Nina Caldwell
Staying connected is a key swing concept in golf that involves keeping a good relationship between your arms, body, and club during your swing. It is about ensuring that your arms and body move in harmony rather than acting independently. This coordination gives you better control over your swing, leading to more consistent shots. While staying connected is important, it is also crucial to note that there is only one part of the swing where golfers want to be connected, and that is right through impact. At the top of the swing, the right arm is not connected, and in the follow-through, the left arm is not connected.
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What You'll Learn
Staying connected vs getting stuck
Staying connected is a key swing concept that all good ball strikers have in common. It involves keeping a good relationship between your arms, body, and club during your swing. The goal is to ensure that your arms and body move in harmony rather than acting independently. This coordination lets you control your swing better, leading to more consistent shots.
To achieve this, some golfers recommend keeping the right elbow near or touching your side/torso on the downswing. This helps to keep the triangle formed by the shoulders, arms, and grip intact and on top/in front of the torso. Getting stuck, on the other hand, means that the grip/hands and/or trail elbow gets behind the rotating torso, requiring a compensating move that is usually detrimental.
Another way to stay connected is to focus on your follow-through. One golfer describes how they keep their hands below their head during the follow-through, unlike some of the best players in the game whose arms are very high during this part of the swing. This allows for a nice, free-flowing swing with all the energy going through the golf ball.
Some golfers have shared their experiences with staying connected. One golfer shared that they had always lost connection with their trail arm on their back swing and didn't realize it until they tried the credit card technique. Another golfer shared that they had recently transitioned to focusing on a connected golf swing and had seen immediate benefits of more predictability and straighter shots. However, they also noticed a loss of distance, which they were okay with as their objective was to get the ball in the hole rather than hitting it as far as possible.
Staying connected is a concept that many golfers may hear about but not fully understand. It is important to focus on this aspect of the swing to elevate your game and enjoy the process even more.
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The right elbow position
The right elbow is a critical part of your golf swing. Keeping the right elbow in the correct position can be challenging, but it is key to achieving a consistent and powerful swing.
A common issue golfers face is a "flying" right elbow, where the elbow moves away from the body during the backswing, resulting in a loss of control and power. To prevent this, it is important to keep the right elbow close to the body, with the pit of the elbow pointing outwards at the setup. This can be achieved by ensuring the elbow is slightly bent and pointed towards the right hip throughout the swing.
One simple way to improve the right elbow position is to focus on the wrist position. Having the wrists in a flat or slightly flexed position at the top of the backswing will help keep the right elbow tucked and close to the body. Additionally, the right hand should slightly increase its extension at the start of the downswing, aiding in squaring the clubface.
Drills and tools can also help improve the right elbow position. For example, using an alignment stick hooked through the belt loops on the right side can provide feedback and help golfers feel their elbow staying close to the body. Another tool, the ArmAlarm, provides real-time auditory feedback when the arms separate during the swing, allowing golfers to quickly identify and correct problems with their arm structure.
By focusing on the right elbow position and making the necessary adjustments, golfers can achieve a more connected and consistent swing, leading to improved performance on the course.
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The triangle formed by shoulders, arms and grip
Staying connected is a key swing concept that all good ball strikers have. It involves keeping a good relationship between your arms, body, and club during your swing. The goal is to ensure that your arms and body move in harmony rather than acting independently.
Maintaining this coordination lets you control your swing better, leading to more consistent shots. When golfers lose that connection, it often appears in a few common ways, such as over-extending the arms, halting body rotation, or letting the swing become too reliant on the arms alone. These common errors can result in inconsistent contact and unpredictable ball flight.
To achieve a connected swing, it is important to keep the triangle formed by the shoulders, arms, and grip intact and in front of the torso. This means that the right elbow should be near or touching the side/torso on the downswing, while the left arm should separate away from the body during the follow-through.
By focusing on staying connected throughout your swing, you can help ensure that everything works together seamlessly, giving you a more reliable and repeatable performance on the course. Some golfers have reported seeing immediate benefits of more predictability and straighter shots when focusing on a connected swing.
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The credit card technique
To visualize the credit card technique, imagine holding a credit card between your right elbow and torso. This space created by the credit card ensures the elbow doesn't get too close to the body, promoting a free-flowing swing. This technique has been praised by golfers on online forums, with some reporting improvements in their swing and overall performance after adopting it.
While the credit card technique is a useful drill to improve your swing, it is important to note that there are various factors that contribute to a successful golf swing. Staying connected is just one aspect, and it should be combined with other fundamentals such as proper hip rotation, shoulder turn, and wrist cocking to achieve a fluid and powerful swing. Additionally, individual body mechanics and swing styles may vary, so it is always recommended to consult a golf instructor or professional for personalized advice.
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The towel under the arms
"Staying connected" is a key swing concept that all good ball strikers should aim for. It is about keeping a good relationship between your arms, body, and club during your swing. The goal is to ensure that your arms and body move in harmony, allowing you to control your swing better and achieve more consistent shots.
One way to achieve this is through the "towel under the arms" drill. This involves placing a towel under your arms while swinging. If the towel falls, it indicates that your arms are too high and not connected to your body. Keeping your arms lower and tighter to your body helps you feel more connected and in control. This drill promotes a free-flowing swing, allowing you to generate more power and achieve a nice finish.
However, it is important to note that staying connected does not mean keeping your arms connected throughout the entire swing. At the top of the swing, the right arm disconnects, and during the follow-through, it is the left arm that separates. Thus, the only part of the swing where you want to be fully connected is at impact.
By focusing on staying connected at impact, you can achieve a repeatable swing and strike the ball with more consistency and power. This technique has been employed by many top players, including Tiger Woods and Adam Scott, who are known for their high backswings and powerful shots.
The "towel under the arms" drill is a useful tool to help golfers visualize and feel the connected swing. It helps golfers understand the importance of keeping their arms in sync with their bodies, ultimately leading to improved performance and a more enjoyable golfing experience.
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Frequently asked questions
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