Right Elbow Bend at Impact

As most of you who have seen my posts, I am always working on my swing. STILL not “satisfied” with it yet, but its getting good and more consistent.

What I noticed yesterday, after looking at several swing stills of the pros, couple magazine articles and Greg’s RHD….all of these swings had 2 things in common….

1)A cupped right wrist
2)A slightly BENT right elbow

I am lacking #2. I feel that my right wrist is cupped and that I am only hinging up and down, not swatting.

Is having the slightly bent right elbow at impact a necessity or benefit? I realize that it will aid in having that right wrist cup (stick your right arm straight out in front of you, palm facing the target, then pull your hand in towards your chest while leaving your right palm facing the target, you get that right wrist cup.).

Thanks as always!

__________________
What's in my bag....
Cleveland VP 2 Blade Putter
Ping Tour Wedges, 54 & 60
TaylorMade rac LT2, 4i thru PW
Tour Edge Exotics Iron-Wood 21* 3i - Aldila NV 90 Stiff Shaft
Ping G5 18* 5 Wood - ProLaunch Blue 75 Stiff Shaft
Ping G5 15* 3 Wood - Aldila NV 75 Stiff Shaft
Cleveland HiBore XL 9.5* - Fujikura Fit-On Red Stiff Shaft

The slightly bent trailing elbow at impact signifies that the leading shoulder has rotated past horizontal and is above the right...the more the shoulders rotate past horz, the more the trailing arm needs to stay folded and tucked into the hip to counter for the extra length the leading shoulder and arms extend to stay in contact with the ball.

Looking at an impact postion of Camilo Villegas on the cover of Golf Digest, June 2006. That right elbow is tucked & bent like you said, and the left shoulder is VERY high. I think I have been focusing on the RIGHT shoulder working down instead of the LEFT shoulder rotating UP. When I do that, the RIGHT shoulder works down and I get a strong feeling of hitting into a firm left side.

I guess from there, I just make sure my right elbow is in front of the right hip and "fire" that right side through impact......

Does that sound good?

Any other suggestions?

Thank you as always Greg!!!

__________________
What's in my bag....
Cleveland VP 2 Blade Putter
Ping Tour Wedges, 54 & 60
TaylorMade rac LT2, 4i thru PW
Tour Edge Exotics Iron-Wood 21* 3i - Aldila NV 90 Stiff Shaft
Ping G5 18* 5 Wood - ProLaunch Blue 75 Stiff Shaft
Ping G5 15* 3 Wood - Aldila NV 75 Stiff Shaft
Cleveland HiBore XL 9.5* - Fujikura Fit-On Red Stiff Shaft

Last suggestion...just relax. Don't force things into positions. Practice feeling them in that new position, but then make sure you are in a tension free state when you perform them. Bent usually means tension free. When you say "Fire" the right side, be careful not to over power anything...proper sequencing and smooth transitions beat a forced/pushed/fired anything...beat as in overall power AND the ability to repeat the same thing over and over and over and...

Got it! Practice so it happens naturally without force.

Greg, thank you so much. You have been a huge help!

I'll give you an update after the weekend. Enjoy yours!

hi
one other thing with the bent right elbow at impact is the the arms dont fully extent till way after impact and this stops the club head slowing down and keeps the club head on line till the hands roll over.
bill

Is there anything wrong with a neutral grip (not weak) where the clubface is square and nothing is being compensated?

I understand what you are saying cmays...

Put your arms out in front of you, put your palms together, thumbs pointing to the sky. Now turn your forearms so that your thumbs are pointing at 3 o'clock. Right elbow bends. Point the thumbs to 9 o'clock, left elbow bends. So I do agree that a slightly stronger grip will help with having a slight elbow bend.

But, I am sure you can get into the same position with a neutral grip. I think with a weak grip it would be harder to do.

I hit about 200 balls today. If I get into that picture perfect Greg's RHD impact position...BOOM. Just solid shots. However, I have to make sure I maintain my angles. I am comming up, because like Greg warned, I am forcing it a bit.

