[Yoda]

The FROZEN right right and the LOCKED left wrist would, in real world situations, be a HITTING prodecure, no?

Are the Frozen Right Wrist and the Locked Left Wrist Hitting procedures? That would definitely be the traditional view. Hitting is all about Muscle Power, Thrust and Structure, and the terms 'Frozen' and 'Locked' -- while jarringly hard -- seem right at home in that environment. At the same time, they are at odds with the "soft hands" and "flexible wrists" widely viewed as the Swinger's birthright. So much so, in fact, that to suggest otherwise is revolutionary (if not heretical).

But then Homer Kelley was that kind of guy.

As discussed in my previous post, the term 'Locked' -- Webster: "rendered immovable" -- was slated for Homer's 7th edition. It denotes only that the Left Wrist -- other than in the Standard Adjusted Address (10-9-A) -- is 'Locked' into its Flat condition, i.e., it cannot produce any Horizontal Motion (Bending or Arching). Instead, it can produce only Perpendicular Motions (Wrist Cocking and Uncocking) and Rotational Motions (Turning and Rolling). To that extent, the Left Wrist may be considered 'Unlocked.' This 'Left Wrist Locked (in its Flat condition)' may be a tough concept for Swingers to handle, but to the extent they deviate from that precision alignment, quoting Homer, "They will pay a price."

The word 'frozen' is no doubt even more controversial. What could be 'tighter' or 'harder' or more the antithesis of the lyrical Swinging Motion than something that is 'frozen?' So much so, that Homer himself had a hard time applying the term to Swingers early on. But as he came to a full understanding of the importance of the Flying Wedge Alignments and Structure (6-B-3-0-1), his view changed -- I have this discussion on tape -- and he came to believe that the Frozen Right Wrist serves Swingers equally well as Hitters. From the Third Edition's 10-18-0 'General' Section (applying to both Hitters and Swingers):

"...the Right Wrist, if it moves at all, moves in accord with the Left Wrist. Ideally, it should be frozen in its Impact Fix Position -- preferably from the Top of the Stroke to well into, or through, the Follow-Through." [Bold by Yoda.]

The term 'frozen' -- Webster: "rendered immobile" -- denotes that the Right Wrist is 'locked' -- that word again -- in its Level and Bent condition. In other words, it cannot produce any Perpendicular Motion or any Horizontal Motion (other than its Impact Fix Degree of Bend). Instead, it can produce only Rotational Motions (Turn and Roll). To the extent the Right Wrist deviates from that Frozen condition, the Clubface will be misaligned at Impact.

The bottom line is that, as usual, Homer said exactly what he meant in terms that were unmistakably clear. Through Impact, your Left Wrist must be Flat, Level and Vertical, and your Right Wrist must be Bent, Level and Vertical. The best way to achieve this Ideal Impact Alignment is to permit during the Stroke only Left Wrist Perpendicular and Rotational Motions and Right Wrist Rotational Motions. And the way you do that is to Lock your Left Wrist in its Flat Condition and Freeze your Right Wrist into its Bent and Level condition early in the Stroke and then maintain those conditions until the end of the Follow-Through.

Interestingly, I have thus far not mentioned Grip Pressure. That is because, within limits, Gripping ‘light’ or ‘tight’ is the player’s option. What matters is that the essential Wrist Conditions be maintained throughout the Stroke. And that requires a highly developed kinesthetic sense of Wrist Alignments, not necessarily a tight Grip.

That said, the Hands are best viewed as strong, Educated Clamps attaching the Club to the Arms. Per 1-L #3, there should be “no wobble in the Clubshaft attachment.” The player with Uneducated Hands might do well with a lighter Grip Pressure because he may then be less likely to ‘horse’ the Club out of the correct alignments that Centrifugal Force is trying its best to produce.

The skilled player, on the other hand, can use the tighter Grip Pressure to give his Educated Hands a more complete control of the Club throughout the Stroke. The Tight Grip is especially effective as resistance against the terrific forces of Impact Deceleration. Remember, per Isaac Newton’s Third Law (2-C-0), the Ball hits the Club just as hard as the Club hits the Ball. Said another way, and summing up this entire discussion…

Impact is a place for Science, not “Seems as ifs.”