Friday 13th January 2017.
At address, the left arm needs to be straight and ideally, in line with the shaft. Having the left arm and club in a straight line at the address sets the distance you are from the ball with whatever club you are using. Think for a few moments what would happen if you addressed the ball with your left arm bent and then you hit the ball with your left arm straight. The answer is the club head will move nearer to the ball and the ball will be hit towards the heel.
The ball is just under two inches in size (1.68″) and the clubhead is approximately three inches wide. If you address the ball in the centre of the club head with your left arm only slightly bent and your left arm is straight at impact the club head has only to move one inch closer to the ball and a shank (ball hit in the hosel) will be the result.
One of my recent lessons had her left arm bent by 40 degrees at address making good and consistent contact with the ball almost impossible. I could give the lady concerned a written guarantee that if she addressed the ball with a straight left arm she would improve straightaway. Take a look at any photograph of the world’s best golfer to date, Jack Nicklaus and you will see that his left arm and club are in line with every club except his putter.
Use a mirror or a camera or a patio door and check that your left arm is dead straight and in line with the shaft when you address the ball.
It works – try it.
CONCLUSION.
Set the distance from the ball with your left arm and club for greater consistency.
See Teaching Video 39.
