The Right Elbow is the Secret

The Right Elbow is the Secret

Greeting Golfers, 

Let’s talk golf swing.

You know that I’m a big believer in training your hands. The hands control the golf club. The hands control the hockey stick. And the tennis racket. And the ball that you’re throwing. A pitcher needs to control the accuracy and spin of the baseball.

However, the hands have to be in the correct position to do its work.

A million years ago … I went to Mickey Owens Baseball Camp in Branson, MO … when Branson was just a little town in the Ozarks. I learned a lot … but the best thing I learned was how to throw a curveball.

The secret was to lead with my elbow as long as I could, and then the wrists snapped naturally and powerfully. It wasn’t about trying to snap my wrists … it was about delaying the snap until it exploded.

Golf wrist action is similar. On your downswing … lead with your right elbow into the ball. Look at what a good position that puts you in before impact.

Now do the opposite. Lift or turn your elbow away as you move into the ball. You will lead with your right shoulder instead of your right elbow. Feel how weak that is. There is no chance for solid impact.

Try this on chipping. Lead with your right elbow. See how good impact is?

But … leading that much with your right elbow keeps the club face open. So … set-up with a closed club face. And with your hands in front of the ball. This is how you “trap it”.

This “trapped” shot is a great shot … even on a full shot … and a great way to get the proper feel of impact.

Lots of people set-up with a closed club face because they’re worried about slicing. But they slice because they flip their hands at the ball. That why so much instruction is about taking the hands out of the swing. But that doesn’t solve the problem.

Good hand action is vital in golf. But the secret is to get the hands in the proper position. And leading the downswing is what gets the hands in the proper position.

Make a football throwing motion. See how you have to lead with your elbow? It’s the same move in the golf swing.

Don’t be afraid to close the club face in your set-up. You won’t hit it left if you lead with your right elbow.

Leading with the right elbow is the secret to many ball and stick games.

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com