How to Fix a Flying Right Elbow in Your Golf Swing (Causes and Quick Fixes)
The flying right elbow looks terrible in the golf swing, but it’s not the looks we are concerned about here.
Most importantly, it can lead to slices, hooks, loss of power, and poor trajectory control.
Essentially, nothing good comes from the flying right elbow.
If you’ve seen a video of your swing and you know the right elbow (for right-handed golfers) flies away from you during the swing, you will want to read through this information and get a few ideas on how to fix it.
The good news is the flying right elbow comes with some terrible feedback and feel. As soon as you can feel the right move, you should see progress rather quickly.
Flying Right Elbow in Golf (Key Takeaways)
If you don’t have time to read our entire guide on the flying right elbow in golf, here are the most important pieces of information you can take.
- The flying right elbow will create slices, loss of distance, and inconsistency in your golf shots.
- One of the easiest ways to fix the flying right elbow is to get your lead wrist into 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.
- Better shoulder and hip rotation helps get you power and ensures you don’t have to use the right elbow or any other motion to manufacture power.
- Use simple drills like a golf glove under the right armpit to help you feel the right arm stay connected to your body in the golf swing.
Contents
What Causes a Flying Right Elbow?
A few different things can cause the flying elbow in golf. However, the most common cause is incorrect wrist position in the backswing.
If you notice any of these issues, your flying elbow should be one of your top priorities to fix.
- Pushing the club back too quickly on the takeaway with the lead arm, the right elbow breaks away early.
- Inadequate rotation of the shoulders where they end up sliding and lifting instead of rotating.
- Holding the golf club too tightly will increase arm tension and get the elbow into an incorrect position.
- Excessive use of the right arm instead of leading with the right arm sometimes causes you to lift the club and push the right elbow out.
1. What do you want to improve in your full swing?
Fixes for a Flying Right Elbow in Your Golf Swing
Now that you have a better understanding of what causes the right elbow to fly let’s get into more details about how to fix it.
Use each of these drills and methods to get that right elbow to stay in place.
Keep the Elbow Close to the Body
As soon as your elbow starts to move away from your body on the downswing, you are in a position that could leave you with an open clubface, loss of power, and much more.
Even golfers like Tiger Woods work on keeping this right elbow closer to their body on the downswing.
You’ll hear some golfers talk about dropping it into the slot or even tucking the elbow.
You can do this by hooking an alignment stick through your belt loops on the right side so that you feel your elbow stay close to the body on some practice swings.
Some golfers also use a headcover or glove under their right elbow in the swing to get that more connected feel.
Improve Wrist Action
When your wrist action in your golf swing is incorrect you’ll end up with your elbow moving further away from your body.
After analyzing more than 1,000,000 golf swings we know that golfers who have more extension in their lead wrist struggle with the flying right elbow.
This extension in the lead wrist, especially at the top of the backswing, gets the club into a more upright or steep position. From here, the elbow is already separated from the body.
To fix this problem, you can use your HackMotion.
Look to decrease extension in the lead wrist at the top of the swing. In addition, as you approach the golf ball, you’ll want to have the lead wrist in a slightly flexed or forward press position.
This simple little change with your wrists can get the club on the plane and make it easier for you to hit straight golf shots.
Turn the Elbows in
Another reason your right elbow may be getting away from your body is the way you set up to hit. You must be sure that your elbow is turned in rather than out at setup.
You’ll have to do a bit of forearm rotation in order to get to this position. However, once you are in it, you can easily take the club back on the proper plane without having to worry about the right elbow flying.
For some golfers, it feels like the club can now rotate instead of feeling like it lifts up and off the ground.
When you look down at the setup, you’ll see more of the underside of the forearm as opposed to the top of the arm.
Let the Elbow Fold On the Backswing
Whether you are trying to get an extension, keep the club on a plane, or simply don’t know where the golf club goes when it is behind you, you will want to ensure you allow it to fold.
Those who try to extend or keep the right elbow straight as long as they can tend to have a hard time with its position on the downswing.
Make a simple turn about halfway up, and then from there, let your elbow fold.
It will fold in close to your body and feel as though it’s in a position of power instead of out and away from you. If you can practice this motion in front of a mirror, it will help ensure it happens naturally.
Keep the Arms Closer Together
To do this you can use an impact drill or even a band of some kind.
The goal is to keep your arms together as you swing. When the arms seperate from each other it’s impossible to get them back together and timed correctly.
Take some practice swings and look at your arms during your takeaway. Are you starting to move the right elbow away from your left elbow as the club goes back?
You may feel like the right side has to be a little tucked in. However, the great thing about using a band or an impact ball is that you are forced to stay more connected, and it becomes easier to repeat this motion.
1. What do you want to improve in your full swing?
Drills to Keep the Elbow from Flying in the Golf Swing
Now you have some great drills and techniques to get rid of the flying elbow. If nothing has clicked yet, try these additional drills.
Elbow Tuck Drill
Hold a small towel or glove under your right armpit and keep it in place during your swing to prevent the elbow from flying out.
When you use this drill, it’s okay for the towel or glove to pop out as part of your follow-through. The key is to keep it in on the downswing and at impact.
Soft Grip Pressure
Another great idea or drill is to try swinging with lighter grip pressure.
Sometimes, the added tension in your arms is enough to keep your elbow stiff and out away from your body in a poor position.
One Arm Swings
For this drill, you will take your left arm off the club and hold your upper right arm. Take some backswings where you feel your left arm pulling toward the ball while your right arm tries to swing back.
The feeling here will help the right arm get into that proper position without flying out and away from you.
Final Thoughts
The flying right elbow causes so much inconsistency in the golf swing that you simply can’t keep it in play.
Work your way through each of these fixes so that you can approach the ball from the proper angle and gain more distance and accuracy.
Remember how much the lead wrist position plays into this; if you want the simplest and quickest fix, get that wrist into the right spot.
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