during yesterday's broadcast, faldo said (i think)......

ktbfsu · April 20, 2009

that allowing your right elbow to fly a little allows you to draw it.....and keeping it tucked promotes a left to right ball flight. he said this in response to the swingvision clip of davis love's swing. did i understand him correctly? what i found surprising is golf's most famous flying right elbow is attached to a guy - jack nicklaus - who predominantly faded it. and doesn't freddy's elbow fly too? he's certainly a left to righter. any thoughts? maybe i misunderstood.

yoonie · April 20, 2009

Eh, a lot of the things Faldo says about the swing are a bit iffy. Players with high hands who get across the line (like DL3) do tend to drop the club inside in the transition. Fred plays a push fade from what I hear- attacking from the inside and holding off the release. Jack Nicklaus I've heard comes slightly OTT, though I haven't examined enough video myself to say, but I know for sure that he opened the clubface at address to play his bread and butter fade- I also don't think he really got that far across the line.

ktbfsu · April 20, 2009

i agree, yoonie, about the "iffiness" of some of the things faldo says with remarkable conviction......same goes for johnny miller. faldo was a very technical player.....i do enjoy his insights about cause and effect in the golf swing. so, assuming an otherwise standard, quality golf swing, does tucking the right elbow tend to produce a left to right ball flight......and does allowing it to fly help one work the egg from right to left?

yoonie · April 20, 2009

I don't think either of these can really be generalized- it depends a lot on the way they pivot, their grip, and their release.

However, if you get a bit more specific, an orthodox swing (circa 1990-200 maybe) with a flying right elbow and the shaft across the line will generally start with a hip shift to drop the club. Due to the position across the line, the club will drop way in side as the elbow tucks, which can cause a draw. However, since a lot of players who hit too far from the inside have trouble hooking, many will play a held off push fade, a la couples.