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left arm

keiko

By keiko,
in Instruction and Playing Tips

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keiko Established Member

keiko

Watching many who struggle, I notice most if not all have no clue how to use the left arm since most are right handed and think somehow the right side is most important or at least they allow their right side to control the swing.
For those who have striking or directional problems, check out your left arm and see if it is straight-not rigid-on backswing and straight-not rigid-at impact. You may find it is not.
When the left arm is allowed to free wheel it or when it is ignored, there is an early bend on backswing and chicken wing at impact.
Just my two cents worth.

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Paradox Great Member

Paradox

I think its important for people to understand that the left arm isn't supposed to be stiff. A little bending in the left arm, specifically in the backswing, will not kill you. Bending at impact will always cause problems, though.

My philosophy on golf "We're not doing rocket science, here."

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TN94z Super Member

TN94z

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I used to have the chicken wing on my follow through. It is actually something that was hard to tell I was doing without seeing it on video. It causes a wide variety of issues in ball flight. Not to mention, it looks terrible on video. My teacher (who I like for his brutal honesty) said "Man that hurts me just looking at it." I busted out laughing when he said that.

Bryan A
"Your desire to change must be greater than your desire to stay the same"

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saevel25 Incredible Member

saevel25

It doesn't matter, there are players who are left dominate in the swing, some are both, some are totally right side dominate, you can play golf either way.

Do not keep your arm straight in the backswing, only 5% of the tour pro's keep it totally straight, keep it at what ever is relaxing for you.

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
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CarlSpackler Incredible Member

CarlSpackler

I think that keeping the left arm completely straight causes a lot of tension. I use the feeling of my right hand gently pulling my left arm to the top of the backswing with my forearms "banded together".

I also discovered "the dreaded chicken wing" last year on video. I fixed it by swinging with a glove tucked in my left arm pit.

seavel - Good to see a fellow Daytonian on here. Send me a PM is you want to play some time.

- Shane

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HytrewQasdfg Dedicated Member

HytrewQasdfg

I think its important for people to understand that the left arm isn't supposed to be stiff. A little bending in the left arm, specifically in the backswing, will not kill you. Bending at impact will always cause problems, though.

I'm sure that is why the OP's comments contained this line:

check out your left arm and see if it is straight-not rigid-on backswing and straight-not rigid-at impact.

Take a few minutes to look around at any driving range, and you'll see plenty of people (probably the majority) that allow their left arms to bend 30, 45, or even 90 degrees on the backswing. These are probably the poor souls the OP was referring to. The last thing they need in their head is a swing thought that says "don't keep you arm too straight." That's just going to reinforce their excessive arm bending.

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Paradox Great Member

Paradox

I'm sure that is why the OP's comments contained this line:

No kidding? I never would have guessed thats why he said that! God, thanks so much for pointing that out or I never woulda known. MY point was that...even a less than straight arm in the backswing is not going to hurt a swing, but bending at impact always will. Thats why I said "...isn't supposed to be stiff.

A little bending in the left arm, specifically in the backswing , will not kill you..."

My philosophy on golf "We're not doing rocket science, here."

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sean_miller Incredible Member

sean_miller

No kidding? I never would have guessed thats why he said that!

I didn't get that from the OP either. I assumed he was promoting less right arm dominance, which is probably a good idea for some people, but not everyone.

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Note: This thread is 5060 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!

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