. The more loft a club has, the more magnified an incorrect lie angle will be when it comes to the direction of your golf ball. A 3 iron will be much less offline than a PW with the same lie angle.
Which arm is more dominant in the golf swing?
Some golf professionals believe the left hand should be dominant in golf while others believe the right hand leads the way. There are positives and negatives to having both the left and right hands active in the golf swing. The majority of golf teaching professionals believe the left hand should lead the way.
Where does your power come from in a golf swing?
5:3010:44WHERE DOES THE POWER COME FROM IN THE GOLF SWING?YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPower. All right so yes you get the bulk of the power. Through your arm unit that doesn't mean you'MorePower. All right so yes you get the bulk of the power. Through your arm unit that doesn't mean you're going like this though. And trying to use your arms to hit that ball.
Which hand is the power hand in the golf swing?
1:195:39Should You Hit With Your Left Hand or Right Hand in the Golf Swing ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThat's. Your power hand. So for me I've always hit a hammer and nail or baseball with my right myMoreThat's. Your power hand. So for me I've always hit a hammer and nail or baseball with my right my right arm my right hand and. So that's my power hand. And naturally. I'm a right I am actually I'm
Does upright lie promote a draw?
The upright lie also promotes a left tilting spin axis, which leads to what's generally described as draw spin. An upright lie angle basically gives you a head start, but depending on the severity of the slice conditions the golfer generates, it certainly won't guarantee a draw.
What does 2 flat lie angle mean?
A golf club can be bent two degrees flat when the lie angle is lowered and the heel of the club is raised to a position that is higher than the toe of the club. Golfers change the lie angle of a club to better their chances of hitting the center of the clubface.
What happens if your lie is too upright?
If your lie angle is too upright, typically meaning that it's closer to 90 degrees than 0 degrees, then that means you will typically hit the ground with your club with the heel side of the sole.
Does 1 degree lie angle make difference?
Yes it will make a difference, I play 2 degree upright and +1/2. If your hitting the ball left all the while (I am guessing your right handed) won't be to do with having the lye angle to flat.
How important is lie angle with irons?
Proper Lie Angle Is More Important in Irons Than in Woods But having improperly fit lie angles causes more problems in irons than in the woods. "The greater the loft on the face of the clubhead, the more off-line the face will point when the lie angle is not correct for the golfer," Wishon explains.
What lie angle do most pros use?
What Is The Standard Lie Angle For A 7 Iron? Most golf club manufacturers 7 iron lie angles are 62.5 degrees. This may vary from model to model depending on the length. Like I mentioned previously, in a standard set the lie angles need to match the length of the clubs.
What lie angle should my irons be?
Lie angle is the angle the club shaft makes with the ground when you HIT the ball and your club head is parallel with the ground....Determining and Selecting Your Lie Angle.IronsStandard Lie Angle257.0 deg358.0 deg459.0 deg560.0 deg7 more rows
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.
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.
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 ...
What is the biggest killer of golf swings?
As the common saying goes, tension is the biggest killer of every golf swing. Below is a video demonstrating a great drill to release tension in your arms, wrists and hands while maintaining a straight left arm throughout your swing.
What happens if you lock your lead arm?
The arms and shoulders need to be relaxed to get the club going fast. But at address, if you lock up your lead arm then your body gets really tight … and can lead to some really poor (backswing) and downswing motions. If we don’t (keep the arm straight) it actually acts as another lever, if you bend your arm.
Should you bend your left arm in golf?
It (your left arm) is allowed to bend. It shouldn’t be ram-rod straight unless you have ultimate, super flexibility. But if there’s a little bit of bend in it, then it’s generally OK.
When is the next golf tournament in 2021?
January 29, 2021. June 21, 2021. As amateur golfers, one of the most common pieces of advice you’ll likely receive from other players – especially when you’re new to the game – is that in order to make a good swing, you must keep your lead arm straight at all costs. So, for right-handed players that means keeping your left arm straight, ...
