Hinge Action - A Primer GM#263
 

Another good post, Robot Buddy R2D2, and you've almost got it.

In 2-G, Homer is speaking in "approximations" and tells us that at the end of the Follow-Through, the Toe of the Club will point "along the Plane Line." Your conclusion that this would put the Leading Edge parallel to the Line is understandable -- but inaccurate -- and would actually result in an Over Roll. This Over Roll is a Swivel Wrist Action -- instead of the desired Vertical (to a Horizontal Plane) Hand Motion -- and it will disrupt the true Horizontal Hinge Centrifugal Rhythm of the No. 3 Accumulator (6-B-3-0) and produce Throwaway.

To see for yourself exactly how much the Clubface Closes through the Impact Interval -- and accordingly, how much the Toe points down the Target Line -- try this experiment:

Face a slightly open door with the doorknob on your right and the doorjam on your left. Position a putter or short iron on the face of the door with the Clubface flat against it and the Toe protruding slightly from the door's lower edge. The Shaft will be flat against the door and running up into doorknob area.

Now, push the door open while maintaining the Club against it. As the door swings open, watch the Clubface (and Toe) "Close" in relation to a "Target Line" (running North through the doorway). Though not on an Angled Plane, this is the exact Horizontal Hinge Motion the Clubface should take through Impact.

You can see that you would have to swing the door all the way open (a 90 degree arc) before the Leading Edge of the Club would be parallel to the "Target Line." And this would exceed the limits of the normal Follow-Through and Hinge Action.

So, in the Chip Shot Follow-Through example of 2-G, with the Club at 45 degrees to the ground, the Toe will be pointing "generally" along the Line, but not so much as to make the Leading Edge parallel.

Now that we've gone through the above drill and understand the correct Horizontal Clubface Motion through Impact, it is time to forget about the Clubface altogether and go about the really important work of Educating the Left Hand to produce it. Hold your Left Arm straight out in front of you with your Left Hand vertical to the ground in a karate chop position. Keeping your arm in its Horizontal Plane, swing it to the side just as if it were a hinged gate. Stop when you've made an arc of about 45 degrees (about half way between the front of you and the left of you). Then, lower the Left Hand down until it would point just inside a Plane Line. That is the position of the Flat Left Wrist at the end of the Follow-Through. Notice that your fingers are pointed generally "along the Plane Line."

After doing the above drill a few times to make sure you've got it right, put a Short Iron in your Left Hand (only) and repeat it. Verify that the Clubface does exactly what your Left Wrist does. This is Left Hand Hinge Action control of the Clubface.

It is the key to Ball Control.

Drive Loading/Angled Hinge vs. Drag Loading/Horizontal Hinge BM#43
 

Angled Hinge Action is the natural consequence of all Strokes
-- Putting or other -- actuated by Right
Arm Drive.

Horizontal Hinge Action is the natural consequence of all
Strokes -- Putting or otherwise -- actuated by Centrifugal Force.
Therefore, using Horizontal Hinge Action with a Right Arm Drive Putting
Stroke is unnecessary, incompatible and inadvisable. With the Short Putter
and a Swinging Procedure, Horizontal Hinge Action is perfectly acceptable, on
Long Putts or Short.


Vertical Hinge Action is always a deliberate mechanical manipulation
of the Clubface. It is the natural by-product of neither Hitting (Right Arm Drive) or
Swinging (Left Arm Centrifugal Pull). Therefore, it is better to use Angled
Hinging and a steep Plane as its preferred substitute.

Clubface control for "True" Swingers, Manipulated Swingers & Hitters BM#129
 

For the true Swinger, Centrifugal Force controls the Clubhead
Power and the Clubface Alignment.

For 'Manipulated Clubface' Swingers, Centrifugal Force controls only
the Clubhead; the Clubface is best aligned by the Flat Left Wrist executing
its Hinge Action (2-G and 7-10).


For Hitters, Muscular Thrust Powers the Clubhead, and the Flat Left
Wrist aligns the Clubface.

Hinge vs. Swivel BM#146
 

Ringer,

There is no argument here and hence no point for debate.

The Flat Left Wrist control of the Club has two distinct Actions. One is a Hinge
Action (Clubface Control) and the other is a Swivel Action
(Clubhead Control). Regarding the Hinge Action, Homer Kelley states
clearly in 2-G that "'Roll' is actually imparted by the turning torso
and/or the orbiting arms." Regarding the Swivel Action, he states
that it is a "true rotation of the Hands into Impact alignment by
Accumulator #3." Accumulator #3, of course, is the Left Arm and
Club. For the text-challenged among us, he even drew a Swivel Joint in
the Left Arm in the Golfer's Flail (Sketch 2-K #4 and #5).

No, Homer's position was not that the Hands originate the
Motions of the Clubface (Hinge Action) and the Clubhead (Swivel Action), only
that they control them. In fact, he said exactly that in 2-M-3:

"The Hands are strong, educated, adjustable Clamps attaching the Club to
the Arms for control of the Clubface alignments."

