Top of the swing arm position

Question

proper way  

the best i can do   Hi Michael,

Thank you for making yourself available to us amateur golfers. Great help.

I am 39 years old, with average flexibility. I have taken many lessons from pros in the last 2 years. I am having difficulty with one thing right now and would like your opinion before i go take another lesson.

I was taught the Ben Hogan way. I have some of the fundamentals down (grip, stance at address, etc..) but at the top of my backswing, i can't get the club at parallel to the ground like in the attached pic #1. It seems i am not flexible enough.

I bring my shoulder at 90 to the target, but when i do this, in order to keep my right arm straight, my club at 90 with my right forearm, and my left arm in the proper position ( i am a lefty), i cannot go past a 2/3 swing like in the pic #2.  

If i want to make it parallel, i have to turn my shoulders past 90 degrees, break my grip and bend my right arm. But then i can't see my ball anymore because my shoulder pushes my chin up a bit too much.

So my questions are:

1. Is a club at parallel only achievable when you are younger and more flexible?
2. How important is it?
3. Any tips, exercises, etc on how to achieve this?

Thank you

Answer
Stephane,

The answer to your questions.

1) No not at all. Flexibility is certainly important and you seem to have plenty.

2) Somewhat important as long as you achieve it properly.

3) I would suggest that you lift your chin higher so your shoulder can travel a little further without affecting the chin. This alone may be the fix. If not, try holding the club a little softer so you have some more wrist hinge.

Your position look good, so try the two things suggested and let me know how it helps.