5-0 Monitoring - Tracing the Plane Line

[Yoda]

Hi there,

I just recently broke down and purchased a laser training aid and was wondering what is the best way to get the most out of it and to improve my swing.
This winter I am set on improving my ball striking and swing and wondering if I made the right purchase or not?
Any ideas on how to use it effectively would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Alex

Alex,

Does your laser trainer have its beam at the end of the shaft? If so, you are being encouraged to commit the common error of focusing on the wrong end of the club. Per 5-O, that concentration should be on the Hands and not on the Clubhead. The beam of light from the laser trainer should ideally emit from the #3 Pressure Point. [See Homer's definition of Right Forearm in the Glossary and also the discussion of this exact point near the end of 5-O.]

With the trainers I've seen, it is quite possible -- even probable! -- that the beam can be pointed at the Plane Line, while the tracing line of force from the #3 Pressure Point is nowhere close! That might work with "beam pointing on the living room rug," but it won't work on the golf course with the flag up, the chips down, and the game on!

What to do? First, put away your laser trainer and get a simple flashlight. Hold it with the lens at your #3 Pressure Point and trace the Plane Line through Start-Up and into the Backstroke. When you get past the parallel-to- the-ground alignment on your way to the Top, flip the flashlight in your hands, and allow the lens to once again shine its light at the Plane Line.

If, following this procedure, you still are unable maintain the beam pointing at the Plane Line, then you almost certainly have a Pivot problem. And that disruption is preventing the Hands from correctly executing their On-Plane assigment. For example, is your Right Hip clearing properly? If it is not, then your Hands have no choice but to leave the Plane to the outside. That is why Zone #1 (Body Control per 9-O and 9-1) is the deliberately sequenced first step toward mastery of Zone #2 (Arms) and finally Zone #3 (Hands).

At the end of the day, Zone #3 (where you are currently working) can be no better than Zone #1 allows it to be. Per 9-0, "...unless developed in sequence, a very weak 'compensated' game is inevitable."