Proper placement of the right elbow during the back swing figures prominently in the correct positioning of the golf club at the top. Despite what many amateurs assume, the right elbow doesn't travel far in the back swing. Just as important as how far it goes is the issue of where it goes. Master placement of the right elbow and you'll be on your way to a solid back swing.
Elbows at Set Up
Golf expert Ben Hogan writes that in order to hinge the right elbow properly during the back swing, you must position them correctly at set up. Keep the elbows and arms as close together as possible without straining them as you get in position to hit the ball. Elbows that are bent at address will be difficult to keep properly placed and will tend to interfere with rotation during takeaway.
A Compact Hinge
The arms must remain in front of the chest throughout the swing, according to Joe Thiel writing on the Golf Tips website. In order to do this, you must hinge the right elbow up, not back. Hinging the elbow back and behind the right hip will result in the right forearm dipping below the swing plane, leaving it trapped behind the right hip during the downswing. Such a position will prevent you from releasing the club properly through impact with the golf ball.
Rotating the Torso
The shorter, upward hinge of the right elbow in the back swing only works if you rotate your torso fully. While it may seem as though the power generating action of the swing is found in the arms, it's actually the coiling and uncoiling of the upper body that creates club head speed, as described by Hogan.
90 Degree Angles
Thiel also describes the importance of a 90-degree angle formed at the top of the back swing by the right elbow with the right forearm pointed upward. The club shaft and right forearm should also form a right angle at that point. These angles can only be created with a right elbow which hinges upward and not back behind the right hip.
References
- Golf Tips: Elbow Room; Joe Thiel; April 2004
- "Ben Hogan's 5 Lessons"; Ben Hogan with Herbert Warren Wind; 1957
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