Swing Mechanics

Golf Elbow Position: Trail Elbow Slot + Lead Arm Guide

Nobody talks about the elbows — until they start causing problems. A flying trail elbow kills your plane. A chicken-wing lead elbow kills your follow-through. Get both arms working correctly and the rest of the swing falls into place.

Where Each Elbow Should Be (Phase by Phase)

Phase	Lead Arm	Trail Arm
Address	Arm hangs naturally. Slight bend, not locked.	Points at the right hip. Relaxed flex.
Halfway back	Arm stays connected to the body.	Elbow starts to fold. Points toward the ground, not the sky.
Top of backswing	Arm across the chest. Stays as straight as flexibility allows.	Bent to ~90°. Pointed at or near the ground — NOT flying outward.
Transition / downswing	Arm pulls the club into the slot. Connects to the body.	Drops into the side (the "slot"). This is the key move that prevents over-the-top.
Impact	Arm is straight or nearly straight. Shaft leaning forward.	Stays close to the right hip. Extends toward the target just after impact.
Follow-through	Arm crosses over the trail arm. Both extend toward target.	Fully extended through impact. Releases past the lead arm in the finish.

The Trail Elbow Drop: What "Into the Slot" Means

The most important elbow move is the trail elbow dropping toward the hip at the start of the downswing. This is what players and coaches call "dropping into the slot." Without it, the trail shoulder comes forward over the top and the club cuts across the ball.

At the top

Trail elbow bent ~90°, pointed at or near the ground.

Start down

Trail elbow drops toward the right hip — the "slot."

Halfway down

Elbow close to the body; club approaches from inside.

Impact

Trail elbow close to right hip, extending through the ball.

How to Position Your Elbows in the Golf Swing

At address, let both arms hang naturally with a slight relaxed bend — never lock the elbows.

On the backswing, let the trail elbow fold to ~90° and point toward the ground, not flare outward.

At the top, check your trail elbow: it should be under your trail shoulder, not behind you.

Start the downswing by dropping the trail elbow toward your hip (the "slot") before anything else.

Through impact, keep the trail elbow close to the body and extend both arms toward the target.

4 Common Elbow Mistakes

Flying trail elbow (laid-off)

Affects: Trail elbow

Elbow points outward at the top instead of at the ground — flattens the swing plane and often causes a hook or snap hook.

Drill: keep a headcover tucked under your trail armpit through the backswing. If it falls, your elbow is flying.

Chicken wing (lead elbow)

Affects: Lead elbow

Lead elbow bends and flares outward through impact, limiting rotation and producing a slice or pull.

Keep the lead elbow pointing at the ground or slightly forward through impact. Extend both arms toward the target in the follow-through.

Over-the-top trail elbow dump

Affects: Trail elbow

Trail shoulder and elbow come forward (over) instead of down at transition — creates an outside-in path and a steep cut.

Feel the trail elbow "fall" toward the right hip at the start of the downswing, then drive through the ball.

Locked lead elbow (reverse)

Affects: Lead elbow

Hyper-extending the lead arm creates tension and limits the shoulder turn.

A slight, relaxed bend is fine. The arm should feel firm but never rigid or locked.

3 Drills for Better Elbow Position

Headcover under trail arm drill

Tuck a folded headcover or glove under your trail armpit.
Make a backswing. If the headcover drops before you are halfway back, your elbow is flying.
Keep it in place through the backswing, then let it go naturally as you swing through.
This grooves a connected, tucked trail elbow automatically.

Wall drill (trail elbow drop)

Stand an arm's length from a wall on your trail side.
Take your stance and make a backswing.
Start the downswing: your trail elbow must NOT touch the wall. If it does, you are coming over the top.
Practice the "elbow drops to hip" feeling until you can clear the wall every rep.

Towel lead-arm drill (chicken wing fix)

Put a folded towel under your lead armpit.
Make a slow swing. Keep the towel in place through impact and into the follow-through.
If it drops before the finish, your lead elbow is bending outward.
This forces the correct connected, rotating follow-through.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the correct trail elbow position at the top of the backswing?

The trail elbow should be bent to around 90° and pointed at or slightly toward the ground. It should not be flying outward (pointing behind you), which flattens the swing plane.

What causes a "chicken wing" in golf?

A chicken wing happens when the lead elbow bends and flares outward through impact instead of staying connected and extending toward the target. It reduces power, causes off-centre contact, and produces a weak pull or slice.

What does "dropping into the slot" mean?

Dropping into the slot means the trail elbow moves toward the hip (downward and inward) at the very start of the downswing. This keeps the club on an inside-out path for a draw and prevents the over-the-top move that causes slices.

Should my lead arm be straight in the backswing?

It should be as straight as your flexibility allows — but not forcibly locked. A slight natural bend is fine and actually reduces tension. The goal is a firm, connected arm, not a stiff, rigid one.

Why does a flying trail elbow cause a hook?

When the trail elbow flies outward at the top, it flattens the swing plane and approaches the ball too much from the inside. Combined with a closed face at impact, this produces a hook or snap hook.

How do I stop going over the top with my right arm?

Focus on the first move down. Instead of throwing the trail shoulder toward the ball, feel the trail elbow drop straight down toward your hip. The hips should start the move, not the arms.

Do pro golfers keep their trail elbow tucked?

Most do, but style varies. Ben Hogan was famous for an extreme "slot." Some modern players like Bubba Watson have a flying elbow but compensate with a specific face angle. For beginners, tucked is simpler and more forgiving.

What is the difference between a tucked elbow draw vs a flying elbow hook?

A tucked elbow creates a controlled inside-out path where the face can be square at impact — producing a draw. A flying elbow exaggerates the inside path unpredictably and often closes the face too early, producing a hook.

More swing guides: Golf Grip · Backswing · Downswing · Wrist Hinge · Hip Rotation · Shoulder Rotation · Follow-Through · Golf Elbow Position · Par for the Chaos Home