"So, the only absolutely essential muscular contribution of the Wrists
is 'holding on.'

Next 'Anti-TGM' topic for debate, please.

Hinge vs. Swivel BM#149
 

Ringer,

There is no argument here and hence no point for debate.

The Flat Left Wrist control of the Club has two distinct Actions. One is a Hinge
Action (Clubface Control) and the other is a Swivel Action
(Clubhead Control). Regarding the Hinge Action, Homer Kelley states
clearly in 2-G that "'Roll' is actually imparted by the turning torso
and/or the orbiting arms." Regarding the Swivel Action, he states
that it is a "true rotation of the Hands into Impact alignment by
Accumulator #3." Accumulator #3, of course, is the Left Arm and
Club. For the text-challenged among us, he even drew a Swivel Joint in
the Left Arm in the Golfer's Flail (Sketch 2-K #4 and #5).

No, Homer's position was not that the Hands originate the
Motions of the Clubface (Hinge Action) and the Clubhead (Swivel Action), only
that they control them. In fact, he said exactly that in 2-M-3:

"The Hands are strong, educated, adjustable Clamps attaching the Club to
the Arms for control of the Clubface alignments."

"So, the only absolutely essential muscular contribution of the Wrists
is 'holding on.'


Next 'Anti-TGM' topic for debate, please.





So, can we conclude that Gerry Hogans assertion that'foream rotation is
SOLELY responsible for clubface alignment' is incorrect?
Clearly Hing action, controled by the left wrist, imparts clubhead closing, with
or without forearm rotation. Even Horizontal Hinging is a 'full roll feel'
not an actual roll of the hands/forearms.

Yes, for the Swinger, there is the swivel from release to impact, and from
follow-through to Finish, but it does not substitute for proper hinge action.

As pointed out earlier: Homer Kelley states clearly in 2-G that "'Roll'
is actually imparted by the turning torso and/or the orbiting arms."

But he also said " Some players even execute Impact as exclusively a
Swivel (forearm rotation:my words) making clubhead alignment fleeting and
eratic." I know! I have tried it!

Triad


[Bold in last quote by Yoda.]





For the newbies, forgive me.

For the many, take what you can and throw the rest in the Incubator.
Keep studying TGM and re-read this post periodically. One day it will all
make perfect sense.

For the few, enjoy!

================================================== ===============

I am not familiar with Gerry Hogan or his quote. I am familiar with The
Golfing Machine. And in The Golfing Machine there is a Hinge
Action, and there is a Swivel Action.

The Hinge Action is the Left Hand and Arm Rotating about a Shoulder
Hinge Pin with the Left Wrist remaining Vertical (perpendicular) to the Axis
of Rotation. Whether that Axis is positioned Vertical (perpendicular) to a
Horizontal Plane, a Vertical Plane or an Inclined Plane, the Blade of the
Hinge (the Left Arm, Flat Left Wrist and Club, i.e., the Left Arm Flying
Wedge) must move around it in a circle. That means the Left Arm and Flat Left
Wrist must move, just as the blade of any hinge must move.

It does not mean that the Left Arm and Flat Left Wrist must rotate!
The blade of a hinge remains always perpendicular to its Plane of
Rotation. It must not -- indeed it cannot -- rotate, i.e.,
independently 'Turn' or 'Roll!' Even if the Clubface Closes, as it will
with Horizontal and Angled Hinging, this is simply the movement of the Arm
and Flat Left Wrist around the Axis of Rotation. It is not a true
Rotation of the Arm and Flat Left Wrist themselves.

To get the idea, extend your Left Arm and Flat Left Wrist straight out in
front of you (in a horizontal plane) and swing the entire unit back and forth
on this plane. Just like a swinging gate, right? The gate moves in a circle
about its Left Shoulder axis, but it does not 'turn' or 'roll,' i.e., twist
one way or another. Get the picture?

If, however, the Flat Left Wrist Turns (rotates to the right) and Rolls
(rotates to the left) while the Arm does not move, then you have a
Swivel Action. This is a true rotation of the Forearm.


So, with a Hinge Action, the Left Arm must move -- but
it does not rotate. With a Swivel Action, the Left Arm may
or may not move -- but the Swivelling Forearm makes a true rotation. Again,
this is not a Hinge Action, i.e., controlling the Clubface
Alignment through the Impact Interval by maintaining the Flat Left
Wrist perpendicular to the desired Plane of Motion (of the Clubface).
Instead, this is a Swivel Action, i.e., a true Rotation of the
Arm that positions the Clubface and Clubhead On Plane throughout the
remaining Sections of the Stroke.

