2-0 Is A Stationary Head Possible

[bray]

To Whom it May Concern,

In 2-0 it states "A precision Golf Stroke includes three Basic Essentials and three Basic Imperatives.
-A. The Three Basic Essentails are:
1. A stationary Head"

This is where we need to stop, according Websters Dictionary Stationary means-not moving, not capable of being moved, fixed.

I personally do not believe a "people-shaped golfer" can keep there head stationary. In fact Golf Digest did a study on the head movement in 1962 and found that from address to the top of the backswing the head moved about 2" to the right for the right handed golfer, and from address to impact the head moved about 3". This study was done on 31 American Tour Professionals hitting three drives each.

Can anyone clarify what Mr. Homer Kelly meant by a stationary head, and how it fits in with TGM?

If you think the head is stationary look at swing sequences b/c as a smart man once told me The Truth is in The Pictures.

Sorting Through the INSTRUCTORS TEXTBOOk

B-Ray

[jim_0068]

If you use a right forearm pickup it can stay put, if you use more of a shoulder turn takeaway the head will move slightly but the base of your neck should stay in the same place.

Let the debate begin

[Yoda]

I personally do not believe a "people-shaped golfer" can keep there head stationary. In fact Golf Digest did a study on the head movement in 1962 and found that from address to the top of the backswing the head moved about 2" to the right for the right handed golfer, and from address to impact the head moved about 3". This study was done on 31 American Tour Professionals hitting three drives each.

Can anyone clarify what Mr. Homer Kelly meant by a stationary head, and how it fits in with TGM?

The goal -- the ideal -- is indeed a Stationary Head. If it is not humanly possible to achieve it precisely, then as lttle movement as possible is the next best thing. Most players -- even professionals -- move their Head far more than is necessary. There are two primary reasons for this:

1. Faulty Pivot. Instead of the correct Weight Shift and Turn beneath a Stationary Head, they Sway and Bob. One of the biggest misconceptions in the Game is that, to shift the Weight, the upper torso must move to the right. In the correct action, the Weight Shift is accomplished by the Hip Shift. This involves Hula-Hula flexibility -- the ability to separate the movement of the Hips from the movement of the Shoulders. With the Head held Stationary, the Spine (the Axis of the Shoulder Turn) does not Sway laterally. Instead, it Tilts (toward the Target on the Backstroke and away from the Target on the Downstroke). Be aware that the good player's Top of the Backstroke 'look' can obscure what is actually happening. Here Extensor Action stretching out the 'wobble' of the Left Arm and Shoulder Girdle is often mistaken for upper torso lateral movement. For a visual conception, check out the Top positions of history's greatest strikers, e.g., Vardon, Jones, Hogan, Miller and Nelson.

2. Poor Address Head Location. The Head Position should be established during the Address Routine, specifically in Section 2 of the Stroke (Impact Fix). For most, this Impact Head Location is lower and more left than at their current Adjusted Address. Once set correctly, the Head should remain as Stationary as possible at least through the completion of Section 11 (the Follow-Through or Both Arms Straight position).

[mb6606]

Thanks Yoda excellent information
Two clips that show the proper hip/spine movement

http://www.megspace.com/sports/moeto...ick_clip2.html

http://www.megspace.com/sports/moeto...side_clip.html

[metallion]

And here's Mr Miller from 1975. With a while belt, BTW.

[brianmanzella]

Miller....hmmmm

I have sequences from 1971 and 1974 and the 1974 swing worked the best.

It would be VERY instructive.

I'll look for the pics.

[12 piece bucket]

Anybody ever heard of this book? The book says the right earhole should be stationary. Pretty interesting considering the ears have a lot to do with balance.

Thoughts?

[bray]

Dear Yoda,

Thanks for the Response! Good Information that I will have to spend some more time sorting through, but in the mean time can you help me clear this up.

You Said:
"The goal -- the ideal -- is indeed a Stationary Head. If it is not humanly possible to achieve it precisely, then as lttle movement as possible is the next best thing."

According to my information and studies I have found it is better for the right handed player to move there head to the right, if it must move. Would you agree that this is the better side for them to "miss" with "as little head movement as possible" in order to apply on plane force to the golf ball? Would there be a difference in this head movement for the Hitter and Swinger?

Thanks Again for you Response
I look forward to learning more

Sorting through the Golf Nut's Catalog

B-Ray

[lagster]

Fred Couples looks to have a very similar head and spine motion of Johnny Miller. Jack Nicklaus is also similar.

Byron Nelson had a little hip bump on the backswing... and the head did stay fairly stationary on the backswing.

[tongzilla]

A lot of people talk about the stationary head on the backswing, but little talk has been done on the head during the downswing.

If you look at the Miller clip above, you will see that his head is quite stationary until the downswing starts. The head then bobs downwards and sways to the right (from player's point of view), disrupting the tripod.

The fact is that a lot of tour/excellent players have this dipping and moving to the right head motion on the downswing. Woods, Garcia, Miller, mikestloc, Matt Slu, Chuck, just to name a few. And IMO, this is much harder to fix than the bobbing and swaying of the head during the backswing.

There are very few players I have seen with an excellent stationary head during downswing: Yoda, Els, Hogan.

So, how do these players do it? Any advice on how to keep stationary head during downswing? Or is there no magic shortcut/drills, and you will just have to try and keep your head still on the downswing after establishing your Impact Fix alignments?