Introduction

golf swing elbows together drills for more control and accuracy is the single phrase you should read first if you want fewer misses, tighter dispersion, and more consistent ball striking. When the elbows work together through the takeaway and downlift, you reduce face manipulation, square the club more reliably at impact, and limit lateral misses that cost shots.

This article explains what the elbows-together concept is, why it produces better control and accuracy, and exactly how to practice it with drills you can do in 10 to 30 minutes per session. You will get measured practice progressions, a sample 8-week timeline, product and pricing options for launch monitors and training aids, a short checklist to use on the range, and a common-mistakes section so you avoid wasted reps.

Targeted practice with clear feedback is the fastest route to lower scores. Use the drills here with a launch monitor or simple video feedback to track tighter shot dispersion and improved impact location over time.

Golf Swing Elbows Together Drills for More Control and Accuracy

What this phrase means in practical terms: keep the lead elbow working toward the trail elbow during the takeaway and through transition, maintain connection during the backswing, and drive the elbows to work in tandem through impact. The following sections cover the concept, why it changes shot outcomes, step-by-step drills, a practice timeline, equipment options with pricing, and ways to measure progress.

What the Elbows-Together Principle is and Why It Matters

The elbows-together principle means maintaining a relative connection or synchronized movement between your lead elbow (left elbow for right-handed players) and your trail elbow through the swing. It is not about jamming them together unnaturally, but about preserving a consistent relationship that prevents early wrist collapse, excessive arm separation, and an inconsistent swing plane.

Why this principle matters for control:

It reduces independent arm manipulation that creates face rotation and variability at impact.
It stabilizes the radius of the swing arc, making strike location on the clubface more repeatable.
It reduces the tendency to cast or scoop, which changes launch angle and spin.

Why it matters for accuracy:

Tighter elbow connection produces a narrower dispersion pattern. Expect a reduction in lateral dispersion by 10 to 30 percent after consistent practice for most golfers.
It promotes a more predictable clubface path through impact, leading to fewer miss-hits and less dramatic shot shapes (fades or hooks).

Performance numbers and expectations:

For a mid-handicap player (handicap 12-18), aim for a 20-30 yard reduction in offline dispersion over 8 weeks if practicing 3 times per week with launch monitor feedback.
For shot-to-shot feedback, measure ball dispersion (yards left/right) and contact (heel vs toe) before and after an 8-week block; track improvements in median offline distance and standard deviation of carry.

Examples from tour-level mechanics:

Many professionals emphasize synchronous arm and body movement to control the face. When Jon Rahm or Rory McIlroy uses a compact arm fold, the elbows work in harmony with the torso, producing repeatable impact.
At amateur level, a common corrective cue from coaches is “wrap the elbows around the chest” during the takeaway and “keep the elbows connected” through transition to limit early release.

Practical takeaway: The lemons of inconsistent strikes and wild misses often come from arms acting independently. The elbows-together principle defines a simpler coordinate system for the upper body and arms, and the drills below show how to train that system.

How to Practice:

core drills and progressions (with numbers and reps)

Overview: Use a progression that moves from slow, connection-focused drills to full-speed, feedback-rich practice. Each drill includes reps, session timing, and measurable goals.

Towel Under the Arms Drill

Purpose: Create feel for connection without gripping the club.
Setup: Place a small towel or headcover under both armpits and shorten your grip so the club sits lightly in your hands.
Reps: 3 sets of 10 slow backswing-to-impact movements, then 2 sets of 15 half-swings. Total time: 10 minutes.
Goal: Keep towel from falling during the backswing and through a controlled follow-through. Aim to keep the towel stationary for 90 percent of reps by week 2.

Alignment Rod Between Elbows Drill

Purpose: Force elbows to track together and maintain an inside path.
Setup: Use a single alignment rod or broom handle resting along the inside of both forearms near the elbows. Make half-swings focusing on keeping the rod in place.
Reps: 4 sets of 12 half-swings, then 3 sets of 8 three-quarter swings. Total time: 15 minutes.
Goal: No rod contact breaks for 80 percent of reps by week 3.

Split-Grip Gate Drill

Purpose: Teach proper clubface control with compact elbow action.
Setup: Grip the club normally but move hands 4-6 inches apart (split grip) and place an object 6 inches in front of the ball to serve as a gate for the clubhead to pass cleanly.
Reps: 5 sets of 10 swings (focus on feeling elbows working together through the gate).
Goal: Clean gate passes with consistent ball contact in 70 percent of swings by week 4.

