Cactus Drill for Proper Elbow Position

Fri, 04/22/2011 - 17:10 -- Don Trahan

Today's lesson is about elbow position. We want our elbows to be parallel to the ground at the top of our backswing and forward upswing.

Some coaches teach that you should flare your right elbow in the backswing (for a right-handed golfer). This will only cause you to get deep into the sacred burial ground. Other teachers say you need to keep your elbows close together as if you are trying to hold a ball in between your elbows throughout the swing. In the Surge Swing, we want the elbow position to form an equilateral triangle.

A good drill I use to demonstrate where your elbow position should be is the cactus drill. Watch the video to see my description of the drill. You'll find it shows you just where you need to be in a matter of seconds.

Keep it vertical,

The Surge!

Blog Tags: 

Comments

WK The real WK's picture

Submitted by WK The real WK (not verified) on

I am, just like you are really JB51. We aren't all as stupid as you are. BUDDY!! By the way, learn how to spell. You are continually misusing and misspelling 4th grade level reading words.

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

I think I heard that Hogan said the secret to golf was in the dirt. I don't know if he was talking about digging in it, playing in it, or staying out of it. LOL

Dick Lee's picture

Submitted by Dick Lee (not verified) on

Kchristi

Sounds like it is working out well for you. We all have the "one" thing we are still working on, or more than one in my case.

Let us know how it is going with your game. Nice to see a big improvement in your game.
Dick

Doc Griffin's picture

Submitted by Doc Griffin (not verified) on

Excellent! Thank you so much! I reinterate, the ability to get to parrallel is his ability to lift his hands so high. It's not a result of over swinging or rotation. If you look at the left and right shoulder they are never on the same line and the right shoulder is always short or getting even with the left. I can still reach my right hand up high enough to get the club to parrallel but can't do it with the left. Remember the drill where Don turns the right hand back and if you can't get the left hand to it, you've turned too far? Welllllllllllllllll, DJ don't have that problem. Oh, the benefits of being young and supple!!! LOL

T Medley's picture

Submitted by T Medley (not verified) on

Yep, N.E. Ohio. The weather man last night said we will very likely break the monthly record for this April as being the wettest on record. Between the cold and wet this spring hasn't been very spring like so far. Normally I would have had dozens of rounds in, instead of just three.

Bkelso52's picture

Submitted by Bkelso52 (not verified) on

3 suggestions may help. First Really concentrate on keeping your lower body stable by applying outward pressure on the knees; Second, firm up your wrists and simply rotate your forearms rather than "setting your wrists" on the back swing; really keep your head still to keep from sliding left or right. I think it was DJ that said if he wanted to hit it longer he kept his lower body quieter.

What the heck, you were able to do it before. No reason why you can't do it now. This elbow drill is another thing you may want to look at. Keeping the right elbow from bending to less than 90 degrees ensures a wider swing arc, which translates into more clubhead speed. Just concentrate on the fundamentals

Dick Lee's picture

Submitted by Dick Lee (not verified) on

Coach

When I lost a bunch of my weight, the biggest difference for me was how much better my back and shoulders felt. I guess it took a lot of strain off them. It has to change your swing to lose a lot of weight. It changes how your body moves and it will take some time to get it all back together. It will be worth it.

I am sitting on the patio, smoking a cigar and working on some reports. I had the TV on the golf channel, watching it through the glass door, with closed caption on. I looked up and it was at the beginning of the movie several people have mentioned on here, Tin Cup. I did not realize they had switched the game coverage over to a network. That has been corrected now. What a beautiful course. I could lose a dozen balls in a round there. I have to be careful not to watch their swings. It starts the mind to thinking about the "good old days" of my game. I much prefer the better new days with the Surge Swing.

The funny part for me is that after church tomorrow I will be working at the course. I won't be able to keep up with the game. I think I will have to take a little portable radio with me and see if I can find a station to listen to the game.

Stay dry,
Dick

Robert F's picture

Submitted by Robert F (not verified) on

I certainly love my SwingRite. I also use it in my exercise to strengthen the last three fingers of my left hand, which helps to maintain a firm but not tight grip, activates the outside muscles of the left arm, and helps keep the wrist from breaking in the swing. I just grip the SwingRite with only those last three fingers, with it wound down to about 8, and swing normally. I may sometimes tighten it up to 7 and on rare occasions even to 6 while using just those three fingers. Then tighten it more normally and swing natural, smooth swings.

Phil NZ's picture

Submitted by Phil NZ (not verified) on

Hi Doc
Is there a way to figure out the swing weight of a driver without specialized equipment?

JanetM's picture

Submitted by JanetM (not verified) on

Did you really do that or is that just a story? I live in Southern California. We don't have to do things like that. Instead, I have to deal with working on the 18th floor of a 20 story building and having the whole thing sway back and forth during an earthquake. It actually makes you nauseous. Plus, even though we have drills, you have to wonder if you'd really be able to make it down 36 flights of stairs to the ground floor if the Big One struck.

Anyway, is that true? Did you really dig a bomb shelter?

