Why You SHOULDN'T Bend Your Right Arm In The Golf Swing!

[@JR-xn4gl]

This is fortuitous. I was given exactly the same advice at the driving range this morning. The guy near me saw my backswing (and my failure to strike well) and suggested I do exactly as you are recommending in this vid. Thanks for this and the drills!

[@JaySmith-pv2mw]

This aligns with a recent discovery I made that I was folding my right arm and hinging my wrists near the top of the backswing to complete it. Now I keep the right arm more extended and continually moving to the top. It has made a HUGE difference in my swing. Wider on the backswing, narrower on the downswing.

[@meandmygolf.]

Love it Jay

[@jamesreynolds4220]

Hogan vs. Nicklaus. Great accuracy vs great distance and accuracy. I think the right elbow close to the chest on the back swing comes from Hogan pics of him hitting short irons. In Hogan's "Five Lessons" you see his right elbow away from the body on the full swing, but in his videos it stays close with short irons. This may be where the confusion comes from. The senior English player Broadhurst keeps his elbow tucked in with a short back-swing. Works for him, but very few pros use that style of back swing. Love your videos, you two make a solid teaching team, many thanks!

[@Everton1878utt]

Amazing video and one I wished I seen years ago. Golf is all about matchups and plenty of people think instruction is a one size fits all. For me the right arm feeling connected destroys my game. Narrow arc, stuck, club too inside. For me letting the upper right arm move away from the torso and staying straight automatically takes care of the turn.

[@onesipwonder]

The split hand is really good for people who either over the swing plane or under swing plane.

[@meandmygolf.]

Totally agree.

[@RocketmanJP]

I recorded myself and noticed I keep my right elbow way too close, this had been my issue with inconsistency! Thank you!

[@meandmygolf.]

Hope it helps.

[@bennyray_84]

Clearly this video is showing if you overdo it on your bend… if it doesn’t apply to you, don’t negatively comment. I actually noticed that in my swing, I have a tendency to bring in my trail elbow too quickly which sometimes makes an over the top move like you showed in the video. Great visuals and drills!!

[@bigwill6974]

Good point. Most online instruction is intended for as broad an audience as can be reached. Everything won’t be for everyone.

[@artd4163]

Having read the comments, the takeaway is to perhaps allow it to be a more natural process rather than seeking a specific feel. Clearly, the elbow in advice comes from not allowing it to 'fly' at the top of the back swing. Evidently, over compensating by actively tucking in will create its own issue which is pretty much the gist of the video. If you get the fundamentals right, a lot of the desirable processes in the swing occur naturally.

[@royclose946]

Well done guys hope you are both well 👍 😊

[@meandmygolf.]

Thanks Roy. Hope all is good with you.

[@rydaug79]

keeping my elbow on my body helps me hit my drives straight.

[@sliealwhufc]

I’m right handed in general but as a former tennis player, I play golf left handed. Tucking in the trail elbow led to a narrow back swing and being steep - staying wide and focusing on the full turn = changed my game🔥

[@meandmygolf.]

Love it.

[@Richard-od3vl]

I’ve tried all sorts of different drills even had a lesson telling me to keep this elbow tucked in to stop over the top. But robbed me of power and strike although I did see results at times it did help. I think we are all guilty of chasing the perfect golf swing I am for sure and unfortunately on my quest for this I’ve completely confused my golf swing very mechanical when over the ball. I’m yet to find what works for me without seeing the bad results, but will still try drills to find that moment. Although most of these drills on any golf platform are generic there could be one that makes all the difference to you. Great vids.

[@GOLFWORLDORDER]

Great tips as always guys!

[@jfouse6134]

So confused with this. Dozens and dozens of videos and coaches talking about putting a head coved in the right armpit or tucking the shirt into the right armpit to stay connected. This lesson appears to suggest the complete opposite. How can one reconcile all these different approaches to the swing?

[@cameronbaydock5712]

Doing that is a good cue to start the shoulders turning properly. If you keep a head cover in the armpit (gently), drop it near the top to make sure you’re still getting good width.

[@epicragegaming2016]

take away doesn't matter. delivery matters.

[@cameronbaydock5712]

@@epicragegaming2016 proper takeaway influences the rest of the swing including delivery. Strange to assert takeaway doesn’t matter.

[@Cabeprestwood]

Coaches definitely contradict others. I see this as more of placing emphasis on the elbow not flexing until closer to the top. Still stay connected as the headcover armpit drill suggests. For instance, at 4.02 in, a headcover could be under the armpit. When getting closer to the top of the swing, the elbow would flex, and the headcover would drop out of the pit.

[@PetSKi67]

If you throw properly, do you have the elbow stuck in or out extended on the shoulder plane? Same bio-mechanics work.

