#4 Pressure Point
 

In Swinging when does the player first feel the #4 pressure point? A few years ago when Len Matice almost won the Masters, I noticed that before every shot he would pull his shirt sleave up on his left arm and move his left upper arm against his left side as if to establish his #4 ppt.:confused:

When Do You Load #4?
 

Swingers (and Four Barrel Hitters) Load the #4 Pressure Point (with the Pivot) in the Start Down.

I first really felt pp4 when I started to mess around with extensor action. You have to have a really solid structure of your left arm and clubshaft for your pivot to be able to throw the entire primary lever assembly (left arm and clubshaft) into impact.. An analogy for extensor action would be pulling the needle(club) so that the thread (left arm) becomes tight - At the top of the backstroke you want your pivot to drive against a really tight rope - you can't do it with a loose one. The left arm or rope is moved by the pivot it does not move by itself....

Taut, maybe, not tight. No tension in the swing. Perhaps this is semantics, but we don't want to convey the need for tension.

Mathew,

This is a hell of a post. I have never considered Extensor Action in this light. "You want your pivot to drive against a tight rope." That is super. I always wondered if Extensor Action was less critical to the Swingers Motion. But this post should be in the archives for Swingers.

How strong are you "tugging?" Do you have an analogy as to the level of "effort" in your extensor action?

Great post man!

B

I personally can't apply too much extensor action if done correctly. The lever assembly is always driven by applying pressure against it and in the swingers procedure this is the pivot applying pressure where the left arm is against the chest. If the left arm is not being pulled aggressively with extensor action, the pivot has a floppy and weak left arm structure to drive into impact.

Me likey. So in essence you have "pre-loaded" pp4 via Extensor Action prior to the load imparted by the Pivot?

Hmmm... not sure exactly what your meaning

PP4 is loaded on the backstroke and your left arm contacts the chest at the top. Once your at the top of the backstroke you feel this pressure and you concentrate on increasing the pressure (don't think about directions - just the pressure) as much as possible all the while maintaining a stationary head - releasing no.4.

Mathew,

When do you feel the pressure is released? When do you feel the arm is completely off the chest?

Matt

Its hard to say an exact point, I know for sure its definately off the chest at the followthrough - both arms straight.

That's as specific as I was looking for, thank you!

Matt

Also I just want to add a few things since we're on topic. As pp3 is aggresively applying extensor action (you really feel pp3) that pressure is also onplane. When you look at 1-L and the hinge, notice that the secondary hinge in the dual horizontal hinge action, that lifts the left arm up and down which actually is what the magic of the right forearm is all about - any bending of the right arm with extensor action will lift the left arm in a circular motion around its pin. In the dual horizontal hinge the left arm is lifted till the top of the backstroke, goes back down till low point and then lifts again till the finish of the stroke. The constant 'onplane' pressure of pp3 towards the plane line as pp4 drives the lever assembly is what drops the left arm onto the ball...

Because the stretch is also onplane as pp4 pressure is created against the lever assembly, and the fact pp3 is also on the plane and your pp3 won't be offplane (I hope), as the pressure of pp4 works against the onplane pressure of pp3, this tilts the spine and drops the right shoulder axis tilt until pp3 can trace down the plane line.

Also the pressure of pp3 towards the plane line is what keeps the level condition of the right wrist....

Mathew,

Regarding your recent posts...

WOW!

All thanks to you, I wouldn't understand 1/4 of what I did without you :).

Mathew,
By "work against the onplane pressure of pp3", do you mean it exerts force against lag? Just trying to clear the fog. I understand and am clear on the rest. Good post.

Good Posts
 

Good posts here!

Some additional information on this can be found in the recent thread about CONNECTION.

As far as #4... what about 3 Barrel Hitting? No #4, or just very pasive?

The force of extensor action with pp3 does not move the left arm and does not create clubhead lag - the stressing of the shaft.

