By Randy Taylor, Teaching Professional
Randy Taylor
One common swing issue I see with my students is the dreaded flying elbow. Teaching pros often talk about “staying connected,” which essentially means keeping the motion of your arms connected to the motion of your body. When elbows go flying, it’s harder to make a downward strike, which results in thin shots soaring over greens.
Here’s an easy drill to stay connected, which will help you hit down on the ball for a higher ball flight.
Start this drill with a short iron to get used to the feel. Take a soft object such as a headcover or folded towel and place it under your trailing armpit — right for right-handed players, left for lefties. If your swing is connected and you’re making a solid downward strike, the headcover or towel will stay in place until after you hit the ball (left). If your elbows are flying, it will fall out during your downswing (right).
Work on this drill for 20 swings per practice session and you’ll be hitting them high and soft in no time!