Other thing, my left arm is separating from my chest. It's not staying connected, like its floating out towards the ball. If I keep it against, I do hit a very solid shot and it even feels like I am getting more club head speed (more of a whip sound through impact).

__________________
What's in my bag....
Cleveland VP 2 Blade Putter
Ping Tour Wedges, 54 & 60
TaylorMade rac LT2, 4i thru PW
Tour Edge Exotics Iron-Wood 21* 3i - Aldila NV 90 Stiff Shaft
Ping G5 18* 5 Wood - ProLaunch Blue 75 Stiff Shaft
Ping G5 15* 3 Wood - Aldila NV 75 Stiff Shaft
Cleveland HiBore XL 9.5* - Fujikura Fit-On Red Stiff Shaft

When I hit solid shots today, my left bicep was touching the left side of my chest throughout the swing. When I felt I was a bit outside-in, my bicep lost that connection.

GolfDigest.com - One Plane vs. Two Plane

I read through this article a couple times back in 2005. This is when I decided that I was a 1 plane swinger. Wide stance, a little more bent over, inside takeaway. stronger grip, passive arms, squares the face with the body. Funny... just picked up on 2 things from this article again...

1) Don't overshift the weight. Try to be balanced 50-50 at the top of the backswing.
2) Don't FORCE the right elbow in front of the left hip. Maybe that is why I am pushing the ball a little.

__________________
What's in my bag....
Cleveland VP 2 Blade Putter
Ping Tour Wedges, 54 & 60
TaylorMade rac LT2, 4i thru PW
Tour Edge Exotics Iron-Wood 21* 3i - Aldila NV 90 Stiff Shaft
Ping G5 18* 5 Wood - ProLaunch Blue 75 Stiff Shaft
Ping G5 15* 3 Wood - Aldila NV 75 Stiff Shaft
Cleveland HiBore XL 9.5* - Fujikura Fit-On Red Stiff Shaft

It looks to me that the right elbow slides around the body for a 1 planer is this correct?

LOL

Makes sense to me now-I do believe I've been putting 1p and 2p moves in my swing and haven't been able to figure out why it won't stay consistant.

Thanks

One more question

Is it fair to say that on the backswing for One Plane Swing that it is not a one piece takeaway but more of a pull of the right elbow behind? Just want to verify that.

I know this thread was not about swing planes but I think I finally understand the One Plane Swing......Hardy version.

Correct am I am wrong please.

Shoulders do a more rocking motion (steeper) while the arms swing below that...It feels and seems like it is way inside because the shoulders aren't turning level ,they are tilting more......CORRECT????

hi
think i'm more the hogan style than hardy, think hogan is easer to understand and if followed the right way you can play at a good level of golf without to much work trying to get things right over and over, get the fundementals right first then fine tune.
bill

Do you mean that I should NOT let my arms seperate on the downswing?

I have tried a very upright 2 plane type backswing, it just does not feel natural.

I think Brian will be happy to hear this...I think I am doing too much PUSHING with the right side. Greg's comment when I said "fire" the right side made me think I am getting too aggressive and forcing things. If I feel that my left arms PULLS across my chest, I hit great shots. That whole staying connected thing. How does that sound?

Thanks Cmays for the replies. And Dawg, this is exactly how I wanted this thread to go. I need to tie all of these ideas together, and I think I am very close.

__________________
What's in my bag....
Cleveland VP 2 Blade Putter
Ping Tour Wedges, 54 & 60
TaylorMade rac LT2, 4i thru PW
Tour Edge Exotics Iron-Wood 21* 3i - Aldila NV 90 Stiff Shaft
Ping G5 18* 5 Wood - ProLaunch Blue 75 Stiff Shaft
Ping G5 15* 3 Wood - Aldila NV 75 Stiff Shaft
Cleveland HiBore XL 9.5* - Fujikura Fit-On Red Stiff Shaft