Use Your elbows to Control Your Golf Swing Plane

Use Your elbows to Control Your Golf Swing Plane Most golfers are aware that swinging the club on the proper plane is important. When the plane is correct, especially on the downswing, the clubhead approaches the ball from slightly inside the target line which leads to more power and potentially more accuracy as well. Here is an effective way to control your plane: control the position of your left elbow (for right handers). Most everyone knows that Jim Furyk’s shaft is virtually vertical in the backswing. That’s because his left elbow is pointed at his toe line. During his downswing the shaft plane flattens because his left elbow is now pointed at the ball target line. Most higher handicap golfers will never make this flattening move. Instead they’ll be steep and over-the-top. If the left elbow is pointed well outside the target line, your swing can get too flat resulting in blocks and flip hooks. To simplify your swing (don’t we all want to do that?) get the left elbow pointing at the target line during your takeaway until your left arm is parallel to the ground halfway back. On the through swing have the right elbow aimed at the target line until the right arm is parallel to the ground. Before you know it, you’ll be striping it down the middle well past your buddies.