A flying elbow is one of the most common backswing faults in golf, and left unchecked it can trigger a slice, inconsistent contact, and a swing full of compensations. In this guide you’ll learn exactly what a flying elbow is, why it causes problems, the root causes behind it, and the step-by-step fixes and drills that keep your trail elbow connected and your swing on plane.
What Is a Flying Elbow in Golf?
A “flying elbow” describes a trail elbow (the right elbow for a right-handed golfer) that lifts and separates from the body at the top of the backswing, pointing out and behind you rather than down toward the ground. In a connected swing, the trail elbow stays in front of the torso and folds to roughly 90 degrees, with the upper arm close to the rib cage. When it flies, the arm and club disconnect from the rotation of your body, and the club often drifts “across the line”—pointing right of the target at the top. Understanding the role of the trail arm in the golf swing is the first step to diagnosing the fault.
Why a Flying Elbow Hurts Your Game
A flying elbow is not an automatic swing-killer—but it demands precise timing to play well, which most amateurs do not have. Here is why it causes trouble:
- Steep, over-the-top downswing: a disconnected arm tends to drop onto a steep path, throwing the club outside the ideal plane and producing pulls and slices.
- Across-the-line position: the club points right of target at the top, requiring a loop or rerouting to square the face.
- Inconsistent contact: because the arm and body are out of sync, low-point control suffers, leading to fat and thin strikes.
- Lost power: when the arms work independently of body rotation, you leak the stored energy a connected swing delivers at impact.
What Causes a Flying Elbow?
Overswinging
Trying to make a huge backswing for more distance is the leading cause. Once your shoulders stop turning, the only way to keep the club going back is to lift the arms—and the trail elbow flies to make room.
Poor Connection
If your arms and torso do not move as a unit, the trail arm can separate early in the takeaway. Building connection in the golf swing keeps the upper arm linked to the chest so the elbow cannot drift.
Limited Mobility
Tight shoulders or a restricted thoracic spine prevent a full body turn, so golfers compensate with their arms. If your rotation is limited, the arms will keep going even after the body stops.
Grip and Setup Issues
A weak grip or poor posture can encourage the trail arm to lift. Revisiting your grip, stance, and posture fundamentals removes these setup-driven triggers before you ever start the swing.
How to Fix a Flying Elbow: Step by Step
- Set a connected address. At setup, feel your upper arms resting lightly against your chest. This is the connection you want to preserve.
- Start with a one-piece takeaway. Move the club, hands, arms, and shoulders back together for the first few feet, keeping the trail arm quiet.
- Fold, don’t lift. As you reach waist height, let the trail elbow fold naturally to about 90 degrees while the upper arm stays in front of your torso, pointing more down than out.
- Stop when your shoulders stop. Let the length of your backswing be dictated by your body turn, not by how far you can hoist the arms.
- Check the top. At the top, the club should be parallel to the target line (not across it), with the trail elbow in front of the seam of your trail side.
- Rehearse in slow motion. Make slow backswings, pausing at the top to confirm the elbow position, before gradually adding speed.
Best Drills to Fix a Flying Elbow
The Headcover (or Towel) Drill
Tuck a headcover or small towel under your trail armpit and make slow backswings, keeping it pinned in place to the top. If it drops, your elbow is flying. This classic drill trains the feeling of a connected trail arm better than any verbal cue.
The Wall Drill
Stand with your trail side a few inches from a wall and make a backswing. If your trail elbow bumps the wall, it is drifting behind you. Learn to turn so the elbow folds in front of your body instead of swinging outward.
Half-Swing Checkpoints
Make half swings, stopping when your lead arm is parallel to the ground. Confirm the club shaft points at the target and the trail elbow points down. Groove this shorter position first, then lengthen the swing while keeping the same connection.
Is a Flying Elbow Always Bad?
