For a right handed golfer, understanding how your elbow functions in the golf swing is something you ought to know; and that’s the goal of this article (and video).

I have spent several years now working on the correct motion of my right elbow, so I think I’m qualified to give you some good information that can help you understand this element in your swing motion.

Like every joint in the body, there is a specific movement of the right elbow that needs to take place, and you might think it’s natural, but for some (like me) I had a faulty motion and it really hurt my technique.

The lower part of your right arm is made up of 2 bones, the radius and the ulna. They externally rotate as you take the club back, and this should put your elbow in a position to be pointing more at the ground, than back behind you.

There is some leeway here, but the more the elbow points behind you at the top of your swing, the harder it is to get back in front of you at the very important point of impact.

On the way down, you want as much of a direct path with the right elbow to get it down and in front of your right hip at impact. The common mistake is to release your club at impact and your right elbow is not in front of your right hip. This will prevent you from compressing the golf ball, and will most likely result in a flip at impact.

Right Elbow Bend

This has been a huge issue for me, so I hope I can bring attention to it, to help you avoid this. The right elbow IMO (in my opinion) should NOT bend beyond 90 degrees EVER in your golf swing, especially at the top.

If you do, this will promote an early release of your arm coming down, as your brain knows that elbow is bent too much, and has a long way to go to straight just after impact.

Elbow Drill

Get in your posture, and bend your right elbow to 90 (see picture below).

Now just rotate your shoulders as if you’re making a backswing, and your right arm should be in this position (see below).

Equally as important is avoiding the premature (early) bending of the right elbow in the initial part of the takeaway, which will lift the club, robbing you of width going back, and also give you a false sense of a shoulder turn.

The next time you make a swing, take note of how bent your elbow is at the top. If it’s beyond 90, shorten it up a bit. You will soon realize you can get back to impact and it’s actually a simpler move, with less moving joints.

Right Elbow At Top Of Swing

One critical position is at the top of the swing. Your right elbow should be pointing down (see picture below).

You do not want it pointing behind you as this will create a steep downswing plane, and encourage an “over the top golf swing”. No good! The elbow pointing down puts it in a perfect position to get down and in front of the right hip much easier.

What The Elbow Does In Your Downswing

As you are coming down, your right elbow is slowing unbending, with the tip of the elbow coming right down in front of right hip (see picture below), and more importantly, the lower arm is starting to rotate counter-clockwise, which will square the clubface. This is the “screwing” motion into the ground I mentioned in the golf swing release video.

This is where some golfers don’t do it correctly. Instead they rotate the forearm clockwise opens the clubface wide open, and also promotes a “throw out” motion way too early in the downswing, making it difficult to get to impact with your hands ahead, and the forward lean of the shaft, that all the pros have.

Impact Position

This is critical to optimal ball striking!

Your right elbow needs to be “in front of your right hip” (see image below) at impact. This is a MUST. If you have more than 2-3 inches of space between your right hip and elbow, it’s too far out away from the body.

This will create a glancing blow on the ball. Your goal should be to get that right elbow back onto the hip and then extend through impact and into your follow through.

Also take not that at impact, your right arm is not completely extended, which is another common fault for high handicap golfers.

It should still be slightly bent. It does not extend fully until after you have hit the ball! Remember this. Just think of throwing a ball. The ball is gone and your elbow THEN finally releases fully. Not before. Same thing in golf.

Through impact, that “screwing” into the ground occurs even more, as the lower forearm bones rotate counter-clockwise over each other to a full release, and the elbow finally straightening, but never locking out.

I’m a huge believer in what the entire right arm and shoulder do in your golf swing for maximum power and consistency, so I hope this article gives you a better understanding of what happens with the right elbow in your golf swing.

If you enjoyed the article, please comment below and hit the “like” buttons at the top under my name. If you have other issues you want me to cover, just let me know by commenting below.

Also, let me know if you like this format, or would like something different, as I want you to get the best learning environment possible.

Like many of the blog posts, articles and evening training aids on this site, it is from my personal quest for a better swing (currently play to a 7 handicap). I am an analytic so this may be too much thought for you, but maybe you can take bits and pieces of it and apply it to your golf swing.

Through trial and error, as well as a lot of video analysis, and input from some of the top instructors on the internet, I’ve nailed down a few key points you MUST do correctly if you want to fix any swing fault you have, as many of them are a result of a poor takeaway.

I don’t want to regurgitate the same information you may have read or heard before, so I’ll do my best to tell you (and show you) specific issues in the takeaway, what will be the result, and how to fix them.

I’ll use myself as the guinea pig as to what I was doing wrong, what the result was, and how I fixed it. Hopefully you will find something in this and be able to improve your golf swing.

