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Where should your elbows be in the golf swing?

Author

James Craig

Published Jan 22, 2026

Keep your elbow close during the downswing

You want your elbow to move freely during the backswing to increase power, and you want it tucked during your downswing to hit it straight at your target. To do this is simple, all you must do is tuck your elbow right in front of your rib cage as you swing through the ball.

Where should your elbows point in golf swing?

In other words, have the target side elbow (photo 1) point in the direction you want to hit your golf ball. The trailing elbow, for right-handed golfers the right elbow, points towards the right hip. The trailing elbow does not point outward like the lead elbow. Take your normal stance.

Should elbows be tucked in golf swing?

Your right elbow should be consistently tucked throughout the backswing and downswing, because that arm position will help you trace the proper swing path with the club. If you let the right elbow get away from your body early in the swing before trying to recover later on, it will be too late.

How close should your elbows be in golf swing?

During your backswing, downswing and follow-through, you want to feel your arms and elbows fairly close together. If the space between your elbows increases on the backswing you'll find yourself with a flying right elbow again and looking like a baseball player.

Which arm is more important in golf swing?

You keep your left arm straight to get the maximum arc out of your swing. The more arc you get from your swing, the more power you will have. Allow the left arm to push the club into the back swing and keep your right arm tight to your body to keep the swing straight.

22 related questions found

Which arm is dominant in golf swing?

The solution to this problem is simple. The left hand and arm must play the dominant role in the swing at all times. If it does not, you have no alternative but to over employ the right hand, The right hand can only dominate if the left hand and arm fails to play its controlling role.

What do the elbows do in the golf swing?

Having the right elbow in the proper position at the top allows the trail arm to move externally and under the lead arm resulting in a shallowing of the club shaft. This allows you to deliver the clubhead to impact on an inside track with strong body rotation for power and control.

How do you tuck your right elbow in golf?

You want your elbow to move freely during the backswing to increase power, and you want it tucked during your downswing to hit it straight at your target. To do this is simple, all you must do is tuck your elbow right in front of your rib cage as you swing through the ball.

Should arms be close to body in golf swing?

PGA Tour player Jonathan Byrd always keeps his upper arms close to his body, which keeps his swing more compact.

What is the most important move in the golf swing?

The first move down from the top is one of the most important in the golf swing. No matter how you take the club back, the transition into the downswing has to be smooth, and the club needs to come into the ball from inside the target line. And the overall downswing has to start from the ground up.

Should arms be straight at address?

In golf, the address is the most important and controllable part of the swing. At address the arms should be in a position to allow a bit of arm swing during the takeaway before the shoulders and chest even start to turn. As the arms start to swing, the left arm will create the connection with your chest.

How do you keep the triangle in the golf swing?

As for the set up, you should be able to see that your forearms and upper body create a triangle. Your goal is to maintain that triangle during the initial part of the backswing. I want a feeling of togetherness among my hands, arms and body until the clubhead is past my right foot (above).

How do I keep my arms together in the golf swing?

Take your normal address position with your club. Bend forward from your hips and let your knees flex slightly. Your arms should hang almost straight down, with no more tension than necessary and with your triceps resting lightly against your chest.

How do I keep my arms close to my golf swing?

To fix this you want to focus on keeping your arms extended throughout your swing. One way to imagine your good form would be to try string around your body and arms, keeping them in a locked position. You can practice this by placing a ball between your arms and squeezing it together to keep your arms locked.

Is the golf swing right sided or left sided?

For years, golfers have been taught that the golf swing is a left-sided motion. Proponents of the left-sided swing claim that allowing the left side to dominate better keeps the club on plane and promotes greater accuracy. No disagreement with that here.

Do you pull down on the golf swing?

Pull Down. As your arms and hands start into the downswing, it is important to imagine pulling the butt of the club straight down toward the ground. This keeps your hands ahead of the clubhead – often referred to as "lag" – and keeps the power you've built up on the right side of the ball.

Which hand leads the downswing in golf?

indeed, the world's longest hitters lead with the left. The best way to feel the proper start of the downswing is to imagine that your right arm is being pulled by the left for as long as possible.

What hand controls the clubface?

The left hand (the right for southpaws), is responsible for the rotational movement of the golf club, which, in turn, controls the direction of the clubface.

Is it better to swing hard in golf?

In golf, you should swing as hard as you can without losing your balance and posture. The longer you can hit the ball off the tee, the easier scoring becomes as you'll leave yourself less distance into the green.

What is the most important joint in golf?

The foot is probably the most notable stable joint. It is the only joint that makes constant contact with the ground. Without good stability in the foot, your balance will be compromised and you will not be able to transfer the power to the ground. Foot stability is also needed for adequate ankle mobility.

How close should your hands be to your body in a golf swing?

The hands-to-body distance varies depending on the club you are hitting. A good rule of thumb is to have the hands a palm's width from the body for short and middle irons (4 to 6 inches) and a palm's length—from the bottom of the wrist to the tip of your middle finger—for long irons and woods.

Should hands hang straight down golf?

your arms should hang straight down from your shoulder sockets at address, and. all golf clubs are built on an angle.