A lot of Golf websites claim keeping the elbows together throughout the swing is the way to go.

How is this possible on the backswing when your left arm is straight and right elbow bent.

You have to be a contortionist to keep the elbows close as they were in the address position.

Yes it would seem a pretty silly idea.

Upsets the wedges. Flying wedges, that is.
I was just going through Ben Hogan’s 5 Lessons books the other day and there is a diagram which shows his forearms bound together to keep his elbows close together. I wonder if it’s another case of “do as I tell you and not as I do”?

Thanks. So what is the ideal position for the right arm and hand at top.

In the waiter position? – feels awkward
Knuckle of index finger on right hand visible?
Right thump pointing over shoulder, no knuckles visible?

What does it look like when you have your flashlights on plane?

Gotta

It’s been said heaps in this forum, but what you may be trying to achieve is what’s known as “position golf”. See golf mags and other popular press to see this spoken and pictures of pros discussed ad nauseum.

What is more important is to work on getting on plane. Your plane, and not someone else’s. That’s probably why the wise Guru here asked you to check your on-plane motion with the flashlights. Remember, it’s the alignment and being on plane that is the goal.

To answer your question specifically, I think the right arm will be in the classic waiter’s possie when the swing is flatter, whereas it would tend to be in the so called “flying right elbow” possie the steeper the swing. For the latter, see pics of Jack Nicklaus. I know he was criticised by the purists for having a flying right elbow but it’s perfectly aligned for his swing; with the right forearm being 90degrees and supporting his left arm flying wedge. I also believe Homer Kelley said of Fat Jack: “Why? he has the best right elbow in the business”. Food for thought I guess.

Numbers: you have been listening to your tutor and hearing what he is saying very well. Keep it up.

Guru

I have 1 maglite which is the same diameter of a grip. I tried your flashlight drill with it and it seems to work … but it only shines in one direction (derr!) so I test backswing then turn it around to test top of swing.

Does this work for your system or do you insist on 2 flashlights?

Having both working at the same time show you the context and flow of motion.

Gotta,
there are heaps of different perceptions of keeping the elbow together, ask yourself the question are they all talking about the same thing, one could mean elbow close rotated out, the other person could mean elbows close and rotated in.
Gotta I’m being a friend here, your becoming a train wreck reading to much information, master educated hands and impact first everything else with take care of its self,