[@RobertMacCready]

Great drill at the end of the video. I will give it a try for sure. THANKS!!!

[@meandmygolf.]

Let us know how it goes Robert!

[@DuesGibGolfandLife]

I like the "ghost' split to see the difference. Maybe some lines or something so its easier to see the difference..... Question. Does backswing speed make a difference. I find that if I rush I lose form so I go slowish on the back swing. I feel that it shouldnt matter as long as you can keep form on the downswing and have pace there. Thoughts. Maybe a video on in?

[@meandmygolf.]

We did a back swing speed video not long ago (last year) check it out on our channel.

[@DuesGibGolfandLife]

@@meandmygolf. oh sweet. Only just subbed so I will go find it. You guys have changed my game!!

[@matty6077]

These guys coach the straightest driver of the golf ball on the PGA Tour… should probably listen to what they have to say 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻

[@cameronbaydock5712]

The AMG Golf boys have great videos on trail arm bend. Edit: I left the comment earlier but only watched through just now. Didn’t even realize they had specifically called them out 😂💩 been my swing thought lately, clearly

[@meandmygolf.]

They do. Such a key part of the swing.

[@kooijbas]

But those video's do not show that pro's narrow their right arm on the downswing, as was being said here. They don't bend their right arm as much on the backswing, but according to AMG they reach maximum handspeed very early on the downswing.

[@cameronbaydock5712]

@@kooijbas unsure what you mean by narrow the arm

[@tonymaher4624]

@@kooijbas exactly, their videos show the right elbow gradually widens in downswing not narrow, however big props to these guys for giving the shout out to Shaun and Mike

[@kooijbas]

@@cameronbaydock5712 ​ Oh sorry, bit late. They don't show that pro's initially increase the right arm bend in the downswing, it's the opposite. Search for "Increase Your Hand Speed While Shallowing The Club" by AMG. They show exactly the same thing in this video about the right arm for the backswing, less bend for pro's, but they also show that in the downswing pro's immediately straighten their right arm and increase their hand speed. This only becomes casting if you also throw away your wrist angle.

[@Steve-jq4st]

If I tried to follow every golf tip on KZbin I’d end up a paralysed nervous wreck.

[@meandmygolf.]

So true. Its is about deciding what you need. One thing at a time.

[@nataliedeyton6829]

I was always told to keep the elbow tucked in and now I keep it wider and not bent so much like you are talking about but… when I record my swing for the golf fix app it says I have a flying elbow 😂 then use my old swing it says it’s now good

[@incognitoparty]

I feel like this is midleading because this is showing example if you overfold from the start. If you're starting backswing with chest first and let the arms follow, it will keep both arms straight half way to backswing, then you can fold your arms.

[@roccomorg726]

I am going to try this. I keep getting stuck swinging because my right elbow is stuck behind my body. It couldnt make it any worse cause i am thinning all my shots anyway. I should try fishing instead

[@rtfcomputing4614]

Guilty & Guilty on all accounts with arm position/movement. This gets added into drills this week. Loving the integration with other content provides here in the states.

[@PetSKi67]

The take-away ond anything before half-way down the way doesn’t actually matter. Otherwise a baseballer couldn’t hit the ball. As long as you get to ”the slot” at P6 ready to fire, you’re good.

[@Everton1878utt]

So these lads, the AMG guys and monte scheinblum identify this as a huge swing error but you don't think it's a problem as long as you find the compensations late in your swing?

[@CrypticYoutube158]

im not trying to do it but its impossible for me not to do it

[@jadgolf]

Seeing a lot of conflicting theories in the comments. One thing I think we can all agree on is thank goodness the boys are no longer matching head to toe in every video. That’s the real victory here

[@meandmygolf.]

That is definitely a victory!!

[@chrisprior208]

Love you two guys, but boy this video is controversial…..aka look at Eric cogno golf, Steve Johnston, and Pete Cowan…….for me this video is off beam compared to those videos……would love a comparison between this video and Steve Johnson.

[@Westonh]

I’m pulling up all the slowmo videos of the current best iron players I can think of.. all of them have a lot of space between right elbow and body at the top of the swing. And almost all of them I am watching have straighter right arm than conventional wisdom keep it for longer than you’d imagine. Check some out and see what you think!

[@meandmygolf.]

Thanks Chris. Yeh we knew this would get some interesting thoughts. We want the right arm to work well in the swing and sometimes it's how the thought actually impacts the swing. For the golfers are focusing hard on tucking in the right elbow, it's causing so many other problems in their golf swing as a result. We have to be aware of these. Hope that makes sense.

