I have never been able to keep my left arm straight. It's probably cost me some distance, some accuracy, and I know it makes my swing ugly. Anyone have any idea on why one's left arm would break down and how to fix it? Even when I try to focus on keeping it straight, I can't. Thanks in advance for any input.
Keeping the left arm straight
- Thread starter WVKeith
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This guy does "pretty good" with a bent left arm(elbow):
PGATOUR.com - SwingPlex - Home of Slow Motion Player Swings
Look up Lee Westwood's swing on Youtube too.
PGATOUR.com - SwingPlex - Home of Slow Motion Player Swings
Look up Lee Westwood's swing on Youtube too.
Last edited:
Ducky
New
My understanding is that it would be due to a lack of extensor action. If you try to keep the right arm extended throughout the swing, it will result in the left arm remaining straight as well.
Extensor and Anchor
Remember the left arm can give, I wouldn't get too concerned unless it is actually collapsing.
Extensor action is the act pushing your slightly flexed right arm-- extending it outward away from your sternum. You'll direct that pressure somewhere in the base of your right hand where it meets the left hand or the club. Direct it so the you're pushing the handle away toward the ground at address...or "below plane" through out the swing.
Another huge but unmentioned tip is to make certain the back of your left knee is over the middle of your left ankle at address. If your left arm stays relatively straight until your backswing passes hip high then breaks down this is the most likely cause. This anchor move helps make sure the left arm doesn't "run-off" as your backswing approaches the top. Hope this helps.
Remember the left arm can give, I wouldn't get too concerned unless it is actually collapsing.
Extensor action is the act pushing your slightly flexed right arm-- extending it outward away from your sternum. You'll direct that pressure somewhere in the base of your right hand where it meets the left hand or the club. Direct it so the you're pushing the handle away toward the ground at address...or "below plane" through out the swing.
Another huge but unmentioned tip is to make certain the back of your left knee is over the middle of your left ankle at address. If your left arm stays relatively straight until your backswing passes hip high then breaks down this is the most likely cause. This anchor move helps make sure the left arm doesn't "run-off" as your backswing approaches the top. Hope this helps.
softconsult
New
"Another huge but unmentioned tip is to make certain the back of your left knee is over the middle of your left ankle at address. If your left arm stays relatively straight until your backswing passes hip high then breaks down this is the most likely cause. This anchor move helps make sure the left arm doesn't "run-off" as your backswing approaches the top. Hope this helps."
Now there is a confusing tip! So the back of my left knee is over my left ankle at address. Ok, I'll accept that as
something I can picture. I'm certain it's not always true. Think tilted lie stance.
Next sentence about most likely cause is not clear. Are you saying that failure to do the
back of knee alignment at address is the cause? What about left knee movement during pivot? Are you saying there is none?
Final sentence. The anchor move. Now the anchor is a move?
Sorry, based on what you wrote, it makes no sense to me.
Now there is a confusing tip! So the back of my left knee is over my left ankle at address. Ok, I'll accept that as
something I can picture. I'm certain it's not always true. Think tilted lie stance.
Next sentence about most likely cause is not clear. Are you saying that failure to do the
back of knee alignment at address is the cause? What about left knee movement during pivot? Are you saying there is none?
Final sentence. The anchor move. Now the anchor is a move?
Sorry, based on what you wrote, it makes no sense to me.
Brian Manzella
Administrator
BAH-loney!
Straight left arm?
For what?
I try to get lots of my students to BEND theirs at the top.
"Extensor Action"—the steady attempt to straighten the right arm below plane—is something that I do not teach anymore except in RARE cases.
JUNK science.
For many reasons, including....
Straight left arm?
For what?
I try to get lots of my students to BEND theirs at the top.
"Extensor Action"—the steady attempt to straighten the right arm below plane—is something that I do not teach anymore except in RARE cases.
JUNK science.
For many reasons, including....
It turns out that muscles don't work like rubber bands.
No way in hell to add to the mass of the clubhead at impact.
Too many other factors that determine low point to mention.
The loss in the possible gain from the late quick shortening of the radius.