How to swing backswing golf?
First, as you start your backswing, keep your left arm straight and close to your body until it approaches parallel to the ground and your wrists start to hinge. You’ll want to make sure that your arms and body are “connected” and your body is driving your turn away from the ball, not your arms. Remember that golf is a rotational game ...
Which elbow should be straight during a golf swing?
This starts with the left elbow, as it is the hinge in your arm that controls its bend throughout the golf swing. The left elbow should be kept as straight as possible during the golf swing before hinging after impact in your follow-through.
Why is the left arm of the golf club important?
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 and making it more difficult to square the club at impact and start the ball on-line.
What is the role of the left arm in golf?
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. An important note, this page will discuss the importance of the left arm in the golf swing as most golfers are right-handed, but what we really mean is the lead arm in the golf swing. So if you’re a left-handed player, this article will be about your right arm.
What arm does the follow through do?
It also teaches you to make a full swing instead of decelerating at impact. During the follow through your left arm will remain straight after hitting the ball, but will bend as you rotate through to face your target and your arms come up to your finishing position.
How to push your arm away from a golf ball?
A good thought is to push your left arm away from the ball by rotating your shoulders and trunk with your left shoulder working down and under your chin. If you are using a Swing Align device the front of the rod will move down first (not out and around).
Why does my left arm bend when I 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.
Why do you practice golf swings?
As you will remember from that first article. The main reason for doing a practice golf swing is to switch your body on.
Why do golfers warm up before a game?
Then you stand on the tee and try and drive the ball at say 90mph. Not only are you going to have the potential for a muscle injury or back strain.
Why is it important to walk between shots?
Golfers are normally walking, talking or just thinking about other things. And your body is busy doing other movements that aren’t related to hitting a golf shot.
Do golfers practice the same swing every time?
Yet, most golfers do basically the same slow speed practice golf swings every time. In my experience, that is one of the main reasons. That a lot of golfers around the world struggle with a slice when driving off the tee.
Club layoff
Good video, does this slight club layoff help to hit the ball from the " inside " In other words is this what I am doing wrong if I am coming over the top? Merry Christmas and God Bless
Slight lay off
Amazing, I was going to contact you about the very same thing. I am known as theJim Furyk of Royal Birkdale because of my vertical swing, but someone mentioned last week that I drop it on the inside on the way down. This could explain why I have a tendency to fire the ball right of where I am aiming
Laying Off
Surge, thanks for reflecting back on my analysis & commenting on this aspect.
Wrist position
Neil, Great to hear you're still with the program. Cupping of the wrists can be deceptive. I have discovered a simple means of handling it that may help you. First, let your lead (left?) arm hang relaxed at your side. Then, without moving any other part, especially the wrist, move, bend your lower arm up to parallel to the ground.
Whatever Works Musings
Season's greetings Neil. Since adopting the Surge swing about 8 years ago, I know that my game has got progressively better but there have been many tweaks along the way. I'm still very careful to use the Surge swing setup as a constant, because it has always worked for me.
Wish it would Work
Kevin, thanks for you comments, but sorry to say i have been where you are coming from and it doesn't help/work for me in any way.
Whatever Works
Dave, good to hear from you again and read your comments and speaking of the "deep half circle" it was only last week that I stumbled across this aspect while in the process of re-setting my posture to overcome "coming up" on the back swing.
What does Ben Hogan mean by "If the average golfer went out and did the opposite of everything they thought to
As Ben Hogan said, “If the average golfer went out and did the opposite of everything they thought to be true they would hit it much better.”. It’s a counterintuitive and contradictory game.
How many degrees should your arm be bent when you wrestle?
As we always say…. You don’t arm wrestle with a straight right arm and at impact your right arm should feel exactly the same way, bent at almost 45 degrees.
Is teaching golf an art?
Teaching golf is an interesting art. For a relationship between coach and student to become a successful one many things have to go right. It’s a lot more complex than most could ever imagine. One of the most important aspects of fixing a student’s golf swing is understanding their concepts.
