Always Start With Your Right Arm in This Position
Drill by Danny Maude
Why this drill works
Most flying trail elbows are pre-set at address: when the trail forearm rotates in over the grip, the elbow is forced up and out as the arms swing back, disconnecting the arms from the turn and pointing the club across the line at P4. Pre-setting the forearm 'open' lets the elbow fold down naturally like a bicep curl, and keeping that flexion into impact prevents the early straightening that causes fat and thin strikes.
How to do it
- 1
At address, set the trail forearm so it faces slightly outward instead of rotating it in over the grip: Danny calls this 'opening the door' with the elbow, which pre-sets the elbow to fold down rather than fly out.
- 2
Rehearse the backswing as a simple 'dumbbell' bicep-curl motion: the trail elbow stays stable and folds down toward the ground as the arm rotates back, rather than lifting up and behind you.
- 3
Check the top of the backswing (P4): the trail elbow should still point down toward the ground with its fold intact, not out behind your body.
- 4
In the downswing, keep the trail elbow flexed so it almost leads the wrist into the impact area, feeling a 'splash' of water thrown with the trail arm; only let the arm fully straighten after the ball is struck.
Swing issues this drill addresses
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