Not necessarily. A handful of great players—most famously Jack Nicklaus and John Daly—produced world-class golf with a visibly flying trail elbow. The key is that they returned the club to a perfect position at impact through superb timing and sequencing. For the vast majority of golfers, however, the flying elbow adds a moving part that is difficult to time consistently. Unless you have the practice time of a touring professional, keeping the elbow connected is the more reliable path to repeatable ball-striking.
Common Mistakes When Fixing It
The biggest error is pinning the elbow so hard against the body that you restrict your turn and lose power—connection is a light feeling, not a vice grip. Another mistake is only shortening the backswing without addressing the body turn, which simply trades one fault for a cramped, armsy move. Finally, avoid chasing the fix at full speed; ingraining the new position with slow, deliberate reps is what makes it stick. Related faults such as the chicken wing and casting the club often improve once your trail arm works correctly.
How to Tell If Your Elbow Is Flying
The fastest way to diagnose a flying elbow is to film your swing from the “down-the-line” angle—behind you, looking toward the target. Pause the video at the top of the backswing and look at your trail elbow. If the upper arm has lifted so the elbow points out and up, away from your side, it is flying. In a connected swing the elbow points more toward the ground and stays roughly in front of your trail hip. A second clue is the club shaft at the top: if it points well right of your target (across the line), a flying elbow is usually the reason. You can also feel it in real time with the headcover drill described below—if the cover falls, your elbow has separated from your body.
A Simple Practice Plan to Groove the Fix
Lasting change comes from structured, repeatable practice rather than random range sessions. Try this three-step plan over two to three weeks:
- Week 1 – Feel: Hit 30–40 slow, half-speed shots per session with a headcover tucked under your trail armpit. Focus only on keeping it in place to the top. Speed is irrelevant here.
- Week 2 – Build: Remove the headcover and make three-quarter swings, checking your top position with video every few shots. Gradually increase speed as the connected feel becomes automatic.
- Week 3 – Transfer: Alternate between a rehearsal swing with the drill feel and a real shot at full speed. This “feel-then-real” pattern bridges the gap between the range and the course.
Keep sessions short and frequent—three 20-minute practices beat one marathon session for building a new motor pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which elbow flies in the golf swing?
The trail elbow—the right elbow for a right-handed golfer and the left elbow for a left-handed golfer. It flies when it lifts away from the body and points outward or behind you at the top of the backswing instead of down.
Does a flying elbow cause a slice?
Often, yes. A flying elbow tends to steepen the downswing and send the club over the top, which produces an out-to-in path—the classic recipe for a slice. Reconnecting the trail arm usually shallows the path and reduces the slice.
How long does it take to fix a flying elbow?
Many golfers feel a difference within a single range session using the headcover drill, but making the new position automatic on the course typically takes a few weeks of consistent, slow practice. Prioritize quality reps over quantity.
Can you play good golf with a flying elbow?
Yes, but it requires exceptional timing. Legends like Jack Nicklaus and John Daly proved it is possible by re-syncing the club perfectly at impact. For most amateurs without professional practice time, a connected trail elbow produces more consistent results with far less effort.
What is the difference between a flying elbow and a chicken wing?
They are different faults. A flying elbow is the trail elbow lifting away from the body during the backswing, while a chicken wing is the lead arm bending and breaking down through impact and into the follow-through. Each has its own causes and fixes, though improving connection often helps both.
Should beginners worry about a flying elbow?
Only if it is causing real problems such as slices or inconsistent strikes. Beginners should first lock in solid grip, stance, and posture; for many, a modest amount of trail-elbow movement disappears naturally once those fundamentals and body rotation improve.
Final Thoughts
Fixing a flying elbow comes down to one idea: let your body turn control your backswing, and keep the trail arm connected to your torso. Shorten the swing if you must, use the headcover drill to build the feeling, and rehearse slowly before adding speed. Do that consistently and you’ll trade a steep, slice-prone move for a more compact, powerful, and repeatable swing.
