AboutEddie Kilthau Expertise I am a PGA golf professional specializing in teaching the game.
Experience I played collegiately at Arizona State University, then turned professional in 1981. I became the shortest player to ever play in the United States Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pittsburgh & missed my PGA Tour card by 2 shots in 1986 at PGA West, La Quinta, California. I have been teaching for 26 years in Phoenix, Arizona & I am currently the Director of Instruction at the Vistal Club in Phoenix and owner of Victory Golfworks.
Business Administration, Arizona State University. PGA Business School I - 1986, PGA Business School II - 1992, PGA Advanced Business School III - 1995. Certified PING Clubfitter - 1999. PGA Teaching & Clubfitting Seminar - 1992. Numerous Southwest Section PGA educational seminars.
Expert: Eddie Kilthau Date: 7/4/2008 Subject: Golf swing
Question QUESTION: Hi Eddie, A friend took me a video doing my swing, (front view), In slow motion I notice that just after I hit the ball, my right arm is straight and continues that way, I think this is correct, but my left arm starts to bend by the elbow. As the swing continues, my left arm bends more and more and also the left wrist, like trying to lift up the ball. I also notice that the left arm is to close to my body. I have seen some pros swing videos and I know that I am not doing it in the correct way specifically just after hitting the ball. Could you please help me with some drills to correct this problem and try to explain me and/or give me the picture of the most important reasons of this cause? Thanks in advance for your help!
ANSWER: Hi Bernardo:
As you swing the club forward past impact, the right hand should be turning over the left hand, the right forearm should be rotating over the left forearm, the right arm would be fully extended for a split second and the left arm would be folding up to allow the club to swing up over your left shoulder. Everything you have described about your left arm should happen. What you'll see from Tour players is this. Just after impact, you'll notice BOTH arms fully extended before the left arm folds and allows them to make a finish up over their left shoulder. Keep in mind that both arms fully extended is something that happens faster than you can blink, it is not some position you can try to put yourself into. You can make slow motion swings without a ball and and put yourself in that position to feel it, but when you actually hit a ball, it just happens way to fast to worry about it. So I would hit some balls and try to create a little more extension with your arms past the ball, but after a while, it is what it is, allow your left arm to fold up so you can complete your golf swing over your left shoulder.
Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I think that I do that because probably I am trying to drive the club face square to much time long forward to the target, and in just a millisecond after the impact the head of the club overtakes or goes ahead the but of the grip, and in consequence my wrist bends. Do you think this is a possible issue?
Thanks Eddie for your help!
Answer Hi Bernardo:
Yes, exactly, but what you have to understand is how the hands work. The hands are releasing (turning the clubface over) the clubhead from approximately arm pit to arm pit. It is a continuous rotation throughout the golf swing. It is NOT a flipping type or twisting motion a millisecond after or before impact.....that is impossible. So keep swinging and keep using your hands to rotate the clubface throughout the entire swing. Those problems will disappear.