Amos's picture

Submitted by Amos (not verified) on

Steve Smith and dgaines:

I concur with both of you, My sentiments exactly!

Amos

Lou's picture

Submitted by Lou (not verified) on

absolutly right doc. these days though i have heard people who should know better describe any upper right arm seperation especially if the elbow is not pointing straight down as "flying". thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow.

Dick Lee's picture

Submitted by Dick Lee (not verified) on

Jim

You are right on the money with your post.

Dad will hit his drive at 205 and right where he wants it. If I am not careful, I will hit one at 275 with a bit of a slice and while I outdrive him, my ball is actually further from the cup. This really comes into play when the hole has a dogleg left. Most times, I would trade drives with him.

Dick

JanetM's picture

Submitted by JanetM (not verified) on

Dick, that's not fair. There are a lot of us wannabe rednecks in other parts of the country who don't have the opportunity to prove our redneckness by digging a big hole for a storm/bomb shelter. If I dug a 10 foot hole where I live, it would be a giant mildewy pit within a month. I'm not even sure it would stay a hole for that long. (Plus, God only knows who would move into it in the off-season.) Where I live, the only way anyone can prove their redneckicity is by driving a lifted F150. Which I don't. I'm sitting here drinking cheap wine and listening to Marshall Tucker and John Hiatt. Does that count?

Man, I stopped myself from saying all kinds of politically incorrect stuff. I'm proud of myself.

JanetM's picture

Submitted by JanetM (not verified) on

Say goodnight, Dick. Goodnight, Dick.

Remember what that line was from?

WK The real WK's picture

Submitted by WK The real WK (not verified) on

Hey, Dickwad, knock it off. You're not WK, I'm the real WK. You are right though, that JB guy is a real cry baby isn't he. He needs his mommy.

JanetM's picture

Submitted by JanetM (not verified) on

Just like it sounds -- it makes bows for packages. Gifts. Like for Christmas. My best friend got one back in 1979.

Dick Lee's picture

Submitted by Dick Lee (not verified) on

Doc

I found out in the Corps, you can not dig half a hole.

Dick

Phil NZ's picture

Submitted by Phil NZ (not verified) on

I know what your saying, my problem is in the FUS after impact, still stuck in between rotational and verticle, I bet its a common problem!

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

Hey Jim,
I think my club speed changes pretty much every day, mostly depending of how tired I am. Today I really did hit my driver solid and straight (there's a shock) except for one pushed of to the right a little. None of them were anything to brag about for distance though. Seemed to be about 10 to 15 yards shorter than usual.

Hey life just got a little bit better right in the middle of typing this. My neighbor just brought over some grilled shrimp and gave it to us. She said they had grilled more than they could eat (I didn't know that was possible).LOL

Got to go eat!

T Medley's picture

Submitted by T Medley (not verified) on

Not to keen on the squirrel, but, throw some chicken in those dumplings and I'm in. Just have to get there before Dick.

Roy Reed's picture

Submitted by Roy Reed (not verified) on

All the guys have offered great ideas - here's one more that may help you. As you're working on the basics of the swing, really focus on a correct FUS and especially getting to a full "T" finish. I find that some of my beginning students just sort of forget about the club after ball impact, and their finish is often very weak. To gain all the benefits of the Surge swing, you need strong acceleration all the way to the"T" finish, complete follow-thru, recoil and relax. Your speed will come back - just keep focused on the basics. Hit 'em straight! R2

Amos's picture

Submitted by Amos (not verified) on

Brmeam:

Yes -- nice to see that Ricky Fowler does not have a monopoly on ORANGE ! lol

Amos

Dick Lee's picture

Submitted by Dick Lee (not verified) on

Well, I could have the guy who runs the driving range, who was there at the time, write you a letter. But I won't.

What makes no sense is why would I make that up.

And, just so you know, you didn't alienate me. I don't know who you are because you are hiding behind the "anonymous" sign on. I don't value your opinion enough for you to hurt my feelings.

I also said that I would give the Surge Nation updates as the situation developed.

Give it some more thought and see if you can figure out what I would have to gain by making the incident up. It might be reason for suspicion if I were asking for donations for him. Actually, it wouldn't. Cause if I were I would be posting his personal information.

Find yourself a hobby or a part time job so you don't have so much time on your hands, cause this thinking thing is not working out well for you.

And lastly, you don't know me well enough to call me a liar.

Keeping it vertical, and sticking to my story, in Oklahoma,
Dick

T Medley's picture

Submitted by T Medley (not verified) on

Strange cultural/location differences. In my group of family and friends, A bippy has always been a babies pacifier, as in where is their bippy, especially wanted while they're crying.

Robert Thompson's picture

Submitted by Robert Thompson (not verified) on

Rowan and Martin's Laugh In. Who could ever forget the Fickle Finger of Fate?

Bob

Bkelso52's picture

Submitted by Bkelso52 (not verified) on

That's an excellent point. I hate to say that the fix for anything is buying another tool...but swinging with a "Swingrite" sure can help with timing the release. I know it's really helped me. I've taken it out to the range and set it up pretty loose to warm up and then progressively tighten it up and then hit some balls. The release is automatic then.

