I’m interested in discussing the vertical dimension of right forearm movement. It seems to me there are definite advantages, both from a geometry and physics standpoint, in bending the right arm no more than allows a 90 degree angle to the torso.
The physics advantage is that the right forearm (for much of the downswing) is then at 90 degrees to the spine (I have limited physics knowledge, but I believe this is ideal during rotation – correct me if I’m wrong!). The geometric advantage is that the right forearm can more easily trace the plane line (simply through axis tilt and torso rotation – kind of like a lighthouse traces a horizontal plane). This is hard to describe, but relatively easy to demonstrate to yourself – simply do the Tomasello pivot drill with the club held in the crook of your elbows across your back (see Australia video chapter 1).
Given this 90 degree angle, can’t it be established during the backstroke, and then simply maintained to release point – at which point the right forearm returns to its impact fix relation to the torso.
I know this is relating geometry to the body, which is kind of forbidden, but surely sometimes it’s OK to discuss the machine apart from its environment!
I’m interested to hear others’ views on whether they think such a 90 degree-to-torso cocking is ideal. I think it also leads to some interesting conclusions about vertical travel for the right forearm depending on one’s selected plane angle, but I’ll leave that for later.
By the way, looking at (down the line) photos of swings it looks like everyone goes beyond 90 degrees-to-torso, but try it yourself, and you’ll see it’s quite possible without much contortion.
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