Elbows at Address?

[saevel25]

I was wondering this, at address, are your elbows pointing towards the ground, or more towards 90 degrees from the ground. I am wondering how this effects the swing, i was thinking if the right arm's eblow is pointing towards the ground then it might be able to keep the clubhead outside the hands and not get it stuck in the backswing.

[LuciusWooding]

Originally Posted by saevel25

I was wondering this, at address, are your elbows pointing towards the ground, or more towards 90 degrees from the ground. I am wondering how this effects the swing, i was thinking if the right arm's eblow is pointing towards the ground then it might be able to keep the clubhead outside the hands and not get it stuck in the backswing.

Personally I have my elbows pointing in at my body more than out to the sides. I think it makes it easier to keep the left arm straighter and it makes it easy to tuck my right elbow into my side at the top and not chicken wing. I feel it allows me to use my right arm without sending the ball left or coming over the top.

Hogan, I believe, advocated keeping the insides of your elbows at the sky at address. But listen to others with low handicaps.

[mdl]

I've been wondering the same thing.  Though I think of it more as whether you point more towards your body or more towards the target (for the front elbow) or more away from the target (for your rear elbow).  I've wondered about the front elbow too, since if you rotate it to point more towards your body this helps you feel (and keep) the contact between your your left tricep and your chest.

So is spinning both your elbows to point more towards your body better?

[Jon Robert]

Originally Posted by saevel25

I was wondering this, at address, are your elbows pointing towards the ground, or more towards 90 degrees from the ground. I am wondering how this effects the swing, i was thinking if the right arm's eblow is pointing towards the ground then it might be able to keep the clubhead outside the hands and not get it stuck in the backswing.

Some one said listen to people with low handicaps. OK lets play that game. Person one says keep the elbow tight to body (Hogan) Person 2 says let it Fly (Nicklaus)

Well that ends that.

I would say let your grip determine your elbow position at address. Grip is the most important thing right.!!!!!!

To avoid getting" stuck" concentrate on a full shoulder turn ON PROPER PLANE  and that should take care of that getting stuck business. Look at the horizontal at the top position with a full shoulder turn = not stuck.  Compared to performing an arm swing around a not so turning body or shoulders rising and dipping off plane. Yup the arms can get  stuck"  I really don't know what you mean outside the hands, I am assuming behind the swing, under the swing, lagging, trailing, trying to catch up, unable to execute there mission........

[Mr. Desmond]

Someone who is an instructor, help here

[LuciusWooding]

Originally Posted by Jon Robert

Some one said listen to people with low handicaps. OK lets play that game. Person one says keep the elbow tight to body (Hogan) Person 2 says let it Fly (Nicklaus)

Well that ends that.

I would say let your grip determine your elbow position at address. Grip is the most important thing right.!!!!!!

To avoid getting" stuck" concentrate on a full shoulder turn ON PROPER PLANE  and that should take care of that getting stuck business. Loot at the horizontal at the top position with a full shoulder turn = not stuck.  Compared to performing an arm swing around a not so turning body or shoulders rising and dipping off plane. Yup the arms are stuck"  I really don't know what you mean outside the hands, I am assuming behind the swing. Getting stuck, lagging, trailing, trying to catch up, unable to execute there mission........

Looking at Nicklaus's swing, he has a much steeper plane than Hogan who was flatter (and shorter). His right elbow was not in almost on his hip at the top like Hogan, but it wasn't flailing like Daly. Even Daly gets it down once he starts his downswing. Right elbow pointed down(ish) seems to be fundamental to me.

I'd love your source on Nicklaus saying "let it fly"? Surely something like "it doesn't have to be touching your body" is possible, but all 3 of these players have it pointing at the ground (Daly has it at 45˚ until he's halfway down because he goes like 45˚ past parallel). Saying "let it fly" is going to be interpreted badly.

[iacas]

We've taught players with the elbows turned down. We've taught them with the elbows out.

Typically something around 45° is pretty average, but you can find plenty of people on both sides of average.

By 45° I mean if straight perpendicular to your target line is 90, and parallel to your target line is 0°...

There are dangers going too far one way or the other. Point the right elbow too far behind you (parallel to target line) at setup and it might work too far behind the shirt seam. Point it too far down (towards your belly button) and it can cause other problems as well. If I had to lean one way or the other I'd choose the latter. Hogan advocated a position around 45° as well, IIRC.

[rubch]

I've been struggling with "getting stuck" lately as well. After trying a bunch of different things, ultimately, I was turning my hips faster than my arms could catch up. When I keep my hips "quieter", my arms and hands are able to get back to the ball without issue.

I'm sure it's different for everyone, but that was my experience.