No way in hell to add to the mass of the clubhead at impact.
Too many other factors that determine low point to mention.
The loss in the possible gain from the late quick shortening of the radius.
Soft...good points about my lack of clarity. The anchor move starts as an "anchor set" -- I called it a move because done properly it feels dynamic. As with any address position it will pre-program the action for the swing...in this case the knee movement.
You can experiment with this concept without a club. Simply make a slow motion swing starting with your two hands separated about 4 or 5 inches at address. Monitor the arc of your left arm swing by watching the left wrist while swinging to the top. Experiment by altering your left knee to left ankle orientation. Notice that as you position the back of the left knee outward (toward the toes) the arc scribed by the left arm will sharpen during the backswing.
Conversely if you start with your left knee set back (toward or behing the heel) the arc scribed by the left arm will widen as you approach the top of your backswing. This little "run-off" move tends to dump the club and collapse the arms.
Next assume a grip, still without a club. Apply the extensor action with the right hand as described above. Notice the opposing dynamic that has been established between the left knee anchor and the right hand "extensor" action.
softconsult
New
Writing is difficult. Writing about golf swings is really difficult.
One challenge is trying to describe something in a way that is clear to
all readers. What I see in numerous posts are words that are unclear
to the reader.
In your first post, I took "Back of left knee aligned over middle of left ankle"
as along the target line. You meant in the knee flex direction.
Take this paragraph, "Conversely if you start with your left knee set back (toward or behing the heel) the arc scribed by the left arm will widen as you approach the top of your backswing. This little "run-off" move tends to dump the club and collapse the arms."
I would say, "The more you flex your left knee, the sharper the arc. Conversely, less flex produces a wider arc."
Know you have to ask yourself if readers understand "sharper". Suspect it means narrower, which would be a better choice.
Similarly, "run-off" would cause some readers to go Googling. I don't know what "dump the club" means.
I'm picking at you only to illustrate the difficulty involved in writing clear posts.
One challenge is trying to describe something in a way that is clear to
all readers. What I see in numerous posts are words that are unclear
to the reader.
In your first post, I took "Back of left knee aligned over middle of left ankle"
as along the target line. You meant in the knee flex direction.
Take this paragraph, "Conversely if you start with your left knee set back (toward or behing the heel) the arc scribed by the left arm will widen as you approach the top of your backswing. This little "run-off" move tends to dump the club and collapse the arms."
I would say, "The more you flex your left knee, the sharper the arc. Conversely, less flex produces a wider arc."
Know you have to ask yourself if readers understand "sharper". Suspect it means narrower, which would be a better choice.
Similarly, "run-off" would cause some readers to go Googling. I don't know what "dump the club" means.
I'm picking at you only to illustrate the difficulty involved in writing clear posts.
I know there are a few notable exceptions, however the overwhelmingy majority of pros have straight left arms. Doesn't that suggest it's more than "JUNK science?"
softconsult
New
As far as the original post is concerned, I offer a potentially obvious answer.
With no video, and little background information one must guess.
My guess is that poster means his left arm is collapsing on the backswing.
If that is true, the cause is probably lack of a good pivot. If you swing your arms
and don't pivot the left arm has to collapse. A very common thing on ranges and
courses all across the land.
Just my 2 cents worth.
With no video, and little background information one must guess.
My guess is that poster means his left arm is collapsing on the backswing.
If that is true, the cause is probably lack of a good pivot. If you swing your arms
and don't pivot the left arm has to collapse. A very common thing on ranges and
courses all across the land.
Just my 2 cents worth.
I agree with soft, that's the first thing I'd look for.
This is an interesting post - I have the exact opposite problem I think. I have a very short swing, ( big shoulders, pretty muscular ) probably not even 3/4, and I hear about it all the time. I can turn fine, but my arms never get very high. I know lack of flexibility is the biggest reason, but my left arm is ram rod straight. Could this actually be part of the issue?
Jim Kobylinski
Super Moderator
It's because it's one of those, "well that makes sense to do it that way" so they are all taught that from an early age.
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