Right forearm question

[ChrisNZ]

What is the role of the right arm in the standard left arm swing? Does it have a ‘passive pushing’ role at impact or perhaps a role in increasing effective mass? If not, what is the point of having a right arm for swinging at all (not talking Tomasello here by the way!)

It seems to me the right arm could be passive up to impact and then resist impact deceleration. When the ball is hit the club decelerates. If the right arm has kept up with the pulling left arm, then can’t it contribute to lessening impact deceleration? In effect the right forearm serving as a strut through which the weight of the body gets ‘behind’ the club to resist impact deceleration.

I’m not making myself very clear, but have really been feeling what an aligned right forearm feels like at impact recently (very fantastic!), however I wonder if the feeling I’m having – the support of the right forearm behind the shot which makes me feel like my pivot is pushing from my right side through my forearm through impact - is compatible with swinging – or whether I’m hitting/switting.

Chris

[Mike O]

I’m not making myself very clear, but have really been feeling what an aligned right forearm feels like at impact recently (very fantastic!), however I wonder if the feeling I’m having – the support of the right forearm behind the shot which makes me feel like my pivot is pushing from my right side through my forearm through impact - is compatible with swinging – or whether I’m hitting/switting.

Chris

Chris,
I'd say that there is nothing wrong with your description above - certainly nothing that wouldn't allow it to be a swing. Sounds like a nice description of the golf swing.

In contrast- and to comment on your first couple of paragraphs in your original post- passive doesn't mean that you shouldn't feel the right arm, etc, etc.- in fact it's really a relative term - passive (reactive) versus active. Another way to look at it is if you thrust with the right arm when you're hitting- that's probably clear and you know the feeling. Then anything that is not thrusting would be passive and would not be radial acceleration i.e. is not hitting. Not a good post on my part in regards to the forum- too much vagueness too many holes to attack- but on a one on one conversation in person- within that context- and assuming that i've read your dilemma properly- then it's pretty close i.e. might be the right answer at the right time.

[ChrisNZ]

Thanks Mike,

That does make sense. I guess I'm just looking for validation of what I'm doing, but it feels so right!!!! The key for me has been to allow my right elbow to get out away from my body a bit through impact - you read a lot about the magic move of dropping the elbow to your side, and tucking your elbow in on the downswing, but I 'm finding much better support from my forearm if I let my elbow come out (and almost across) through impact.

The nice thing about this, apart from the feeling of getting right behind the shaft, is that the club is squaring up through my pivot and arms, so my hands feel very passive. I suppose they just don't need to flip. Alignment golf rules.

Chris

[12 piece bucket]

Chris,
I'd say that there is nothing wrong with your description above - certainly nothing that wouldn't allow it to be a swing. Sounds like a nice description of the golf swing.

In contrast- and to comment on your first couple of paragraphs in your original post- passive doesn't mean that you shouldn't feel the right arm, etc, etc.- in fact it's really a relative term - passive (reactive) versus active. Another way to look at it is if you thrust with the right arm when you're hitting- that's probably clear and you know the feeling. Then anything that is not thrusting would be passive and would not be radial acceleration i.e. is not hitting. Not a good post on my part in regards to the forum- too much vagueness too many holes to attack- but on a one on one conversation in person- within that context- and assuming that i've read your dilemma properly- then it's pretty close i.e. might be the right answer at the right time.

WARNING!!!!! NO ONE ON ONE's with MIKE O . . . . He'll slip you a roofie and chop your head off and drink Ovalteen from your skull cap.

[Mike O]

WARNING!!!!! NO ONE ON ONE's with MIKE O . . . . He'll slip you a roofie and chop your head off and drink Ovalteen from your skull cap.

Everyone understands that Bucket hasn't left his house (and probably his sofa) in over 12 months. That's about the time when I threatned to add one more (bucket) head to my fridge!

Chris, just realize that none of the "feels" will stay around but the alignments will- so while it's thrilling to hit great, powerful shots- and the feelings that go along the way are usually mesmerizing, exciting- but those will fade. So stay focused on the alignments that your accomplishing - maintain those and let the feels change over time.

[12 piece bucket]

Everyone understands that Bucket hasn't left his house (and probably his sofa) in over 12 months. That's about the time when I threatned to add one more (bucket) head to my fridge!

Chris, just realize that none of the "feels" will stay around but the alignments will- so while it's thrilling to hit great, powerful shots- and the feelings that go along the way are usually mesmerizing, exciting- but those will fade. So stay focused on the alignments that your accomplishing - maintain those and let the feels change over time.

Heck ever since I put in that mini-fridge and cut the hole in my couch . . . what's the point of moving off it???

On a serious note . . . Chris what Mike O has just told you in a very short concise paragraph is more important to your game and changing your swing than you will ever know. Mike knows what he's talking about in a big way . . . listen up.

But . . .

He's still a freakin' PSYCHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

[Mike O]

Heck ever since I put in that mini-fridge and cut the hole in my couch . . . what's the point of moving off it???

On a serious note . . . Chris what Mike O has just told you in a very short concise paragraph is more important to your game and changing your swing than you will ever know. Mike knows what he's talking about in a big way . . . listen up.

But . . .

He's still a freakin' PSYCHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

There is never enough "Ovalteen" in the world- especially when you really need it!! P.S. If it wasn't for the occasional swimsuit photo's that you post here- you would have been in the fridge long ago! I've got 2950 forum members PM'ing me daily in regards to why I have not finished the job! Oh! How's the sofa feeling?