Shorter (Probably Better) Swing? Keep the Right Arm Straight

[Ernest Jones]

The other rope one is me looking for the nearest tree after shooting a 104... hehe:beer:

Ha, I used to that drill all the time!

[Hennybogan007]

Trying to keep the right arm (trail arm) extended on the BS can help the average golfers ball striking ability (to a limited point). For better golfers this is a no no. Prevents internal right shoulder rotation during transition and often replaces it with early external rotation - an early steepening shaft - hands dropping down - right elbow stuck high and back behind the body etc. etc. Not stuff you see with the best ball strikers. Good drill in some cases, but you better know what you're doing.

[boogielicious]

Trying to keep the right arm (trail arm) extended on the BS can help the average golfers ball striking ability (to a limited point).

For better golfers this is a no no. Prevents internal right shoulder rotation during transition and often replaces it with early external rotation - an early steepening shaft - hands dropping down - right elbow stuck high and back behind the body etc. etc. Not stuff you see with the best ball strikers.

Good drill in some cases, but you better know what you're doing.

This makes no sense.  The guy in your avatar is doing just that.

[billchao]

Trying to keep the right arm (trail arm) extended on the BS can help the average golfers ball striking ability (to a limited point). For better golfers this is a no no. Prevents internal right shoulder rotation during transition and often replaces it with early external rotation - an early steepening shaft - hands dropping down - right elbow stuck high and back behind the body etc. etc. Not stuff you see with the best ball strikers. Good drill in some cases, but you better know what you're doing.

Doesn't internal rotation of the right shoulder at transition cause an OTT move?

[iacas]

Doesn't internal rotation of the right shoulder at transition cause an OTT move?

No. Not necessarily.

And @Hennybogan007 , we know that this is not a "cure all" or anything like that. In fact, golfers who take "too much" of this medicine will often keep the right/trail elbow too straight too long in the backswing, then will over-flex it in transition (with or without some trail shoulder retraction/external rotation) or something else.

There are, as you likely know, a lot of different feels that work for golfers, This one works for many, and is even something for which we built our own training aid. But yes, of course, it does not work for everyone. We've used this thought and the training aid on golfers of all ability levels, including +2s. For others, it's not good, but the line doesn't really get drawn between "good and bad" players in our experience.

[SoundandFury]

@iacas , just saw this thread and I'm sorta curious how this works in contrast to what I'm working on, i.e., getting the right arm to fold earlier in the backswing.  Seem almost in direct opposition of that idea.  Mind explaining?

[iacas]

@iacas, just saw this thread and I'm sorta curious how this works in contrast to what I'm working on, i.e., getting the right arm to fold earlier in the backswing.  Seem almost in direct opposition of that idea.  Mind explaining?

You definitely are a bit of the opposite direction. This part applies to you:

…

In fact, golfers who take "too much" of this medicine will often keep the right/trail elbow too straight too long in the backswing, then will over-flex it in transition (with or without some trail shoulder retraction/external rotation) or something else.

…

[Hennybogan007]

This makes no sense.  The guy in your avatar is doing just that.

doing just what? Steeping the shaft in transition, right elbow staying high and back? Im interested in reading what you think Mr. Hogan is doing in my avatar regarding the downswing

[Hennybogan007]

No. Not necessarily. And @Hennybogan007 , we know that this is not a "cure all" or anything like that. In fact, golfers who take "too much" of this medicine will often keep the right/trail elbow too straight too long in the backswing, then will over-flex it in transition (with or without some trail shoulder retraction/external rotation) or something else. There are, as you likely know, a lot of different feels that work for golfers, This one works for many, and is even something for which we built our own training aid. But yes, of course, it does not work for everyone. We've used this thought and the training aid on golfers of all ability levels, including +2s. For others, it's not good, but the line doesn't really get drawn between "good and bad" players in our experience.

You're correct, there is no line between average and better ball strikers. This drill can be helpful for swings of all levels, and I'm definitely not saying it's wrong. Just saying there could be negative effects if you don't know what your doing.