BrianF's picture

Submitted by BrianF (not verified) on

You were quite right in recognising that you risked alienating many regular followers of this site. With this post, you most certainly have.

What surprises me, since your words suggest that you too are a regular reader, is that you could think that Dick was not truthful in his post.

Having been a regular reader since joining last year, but not posting until recently, I have gained the distinct impression that he (like most others on this site) is a person in whom I could place my trust unquestionably.

Please take the time to re-examine the site in general, and the post in question, again and ask yourself if you have perhaps made a mistake.

And then be good, and big enough, to withdraw your adverse comments.

Cheers.

Dick Lee's picture

Submitted by Dick Lee (not verified) on

Steve

At least I know where to go and hide if I am in your neck of the woods when the fecal matter strikes the ventilation system.

No shelter here. I just moved up here last July. Our lease on the apartment ends in July. We are going to get into a home then. Hope we find one we love with a shelter.

That thinking thing has got me in trouble a bunch of times. I try real hard not to do it any more than I have to. Neighbors always love to see what we are up to. It gives them something to talk about.

Good luck tomorrow. Let us know how it goes.

Dick

Robert F's picture

Submitted by Robert F (not verified) on

I like the drill that Coach Joe gave to Mike a while back about sticking an alignment stick in the ground about a club length in front of your front foot and tilted from the toe line back at a slight angle. It forces you to lift the club after impact or you hit the stick. Maybe Surge will let Joe do a demonstration video for us of the drill.

Brmeam's picture

Submitted by Brmeam (not verified) on

all,
DJ is featured on the morning movers video on the PGA leader board web page. That sure is a very colorful outfit DJ is sporting today. If he keeps playing like this this may be his new look. Of course practice and dedication may have something to do with it as well. Win this thing DJ!!

Ron Flesch's picture

Submitted by Ron Flesch (not verified) on

Thank you Don for the drill,
All of your videos made a difference in
my golf results last year specialy in stratening
the drives and ferways with your guidance i'm
hoping to improve again this year.
happy Easter and thank's again.

Ron

dgaines's picture

Submitted by dgaines on

Bob,
Where is that term (You bet your sweet bippy!) from.
Only heard that from my Dad.

I'm a little young to remember much of Rowan & Martin but Goodnight Dick was one of their staples.

Dan

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

I absolutely did dig the shelter, by hand. It didn't seem like a hole that size would be too bad to dig but I didn't expect to hit rock like I did. Those last two feet were a chore. Wore out two shovels and two picks.
The neighbors really were funny peeking over the side every now and then to watch.
It's a nice shelter now though. We just sleep down there when the weather is really bad.

P.S. We don't do things like that around here either. Only me! LOL I also built a 40' by 60' barn with no electricity or gas powered saws. All boards and beams sawed by hand saw.

Keith GB's picture

Submitted by Keith GB on

If the story is true or not is irrelevant, what is, is that it has got the reader thinking about it.
Why has a young man lost a limb, what pain in mind and body is he going through, what can we do to stop this happening to others, what can be done to help him and others like him.etc. etc.

JanetM's picture

Submitted by JanetM (not verified) on

Bob! I'm impressed! Yes! Very good!

You and I are obviously in very close time zones. We're still up and everyone else is gone for the night. I'm outta here soon because I have to be prepared to kick some Sicilian backside on the course tomorrow. You're what, an hour behind me?

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

Hey Dick,
That grilled shrimp was great! Last week she brought over some shrimp and grits and boiled shrimp for us. She said they were going to throw it away if we didn't want it. I told her to NEVER throw shrimp away and I would eat any that they didn't want.
Better neighbors than that can't be found.

Kchristi's picture

Submitted by Kchristi (not verified) on

I agree with you. I do not have a lot of free time, trying to review the Surges Video lessons that I bought, the new tips in magazine, other sites/sources, and then to spend a half hour sifting out the social blogs. My wife calls me to dinner, says I have been on the computer an hour! Time passes but not efficiently. Getting fitted was the last good thing I did, now to dial in my clubs' for range.

JanetM's picture

Submitted by JanetM (not verified) on

Plus I forgot to mention that my homeowners association would have my a$$ on a platter if I dug a 16 x 10 foot hole. Haha.

Keith Kent's picture

Submitted by Keith Kent (not verified) on

I don't think I have felt a proper swing yet lol! so don't know what the feeling is like. I am seriously at a point where I can work on the hip movement in the back/ down swings and getting the club inside as the grip & set up etc are now just happening so are not in my thoughts as much. I hope it clicks soon as it is killing my game and enthusiasm sometimes, I hit a right banana drive yesterday in serious rough and lost the ball, so teed up again and hit the same banana drive! It was so disheartening..............

WK's picture

Submitted by WK (not verified) on

Yes no one should be allowed to post anonymously here. You never know what kind of crazy comments you'll get.

Pages