My last two posts have addressed limiting the right elbow (trailing elbow) bend and accepting some amount of arm lift in the swing. Virtually everyone would benefit by no more the 90 degrees of bend in the right elbow. The amount of arm lift is much more subjective.
Contradictions Everywhere
While researching these posts, I did a Youtube search on the subject. The first two videos that popped up directly contradicted each other. The first emphatically stated that there should be no lift of the arms during the swing, and the next was equally persuasive that there must be arm lift in the swing!
I then saw another YouTube clip extolling the virtues of swing more “around your body.” The instructor in that video felt most amateurs have too vertical of a swing caused by limited rotation of the body and excessive lifting of the arms. I have seen that as well, but more often, high handicap players drag the club too far inside with limited body rotation. They then lift excessively by folding the arms, resulting in a loss of power and consistency. Advising someone with a low, inside backswing to swing around themselves will compound a bad situation.
Don’t Get Good at doing it Wrong
The internet is an excellent tool for learning, but you must use it cautiously. Practice does not make perfect. Practice makes permanent! You must practice the right things. Right for you, that is! One of the challenges in golf is that even with the most fundamentally flawed swing, you can occasionally hit a good, even great shot. These occasional good shots lead to a false sense of “this isn’t so hard.” Hitting a good shot every once in a while is no way to lower your handicap. Consistency should be your goal, and consistency is born of working on those areas specific to your needs.
You Have to do What’s Right for You
I have students who need to feel more arm lift, more vertical in their swings. I also have students with far too much lifting of the arms. In golf, as with life, one size does not fit all. If you are serious about improving your game, please book lessons with a qualified instructor (yours truly is available) and stick with the prescribed program. You’ll be thankful you did.
Remember, have fun out there!