On the other hand, if the right elbow is locked tight against the right side on the backswing, a whirling, twisting body turn must result. Of course, from such a back-swing there is bound to be that all too early hit with the right hand, which will throw the club to the outside of the line of flight and only an outside-in hit can be executed.
While on the subject of elbows, let me say that emphasis on the straight left arm has caused many bad shots in golf. As a matter of fact, only persons with a distinctive muscular setup can really hold their left arm straight throughout the swing. Walter Hagen, golfs most exciting champion, never did really straighten his left arm during his play. And my cigar-smoking pal, Billie Burke, won the U.S. Open Championship with a decidedly crooked left arm. Another winner of the U.S. Open crown was Ed Furgol, a most effective golfer even though a physical mishap prevented him from ever straightening his left arm.
I must report that too much emphasis has been placed on keeping the left arm straight, and if one holds the left arm too straight after impact, a low shot off to the left may result. There might also be a few sickly smothered hooks.
In the correct swing, the right arm should act and bend freely on the backswing. And as the right arm bends and contracts, there will develop in the left arm a natural sense of opposition and through this sense of opposition the left arm will naturally straighten and extend itself.
On the downswing and follow through, the reverse action takes place in the arms. The left arm must at some time bend and contract, and as it does so, help send the right arm into an active extension-a natural thrust of power at the precise moment of impact.
Note in these pictures of golf stars in action the free right arm position at the top of the swing, and the comfortable contracted but free position of the left arm at the finish. continue an explanation of some basic ideas...