Years ago when I first started playing golf, I used to practice at a driving range in Hawaii Kai on the Island of Oahu. I started playing during the summer when I was home from college and I hit the ball ok. I was using a set of Mizuno used clubs that my parents bought. The driving range wasn’t far and I had just graduated from college and didn’t have a job yet. It was a great time because I could go hit a couple buckets of balls every day. Through college I had played summers, but this was the first time I was able to play consistently. I was flirting with breaking 100 for a while, but just couldn’t break through. I watched the golf channel and read some magazines, but the thing that really helped me to break 100 was the straight elbow.
You’ve probably heard people say to keep your left elbow straight (for right handers). I started practicing keeping my elbow straight throughout my swing. The technique is fairly easy to explain. Instead of breaking your elbow at the top of the swing, you keep your arm straight. The concept is that this will help you do several things. First and foremost it gives you the ability to get back to a good ball striking position consistently. Some say to get back to address position, although there are some important differences between the position at address and when striking the ball. Either way, you’ll get to a ball striking position easily and consistently.
This tip will help you get to a good strike position several ways. For example, it will improve your transition at the top of the swing. When people get to the top of the swing, and the elbow breaks, it can become difficult to make the same movement consistently. It’s just one more variable that you have to account for in the swing. When you swing harder or softer, faster or slower, you must adjust the timing and amount that you break your elbow. However, if you keep the elbow straight, it takes that variable out of the swing. Whether you are swinging hard or soft, you don’t have to worry about adjusting your elbow.
Another way it helps is by keeping your hands in front of your body. You may have heard this tip before as well. You may have also heard people say to keep the triangle between your arms and chest throughout the swing. These are all related concepts. Keeping your elbow straight will help.
In any case, try keeping your elbow straight through your swing. It helped me find a consistent swing and break 100. And actually I hit it longer, too. It felt strange at first, but now it’s second nature. Try it! Good luck and hit it long and straight!
