Trevor Ng
Flying elbow golf refers to a golfer's trail elbow moving away from their body during the backswing. This movement creates a flying motion as the elbow lifts and moves outward. While it is not necessarily a fault, as many great golfers exhibit this style, it can cause some issues with the swing's efficiency and consistency. The flying elbow can be caused by physical limitations, such as shoulder joint mobility restrictions, or incorrect wrist positioning. Drills and exercises focusing on mobility and stability can help improve the flying elbow by keeping the elbow close to the body and improving the swing's overall control and power.
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What You'll Learn
Flying elbow defined
The flying elbow in golf occurs when a golfer's trail elbow moves away from their body during the backswing. Instead of staying connected to the body, the elbow lifts and moves outward, resulting in a "flying" motion. This can be caused by several physical limitations, such as shoulder joint or soft tissue mobility restrictions, thoracic spine limitations, and incorrect wrist position.
While a flying elbow is not necessarily a fault, as many great golfers throughout history have had this motion, it can affect the efficiency of the swing. It can create sequencing issues and make it challenging to hit the ball consistently. The flying elbow can lead to an "across-the-line" position at the top of the backswing, resulting in a severe in-to-out swing path and a potential "crazy hook."
To fix a flying elbow, golfers can use drills and exercises that focus on mobility, stability, and motor control. One simple drill is to place a small towel or glove under the right armpit and swing normally, focusing on keeping the object secure through impact. Another tool is the ArmAlarm, which provides real-time auditory feedback when the arms separate during the swing, allowing golfers to identify and correct problems with their arm structure.
Additionally, golfers can work on decreasing the extension in their lead wrist at the top of the swing and ensuring proper forearm rotation to keep the elbow turned in rather than out. By making these adjustments, golfers can improve their swing consistency and control, ensuring that their flying elbow does not negatively impact their performance.
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Causes of flying elbow
A flying elbow in golf occurs when a golfer's trail elbow moves away from their body during the backswing. This movement creates a "flying" motion as the elbow lifts and moves outward. While it is not necessarily a fault, as some great players have used this motion, it can cause sequencing issues on the backswing and downswing, leading to inconsistency and loss of control.
There are several causes of a flying elbow, and it is often the result of multiple factors. One of the most common causes is an incorrect wrist position during the backswing, where the lead wrist is not flat or slightly flexed, causing the elbow to break away early. Inadequate rotation of the shoulders can also contribute to a flying elbow, as the shoulders may slide and lift instead of rotating properly. Additionally, physical limitations in the shoulder joint or soft tissue mobility restrictions can limit the range of motion in the trail-side shoulder, affecting the mechanics of the swing. Thoracic spine limitations can also play a role by limiting the shoulder's range of motion and forcing the shoulder joint into positions that restrict external rotation, causing the elbow to fly.
Another factor that can lead to a flying elbow is the excessive use of the right arm instead of leading with the correct arm, which can cause the club to lift and the elbow to push out. Holding the golf club too tightly can also increase arm tension and contribute to an incorrect elbow position.
To fix a flying elbow, golfers can focus on keeping their elbow close to their body and ensuring proper footwork and core rotation. Drills and exercises targeting mobility, stability, and motor control can help improve shoulder range of motion and overall swing mechanics.
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Flying elbow as a fault
The flying elbow in golf is a term used to describe the trailing elbow leaving the trailing side on the backswing. It is not necessarily a fault, and many great players have exhibited this motion in their swings. However, it can affect the efficiency of the golf swing by creating sequencing issues on the backswing and downswing.
The flying elbow can lead to several issues, such as slices, hooks, loss of power, and poor trajectory control. It can create an open clubface, which can result in a loss of power and other issues. The flying elbow is often caused by physical limitations, such as shoulder joint or soft tissue mobility restrictions in the shoulder girdle, which limit the range of motion in the trail-side shoulder. Any thoracic spine limitations can also indirectly restrict the shoulder's range of motion, forcing the shoulder joint into positions that limit external rotation and cause the elbow to fly.
To fix a flying elbow, golfers can try various drills and exercises that focus on improving shoulder range of motion, mobility, stability, and motor control. For example, golfers can try the ""Gravity" golf one-arm drills, focusing on properly routing the leading elbow in the backswing. Additionally, simple drills like placing a golf glove under the right armpit can help golfers feel the right arm staying connected to the body during the swing.
