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Old 10-25-2005, 09:44 AM
MizunoJoe MizunoJoe is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 719
The REAL Problem
Originally Posted by Yoda
Go back to the video and you will find that the Flat Left Wrist is not the problem. In fact, the student exhibits a good intellectual and physical command of that alignment.

Instead, the problem is an exaggerated Axis Tilt during the Start Down and Downstroke. He achieves this over-tilting of his spine (back and away from the Ball) by dropping his Right Shoulder severely Under Plane. This misalignment, in turn, is achieved by allowing his Head to drop back and down -- he Sways and he Bobs. The result is obvious: He continually hits 'up' on the Ball -- Scooping -- all the while doing a yeoman's job of maintaining a Flat Left Wrist.

In fact, he apparently has absolutely no sense of the correct Three-Dimensional Impact Geometry (Down, Out and Forward), much less how to achieve it. Thus, the cure is not more work on the Flat Left Wrist, but on teaching him (1) how the Body Pivot works in the correct Start Down; (2) how his Head should be positioned at Address; and (3) how to maintain that Head Position from Address to the end of the Follow-Through (Both Arms Straight position).

In other words, this student has Pivot and Stationary Head problems (Zone #1), not a Flat Left Wrist problem (Zones #2 and #3), and they must be treated accordingly.
I didn't say his problem was lack of a flat left wrist on his tire and crate efforts - his problem is that he's jabbing at it with his right hand. This will cause flipping in the full swing. He has to learn to use the pivot ONLY to move the hands, and using the mid-iron with the grip against the forearm will encourage the feeling of moving his left side with the pivot without the need to add right hand effort. He needs to get his mind out of his hands and onto the pivot. Aiming point should not be mentioned, because he will thrust his right hand at it, as is proven in the video.

Also notice that in tape #3, Ben physically moves him through this "perverted tilt" which you mentioned, telling him to tilt until the left elbow is past the row of balls.
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