Sould I be fanning?
 

A few weeks into my pursuit of Hitting and I have some questions. I'll finally have the book in my hands in a few weeks, but can't wait that long.

I feel no fanning in my takeaway. That is, all I'm thinking is taking the right forearm back (it goes in and up, hopefully on the plane of the right wrist bend) in a piston like motion (starting the mower). I don't make an effort to not fan, but there’s no conscious fanning on my part. Is there a chance that even though I don’t feel it, there is in fact some fanning going on? That last part might just be wishful thinking on my part. :?

From a few posts in the archive I take it that having a purely piston like motion is part of the Push Basic Stroke, which doesn’t get much love. Is that right? From the sounds of it, I don’t want to be doing the Push (Major?) Basic Stroke. Can someone explain to me in a little more detail what that actually is and why it's less than ideal. thanking you :D

Basically this might boil down to, should I switch to the Right Forearm Takeaway, which I take it (I might be wrong here) has fanning.

I believe in hitting (angled hinge) you do not have fanning, I may be wrong though...

hmm well I should have actually done some further investigating before posting this question. :oops:

Upon taking some backswings just now without a club it's obvious that some fanning is happening. At the Top my hands are at the least level with my right elbow, in relation to the ground. I know nothing about anatomy or motion, but I assume that would be impossible with a piston only backswing.

apologies :oops:

One could look at it this way, there is fanning in both hitting and swinging, but different.

In swinging the fanning is normally completed by time the hands/arms reach hip height. In the down stroke it doesn't start till your hands/arms reach hip high.

In hitting the fanning is gradual from strat up to the top is when it is complete. Reverse is true in down stroke.

Because Swingers use the Sequenced Release whereas Hitters use the Simultaneous Release, it is makes sense to fan your forearm gradually all the way to the top for a Hitter, since this mirrors the motion of downstroke release for a Hitter. Likewise for Swingers- most of the fanning is completed at the startup since this is more "compatible" with the Sequenced Release.

You do not want to use Push Stroke for anything more than a chip. It is best reserved for putting and chipping because of its lack of power. A lot of effort produces only small changes in distance for the Push Stroke, so it is an ideal stroke to use around the greens.

From what I know, you can use Right Forearm Pickup (with Extensor Action) for with Hitting and Swinging, therefore this "technique" should have a separate identity to fanning.

From my personal opinion actively trying to fan the club is a mistake. Just take the club straight back whether you are hitting or swinging and the club will naturally rotate to the right position at the top. I see a lot of people who intentionally try to fan, get wide open at the top and can't close it down... Just an observation...

They are prolly swivelling then, no?

thanks everyone :D

I realise now that I am fanning, it's just that it is more gradual tha previously and therefore the sensation has changed.

update: despite many components that i'm sure aren't in the basic Hit pattern, my last outing was a huge success resulting in my best score for some time. In addition, just this morning I noticed in the mirror that during my takeaway my right wrist was uncocking slightly, so i'm excited that maintaining its level condition will be another step in the right direction 8)

good golfing!

Birdie man, i think you're right, it is a swivel, natural, not forced..

A proper swivel is felt more from the left shoulder, rather than the 'hands' per se because it is the 'entire package' that is getting 'on plane'.

Think of getting to 'toe up' AND getting your left shoulder under your chin by that point and you'll feel what I mean re: the swivel being more left shoulder oriented.