Impact Bag / Wall Drill

Purpose: Feel a squarer, connected impact with elbows moving toward each other.
Setup: Use an impact bag, heavy pillow, or soft target at mid-chest height. Make slow 75 percent swings and strike the bag, noting elbow compression.
Reps: 6 sets of 6 compressions focusing on synchronized elbow collapse and forward shaft lean.
Goal: Solid compressions with minimal wrist dominance in 80 percent of reps by week 5.

Video Slow-Motion and Launch Monitor

Purpose: Capture baseline numbers and improvements.
Setup: Use a phone on a tripod or a launch monitor. Record from down-the-line and face-on.
Reps: 20 tracked swings at each session; log offline dispersion and launch angle.
Goal: Reduce offline dispersion and improve centered contact percentage by tracking numbers weekly.

Progression guidelines

Week 1-2: Focus on towel and alignment rod drills, 3 sessions per week, 20 minutes each.
Week 3-4: Introduce split-grip gate and impact bag, maintain rod drill, 3 sessions per week, 30 minutes.
Week 5-8: Integrate full swings with launch monitor feedback, perform controlled tempo swings (3:1 ratio of backswing to downswing speed), 3-4 sessions per week, 30-45 minutes per session.
Rep targets: 200-400 purposeful swings per week focusing on quality over quantity.

Numbers to measure

Percentage of centered contact (use launch monitor): Seek 10-20 percent improvement in 8 weeks.
Offline dispersion (yards left/right at carry): Target a 15-30 percent reduction in standard deviation.
Ball speed consistency: Aim for less than 2 percent variation session-to-session for mid-iron shots.

When and Where to Use These Drills in Your Routine

Use these drills in blocks rather than sprinkling them randomly. Dedicated blocks create motor learning and measurable progress.

Practice structure example (per week)

Day 1: Range session focused on drills (30 minutes). Warm-up, 3 sets of towel/alignment rod, split grip, 20 tracked swings.
Day 2: Short-game and putting session (30 minutes). Practice scoring shots to transfer control to short game.
Day 3: On-course simulation or net session with full swings and launch monitor (45 minutes). Track dispersion and shot shape.
Day 4: Light range/refinement session (20 minutes). Mirror checks, one-handed swings (lead hand) for feel.

On-course application

Use the elbows-together feel when hitting approach shots under pressure. Shorter, connected moves reduce variables.
Use the split-grip feeling on par-3 tee shots during the first round after a drill block to test transfer. Limit to 6-8 shots to avoid overthinking.

When to prioritize other work

Do not use elbows together as your only fix if you have severe postural or lower-body issues. Pair with posture and rotation work.
If you have pain in the lead shoulder, consult a coach or medical professional before forcing elbow compression.

Practical examples with timelines

Novice player: 8-week plan with 3 sessions/week; expect measurable improvement in weeks 4-8.
Intermediate player: 6-week focused block with two launch-monitor benchmark sessions, adjust drills for club-specific feel.
Advanced player: Integrate 1-2 maintenance sessions per week and monitor shot dispersion with TrackMan or FlightScope numbers.

Tools and Resources

Essential low-cost items

Alignment rods (2 pack): $10 to $20 from Amazon or golf stores.
Small towel or headcover: <$5.
Impact bag or heavy pillow: $30 to $80. Brands: FlightScope has practice bags; generic option from Amazon.

Mid-range training aids and tech

Orange Whip Trainer: $60 to $90. Good for tempo and connection.
SKLZ Gold Flex (or replacement): $60 to $80. Promotes synchronized arm-body motion.
Tour Striker Training Aid: $40 to $70. Helps with impact feel and elbow lead position.

Launch monitors and mobile devices

Garmin Approach R10: $600 to $700 (portable launch monitor). Good entry-level ball and club data.
Mevo+ by FlightScope: $2,000 to $2,500. Mid-tier with spin and shot-tracking.
Rapsodo Mobile Launch Monitor: $1,500 to $2,000. Strong for on-course and indoor use.
TrackMan: $19,000 to $25,000 for the gold-standard device. Clubs and facilities typically purchase TrackMan for elite-level feedback.

Video and analysis tools

Hudl Technique (free/paid tiers): Mobile app for slow-motion video and side-by-side comparison. Free basic features.
V1 Golf: $60 to $120 per year for advanced video analysis and coach features.

