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I've seen vids of pros on youtube have both arms straight shortly after impact so I thought I'd have a go at the range. I got good distance doing this with a half swing but couldnt keep my arms straight with a full swing. Are there any drills or exercises to help?

With my half swing I made a conscious effort to straighten my right after impact but i've heard the follow through was the result of a good downswing so I should not be doing that after impact?

I am not sure what you mean by keeping the arms straight. In JJ Henry's swing sequence he has both arms straight in frames 6 and 7, but they are folded in frame 8, so they don't stay straight forever.

If your right arm collapses (into a so-called chicken wing) before the position shown in frame 7, remember to turn your hips to the target. Look at the swing-sequence: At impact your hips should already be turned forward, and at the finish your belt-buckle should face the target. Turn those hips through!

The half swing is a good drill! Swing to the position shown in frame 7. Turn those hips! Get good at that, then expand it.

PS This is the dreaded chicken-wing position:



If that is your problem, Google chicken wing golf, and you will find lots of tips addressing it.

Right, but at the same time, the back arm isn't supposed to be perfectly straight at impact either. I've attached a really good photo demonstrating that.

Just be sure to note the difference between the chicken wing photo and the one I attached. The one I attached, the guy has his hips wide wide open just before impact.

To prove to yourself that a bend back arm is stronger than a straight one, take an old iron and put the head right up against something solid, like a door jam. Now, press forward on the grip end with the intended goal of flexing the shaft. Really work at trying to bend it (you probably won't really bend the shaft, but this is why I suggested an old club). Right in the middle of trying to flex the shaft, look back at your back arm. It's going to be bent.

Attached Images

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I can do 6 but cant get to position 7. My wrists will not be crossed over - they're overlapping and arms have already begun to fold but not like your chicken wing pic.

Breaking 100/90/80/70: Bobby Clampett: Instruction: golfdigest.com

Breaking 80: Bobby Clampett: Breaking 80: golfdigest.com

Breaking 90: Bobby Clampett: Breaking 90: golfdigest.com

That straight right arm is a result of what leads up to it...these are some ways to get there...

Went to the range yesterday, thinking I wasn't creating enough lag for the club to turn over and make arms straight. But I have been swinging a long time with passive arms so it was hard getting it right. In the end a gave that up and went back to my old swing but trying to keep the left arm straight after impact - it seemed to work! The right arm straightened and crossed over like it had no where else to go. But this seems contradictory to advice that follow through is result of downswing so I shouldn't be doing this?

"If it aint broke dont fix it..."

One thing that ought to be noted is that it is much easier to get full extension with the elbow "armpits" facing up rather than in as is the case with the swing sequence of JJ at the top...keeping the hollow point up rather than out encourages the correct action through body physiology (arms have no choice since they can't bend another way...)

that looks painful!

Well I hate to keep hitting on Ben Hogan's 5 Lessons, but he adresses this very subject and there is a secret to make it happen naturally which Ben mastered

Keep your arms close together throughout the swing, close to the body, and the elbows of both arms pointing at their respected hip pocket.

The most efficient use of the arms is to cause them to function as one unit. If you focus on the feel between the two inner forearms, elbows to wrists, and maintain that feel, the left arm will remain straight, not rigid, and the right arm will fold perfectly into power position. "Passive" is a bit misleading of a term. "Stable" may be more accurate. It takes a great deal of energy to maintain the triangle relationship.