The Beauty of 12-5
 

If you haven't done so lately, take a long hard look at 12-5-0, 12-5-1, 12-5-2, and 12-5-3.

I start every range session progressing through this section and it really helps to get everything going in the right direction.

Trig,

Can you please highlight some of the pitfalls that people fall into when trying to utilise 12-5?

It is a thing of beauty....

I came up with a routine last year and used till I hurt my arm.

But I found that I could take it to the course. Hit a bad shot, just do a mini practice session (no ball of course) of a 1,2 and 3.

In doing this I can only recall once or twice hitting back to back bad shots.

I posted my routine in the practice forum along with some of the pitfalls.

Boundaries And The Basic Motion Curriculum
 

We're talking about the three-stage Basic Motion Curriculum: Basic Motion (12-5-1); Acquired Motion (12-5-2); and Total Motion (12-5-3).

The first pitfall is failure to observe the boundaries of the respective stages. For example:

The Basic Motion is two feet back and two feet through. Unless this motion is made on the Putting or Chipping green, the Stroke is almost always too long. On the range, even after I demonstrate the correct length (and hit the ball no further than about thirty feet) the first thing I see from the student is a pitch shot. The Hands swing back at least waist high and finish at least waist high, and the Clubhead is above the Hands on both ends of the Stroke. This is Stage Two (Acquired Motion) not Stage One (Basic Motion).

So, in practicing Stage One and even Stage Two, go to the short game area. Give yourself a target just a few yards away. This is a Putt or a Chip Shot (with, at most, a few yards of carry). Practicing Stage One on the range is a very dull and expensive way to get the job done. But if you have no alternative, visualize a chipping green and a near target, otherwise your Stroke will be too long, and you will exceed the Basic Motion's boundary.

12-5-1
 

The guy from Nashville had the same problem. But, I gave him such a short chip, he couldn't take it more than two feet back.

I would also add...
 

The other thing to note is Stage One has zero pivot.

Stage Two has zero pivot EXCEPT shoulder turn. Stroke length takes focus just as in Stage One and the right forearm goes no further than parallel to the ground.

So I think the major pitfalls are making the stroke too long and using pivot/too much pivot in Stage One and Two.

How many Accumulators should one use for 12-5-1?

Stage Two (Acquired Motion) question
 

How far should the follow through go during 12-5-2 Acquired Motion? I normally practice it with my arms going to Both Arms Straight. I do it both with and without a finish swivel but not sure this is correct. When I add the finish swivel, I get a bit higher ball flight and a bit more carry.

Homer references 6-4-A for the follow-through with 12-5-2 and I believe Both Arms Straight is the correct way to interpert this reference.

Please correct me if I'm wrong about this. :D

Hmmm....
 

Good question. Homer explicity says to zero out accumulator #3. So the answer is less than 4!

If I think about it, there is no wrist cock either, so that eliminates #2.

I think the answer is 2. You should use accumulator #1 and #4 while executing 12-5-1.

Basic Motion Mastery -- Step By Step
 

Once you know how far back and through to swing, the next pitfall is in knowing what to swing.

Start with your Hands only. :cool:

Swing continuously...Back and through and back and through and back and through. Keep your Feet Flat and your Head Stationary. The Left Arm should be straight, the Left Wrist Flat and the Right Elbow should bend. Your Body should move only as necessary to accomodate the motion of your swinging Hands.

When you've got this down pat, make the same motion using a dowel. Run the shaft up your the Left Forearm. This will help keep your Left Wrist Flat and your Hands swinging through 'Impact.' Without a Clubhead to flip or a Ball to hit 'at,' your Hands will quickly learn their assignments.

When you can do this, begin making the same motion with a Club (but without a Ball). Grip the Club down a bit, and anchor the shaft against the Left Forearm until you can keep your Left Wrist Flat and steady throughout the Stroke.

When the above steps have been mastered, you have prepared yourself properly for the execution of a Golf Shot.