Pay Attention To What Your Hands Do

If you look at this picture, one of many fatal flaws I had is a rolling away of my hands right from the start of the takeaway. This is death to your golf swing.

Here’s what happens when you do that:

• Hands get further away from body creating disconnection.
• The club gets off-plane almost immediately requiring a compensation in the downswing to get it back on plane.
• Incorrect cocking of the wrists, setting the club again off-plane.
• Left shoulder moves out towards the ball, putting your weight too much on the balls of your feet.

Here’s what your hands are supposed to do in your takeaway.

Take a look at the picture at the top of this page.

Notice in the picture how they are staying closer to my legs the first few feet of the takeaway? Also, pay particular attention to my “quiet hands”. There is no independent manipulation of them. They go straight back.

Also, see how I am now cocking the wrists so the club goes more up the correct plane, and not flat and too the inside like before. What I used to minimize my premature wrist cock with the golf wrist Lag aid. When you put this device on, you can’t cock your wrists early.

Golf Takeaway Shoulder Turn

Here’s where I really struggled, as I had many instructors tell me so many different things (thoughts and feelings).

What I came up to was this…

What Your Right Shoulder Should Do

If you’re a right-handed golfer, the very second you start your takeaway, your right should goes “behind you”.

Yes…you must get this right. I have struggled with this my entire golfing life. As my right shoulder move laterally to the right, which also means your head is not moving off the ball.

When you get this motion correct, you will be making an effortless, bigger turn in your backswing, which will give you more core torque, and ultimately power coming down and into the ball.

Your Left Shoulder

Okay…here again is where I struggled. I was always told the left shoulder “stretches across” during the backswing. Well, when you focus on that, it creates a massive amount of tension in the back of your left shoulder, and this tension limits, doesn’t increase your ability to make a full turn.

The feeling I now have is that the left shoulder “reacts” to the turning back of the right shoulder. When you get this right, you will feel minimal tension in the back of your left shoulder.

What Your Arms Should Do

Yet again, I struggled with this for years, and still to this day, work on it nearly every time I go to the range. During the takeaway, your arms should remain almost passive.

The first 2 feet for sure, you maintain the triangle between your hands, arms and shoulders. Nothing gets manipulated. Nothing changes independently.

This is where I use the Connected Golf Swing Trainer. Notice in the picture how this training aid allows me to keep the triangle perfectly. I try to use this at least once a week to ingrain the proper feel of the triangle going back.

My big mistake was bending my right elbow too soon. Almost right away, and what that does is eliminates any chance of getting coil in your backswing. Especially in your lead, or left lat muscle if you’re a right-handed golfer.

It also creates a very narrow backswing, and encourages more independent arm action coming down. Another added “timing element” to your swing that you don’t need.

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You see…I have hyper mobile elbows and shoulders, and as that was very good for my javelin throwing days, in golf I’m finding it’s not so good. Especially in the left elbow.

After nearly 20 years of studying the golf swing, taking hundreds of lessons, buying all the instruction DVDs, etc., I recently came across a fault that I think may change my entire golf swing, so I hope by writing about it, it may help you as well.

I had my son take a quick picture (after a workout) to show you how my left elbow hyper-extends.

So what happens is, at address I basically lock it (without knowing it until now), which hyper-extends it and creates a ton of tension up into my left shoulder. Now going back, that might be okay, but coming down into impact this is a major problem.

You see…the left elbow needs to be able to bend (release) shortly after impact to achieve the proper release of your hands, as well as maintain the connection to your body with your upper arm.

I want to make perfectly clear that your left elbow should not overly bend in the takeaway, or at the top of your backswing, but it also, should not be locked (hyper-extended) like mine either.

So the best of both worlds is to feel like the elbow is soft (just slightly bent a fraction) at address; during your backswing, and definitely coming down and into impact, and beyond.

When I came upon this revelation, I realize this was causing a “jammed up” feeling at impact (see image below) with my left shoulder scrunching up into my traps, and it was actually blocking my release of the club.

At this point in the golf swing (impact), my left elbow should start to bend, and the upper left arm re-connect to my side for my club to swing back to the inside naturally. As you can see in the above picture, this will not happen with a locked, hyper-extended elbow.

When I let my left elbow bend at this point, my hands release easily and naturally, and my left upper arm comes back in close to my side with the club freely swinging left around my body.

I am quite excited to go out and work on this, as I know in my gut, improving the motion of my left arm in my golf swing will help me compress the ball, and take a nice dollar-sized divot, “after the ball”.

Want To Learn The Correct Connection For Longer Drives

Along with this swing change I’m making, I’m using the golf swing connection aid to help me learn the correct feel of my left arm staying connected to my body coming through impact.

Most amateurs (myself included) have never learned the very fine movements of the lower arm, wrists and hands through impact, and when you do, you’ll be amazed at how different it is from what you’re doing now.

