First off, let me state and make clear that I believe "TGM" is in a class of its own regarding golf books. I am a bit supporter, fan and student of TGM. My reasoning for this post is to validate my studies and quite possible make the quest in understanding, comprehending, absorbing and applying by others and as well as myself easier.
As with most I found TGM a difficult undertaking on my own. With the advent of the internet, some light was shown, and with the recent and current I might add, forums along with the forum members I found it easier to learn. The more I learned the more respect I have for Homer Kelley and his work.
To digress for a minute, prior to my trip to the swamp I would have argued till the end of time that I had a flat left wrist at the top of my stroke. You could set a 2x4 on it, it was flat. Yoda observation was that it was not flat but actually arched if anything. When he had me work with the paddles, he had me cock my left wrist. Showed me the lines that are formed at the base of the wrist by the thumb. To me that indicated a bent left wrist, no it wasn't. A bent left wrist is when you can see lines on the lower side (the pinkie side) by the wrist. I had no such lines when Yoda had be cock the wrist. This made a big change to the golf stroke as well as I started looking at all the alignments, truly trying to understand them. So often someone looks at a photo of a golfer at the top of the stroke, see what appears to be a bent condition and identifies that as a problem. When what is really needed is a close up of the wrist to see the lines and which side they are on and or the actual grip selection being employed. That got my attention and changed my approach.
Now that said my Ah-ha moment for 2006 was something that appears so far to helping me own it. This is all about the Geometry of the Golf Stroke. Lines, Angles, Planes, Circles and Triangles be it flat, parallel, crossline, etc.
Here are the conclusions:
The Sweet Spot Plane is a 'Feel' of the golf club's travel on the selected Inclined Plane which the golf club shaft travels on. The Sweet Spot Plane in of itself does not define the Inclined Plane Angle or Inclined Plane and in fact I can't establish an incidence that you would want the Sweet Spot Plane to define the Inclined Plane. The Club shaft Plane Angle and Inclined Plane Angle are by Homer's definition always parallel.
The Club Shaft lie angle may or may not be the selected Inclined Plane Angle. The dynamic fitting using a 'Lie Board' to define the Club Shaft lie angle does match Lie Angle to the Club Shaft Plane Angle to the Inclined Plane Angle.
The Sweet Spot Plane Plane Line (base of Sweet Spot Plane) is not the same as the Inclined Plane Plane Line (base of Inclined Plane). The discussion with regard to the Sweet Spot Plane vs Inclined Plane is really a discussion of 'Feels Like' vs 'What Is'.
The base line of the Inclined Plane is not the Plane Line that is used for tracing. The Plane Lined used for tracing should be the Impact Plane Line which is often as the Target Line.
Plane Boards simulate the selected Inclined Plane as well as Plane Shaft Training devices.
On Plane testing is the use of the club shaft to the base of the selected Inclined Plane.
Lasers, flashlights and dowels should trace the Impact Plane Line not the base of the selected Inclined Plane. The Light must be aligned to go through the sweet spot of the club face or the respective lower end of the dowel.
Analysis of vids and photos should first identify the Inclined Plane at actual Impact, then with that reference start at the beginning of the stroke to identity On-Plane conditions, Plane Shifts, above, below plane, etc. The line should be drawn to the inside of the ball following the club shaft line on top of the club shaft following it. Anything else does not comply with TGM definitions, principles and concepts.
Now in reaching these conclusions I discovered that in Homer's quest for brevity, that there is room for confusion. Such as the apparent conflict for the Target Line and Plane Line identified in the following references.
Inclined Plane and Club shaft Plane and Sweet Spot Plane are not the same (2-C-1#1)
Inclined Plane and Sweet Spot Plane are the same (2-F)
Inclined Plane and Club shaft Plane are parallel (1-L-5, 2-F) by definition parallel plane have the same plane angle.
Target Line and Plane Line are not the same (2-J-2, 7-2, 7-5, 7-10, 10-5)
Target Line and Plane Line are the same (Glossary, 1-L-17, 2-J-1)
Target Line and Line of Flight are not the same (7-5)
Target Line and Line of Flight are the same (10-5)
Plane Line and Line of Flight are not the same (1-L, 1-L-19,7-5, 10-5)
Plane Line and Line of Flight are the same (2-F with two exceptions 10-5) 2-F reference base of Inclined Plane (as Plane Line) see 7-5.
Plane Line and Impact Plane Line are the same (2-N-0)
Base Line of the Inclined Plane and Plane Line are the same (Glossary)
Stance Line and Plane Line are not the same (1-L-19, 2-J-2, 7-5, 10-5, 10-12)
Plane Line and Flight Line are not the same (3-F-7-A)
Flight Line and Line of Flight relationship undefined?
I don't have nor could I find a definition for Target Line but as pointed out above it may or may not be the same as the Line of Flight or the Plane Line.
One issue I see is that the lack of a qualifier on Plane Line makes it very unclear which Plane this is in reference too. One could submit that you need to take it into context as to if this is the 'Feel' or the 'Mechanical' application reference.
Also this Target Line and Line of Flight and then referenced to Plane Line is confusing.
The concept of the Sweet Spot (Plane, Plane Line, Angle) I believe is the key to understanding the application and focus of the 'Hands' in the golf stroke. I am still incubating the issue of 'Mechanics' vs 'Feel' with regarding to alignments and training those alignments. But the as of now I see the Sweet Spot Concept as the bridge between mechanic and feel.
So is this something everyone else just knew, learned or just accepted?
Also if anyone has some references to clear up the what appears to be conflicts above I would be interested.
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