PP4 works against the onplane pressure of pp3 until the spine tilts so that acc4 can thrust pp3 down the plane line. pp4 is trying to move the lever assembly out and pp3 is work against pp4 thats trying to take it offplane, the only way acc4 can move so that pp3 can trace that plane line is if the spine tilts and that right shoulder goes downplane.

Mathew,

Is this correct? For some reason, I have to get it into my own words to understand.

The upper torso must tilt and turn (pivot motion, right shoulder down plane) so that the #4 pressure point carries the #3 pressure point into release so that it can trace the plane line.

That's one reason (of many) that one cannot pull with the left arm only to start the downswing (a lot of topped shots).

It's just that I always thought the #3 pressure point is aiming from the top. Your explanation seems to work better.

The entire spine must tilt. The fact that pressure point 4 is working against the onplane pressure provided by extensor action means there is nothing else the body can do but tilt as pp4 is applied.

After trying it I came to the following conclusion. Tilting gives a downward force to the #4pp.

Yes Daryl,now does the "back and down" right shoulder make sense?(in another post).

(Bows), IMHO it's the only way that makes sense anymore.

Mathew,

Thanks for your insights, but i'm a little confused. In previous posts i have seen people mention the 'bumping' of the hips tilts the axis. Does this mean that it is not the actual 'bumping' of the hips that should be concentrated on, rather the correct application of extensor action down plane. Which will then have the effect of sliding the hips and tilting the axis?

Cheers,

Danny

The hip motion is indeed what tilts the spine and its the pressure points which you should concentrate on. Extensor action is a non accelerating thrust which is always always on plane. As pp4 pressure then has to adhere to pp3 staying on the plane, it forces you to send that right shoulder downplane and tilt the spine and do the correct degree of hip slide.

What's this talk about the stretch of extensor action being below plane?

The left arm is above plane and pp3 is always stretched on plane towards the plane line so the stretch pp3 has on the left arm is always below plane.

Yoda And You-Know-Who Load #4
 

Here's a comparative stop-action that shows Ben and me with a fully-loaded Pressure Point #4 (where the Left Arm contacts the chest). No falling 'headcover under the Arm' here!

I never sought to copy Ben. I just sought to swing according to the Principles and Procedures of The Golfing Machine, and this is what I got.

Hogan dug it out of the dirt.

I dug it out of the little Yellow Book.

:)

The Hitter's Four Barrel Stroke
 

Hitting or Swinging, any use of the Right Shoulder (the Pivot) during the Start Down to 'Load the Lag' (overcome the initial inertia of the Lagging Clubhead) constitutes the use of the #4 Accumulator. Otherwise, its Motion is only that -- Motion (a 'permitting' function) -- and not Action (actively causing something to happen).

So, when the Hitter uses his Right Shoulder to Load the Lag during the Start Down, he is using Power Accumulator #4. And assuming he is also using his Right Elbow (Bend and Drive), Left Wrist (Cock and Uncock) and Left Hand (Turn and Roll), he is using a Four Barrel Stroke.

It is doubtful the Hitter would use #4 in a Short Shot. More likely, he would use Drive Loading (10-19-A) to Load the Right Elbow and then use the Right Shoulder simply as a Launching Pad from which to Drive the Lag into Impact. Assuming the Left Wrist and Hand were also actively employed, then this would constitute the Three Barrel Hitting Stroke.

