Right elbow below the sternum

[crapula]

Finally got to play yesterday after the long winter here in Illinois. My short game and putting are still very good even with the long layoff.

 

I hit some good shots but the best ones came after I tried this variation of the pump drill:

 

From the top of the swing, right elbow below the sternum. Also felt like I casted or threw away the angle (it stayed just fine). Left wrist would bow, left shoulder would move way up, right wrist would bend back. I was basically trying to not let my arms/ hands/ club move down. Instead, from the top of the swing I wanted to feel them move left straight across my chest on the same level as the top of the swing. Of course they move down, they have to in order to hit the ball, but I think it forced me to use my body to get down at the ball instead of my hands. It felt like I was drastically delaying getting the club head down to the ball. It felt like I would miss the ball swinging the club head over it by 2 feet. Never missed the ball and hit every shot well.

 

I've been swinging with the attempt to get my right elbow in front of my right hip for basically 10 years and it never felt right. Right elbow in front of belly button has always felt too low as well. Right hip felt way too low. Getting my right elbow below my sternum is so much easier. The location I aim for is between the sternum and belly button, the solar plexus. I feel all the pieces need to work together- left wrist bow, right elbow below sternum, left shoulder up, and of course pivot. I am curious to see what my swing looks like, I bet it doesn't look any different.

 

I use a very similar feel for my short game, however high I move the grip back I try to keep it that height moving forward. It will move down on its own in order to hit the ball, as long as my intent is to hit the ball. I've done this for years and my short game has always saved me.

 

 

Give it a try, or don't.