So I’m laid off on my backswing and still can’t keep my !#%* lead arm straight. I’ve already started watching the laid off fix video on the school website. My question is: Are these two related. Does being laid off cause your lead arm to break down? (Mike Bennett on the bottom for comparison)
Yes indeed!!
@Tom Saguto @Nocona Colt Abernathy WOW! This really illustrates what you’re talking about. I see it now. 😯
@Buford T Ogletree - @Nocona Colt Abernathy is spot on in his analysis. Remember the list I sent you recently of what happens when we go past our body's natural stopping point? Here it is again so you don't have to go find it:
1) the lead arm will bend and/or lift
2) the wrists will break down
3) the lead knee will kick inward towards the trail side
4) the lead shoulder will level out and lose its orientation towards the ball
5) weight will shift into the trail side and bring the low point back with it, resulting in inconsistent contact and unpredictable ball flight.
6) you'll "chicken wing" and/or flip through impact
7) pain, discomfort, and/or possible injury
I'm thinking based on your still photo that you may be able to check a few of those boxes. If you retain your relationship to the ball and allow the backswing to stop when it should, you'll keep your tilt (i.e.: the shoulders and hips will maintain their inclined orientation instead of flattening out), your head will stay in place, your swing center and low point won't shift, and you'll be in a much better position to attack the ball powerfully from the inside.
@Buford T Ogletree - The reason you laid off (or FLAT) at the top is because you have leveled off your shoulders (You don't have enough tilt). This is causing an over rotation. Look at the difference between Mike's lead shoulder height and his trail shoulder.
I think it's a common issue to lose the tilt BECAUSE you're not letting your body dictate the length of the backswing. Remember, at the TRUE top of the backswing, the angle between your lead arm and your shoulder line is 45 degrees. The reason I bring this up is a lot of people watch pros and what they think is the top of the backswing is actually the start of the downswing when momentum pulls the arm closer momentarily.
As far as fixing this, hopefully you'll get something from Tom's videos. I personally had to deal with this issue as well, and my fix involved training the trail shoulder not to bend past 90 degrees, which can bend the left arm.