Keeping The Right Elbow Down Is Crucial For Arm Connection!!

Now when I say, 'keep the right elbow down', you may be unclear what that entirely means.' Put simply it means that at the top of your swing, you want to feel the right elbow pointing down. (This is for right handers, it would be the left elbow for left handers). If the right elbow points down, it means you have a chance to keep the arms in front of the chest on the downswing. If you do keep your arms in front, you will find that you will consistently have more power along with improved accuracy.

Now if the right elbow points up during the backswing, you will have a tough time feeling arm and body connection. This would be the same feeling as if you were attempting to throw a ball but you lifted your right elbow on the way back. You would instantly feel as though you had no power stored during the motion and therefore lack any kind of force during the throw. When you keep your right elbow down during the swing, you will feel your abdominal muscles engage. This is due to the arms staying in front of the chest and thus utilising full arm and body connection.

Now the way to ensure the right elbow stays down at the top of the swing is by controlling how the right bicep moves during the backswing. As soon as you take the club back, you want to feel right bicep rotate. Once you reach parallel to the ground, the right elbow should point 45 degrees down toward the ground. You don't ever want to point it straight down as you will feel the arm get stuck. Now once you go from parallel to the ground to the top position, you just want to maintain the right elbow pointing to the ground at a 45 degree angle. At the top of the swing you then want to see a triangle being formed between the left and right arm.

Now as mentioned before the key part about forming the correct right elbow position at the top is rotating the right bicep, however if you don't rotate the bicep, you will find at the top of the swing, the right elbow will be pointing up and thus losing connection. The biggest cause for not rotating the bicep is the clubface. If you take the club back without any clubface rotation, you will tend not to rotate the bicep. On top of that if you also have delayed wrist hinge, it can make the problem worse. Just ensure that at the start of the swing you start to rotate the clubface with wrist hinge and the right bicep should rotate naturally.

If you have any further questions just contact myself at David Waters Golf located at Emerald Lakes Golf Coaching Centre.