If you look at the picture and the yellow arrow, you MUST come into impact with a bent right wrist! There is no discussion or debate on this. 99% of all amateur golfers do not do this. It is a delaying of the release of the club via the right wrist, going deep into the downswing.

We’re going to focus on the critical area of 2 feet before impact, and 2 feet after impact. As this is where all the PGA players look virtually the same, even if their backswing and start of downswing look different.

Take a look at pre-impact below. Notice how the right upper arm is connected to body, with the right elbow directly in front of the hip.

This is a position you can work on in front of a mirror in your home or office. Get in this exact position, and look at it intently in front of the mirror, then look down at it to get a different view of it.

I want you to really feel this position. Get it implanted in your brain. The more you can get this in your head, the better it will automatically happen when you swing.

Now that you have this ingrained, lets take it to the “moment of truth”…impact!

Look at the below picture and see what the right lower arm (forearm), wrist and hand has done, during a proper golf swing release.

In looking at the above picture, you first must realize this golfer has rotated (pivoted) through impact, to get to that position. This was not an independent move of just the arms.

Look at how much the hips and shoulders have rotated to get there. This is critical to know when you do this drill in front of a mirror. With that being said, one of the only changes in these 2 positions is the extension in the right elbow, which nearly straightens the right arm.

But also notice the turning down of the last three knuckles of the left hand. This is very much a Ben Hogan move (bowing of left wrist at impact) which produces amazing compression on the golf ball.

Doing this drill will “educate your hands” as to the exact motion for a powerful impact. I’m confident to say, most, if not all amateur golfers have not achieved these positions, and when done correctly will feel quite different.

Want To Speed Up Your Learning

In the above pictures, the golfer is using a unique golf swing wrist release aid that is not on any other website but this one.

The hips play a crucial role in not only power, but also how well you strike the ball on a consistent basis.

Because the hips are part of your lower body, they are also part of your foundation or support to the ground.

Notice the angle of the right leg of Justin Rose. He has rotated “into” his right hip. No lateral slide there.

There are several things the hips must do in your golf swing, but like anything else, overdoing it can also cause big problems.

Getting this right should be of the utmost of importance to you if you want a powerful and consistent golf swing.

Hips Must Rotate

Because the golf swing is rotational, the hips must rotate too! It can be quite misleading to see the minimal hip rotation of the younger players on tour, and how much their upper body rotates, but this is not possible for most golfers, especially the ones over 50.

Your hips need to feel free. They need to easily rotate back and through during your swing. As long as you rotate your right hip back (behind you) during your backswing, without the right knee moving sideways, you’ll have maximum hip rotation, that creates a lot of coil in your core aread.

During the backswing your left hip ONLY responds to the rotation of your right hip, it does NOT independently rotate, nor does it cause the left knee to kick in too much during your backswing.

Golf Tip: In your takeaway, focus on your right pocket going directly behind you as much as it can.

Level Hips Throughout Golf Swing

I am currently working on this. If you rotate properly into your right hip, your hips should remain level, allowing you to make a downswing that is on plane, and compresses the golf ball.

If you’re like me, you may slide off the ball during the takeaway, then your right hip gets higher than your left at the top of your swing, causing you to come up, and back out of the shot to even make contact with the ball. If you hit thin shots, off the toe, you may be making this mistake.

Learning To Pivot In Your Golf Swing

I am a believer that the pivot of your body (hip rotation, and upper body rotation), is what hits the golf ball (think Hunter Mahan). If you have made a proper turn of both your lower and upper body going back (pivot), all you need to do is unleash this pivot coming down and through. I know it sounds easy, and it’s not, but you can make it that simple when you learn to make a proper pivot in your golf swing.

The Easy Way To Achieve The Correct Pivot To Hit Longer Shots

For most golfers, myself included, it is very difficult to make physical changes by just pounding golf balls. I use an aid that teaches me the proper feel of a powerful pivot. When you click on the image below, I want you to watch the video on that page. It may very well change your game forever!

I’m a very analytical person and golfer, and sometimes that gets the best of me, but I knew I had to fix this fault, or I’d continue to struggle with my inconsistent swing and mishits. If I can tell you one thing to always remember it’s to “eliminate as many moving parts in your swing as possible“, and for me the right arm (specifically elbow) was a biggy.

Being on-plane is critical to golf swing consistency and solid ball striking, so simplying your backswing, and removing wasted motion in your right arm should be a focal point for sure.

Don’t Bend Right Arm Too Early

One thing you MUST not do is bend your right arm too early in your swing. This causes the club to be taken too far to the inside, too quickly, and gets the club out-of-sync with your body, as the hands and arms are now moving independently of your body.

Instead, focus on the triangle of your shoulders, arms and hands moving in one-piece for as long as you can in the takeaway, which is usually when the club hits parallel to the ground and your toe line.