While some golfers may view the flying elbow as a flaw, others, like Jack Nicklaus, have successfully exhibited this technique. Ultimately, whether the flying elbow is considered a fault depends on its impact on the golfer's swing and performance.
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Drills to fix flying elbow
A flying elbow in golf occurs when a golfer's trail elbow moves away from the body during the backswing. While it is not necessarily a swing flaw, it can impair a golfer's ball-striking consistency.
The ArmAlarm
The WhyGolf ArmAlarm gives real-time auditory feedback when your arms separate, allowing you to quickly identify and correct the point in your golf swing where your arms disconnect. This helps you keep your arms more connected and in sync with your body, improving consistency and reducing the likelihood of an across-the-line move that can lead to a severe in-to-out swing path through the ball.
Towel or Glove Drill
Place a small towel or glove under your right armpit and swing normally, focusing on keeping the towel or glove secure through impact. Only allow it to drop naturally after impact during your follow-through. This simple drill helps keep your elbow close to your body throughout the swing.
Grip Pressure Drill
Grip the club lightly, significantly softer than normal. Make slow practice swings, emphasising the relaxation of your arms and wrists. Gradually transition to full swings while maintaining a relaxed grip pressure. This drill helps reduce grip pressure, which can increase arm tension and cause the elbow to move away from the body.
Impact Drill or Band Work
Make a simple turn about halfway up, and then let your elbow fold. Practising this motion in front of a mirror can help ensure it happens naturally. An impact drill or a band can be used to assist with this.
Shoulder and Hip Rotation
Focus on improving your shoulder and hip rotation, which will help you generate more power without relying on your elbow to manufacture power.
Wrist Position
Ensure your lead wrist is in a flat or slightly flexed position at the top of the backswing. This position naturally keeps the right elbow more tucked and closer to your body.
Training Aids
Incorporate training aids or practice drills to help eliminate the flying right elbow. For example, grab a soccer ball, bucket, or similar-sized object and place it between your bicep muscles. Practice making golf swings without a club; if your right elbow moves too high, the object will fall.
Remember, curing the flying right elbow requires constant training and practice. It is also important to address any physical limitations or shoulder range of motion issues that may be contributing to the problem.
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Flying elbow and shoulder movement
The flying elbow in golf refers to the trailing elbow leaving the trailing side on the backswing. This movement can create sequencing issues on the backswing and downswing, potentially leading to slices, loss of distance, and inconsistency in golf shots. While it may not be a fault, as some great players have a flying elbow, it can affect the efficiency of the swing.
The flying elbow is often caused by physical limitations, such as shoulder joint or soft tissue mobility restrictions, thoracic spine limitations, or inadequate rotation of the shoulders. This can lead to the elbow moving further away from the body during the swing. To correct this, golfers can focus on improving their shoulder range of motion through exercises and drills that promote mobility, stability, and motor control.
One way to address the flying elbow is to improve the routing of the right arm (or left arm for left-handed players) in the backswing. This involves creating width in the right shoulder joint, allowing for better core rotation and increased club speed during delivery. Additionally, maintaining a flat or slightly flexed lead wrist position at the top of the backswing can help keep the elbow tucked and closer to the body.
To improve shoulder and hip rotation, golfers can try simple drills like placing a golf glove under the right armpit to enhance the connection between the body and the arms during the swing. Another drill is the "Standing Arm Slide," which helps improve flexibility in the chest and shoulders. This exercise involves standing with your back against a wall, walking your feet out, and sliding your body down until your hips and knees are bent. Then, elevate your arms to the side with bent elbows and attempt to touch the wall with the back of your upper and lower arms.
By addressing the physical limitations and incorporating specific drills and techniques, golfers can improve their flying elbow and shoulder movement, leading to more efficient and powerful swings.
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Frequently asked questions
A flying elbow in golf occurs when a golfer's trail elbow moves away from the body during the backswing. This can lead to a loss of control of the clubface and swing path through impact.
A flying elbow can be caused by several physical limitations. The most common cause is incorrect wrist position in the backswing. Other causes include inadequate rotation of the shoulders, holding the golf club too tightly, and excessive use of the right arm.
There are multiple ways to fix a flying elbow, including practicing with a device like ArmAlarm, which provides real-time feedback when your arms separate during the swing. You can also try drills and exercises that focus on improving your shoulder range of motion, mobility, stability, and motor control.