[boogielicious]

Quote:

Originally Posted by boogielicious

This makes no sense.  The guy in your avatar is doing just that.

doing just what? Steeping the shaft in transition, right elbow staying high and back? Im interested in reading what you think Mr. Hogan is doing in my avatar regarding the downswing

I was confused as to what you were stating.  Hogan is not allowing his right arm to collapse or have a flying elbow.  You said this was a no-no.  Some players, like Nicklaus, did allow their right elbow to get behind them and had it high, but the always brought it back and in front on the down swing.  I just don't understand what your were trying to state.

[iacas]

I was confused as to what you were stating.  Hogan is not allowing his right arm to collapse or have a flying elbow.  You said this was a no-no.  Some players, like Nicklaus, did allow their right elbow to get behind them and had it high, but the always brought it back and in front on the down swing.  I just don't understand what your were trying to state.

I did. Nicklaus let the elbow get high but he didn't externally rotate the shoulder much. Not like you see some players.

And… of course, @Hennybogan007 , this advice is not "one size fits all." It goes without saying for EVERY golf tip that you shouldn't use it/try it/do it if you don't need it.

[Shane Hendricks]

For me this has been a very helpful BS action. Because I would tend to use my right bicep--thinking that's what I was supposed to do--and I would inevitably over bend my right arm and thus over bend my left arm. The shaft would practically be resting on my neck at the top. I have much better contact when I think of turning my sternum away from the target while extending my right arm (using my tricep). Feels totally bizarre but I can't argue with the results. I hit it further too. And straighter.

[Brakkus]

This is a flaw that keeps creeping back into my swing so this is a very helpful tip. Feels like you are going to go over the top but if you have a good secondary axis tilt then you don't Will need to work on this for a good month I think to bed it down.

[Lihu]

- feel like you keep your right arm straight(er) on the backswing. Give it a try.

It works very well, but I was very disappointed that my lead arm was not actually straight. IDK why? I discovered this with a faster camera I just got. Previously I thought it could have been camera distortion, but now I know for sure it's not straight. I've been actively trying to keep it straight by turning it a little inward, relaxing/slouching the lead shoulder, start off turning slowly then progressively moving faster. Every time I watch the video of a full swing it really is disappointing to see the lead elbow break down when in the backswing it's very straight while during the swing it really feels nice and straight and just isn't. :-(

[Mr. Desmond]

I think this guy does a good job ... keeping the right arm straigtish...

(on another point, think Kostis is taking a dig at Tiger? "Notice how the cap doesn't move...")

(on another point, the head goes back when shaft is parallel before contact)

[colin007]

It works very well, but I was very disappointed that my lead arm was not actually straight. IDK why? I discovered this with a faster camera I just got. Previously I thought it could have been camera distortion, but now I know for sure it's not straight. I've been actively trying to keep it straight by turning it a little inward, relaxing/slouching the lead shoulder, start off turning slowly then progressively moving faster. Every time I watch the video of a full swing it really is disappointing to see the lead elbow break down when in the backswing it's very straight while during the swing it really feels nice and straight and just isn't. :-(

At what point in the backswing does the lead arm start to break down?

[Lihu]

I think this guy does a good job ... keeping the right arm straigtish...

Thanks, but it still bothers me that it really feels straight?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lihu

It works very well, but I was very disappointed that my lead arm was not actually straight.

IDK why? I discovered this with a faster camera I just got. Previously I thought it could have been camera distortion, but now I know for sure it's not straight. I've been actively trying to keep it straight by turning it a little inward, relaxing/slouching the lead shoulder, start off turning slowly then progressively moving faster. Every time I watch the video of a full swing it really is disappointing to see the lead elbow break down when in the backswing it's very straight while during the swing it really feels nice and straight and just isn't.

At what point in the backswing does the lead arm start to break down?

At about the same point in the video of Jason Day. Obviously, not exactly as his timing is really good, and everything else is so much better. I'm sure he's fully optimized. . .

Now that I have a nifty slow motion camera, I'll be analyzing it in more detail. No more blurry videos.

[Mr. Desmond]

Thanks, but it still bothers me that it really feels straight?

Think arms wide and in front of chest but not forced wide (stay relaxed) so they will remain slightly bent. Assuming you go for rather passive arms (they follow chest) during backswing. Look from :38-:41 at right arm. Do not lock the left arm straight -- it is relaxed. From what I've been told, even Day's left arm is not locked straight - it is straight but relaxed.