[@Everton1878utt]

I was convinced I needed to keep my right arm in close and connected. Absolutely wrecked me. Don't know if it's down to individual biomechanics but for me right arm tucked = stuck = early extension, over the top, shanks, slices, fats. Different intentions create different results in people. For me letting the upper right get off my torso is huge

[@michaeldodd6864]

A bit of a misleading headline as far as I am concerned.

[@steveputland4324]

Ever heard of Ben Hogan fella’s? 🤔 “Imagine elbows attached to your body” ring a bell ? You guys must be way better ! Please put a link in the description of your biggest wins . Cheers 👍

[@meandmygolf.]

Hi Steve. What a golfer does and thinks are very different. This is based off what we consistently see when we are coaching. When golfers think this, it’s causing them more problems so we are just sharing our experience. Our thoughts are crucial and we have found that this thought causes many negative results.

[@Everton1878utt]

@@meandmygolf.couldn't agree more. This swing error has killed my fun of the game. Rather than folding the elbow I was feeling like it stays stuck to my side - felt nice and safe and repeatable - the repeatable bit was OTT, fat shots, shanks the lot. Let the right arm move away from your side = width, arms and body in sequence, room, and just better golf.

[@Everton1878utt]

What a crappy. comment. The lads have covered a critical swing flaw here. Towel drill destroyed my swing - so are you to tell me that I need to keep my arms glued to my side? Nonsense.

[@steveputland4324]

@@Everton1878utt nope , the only thing I’d tell you is to go get farked 👍 why did you use the towel drill in the 1st place ? I’d say because your swing already had problems !

[@epicragegaming2016]

the problem you are illustrating is a bent lead arm. we all know it doesn't matter how you take the club away, it matters how you deliver it to the ball. and no matter what swing you choose at the pro level, the elbow always gets tucked towards the body on the way down. its simply an abbreviated swing. look up furyk, wolfe, tiger, scottie, rory, or jason day. doesn't matter. the elbow gets tucked to the body on the down swing. what they have that most ams don't is the flexibility to have a longer back swing that creates the seperation between elbow and body. that's the only difference.

[@meandmygolf.]

Fore the average golfer it is absolutely crucial how we move in the backswing. Obviously the ball doesn't know what it looks like but it makes things so much easier to present a more consistent delivery if the back swing is "simplified".

[@rickayala6485]

yeah, not buying it. this vid is not for everybody and it's certainly not for me. my right elbow feels tucked in; my left arm is straight and i have a full turn. i'm sure it may help somebody though. good luck.

[@steveputland4324]

Exactly my thoughts!

[@j10browngmail]

I am. Just went from cruising @ 91 with a seven iron to 98 with a crazy 107 swing speed

[@meandmygolf.]

That's great. We aren't saying there shouldn't be a connection . We are saying that focusing hard on this can lead to many negative things in the swing that make it hard. Sounds like you have those things nailed which is awesome. Many other of the viewers won't.

[@Everton1878utt]

Interesting thread this. I can say with 100% certainty that physically connected arms kills my swing. Maybe I have early turn which combined with narrow width = stuck. Look at Tommy fleetwood, he says it saved his career, straight arm swings, "windmill drill".

[@Mike-re4lb]

Good content, but the girly boy pants have got to go...

[@jherl8307]

Stupid click bait title. Whether your backswing is done correctly or incorrectly the right elbow bends.

[@meandmygolf.]

Yeh it definitely bends as we say in the video. It’s just what focusing on bending does to the swing.

[@jherl8307]

@@meandmygolf. So why the misleading title ??

[@enensis]

Watching all these videos is pointless. They all contradict eachother

[@steveputland4324]

My thoughts exactly, from Ben Hogan all the way through to Cam Smith have proved this theory to be a load of crap ! Ben & Cam both have very compact & consistent world class golf swings !

[@enensis]

@@steveputland4324 exactly. I just think you need to find what works for you by practicing.

[@steveputland4324]

@@enensis 👍👍

[@Everton1878utt]

⁠@@steveputland4324Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods,Rory would disagree. Plenty of space under their arm pits

[@steveputland4324]

@@Everton1878utt Plenty of hours perfecting it as well !

[@balance3201]

Proves don't listen to clowns there is no "right" Way to swing a club.

[@meandmygolf.]

There are many ways definitely. It's just finding what works for you.

[@balance3201]

@@meandmygolf. well then say it cause many new to the game just take your word and it causes all sorts of problems

[@Everton1878utt]

@@balance3201 ok then... conversely look at the towel drill. Do that on a full swing. Tell me where the width comes from? How do you not get stuck unless you do half swings? Cos you run out of turn way before your arms have got above half way. So the only alternative is to lift and then you are out of sync, over the top, early extend and shanks for me

[@balance3201]

@@Everton1878utt if it works do it, but don't expect it to work for everyone