Hinging BM#152
 

Our cat was at the vet, and I had only ten minutes to pick her up. Hence, the
formatting now supplied in this 'edit' was omitted. Sorry for the initial
sloppiness, but I can assure you, our cat appreciates it!
================================================== ========================

ukhacker,

Here are the answers to your questions in the order asked:

1. Pre-Impact, the Left Wrist Action (10-18 ) includes a Swivel (for Swingers
only). Swingers Swivel twice -- first in Start Up and then in its mirrored
Release. Hitters use only the Single Wrist Action of
10-10-C-2.

For both Hitters and Swingers, the Hinge Action controls the Clubface from
Impact to the end of the Follow-Through. At the end of the Follow
Through -- also for both Hitters and Swingers -- the Finish Swivel once
again takes control and rotates the Clubface On Plane.


2. The Flat Left Wrist duplicates the Hinge Blade. By holding it vertical to
one of the three Basic Planes of Motion, you impart that same Motion to the
Clubface. Holding the Left Wrist Vertical to the Horizontal Plane produces Horizontal
Hinge Action and a Closing (Only) Clubface. Holding the Left Wrist
Vertical to the Vertical Plane produces Vertical Hinge Action and a Laying
Back (Only) Clubface. Holding the Left Wrist Vertical to the Angled Plane
produces Angled Hinge Action and a Clubface that simultaneously Closes
and Lays Back.

Hinge and Swivel BM#156
 

Think of hinge as more of a 'fixed' in plane rotation of the entire unit ...






The "entire Unit" is the Left Arm Flying Wedge (6-B-3-0-1), not
just the Flat Left Wrist or the Clubface. And the "in plane
rotation" is that of the Clubface about its pre-positioned Left
Shoulder Axis (2-G), not of the Clubshaft (except in Angled Hinging).

This is very important. Think.

Hinging BM#183
 

The first three lessons of the thread discussed the mechanics of the Hinge
Action as they related to the Hinge itself. The third lesson ended with this:

"Our next step is to learn how to use your Flat and Vertical Left Wrist
to replicate the Mechanical Motion of each of the Three Hinge Actions. The
goal is to convert our carefully developed G.O.L.F. Engineering System into
your eagerly awaiting G.O.L.F. Feel System. When that happens, you will have
gained total control of the Clubface for the rest of your life."


The ensuing Q&A on the TGM and Chuck Evans sites brought out many fine
points, including commentary that described how the Golfer's Flat Left Wrist
should be used to duplicate the Motion of the Hinge Blade. Alas, to date,
there has been no official conclusion to the series. However, you may
consider the above post as Lesson Four, how the Golfer applies Hinge
Action mechanics to control the Clubface alignment and Clubhead Rhythm
through the Ball.

Hinge Pins and Mounting BM#185
 

The Hinge Pin is always mounted perpendicular to one of
the three basic Planes of Motion, i.e., horizontal, vertical or angled. The
Hinge Blade always rotates in a circle about its pin and remains
perpendicular to that Plane as well. This is simply how a hinge operates,
i.e., it is the action of a hinge.

In G.O.L.F., the Hinge Actions are named for the Plane of Motion imparted by
the Hinge Blade. They are not named for the always
perpendicular Hinge Pin. For example, a pin mounted perpendicular
to a horizontal plane produces a horizontal blade motion and is therefore
termed Horizontal Hinge Action. Similarly, a pin mounted perpendicular
to a vertical plane produces a vertical blade motion and is termed Vertical
Hinge Action. The same logic holds for Angled Hinge Action.

To clear the Fog, take a pencil and position it perpendicular to the cover of
a book. Maintaining that perpendicular position of the pencil, lay the
book first horizontally; then stand it vertically on its end; and finally
tilt it at an angle. Note that no matter what the plane of the book --
horizontal, vertical or angled -- the pencil remained perpendicular to
the book.

Now, substitute a hinge for the pencil. Like the pencil, the pin is always
perpendicular to the surface of the book. And the rotation of the blade
around its pin is always the same, no matter how you position the
book. Only the Plane of Motion differs, and it is on that basis that the
Hinge Actions are classified.

Feels of Hinging BM#186
 

DDL,

In order:

1. Your first paragraph is correct. Congratulations!

2. Each of the Hinge Actions has its own distinct Feel and Clubface
Motion through Impact. You are confusing the two, i.e., the Feel
of a Motion with the Mechanic that produced that Feel. Contrary to
your statement, Angled Hinging is described as having a No Roll Feel.
The Half Roll you mention concerns Angled Hinging's Half Roll of the Clubface
through Impact, i.e., halfway between Close Only and Lay Back Only. In other
words, the No Roll Feel produces a Half Rolled Clubface. And
vice versa.

Similarly, Vertical Hinge Action has a Reverse Roll Feel and an
actual No Roll (Square or Lay Back Only) Clubface alignment through
Impact. Horizontal Hinging has a Roll Feel and a Closing Only Clubface
(Full Roll).


3. You are again correct. Horizontal Hinging causes the Flat Left Wrist to
Close in relation to the Plane Surface and accordingly, the Clubface to close
in relation to the Plane Line.