Keeping Elbows Together in Backswing?

[badatputt]

Hi guys, I have a question about the backswing. Some people mention purposely keeping the elbows together on the backswing. When I try that however, both my left and right arm become tense at the top of the backswing. Do I have to purposely keep my elbows together in the backswing, or will focusing on the correct backswing movements automatically keep my elbows close without needing to worry about it?

[boogielicious]

6 hours ago, nahagrerwe said:

Hi guys, I have a question about the backswing. Some people mention purposely keeping the elbows together on the backswing. When I try that however, both my left and right arm become tense at the top of the backswing. Do I have to purposely keep my elbows together in the backswing, or will focusing on the correct backswing movements automatically keep my elbows close without needing to worry about it?

It is not really about keeping them together but more about having everything stay connected. The thread below discusses that. The idea is really to keep arms shoulders, torso, etc. together as one piece. There are a few ways to do that.

 

[iacas]

I find that with a lot of students who aren't named Jason Dufner, that if they keep their elbows "close" together during the backswing, they widen out during the downswing, and that allowing them some freedom during the backswing allows them to squeeze them closer together (more often by the trail elbow changing its relationship more so than the lead elbow doing much of anything) during the downswing.

Keeping the elbows close together can and often does fail in two or three ways:

• People keep the trail elbow in tight, and it "relaxes" when it changes direction and can't stay in there. This seems similar to what the OP is saying. On the contrary, if you swing a bit more like Jack Nicklaus and let it fly a bit, it can dive back down in during transition/early downswing.
• Sometimes to keep the elbows close, people drive the left arm too far across their bodies, almost "chasing" the right elbow around the body.
• It's similar to the above, but often people will produce a situation where they keep the trail elbow too closely pinned to their chest/ribs.

[badatputt]

Thank you for the responses. Looks like my arm tension at the top should be avoided.

[arturo28mx]

If I don't keep my elbows together in the backswing I will go off plane

[iacas]

1 hour ago, arturo28mx said:

If I don't keep my elbows together in the backswing I will go off plane

Like this guy? 🙂