Avoiding starting the hosel instead of the Sweet Spot

[streak]

In recovering from a shoulder problem I developed some bad compensations, the following gave me some insight -

2-F notes: “If Lag Pressure is lost the Hands tend to start the hosel (instead of the Sweet Spot) toward Impact – that mysterious “Shank”. When in doubt, “Turn” the Clubface so both the Clubshaft and the Sweet Spot will be on the same Plane at the Start Down.”

I think I understand the first sentence. How best does a Swinger maintain Lag Pressure especially at the Top and End (to avoid starting the hosel instead of the Sweet Spot)? Especially how does it feel at PP 3 through the Top and End and Start Down transitions?

About the second sentence, when should the Clubface be Turned and how is this done? Thanks.

[streak]

If anyone has even a partial comment that might help, I'd appreciate it, thanks.

[SwingNorthtoSouth]

Uncock and roll?????

[DDL]

Sounds like Manzella's twist away on the downswing. Take the right thumb off the club and drag sweetspot downplane with PP#3.

[streak]

Could you please elaborate on "Manzella's twist away on the downswing", and which of my questions it may relate to, I'm sorry that I don't understand, thanks.

[DDL]

Go to manzellagolforum.com and go to the instructional articles. Look for the one titled Never Slice Again, which demonstrates the twistaway.

[DDL]

Actually, I think Brian's article is more directed to hitters since the clubface and sweetspot are perpendicular to the plane for most of the stroke, although I recall himsaying it can also apply to swingers.

Also, you should directly load the left wrist with the pivot when using swinger's wrist action. Yoda calls this anit-shank insurance because for swingers using this wrist action, feeling PP3 is more difficult, and dragging the hosel instead of the sweet spot becomes a more likely occurrence. Hence the shank.

I had been recently shanking, a previously rare occurrence, because I was attempting the swinger's wrist action, where one immediately turns the arms onplane and maintains that configuration to release point. My normal wrist action is the hitter's wrist action, where one gradually turns the arms onplane, then one gradually swivels and rolls the arms on the downswing.

With the proper swinger's wrist action, I was directly loading PP3 instead of the left wrist. i am not used to maintaining turned wrists.Thus by directly loading pp3 when the sweetspot and clubface were facing the plane, I was dragging the hosel and consequently shanking.

Next time I practice, I will attempt to load the left wrist with my pivot. I don't think there will be enough time in that blink of an eye interval to notice much about pp3 because of its faintness. I will trust the automatic simultaneous release sequence will take care of itself. Hitters aim PP1 directly at the ball. I don't know if swingers do the same with pp2; aimit directly at the ball. I do know that swingers trace the geometric plane line with pp3, however, as I said before, this happens so quickly, that tracing is very difficult.

[EdZ]

Perhaps one of the biggest challenges for true swinging is learning to 'trust' that CF will do its job and to 'allow' rotation. Instinct for most people is to 'try' to do something with the club, which unfortunately gets in the way of allowing the club to swing.

If you find that you are bringing the hosel into the ball, chances are you are either a) off plane or b) out of rhythm

Most often the issue is being off plane, having the club too inside on the takeaway with a 'lift and roll' motion of the hands that instantly takes the club off plane. Imagine a line along your toes parallel to the target line, at about the balls of your feet (where your hands are hanging at address). You want your hands to move back and through along that line, without the club getting too much 'behind' them off the plane. Work on this without a club, and even better, while swinging a rope or 'tempo ball' (see ebay).

This addresses the second main issue - rhythm. You can use a rope, or a towel, or even just a t-shirt. Swing it back and wait for it to hit your back, then through. You'll feel the 'swinging' rhythm, and with the t-shirt, you'll even feel that 'lag' loaded and dragged through. The feel of a 'heavy' club that will really help you feel those pressure points in your hands, and 'let' you SWING without trying. Swinging your hands as if they were a child on a swing set.

[Trig]

Perhaps one of the biggest challenges for true swinging is learning to 'trust' that CF will do its job and to 'allow' rotation. Instinct for most people is to 'try' to do something with the club, which unfortunately gets in the way of allowing the club to swing.

If you find that you are bringing the hosel into the ball, chances are you are either a) off plane or b) out of rhythm

Most often the issue is being off plane, having the club too inside on the takeaway with a 'lift and roll' motion of the hands that instantly takes the club off plane. Imagine a line along your toes parallel to the target line, at about the balls of your feet (where your hands are hanging at address). You want your hands to move back and through along that line, without the club getting too much 'behind' them off the plane. Work on this without a club, and even better, while swinging a rope or 'tempo ball' (see ebay).

This addresses the second main issue - rhythm. You can use a rope, or a towel, or even just a t-shirt. Swing it back and wait for it to hit your back, then through. You'll feel the 'swinging' rhythm, and with the t-shirt, you'll even feel that 'lag' loaded and dragged through. The feel of a 'heavy' club that will really help you feel those pressure points in your hands, and 'let' you SWING without trying. Swinging your hands as if they were a child on a swing set.

Good stuff Ed! I'm going to try some of this myself. I've been hitting but recently started to learn to swing. I need to trust CF. Coming from hitting it's easy to want to bring in the right arm drive.

[EdZ]

Trig - think HEAVY and SMOOTH

swinging really is effortless power