Coaching and lessons

Local PGA professional: $80 to $200 per lesson depending on region.
Remote coaching platforms: CoachNow, Swing Catalyst, and Toptracer shots. Pricing varies; many coaches offer packages from $200 to $1,000.

Budget sample setups

Budget setup: Alignment rods ($15), towel ($5), impact bag ($40), phone tripod ($20) = ~$80.
Mid-range setup: Add Orange Whip ($75) and Garmin Approach R10 ($650) = ~$825.
High-end setup: FlightScope Mevo+ ($2,200) and coach package (six lessons at $120) = ~$2,920.

Recommendations

For measurable improvement, pair drills with at least an entry-level launch monitor (Garmin R10 or Mevo) or weekly video capture.
Book a 60-minute session with a PGA coach every 3-4 weeks for mechanic checks and to ensure transfer to the course.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Forcing elbows together too tightly

Problem: Over-pressuring elbows creates tension, blocks rotation, and reduces clubhead speed.
Fix: Use a towel under the arms rather than clamping; aim for connection, not compression. Allow the torso to rotate freely.

Ignoring lower body sequencing

Problem: Keeping elbows connected but failing to sequence the lower body results in poor power transfer and compensatory arm moves.
Fix: Pair elbow drills with lower-body timing drills like step-through swings or left-side stability work. Feel the hips lead the downswing while the elbows maintain connection.

Practicing only slow drills and not testing at full speed

Problem: Drills that feel good slow may break down under speed or pressure.
Fix: Progress from slow to three-quarter to full swings, and test with a launch monitor or on-course shots. Maintain 70-80 percent of the drill feel at full speed.

Not tracking measurable progress

Problem: Subjective sensations can be misleading; you may think the connection improved when it has not.
Fix: Use metrics like centered-contact percentage, offline dispersion, or a simple video comparison every two weeks.

Overworking the same drill in a single session

Problem: Doing 500 reps of the same drill in one session leads to fatigue and bad habits.
Fix: Limit to 200-400 purposeful swings per week spread across 3-4 sessions. Prioritize quality and rest.

FAQ

How Long Before I See Improvement with Elbows Together Drills?

Most golfers see a noticeable feel change in 1 to 2 weeks with consistent practice, and measurable ball flight improvements in 4 to 8 weeks when doing 3 sessions per week.

Will Elbows Together Make My Swing Slower?

If you clamp elbows tightly, it can reduce speed. Done correctly, elbows together improve efficiency and often maintain or slightly increase clubhead speed because of better sequencing.

Can These Drills Help My Driver Accuracy?

Yes. The same connection that tightens mid-iron dispersion also helps driver control. Expect larger absolute improvements with irons first, then transfer to driver over 4 to 6 weeks.

Should I Use a Coach to Learn These Drills?

A coach is helpful to ensure proper mechanics and prevent compensation. Use video or a coach for the first 2 to 4 sessions, then self-monitor with a launch monitor or video.

Is This Suitable for Seniors or Players with Shoulder Issues?

Proceed cautiously. If you have shoulder pain, consult a medical professional or teach with a coach who can offer pain-free variations. Use lighter swing speeds and more half-swings.

How Do I Measure Success?

Track centered-contact percentage, offline dispersion (yards left/right), and standard deviation of carry over time. Aim for a 10-30 percent reduction in dispersion and a 10-20 percent increase in centered strikes in an 8-week block.

Next Steps

Start a two-week baseline: Record 25 tracked swings on a launch monitor or video to log current dispersion and centered contact.
Follow the 8-week progression: Use the towel, alignment rod, split-grip, and impact bag progression, practicing 3 sessions per week with rep goals listed earlier.
Add objective feedback: Use a Garmin Approach R10 or a phone slow-motion app and repeat the tracked 25 swings every two weeks to monitor improvement.
Schedule a coach check: Book a 60-minute lesson with a PGA coach at week 4 to validate mechanics and ensure transfer to the course.

Checklist for your first session

Alignment rods: 2
Small towel or headcover
Impact bag or pillow
Phone on tripod for down-the-line video
Launch monitor or app if available
Practice goals: 200 purposeful swings total across the week

Timeline summary (8 weeks)

Weeks 1-2: Establish feel (towel, rod), log baseline numbers.
Weeks 3-4: Add split-grip and impact bag, start tracked full swings.
Weeks 5-6: Increase speed, maintain feel, reduce dispersion by target percent.
Weeks 7-8: Integrate on-course practice and coach check, finalize transfer to competitive play.

Golf Swing Elbows Together Drills for More Control And