STT and RFT Combined, is that OK????
 

Is it ok to mix STT with RFT? I am experimenting with STT to start my swing turning (along with my hips), quickly followed by RFT to get to the spot that I feel works for my swing (which is generally flattish...and not too far above my shoulder girdle)

Comments please.

If the 'club' is in the correct alignments during the 'motion'

and the 'body' is in a position from which you can fully support those alignments, and the force of impact

the 'how' doesn't matter so much

for any given line of compression - identical alignments -

which doesn't mean identical 'efficiencies'


that said - the 'how' matters quite a lot if you want to be consistent ;)

Yes, it is perfectly fine. Just make sure you are still tracing a straight plane line while you're doing it.

Just know that you are going to make a shift somewhere but that isn't necessarily a bad thing if you do it well and is something natural.

Do the reverse start with the RFT and Blend a "pinch of STT"...the magic of the right forearm gives you the precision..never turn that over to the imprecise STT....

thats nice to "say", but, what do the pros DO. I submit that the overwelming majority do STT, not RFT

A shift in the way of thinking
 

That is why there are so many Plane shift variations, plus the fact that most players don't set there Right Forearm Wedge properly at Address (grip too much in the fingers).

Coordinating the Pivot and the Right Forearm Takeaway
 

You're right, 300Drive. Most pros do use a Shoulder Turn Takeaway. It's the way we were taught: "Take it back low and slow."

Unfortunately, at the very least, allowing the Shoulder Turn to dominate the Start Up puts the Stroke on an Elbow Plane, which is Flatter than the ideal Turned Shoulder Plane, thus requiring the Plane Shift that Drewitgolf refers to in his post above. In many cases, it actually puts the Club below Plane, an Off Plane condition that must be corrected no later than the Start Down. Both scenarios earned Homer Kelley's Warning Label:

"...the disruptive Shoulder Turn Takeaway -- which is always too 'Flat' and/or too 'Low' making a Plane Angle Shift mandatory and usually unintentional and unsuspected."

When integrating the Right Forearm Takeaway into your Stroke, just be sure to maintain the separate identities and alignments of the Three Zones. In fact, I recommend you practice your Zone #1 (Body Control) independently of Zone #3 (Ball Control). Spend time in drill -- use a mirror and look, look LOOK! -- training first your Pivot (to Turn the Right Shoulder back to the Plane) and then your Right Forearm (to Trace the Plane Line).

Then put the two together, but always...

Let the Hands control.

It is true you will have a below plane look, but you can still trace a straight plane line using a combination STT and RFP.

For me, there are differences.

With the STT, the shoulders dictate the path of zone 2 until the end of the takeaway, then a conscious assemble of the wedges (in a split second), then the arms move very independent of the pivot. This isn't so bad if you're on the range and you're compensations have kicked in. However, on the course, (except for pre-shot procedures), where you're cold starting every shot, then my standard wrist action becomes vague and single wrist action seeps in. Once the shoulders take control, they don't give it up to the hands very easily.

With the RFT, the wedges assemble and hands can dictate. At he end of the takeaway, you're hands are still in control, tracing the plane line and dictating to zone 1 and 2 not to disturb the wedges. If you want to trace the plane line going down, then you better trace the plane line going up.

More On the Shoulder Turn Takeaway
 

I don't disagree and so stated as the 'best case' scenario in my post above. In fact, if you use a Shoulder Turn Takeaway, your only possible hope for an On Plane Start Up is to use the Right Forearm to Trace the Baseline of the Elbow Plane. Left to its own devices, the Shoulder Turn can only drag the Arms and Club around in a cone shape.

Three quick points:

1. Below Plane is Off Plane and unacceptable except in Compensated Strokes.

2. A Below Plane "Look" would, I guess, mean the aforementioned Elbow Plane, which is 'below' the Turned Shoulder, Squared Shoulder or Turning Shoulder Plane. This, of course, is On Plane, but it produces a very Flat Angle of Attack and reduced Backspin (10-6-A). As I said in my post above, with or without a Shift (to the Turned or Squared Shoulder Plane), it is the best possible scenario for the Shoulder Turn Takeaway, even with Right Forearm guidance.

3. At no time does the Right Forearm Takeaway preclude the Pivot from exercising its Zone #1 tasks. Namely, supplying Balance and the root circular motion of the Stroke while placing (and keeping) the Right Shoulder On Plane. However, also at no time is the Body allowed to dictate to the Hands their On Plane alignments. And that is simply because it lacks the means to do so. A true Three Dimensional Impact (Downward, Outward and Forward) is best produced by a Three Dimensional Start Up (Upward, Inward and Backward, "INSTANTLY AND SIMULTANEOUSLY" per 2-F). The Right Forearm and Elbow Action supplies the precious Upward Dimension, thus helping insure the Downward and its magnificent Compression. The Shoulder Turn does not and cannot perform this function.

Where do you like the elbows to point
 

I was reading Nick Bradley's book and he makes reference to the elbows pointing at the hips at address to allow the arms to swing properly. What do you think of this?