Do Not Rotate Right Arm Too Early

I want you to really focus on this one-piece takeaway, because if you rotate your right arm too early, again, the club will immediately be off plane, and too far to the inside, and you will then lift the club to the top, with a false shoulder turn, resulting in no coil (stored energy) in your core muscles.

The right arm will naturally rotate as you go back, but should not be an independent motion. This is where many golfers (me included) make the swing too complicated, with too many moving parts.

Bend Your Right Elbow Late In The Swing

Once you learn the one-piece takeaway, and get a feel for no independent movement of arms or hands, you’ll start to feel a true shoulder turn in your backswing. Now…here’s where you really need to pay attention. Once your shoulder turn is nearly complete (85%), the club will be beyond parallel to the ground, then you let your right elbow bend to complete your shoulder turn and get to the top of your backswing in the correct position.

One critical point, and it’s one I struggle with even today. Do not EVER let your right elbow bend more than 90 degrees. If you do (like I use to), your club will go across the line at the top of your swing, and be pointing right of your target. This means, when you come down, you’ll either have to come “over the top”, or flip it to hit it straight or left. Not good!

Here’s A Quick Way To Fix It

If you want a quicker path to learning the proper, on-plane golf backswing, see how the Golf Swing Plane Trainer works to help keep your swing on plane.

Take a look at this picture of my left wrist cocking up. That is the only action your lead wrist does. It doesn’t bend side-to-side.

Golf Tip (Drill)

Get in your address posture. Right now. Clasp your hands together as if you are holding a golf club. Now…the ONLY movement you are going to do is cock both your wrists straight up. If you had a club in your hands, the club would come off the ground several feet.

When you do this move, that is the ONLY move you do with your wrists in the entire golf swing.

A common swing fault (and one I fight all the time) is rolling the wrists to start the club going back. What this causes is the club to be yanked too far to the inside, and then a lifting (vertical) of the arms to get to the top of the backswing. The club is now off-plane, so when you come down, you need to make a compensation to get it back on plane, with the proper wrist lag, to produce maximum power at impact.

Recommend Training Aid

If you struggle with achieving the proper wrist hinge in your golf swing, take a look at our swing aid for learning the correct hinging of the wrists.

Tap on the image below, and make sure to watch the video on that page!

Just look at Tiger Woods below. This was take a few years ago when his golf swing was at its best. Look how his hands are ahead of the ball. Also, the forward lean of his shaft.

If you are a passionate golfer, you will agree with me that there is nothing better in golf than hitting the middle of the clubface, and effortlessly feeling the ball EXPLODE of your clubface going long and straight.

The only issue, if you’re like me, is we have the wrong sense or feeling of impact. I had never been taught what real impact in golf is. How it should look, and more importantly how it should FEEL.

Until now!

I came across this revolutionary golf impact training club called the Tour Striker. I have never, ever hit balls with a club like this! It changed EVERYTHING for me in an INSTANT. I am now hitting my irons 14 yards further, and for the first time, taking a nice divot AFTER the ball.

Highly Recommended

If you struggle with thin or bladed shots, as well as fat and heavy ones, you should take a look at the Tour Striker Impact Training club.

You can click on the image below to learn more.

First off, if you are like the golfer on the left, then you are a prime candidate for this article and approach. If you’re a happy golfer, then keep on doing what you’re doing.

Most of you have been playing golf for quite some time right? If so, then you have a basic understanding of golf swing fundamentals. I’m talking grip, posture, ball position, takeaway, top of golf swing and downswing. So if you’re like me you’ve hit hundreds, maybe even thousands of golf balls with no improvement.

What if instead of hitting more balls, you started to understand the proper “feel” of the golf swing? Really get into it. When you get this feel, now visualize yourself doing it over and over again. You can do this at work (be careful), at home. Anywhere. When you’re visualizing your swing, feel in your mind your body swinging the clubs. Internalize it.

I’m sure you’ve heard of visualization techniques. And how about the statement that golf is 90% mental? If you can start using this technique and really get into it, you’ll be amazed how much better you start hitting the golf ball. You will know what your body is supposed to do, and your brain will send the message of what to do. No “62-point” checklist, or 5 minute pre-shot routine before every shot.

They have done studies on this, and the people that visualize themselves doing the movement or activity correctly do as good or better than someone who physically practices.

It’s worth a shot. It’s only your time, not money.

So get back to me after you’ve applied this, and let me know if you can play better golf without practice.

Here’s 7 Simple Steps To A Better Golf Swing

• Grip
• Posture
• Ball Position
• Takeaway
• Top Of Backswing
• Downswing
• Impact

Grip

Your golf grip is your ONLY connection to your club. If you do not hold the club properly, you will not come into impact with a square clubface.