Stretches/ workouts to help keep the left arm straight

[MikeRanaldo]

i'm a right handed golfer who has trouble keep the left arm straight during my backswing. i'm just not flexible enough and i tend to bend my arm slightly at the top of my swing. you guys have any stretches or workouts to help me keep it straight? thanks!

[mvmac]

i'm a right handed golfer who has trouble keep the left arm straight during my backswing. i'm just not flexible enough and i tend to bend my arm slightly at the top of my swing. you guys have any stretches or workouts to help me keep it straight? thanks!

Not really any exercises you can do and they probably aren't needed anyway. Could either be a turning rates issue (video) or your right arm is over-flexing.

[FireDragon76]

I think its normal to have a little bend at the top of the swing, judging by swing videos I've watched recently.

My arm bends alot very early in the swing. I've thought about going to my doctor and asking about having it looked at, possibly doing physical therapy .  FWIW, I strained my left shoulder decades ago as a teenager and the doctor told me to just take ibuprofen, and I've had tightness there ever since.   Recently its been clicking and popping a lot.   I've also had neck pain periodically prior to playing golf and I suspect it might be related to the shoulder issues.

[tomvk77]

The old head cover drill might help here.

Place a head cover under your RIGHT arm.

and keep it there on the backswing.

If you bent the left arm your to far away from the body

and with that your right arm also.

Keep the head cover in place ( it may fall down on the down swing )

and your plane will be better

[Yukari]

I don't think there is any quick fix.

I would suggest you get into Yoga.

Believe me, Yoga is a lot harder than you think.  And it is good for overall fitness and flexibility.

[boogielicious]

@MikeRanaldo ,

Check out these two books I reviewed below.  They have golf specific exercises and stretches to improve shoulder, torso, turn.  The stretching is very much like yoga stretches and poses.   The exercises in the first book also help out the shoulders, rotator cuff, and hip flexibility.  I do the first book exercise 3 times a week (see the DVD below) and the stretches from the second book every day.

If you want a DVD, check out the DVD I reviewed below:

It was discussed in this thread.