Locked front elbow

[YAMS]

Just wondering how many of you peeps manage to keep your front elbow locked throughout your swing.

I had a simple swing at my local shop the other day trying a few hybrids and the assistant immediately commented of my front elbow not locking. This meant I was coming over the ball at impact and my hands were ahead of myself.

So I hit the range tonight with the intention of this front elbow locking and I did notice some difference in performance. Particularly with the driver and 3 wood. Found it rather akward though and very limiting in the swing in general.

So do you manage to keep your front elbow locked throughout your swing and if so did you find it difficult at first doing this?

[JackLee]

I always found it impossible, so I don't do it. I don't use any muscle tension at all in my backswing and transition. It is only in my downswing that I use some muscle tension to help the centrifugal force straighten my lead arm, but I still don't lock the elbow. Works fine.

[KwSipp]

The best way to keep your lead arm straight( I dont use the term locked just sounds like your forcing something that doesnt need to be forced) is to actually turn your shoulders in your backswing and not "arm swing" so to say.... in a way im showing some sarcasim but I see way to many people picking the club up on their backswing rather than turning their shoulders and they all wonder why they cant keep that arm straight.....

[soloredd]

The best way to keep your lead arm straight( I dont use the term locked just sounds like your forcing something that doesnt need to be forced) is to actually turn your shoulders in your backswing and not "arm swing" so to say.... in a way im showing some sarcasim but I see way to many people picking the club up on their backswing rather than turning their shoulders and they all wonder why they cant keep that arm straight.....

I agree with this. You are so limited in your range of motion by just using your arms. Imagine sitting in a swivel chair. Try first not swiveling the seat but keeping your left arm straight during a swing. It's tough and you get very little backswing. Now swivel the seat and see how much farther back your straight left arm can go. Hips and shoulders need to turn.

With that said, I've now been using my left arm to gauge the backswing. If I feel like my elbow wants to bend, my backswing is too long and I need to shorten it a bit. I do this on a practice swing before approaching the ball.

[YAMS]

I've noticed that keeping my front arm (left) straight allows me to tuck my right arm into my ribs. As a result my backswing feels far more natural as my shoulders are turning automatically.

Still a touch limited on feel, as in the whole process doesn't feel normal at the moment but I guess muscle memory will help soon enough.

[starchuk]

You can keep your left arm straight by pushing it away with the right arm. The right arm maintains extension. If you are trying to keep the left straight there is a tendency to be too tight/tensed/flexed.

I would cautious using the term 'locked'. the lead arm should be straight or 'taught' but not fully locked.

[McGolf-Doggie]

I've noticed that keeping my front arm (left) straight allows me to tuck my right arm into my ribs. As a result my backswing feels far more natural as my shoulders are turning automatically.

Been working on that over the winter, too.

Watching some on tour, their arms look straight as ramrods on that initial takeaway -- Paul Casey today, for example. It felt quite weird and limiting at first, but it's starting to feel much more natural now after doing it a lot. I'm not sure but I don't think I think of it as "locked," more as "extended." Like KwSipp said above, I try to use my left shoulder to rotate, that thought helps me also get it under my chin.

[Eeryck]

A focus on the left arm staying straight is perhaps the wrong focus. I propose if your right arm makes the correct move during the backswing your left arm will stay "straight" without locking or putting stress on your left elbow.

Your right arm should hinge in the backswing with your elbow pointing toward the ground. If you keep your right arm near your body while allowing it to hinge upward and keep your right elbow pointing toward the ground, you should notice that you have the feeling of your right palm pressing against your left hand thumb, therefore straighting your left arm the proper amount.

Now don't read this as your right arm needs to stay pressed against your body during the back swing, as long as the right elbow is pointing down you should be ok.

For the left arm to bend, you have to chicken wing your right arm, getting the right elbow from chicken wing to pointing down should naturally straighten out the left arm.

Regards,
-E

[Dpricenator]

I have been doing this after choosing a spot right, at the range, right next to a guy getting a lesson. I just sat there and listened to the instructor. He kept telling this guy to keep his left arm straight. So I started do ing it and my accuracy improved almost immeadiatly.

[starchuk]

I have been doing this after choosing a spot right, at the range, right next to a guy getting a lesson. I just sat there and listened to the instructor. He kept telling this guy to keep his left arm straight. So I started do ing it and my accuracy improved almost immeadiatly.

That's great that it helped you, but I hope you don't take medical advice the same way.

[TMO]

I am not quite sure if you are talking about locking your leading elbow through impact in order to maintain your lag and extension, however, if you are I recently wrote a blog entry on that very concept. Honestly, I think it is a short cut that will help you get used to maintaining lag but ultimately, you are still going to have to make some additional changes.

If you want to take a look at the entry, just click here . Hope that helps.

[YAMS]

I am not quite sure if you are talking about locking your leading elbow through impact in order to maintain your lag and extension, however, if you are I recently wrote a blog entry on that very concept. Honestly, I think it is a short cut that will help you get used to maintaining lag but ultimately, you are still going to have to make some additional changes.

The problem I have is my hands getting ahead of me. With the driver/3 wood in paticular. As a result a consistent vicious slice in the usual result. The link mentions this problem at some point.

At point of impact my hands are ahead of my club head. If I straighten my left arm I find i'm behind the ball way more and my hands come through in line. It's early days for this change, am down the range tomorrow so will work further on it.