It was always my understanding that the #4 accumulator was loaded by moving the right shoulder in a way which has the left arm brace against the chest. I was always told (not by Yoda or anyone on this site), and it is not specifically stated in the book, that the turn the shoulders take on the back swing is the SAME PATH that the shoulders should take on the downswing. I found out Saturday that this is wrong. What I felt was the right shoulder going down. The left arm goes down instantly too. No independent pulling with the left arm. No pulling at all. It may feel like down to me, so I'll say it's DOWN when I explain it to you, but it's actually on plane moving down, out and forward. When in the past I had pushed the right shoulder out (to push on the left arm) I was over the top all of the time, unless I got lucky. It never worked very well, so, for many years I have been pulling the left arm down using left arm and shoulder muscle. What a waste. I wonder how many others have the same problem. Words must be chosen very carefully. You might say that the pressure point is against the chest, but to me it isn't. The left arm touches the chest and stays in that place and comes off that place during release, and you may feel some pressure there, but that's not the force that acts on the arm to carry it down plane to the release point. I haven't exactly figured it out yet but soon I'll be able to name the muscle, tendon or ligaments involved. Anyway, The #4 pressure point now really feels like the "Master Accumulator".

Can I get feedback on this. Thanks

Daryl,sounds like your'e going to be "slightly dangerous"when you utilise your +6 putting handicap!

Thank you Neil. I hope I'm getting it right. I've read every thread I could find about the #4 pressure point but I'm still a little confused. A few more practice sessions should prove helpful and clear a little more fog.

Don't think you have too much fog mate,it is just the feeling of the left arm against the chest.When the right shoulder drops (due to axis tilt)just FIRE THE FLYWHEEL!(unless your'e one of those "hitty" types)trace the plane line ALL THE WAY and....and with your short game:hello2:. YOUR SWING TAKES -1.2SECONDS ?how long do you feel pp#4?IMHO H.K. preffered to monitor pp#3 because it was"in play"much longer.Again IMO if you have lag pressure in pp#3 and you are swinging-isn't pp#4already "loaded"?:think:

I agree Neil. #4 Accumulator is almost automatic. I try to take #4 into impact but it releases as the right shoulder slows a little. No release for #3 until after Follow Through. The longer I can hold onto #4, the stronger the #3 lag and the heavier the hit. It feels like #4 and #2 Accumulators release almost simultaneously and #3PP increases as roll begins. This swing feels under control throughout with no throwaway. Overall, a smooth and heavy hit.

Daryl you are not saying you are not releasing acc#3 until after follow through are you?

Perhaps you guys could use an impact bag - I do it against the side of my bed(something I should do more of too). Keep hitting it in a continous motion back and through.

Whilst your hitting the bag you can concentrate on these things...

Do you feel the pressure against pp4?
Did I maintain a stationary head?
Do I feel extensor action on both backstroke and downstroke?
Did I trace a straight plane line with my pp3?
etc

You can become very productive with these things. :)

Hogan
 

Two thoughts:

Pg 87 Five Fundamentals: The plane for the downswing is less
steeply inclined and is oriented with the ball quite differently
from the backswing plane. The golfer gets on this second plane-
without thinking he is changing planes- when he turns his hips
back to the left at the start of the downswing. This moves his
body to the left and AUTOMATICALLY LOWERS THE RIGHT SHOULDER.

Pg 93 Five Fundamentals: Inititating the downswing with the
hips is of such critical importance that many top-rung golfers,
sensing that their timing will be better accomodate, START TO
TURN THEIR HIPS TO THE LEFT A FRACTION OF A SECOND BEFORE THE
CLUB REACHES THE TOP OF THE BACKSWING.

Pg 74 Five Fundamentals: When the hips are turned back to the
left, this tightens the muscless between the hips and the
shoulder just a notch more - something like like the way a fellow gives each lug that little extra tightening twist when
he's changing a tire.

Sounds to me like setting the #4 pressure point.

No release of lag pressure on #3. Pressure continues until and if right wrist flattens.

Daryl I was refering to acc#3 not pp#3

Sorry. I mis-read your post. I was just saying that as the #3 Acc roll begins, the clubhead lag pressure (#3pp) increases. The #3 Acc roll is the swivel before Hinging.

Chainsaw Massacre
 

A nice visual image first coming down is that your wielding a heavy chainsaw and your going to massacre the plane line... throw that chainsaw via pp4.... This will also help you feel how to uncock on that line..