Golf forum

Just wondered anyones thoughts on the right arm position at half way back when left arm is parallel.

Ive never thought much about it before but was watching a David Leadbetter tip saying that at that the point the Right Arm is supposed to be above the left  (right handed golfer)  - Mine isnt, the left arm is a few inches above the right at that point.

Just watched a few slow motion Swing visions as well and all the pro's seem to have the right arm higherat that point.

Ive not tried it yet with a ball there but in a practise swing to me it feels really weird to have the right arm higher than the left  at that point but certainly does have a feeling of more power.

Off to the range tonight to try it out anyway.

thanks for any tips

John

If your trying that drill it's important to do it with a club as there is a good chance in order to get the right arm above your left you'll close the clubface.

Another drill for this would be to backup against a wall (normal stance but with bum brushing the wall) and grab a 7 iron - you should be able to swing back all the way to the top without the clubhead touching the wall - if you do that there is no way your left arm is going to be above your right!!

Try it

JP - just tried that and it seemed to work!  However, does anyone know where to get some spare parts for a large, ornate chandelier that used to be in our hall?

Wayne

You are exactly right  - i had a lesson earlier in the week and was told my swing plane was way too flat and to try to have the butt of the club facing just inside the ball on the way back,  mine was way out facing  over the top of the ball.

Anyway,  if I get to the halfway back position with right arm slightly above the left this actually makes sure that the butt of the club is just inside the line and not too flat.

Feels weird still but it always does when you try something different.

Looking forward to trying this at the range later on.

Tim - I think you need Del Boy & Rodney to fix your chandalier!

John

My bird's a Hawkins - I feel for you all

I am going to check this out tonight because as left handed my left arm is below right..

But to get the thing above the right I feel as if I am pulling my arm out of its socket..

Maybe I am missing something

This, to me is a confusing bit of instruction that will only confuse the average golfer.

Ben Hogan most certainly did not attainthis position on the backswing and I have confirmed it with the video that is on this site. Also Ernie Els does not swing like this. Who on earth is Leadbetter, what did he ever achieve, apart from taking money from Faldo as an advisor and mentor.

To achieve what this is saying means that one has to have two separate planes, and that is not a good idea IMO.

John P

 Off to the range to try it out anyway, so will post what happens - good or bad!

 I have actually watched the swing visions of players such as Els, Woods, Garcia and a few others and if you pause the swing at half way back the right arm is slightly above the left on ALL of these players - not by a lot but it is slightly above (wheras mine, my right arm at that point was a few inches lower.

 John

Sorry John - your mistaken. All the best players in the world have their right arms above their left on the way back - in fact most tour players per se.

I have atatched a simple diagram showing some pretty handy golfers with a red line drawn between the elbows of each arm - every one is pointing down which indicates of course right arm above left.

Even Hogan who was flat by modern standards has his above (I have even read him say it was something he worked on which is where Leadbetter got it from)

Players are Hogan, Norman, Nicklaus, Woods and then an amateur just to show what not to do.

I am only this knowledgable regarding this 'fact' as I suffer(ed) from the fault myself.

Most people do so from reading all the stick the right elbow in close to the right side books - as with all instruction we all over cook the egg.

I have obviously misunderstood what John H was referring to. It was only when I looked at your photos J P showing the golfers from behind that I realised what he meant. It would have to be some sort of contortionist to get into any other position seeing as the right hand is the longer hand on the club. The tilt of the shoulders will always show this.

Your photos also show that each of them is entirely different in their plane, so please tell me why you think this right above left is an important part of the swing, after all is said and done Ben Hogan was a great golfer and only Tiger could ever swing a club like he does, which goes against all regular teaching methods.

Nicklaus always had a flying right elbow, unique to him, but not advised for the normal player. 

I am a great believer in the right elbow being kept close to the body throughout the swing, it was what I learnt when I first started playing, but times have changed of course and a more aggressive swing seems to be the norm.

please tell me why you think this right above left is an important part of the swing.

If your left arm is above your right your going to be seriously flat going back - which means your going to come to a point where you must lift the arms up to get the club to the top - causing all kinds of problems.

Your photos also show that each of them is entirely different in their plane

To be fair they are all using different clubs.

It does show though that they all have different swings - I am a firm believer in that it's not how a player swings - it's about the player who is swinging.

Jack, Tiger, Hogan all swing very differently.They will all be great no matter how they swung or regardless of each individual swing mechanic that goes against' the golf books'.

Problem is - people see Tiger and they think he is good becasue he swings in a certain way. So they try to emulate him. Likewsie people are still harping on that the one-plane swing is the way to go becasue the great Ben Hogan swung that way.

But it's not how they swung that was why they were good - it was becasue they were gifted.

just take the club back like a baseball bat  - it's easy

I've just read all this, and am sat in the office trying to work out where my arms and wrists are during my swing and I have to come to a conclusion.  This thread has made me forget how to swing a golf club.  I am totally confused.com. 

It reminds me of the time someone asked me in the middle of a ten pin bowling match which leg I step forward with first for my throw, and I didn't know cos I did it insinctively, and from then on, whichever leg I stepped first with, it felt wrong and ruined my game.

My brain hurts.