Right Handed Swing and Right Elbow Alignment

[zenbudda]

About 9 months ago I took some golf lessons at GolfTec located in one of the local Golfsmith stores.  Some things they found that I should note:

1. I would lift my head (and upper torso) up to get my left shoulder undeneath my chin on my backswing

2. My right elbow would be well below my left shoulder plane (from a front view, you could see my right elbow clearly below my left shoulder)

3. I took the club too far inside and due to other bad dynamics of my swing, routed the club back out in front of me (and across) on the downswing

4. I was "humping the shaft" on my downswing

I corrected #1, #3, and #4, although when I get tired, I start doing #4 a lot more.  I am starting to feel how to get the club to swing "more inside to out", and I'm hooking the ball fairly consistently.

However, the one thing I notice, even when I look in a mirror while I take a back swing, is that I cannot get my right elbow "above" my left shoulder plane.  My swing is no where near perfect yet and I tend to either block the club, causing the ball to go high right, or I over hook the ball.  I "think" it's tied to my right arm dropping too far down through my back and down swing.

Regardless of the causes and effects, is there something I should be focusing on to get my right elbow "Above" my left shoulder plane?  I tried bending over a little more, but that doesn't work.

[zenbudda]

Here's a video that clearly shows everyone's "back" elbow is above their front shoulder.

[mvmac]

Here's a video that clearly shows everyone's "back" elbow is above their front shoulder.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEyht2HvIJI#t=12

Good video for you to check out

[zenbudda]

Thanks mvmac.  I can almost see that I might have a problem with keeping my head in a stable position, and rotating my shoulders completely around my head.  I have a sit down job and work on a computer all day so I'm certain my neck and upper back are very stiff.

Oddly enough, your avatar shows exactly what my elbow looks like at the top of my swing.  But I bet that pic was taken on the downswing.

[mvmac]

Thanks mvmac.  I can almost see that I might have a problem with keeping my head in a stable position, and rotating my shoulders completely around my head.  I have a sit down job and work on a computer all day so I'm certain my neck and upper back are very stiff.

Oddly enough, your avatar shows exactly what my elbow looks like at the top of my swing.  But I bet that pic was taken on the downswing.

Avatar pic is Jason Dufner at the top of the backswing, he can externally rotate that elbow more than anyone in golf

Ok I was a little confused by what you were talking about in the original post.  It's not so much the elbow alignment but the angle of the shoulders.  I don't think flexibility is that big of an issue.  Check out the video below and any other Key #1 videos here  http://purestrike5sk.com/videos.php

Just make a few practice backswings losing some flex in the right leg and gaining flex in the left and you'll see that shoulder turn start to steepen which will keep the head steady.

[zenbudda]

/resurrect

I'm curious about something.  What if the distance between both of my shoulders is shorter than average, and my arms are longer than average.  Couldn't this be part of the problem?  Is there a way to get a proper measurement on the pro's shoulder width and arm lengths?  maybe even proportions?  I just find it extremely difficult to get my right elbow around my body enough that from a front view, it looks like it's above my left shoulder.

[zenbudda]

I meant to post this video shortly after someone mentioned Jason Dufner.  He absolutely has his right elbow underneath his left shoulder:

[mvmac]

It would easier to answer if you posted a swing. What problem do you think the right being too low is causing? The are good players that have the elbow lower and and some that have it higher. I'm confused by the measurement to the left shoulder you are referencing, I thought you were looking at it from down the line and then you said front view? Yes arm and torso proportion will effect the way the swing looks, good reason to not try and be exact copy of some pros.