Leadbetter's Images - Brief Article

Golf Digest, Feb, 2000 by David Leadbetter, Scott Smith

How to widen your swing arc

A lot of golfers "tuck" their right elbow and get very narrow on the backswing. Such a move can cause numerous swing faults, including an outside-in path on the downswing path, which obviously will decrease accuracy and power.

Start the mower to start the swing

To create width in the backswing, the right arm needs freedom to move back and up into the proper position at the top.

Think of how you fire up a lawn mower: Without any thought you simply draw the cord back with a free-flowing motion that begins with the right hand, then the right elbow, followed by the right shoulder. This image helps you synchronize your body action with your arm movement in your golf swing.

Check in a mirror to see that freeing your right arm helps position the left arm and club on a good plane at the top. Thinking of the lawn- mower move will add coil and stretch to your backswing, providing more power as well as a downswing path from the inside-"cutting" shots off your scores.