Is it dangerous to have straight arms?
One of the most common concepts I hear and see is “make sure you keep your arms straight!”. But this can actually be quite a dangerous concept: Straight arms can often lead to loss of power, over-active wrists and an over-active body. Straight arms are almost never seen in any other sport.
What is the downswing in golf?
The downswing occurs right after the top of the swing position is reached. It consists of the movements that occur as you bring your hands and the club back down. The downswing ends with the ultimate impact with the ball.
What happens if you fail to do a downswing?
Indeed, failure to do so will open the door to the deceleration swing error.
How to keep the hinge in your wrists?
Keep the Hinge in your Wrists during the Downswing. The full hinge that was set progressively in the backswing should be kept intact as you being the downswing. This is in contrast to unhinging your wrists early in your downswing in what is referred to as the casting swing error. In a proper swing, the wrists only unhinge very late in ...
What should the clubhead do in golf?
Clubhead Should Follow an Inside-Square-Inside Path. Coherent with the fact that the club moves around the golfer’s body – its axis, the clubhead should come in towards impact from the inside of the target line. It should do so in order to be square at impact and move back to being inside in the follow through.
Where should weight be transferred in golf?
Weight Should Transfer Towards the Left Foot. As you start bringing your hands down during the downswing your weight should start to transfer onto the left – front – foot. It should do so progressively through the rotation of the hips and the shoulders that follow. The opposite of this will see a golfer finding most of his weight on his left foot ...
Can you see a golf club come in from the inside?
It is best to avoid seeing the club come in from the inside so much that it becomes ‘outside’ after impact. Such a club path is referred as being inside-out. Alternatively, golfers who suffer from an outside-in club path will see the club come down during the downswing outside of the target line and continue on inside after impact.
A Powerful Golf Swing AND Balance From a Barstool
Brooks Koepka settles into his stance, as if sitting on a barstool, just before initiating his backswing.
The Barstool Sit Motion Enables a Powerful Golf Swing
As you run the video, you can watch Brooks hit a variety of shots. In all his swings, just before initiating his backswing, he sits down just a bit to anchor himself to the ground. This anchoring gives him the firm base to rotate against in the backswing, giving him both excellent balance and excellent power. Have a look:
What happens at the top of a golf swing?
The club face position and lead forearm match the angle and position of your wrist. In other words, there is one, clean line at the top of your swing.
How to swing a golf club from the inside?
For a right-handed golfer, this means the left hip shifts over the lead foot. Raise the lead arm slightly. When you make these changes in your stance , you find it’s easier and more natural to swing the club from the inside.
What is the best grip for golf?
Here are the three basic grips you see among golfers. Neutral grip: If you look down at the thumb of your lead hand and see 2 – 2 ½ knuckles from your index and middle fingers, you have a neutral grip. Weak grip: If you look down on your thumb and can’t see any knuckles on the lead hand, you have a weak grip.
What is a slice in golf?
For a right-handed golfer, a slice is a golf shot in which the ball curves to the right. If you’re left-handed, a slice is defined as a leftward curve. A slice is also called a “fade.”.
What does a strong grip look like?
A strong grip results from a clockwise rotation in your wrist. Another way to think of it: in a strong grip, your lead hand looks like it’s revving a motorcycle. Now, none of these grips is necessarily bad. In fact, you see all three grips among the world’s best golfers.
Why is swing speed important?
It’s true that swing speed is essential when you want to add distance to your drives. It’s also true that improving distance is a reliable way to get your scores down. However, when you swing at maximum speed, you lose your ability to control the orientation of your club face.
What angle should a golf club head be?
A 45-degree angle on the clubhead. Both arms parallel to the ground and extended straight. If you hook the ball, you’ll likely notice that your clubhead is rotated to the left at the finish. If you hit a slice, you’ll see the clubhead rotated toward the right. These tips may be a lot to take in at first.