Help Me with my Right Elbow

[jambalaya]

Went to the range today with a tip from Stewart Cink. On the downsing return your right elbow to your back hip to start the downswing. Yeah, I've heard something like this before but never really tried it. Well I was hitting solid shots like haven't done in a long time. I hit a couple of 170+ 7 irons which is good for me. The ball was hitting the sweet spot a number of times. However, I really don't know what I am doing so timing was off. One problem is many of my most solid hits were going about 20 to 30 degrees off line to the right; a straight pull. The driver was a little problematic and harder to time but when I did it right it felt good. Any more tips on this aspect of the downswing would be appreciated. I thought when I did it right the plane was a better especially on the follow through.

[JackieTreehorn]

It all depends on what kind of swing plane you are using (1 vs 2..or basically steep vs flat). For flatter 1 plane swings you don't need to worry about dropping your right elbow. For 2 plane swings, the #1 thing I would worry about in terms of my R elbow is to not let it get behind me (keep it in front of your torso).

In addition, some suggest that you don't think about moving your R elbow conciously...you get it to drop by turning your legs/hips to initiate the downswing.

[jambalaya]

I am not sure I am a pure one planer but I know having the right elbow in closer on the downswing added some power to my swing. As far as not consciously thinking about it, I don't. I think you have to be conscious of swing issues on which you are working to get them working right. They become unconscious through repitition.

[jambalaya]

Went to the range today with a tip from Stewart Cink. On the downsing return your right elbow to your back hip to start the downswing. Yeah, I've heard something like this before but never really tried it. Well I was hitting solid shots like haven't done in a long time. I hit a couple of 170+ 7 irons which is good for me. The ball was hitting the sweet spot a number of times. However, I really don't know what I am doing so timing was off. One problem is many of my most solid hits were going about 20 to 30 degrees off line to the right; a straight pull. The driver was a little problematic and harder to time but when I did it right it felt good. Any more tips on this aspect of the downswing would be appreciated. I thought when I did it right the plane was a better especially on the follow through.

Just realized a mistake. My shots were going 20 to 30 degrees off line to the left not the right. Right would be a push. I was pulling the ball.

[dlaville]

I am not sure I am a pure one planer but I know having the right elbow in closer on the downswing added some power to my swing. As far as not consciously thinking about it, I don't. I think you have to be conscious of swing issues on which you are working to get them working right. They become unconscious through repitition.

You are not a one planer unless you are a contortionist. "One planer" means you swing on one plane. Here are two pics of VJ who is supposedly a "one planer";

As you can see in the second pic he swings to a second plane. This one plane and two plane stuff is marketing hype. One thing I've noticed is how a so called "guru" can say something and the golfing public buys it hook, line and sinker without question and ignoring obvious fact. But I know some are going to look at that second pic and still want to argue VJ is using a one plane swing.

[ks8829]

I also discovered something similar with my right elbow, what I do is keep my right elbow against my body on the take away and other key point is to point the club shaft down the line parallal with the ground and with the toe facing up, then I take the club up by breaking my wrist. I found this keeps my shots on line to the target.

[iacas]

"One planer" means you swing on one plane.

No, it doesn't, at least not in the eyes of the guy who made those terms popular. One plane, I believe, is more about the swing plane matching the shoulder plane. Two planes put the swing plane and the shoulder plane on different planes.

Obviously nobody swings back on the initial plane of the golf club at address.

[JackieTreehorn]

One plane, I believe, is more about the swing plane matching the shoulder plane. Two planes put the swing plane and the shoulder plane on different planes.

Yes, I agree here. This is what Hardy says in his book. I do think he is false advertising a bit by calling it a 1 plane swing...It really is just a flatter swing than the standard 2 plane. I saw somewhere that the only person close to a real 1 plane swing was Moe Norman.

Back to the original R elbow question...I misused the work "consciously"...I meant to say that you shouldn't start your downswing with movement of your elbow...it should move down naturally as you rotate your lower body.

[tm22721]

The key move is to initiate the down swing with a weight shift. The right shoulder, hand and elbow automatically fall onto a lower plane and the clubhead approaches the ball on a favorable inside path.

[jambalaya]

I also discovered something similar with my right elbow, what I do is keep my right elbow against my body on the take away and other key point is to point the club shaft down the line parallal with the ground and with the toe facing up, then I take the club up by breaking my wrist. I found this keeps my shots on line to the target.

I do my takeaway as you suggest. I think I am in pretty good shape at that point. My problem is losing connection when I finish the backswing. In order for my left arm to be even with my shoulder at the top I have to have a little lift of the arms. That is where I am losing connection and having to re-establish it when I start the downswing. What am I doing wrong there? Are you saying you only break your wrist with no further arm lift? I just don't understand how to get the left arm into position without a little lift of the arms.