I can't keep my lead arm completely straight like Tom's in the fully extended backswing that's fundamental to increasing swing speed and thus distance. Is it OK to have some bend in that arm? Some instructors will tolerate this. I'm short and have a small frame so need to take advantage of all the power leverages possible in the swing
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Welcome to this great forum community, @shackle-osmosis.0u!!
I would tolerate a slight bend in the lead arm if it's simply a result of keeping tension out of that arm.
The key here is get to – but not go beyond - your body's natural stopping point in the backswing where the tilting, turning, and extending motions are complete, the lead arm has crossed the chest 45 degrees, and the wrists are properly set (preferably with a flat or slightly bowed lead wrist). This is the point where if we were to try to go any further any or all of the following will occur:
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
We don't need to try to get to "parallel" with this swing, and fighting your body in an attempt to do so will result in some combination of the above issues. If you execute this swing properly you will have created width and plenty of distance for that club to travel by taking it in deep, and that will enable you to harness the tremendous power source known as "angular momentum".
Tom