Jump to content
IGNORED

How do you fix a flying elbow?


Cut68
Note: This thread is 4501 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

So I'm at the range the other day, pounding away, when the range pro walks by and says "trying to fix that chicken wing, huh? You got a flying elbow, pal" He briefly told me what he meant and then walked off. (he charges $150 an hr for lessons, or I would have signed up on the spot).

can anyone suggest any drills to help with this? Is there some sort of rope or gadget to practice with that keeps my arms together? I tried for hours to figure it out on my own, but I consistently either shanked it or hit weak fade after weak fade (normal ball flight is a straight/draw to hook)

Now I'm stuck, because I can't seem to fix this on my own, and I can't find my old swing, either. It seems like it's not possible for me to hit a draw like this. Not opposed to playing a fade if it helps me get better, but it's been years since I've done it, and I need to hit it longer than I am. Any help is appreciated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Moderator

Cut68,

Read this thread on how to practice, http://thesandtrap.com/t/54840/simple-specific-slow-short-and-success-the-five-s-s-of-great-practice#post_668894

As for flying elbow and chicken wing, there are some simple drills with a ball placed between your forearms you can try (search this forum).  I find it best to use a very soft, nerf-type ball for those drills.  A stiffer ball requires too much tension to hold and makes it harder to practice.

Also, in line with the above videos, get the feeling in your swing of extending your arms away from you as you get to the top of the back swing.  I sometimes think of pushing down on my left thumb with my right palm (righty).  Do this in a relaxed manner without increasing arm tension.

Lastly, don't let a $150 per hour guy mess with you.  You've got down to an 11 handicap, so you must be doing something right.  Sounds like he was fishing for business and got into your head.  Jack Nicklaus had a flying elbow and Lee Westwood has a bit of a chicken wing at impact.  Those two are pretty good golfers.

Scott

Titleist, Edel, Scotty Cameron Putter, Snell - AimPoint - Evolvr - MirrorVision

My Swing Thread

boogielicious - Adjective describing the perfect surf wave

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator

It's Golfing Machine lingo.  From Erik's List here are some Golfing Machine terms, there is a lot more.  Written almost an encyclopedia for all the possible variations of how to make a golf swing.

Motions

Basic Motion = Clubhead goes two feet back and two feet through (kinda like a chip)
Acquired Motion = Clubhead taken back until the right forearm is parallel with the ground and then parallel with the ground again on the follow through ("9-3").
Total Motion = Full golf swing.

Accumulators in the Golf Swing
1: A bent right elbow
2: Leading (top) wrist cock
3: Angle between shaft and lead forearm (expressed as rotation about that lead forearm)
4: Angle between lead arm and shoulders
Each accumulator has a corresponding pressure point.

Pressure Points in the Golf Swing
1: The heel of the bottom hand where it touches the top hand or grip
2: The last three fingers of the top hand
3: The first joint of the bottom hand index finger where it touches the grip
4: Lead armpit (or where the lead arm touches the chest)
5: Trailing armpit*
* Stack and Tilt and MORAD people add this one. There's no corresponding accumulator but it lets them talk about the trailing elbow separating (or not) from the chest.

Shaft and Elbow Plane
In a one-plane swing the head and hands will follow or stay between two lines: the shaft plane and the elbow plane. Both can be seen here in green and red . Hands follow the shaft plane until the right elbow begins folding, at which point they move up to the elbow plane. Impact is somewhere between the two and the clubhead and hands should exit the far side of the body

Here I am working on extensor action through feeling more pressure point #1

  • Upvote 2

Mike McLoughlin

Check out my friends on Evolvr!
Follow The Sand Trap on Twitter!  and on Facebook
Golf Terminology -  Analyzr  -  My FacebookTwitter and Instagram 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

For me, it's pretty simple.  I try to keep my right elbow close to my body as possible during the back swing.

Don

:titleist: 910 D2, 8.5˚, Adila RIP 60 S-Flex
:titleist: 980F 15˚
:yonex: EZone Blades (3-PW) Dynamic Gold S-200
:vokey:   Vokey wedges, 52˚; 56˚; and 60˚
:scotty_cameron:  2014 Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades



Originally Posted by TidyFreak

Thanks sk, but what language is the guy in the first video speaking ?

TidyFreak


Just like Mike stated, it is Golfing Machine vocab.  TGM utilizes science, geometry, and physics.

Stephan Kostelecky

Golf Instructor

Youtube

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Moderator

Quote:Yukari
For me, it's pretty simple.  I try to keep my right elbow close to my body as possible during the back swing.

Careful on this one.  I was focusing too much on this and my swing got too shallow at the top of the backswing.  I have been working on breaking that habit by feeling that the elbows are closer together at the top (P4) by extending my arms away from my body (Thanks mvmac).  For me, it may be that I don't have all my flexibility back in my right shoulder do to rotator cuff surgery.  It may work for others.

Scott

Titleist, Edel, Scotty Cameron Putter, Snell - AimPoint - Evolvr - MirrorVision

My Swing Thread

boogielicious - Adjective describing the perfect surf wave

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Note: This thread is 4501 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-15%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope.
  • Popular Now

  • Posts

    • Agree. The next omission needs to be that ridiculous team concept. Nobody cares about a team when they really don’t represent anything except being a group of diminished morality and/or washed up pro golfers. Or wait, we’ve also got total nobodies who’ve accomplished nothing who now get a participation trophy! Doesn’t that sound invigorating!
    • LIV moving to 72 holes is a subtle admission that 54 holes was nothing but a joke all along. 
    • I was going to start a thread, but this seems like the place.  Yesterday I played my matchplay match at my local club.  My opponent is a notorious sandbagger by reputation.  The pro once pulled his tournament rounds from the past several years and said that it is impossible his tournament rounds are legit based on his handicap. here is what happened last night.  I am getting 4 shots from him.  His current handicap index is 15.3 i shot 45 on the front.   Was down 4 after nine, he had three birdies and shot even par. I was closed out on thirteen, we halved with a bogey.  That bogey put him one over par for his round.   He then took a triple on 14 and then left. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he lied about his score.   I wrote down on my scorecard what the score was.  He put higher values that didn’t affect the outcome of the match to pad his score and apparently make it not look as obvious.   He shot 36 on the front, but claimed 40.  The higher values for his score were in the online scoring app our club uses.  He did it this way: I won #7. He had a 2 foot putt for par that if he made would still lose the hole.   He picked up and said it didn’t matter since I won.  He took a 5 instead of a 4 after picking up a gimme. on #8 his approach shot on this par 4 was 8 inches.  I verbally conceded the putt but I had hit into a hazard.  I finished the hole with a 6.  Instead of birdie he put in for par. on #9, another par 4, his approach was to 18 inches.  I missed my par putt and then knowing how close I verbally conceded the putt.  I missed my bogey putt, he never conceded mine.  Instead of birdie he put down a bogey. He padded his score by 4 shots on the front.  And then did again on 10.  I rinsed one and made 6 on a par 4.  I putted out and he was fishing balls out of the lake so I drove off to the next tee.  He had 15 feet laying two but claimed a 5.     love to know the odds of a 15 handicap being even thru 12 holes on a round of golf. 
    • They've been chuckling since they hooked the shark. I think Greg doesn't realize the jokes on him.
    • to confirm, I'll need a hotel for Friday and Saturday, planning to share with you
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...