Saturday, December 16, 2006

Pitching Version 2.0

Again you will notice here elements of the "Isosceles" and "Separation" techniques at work.

Essentially pitching in general is the same technique as the full swing (see Shoulders Version 2.0). The obvious difference is the swing plane which, instead of the shoulder to the ball plane, is hands to the ball plane. Consequently, it is a flatter swing. This technique is designed for high shots with full back spin.

Here is how to do it:

  1. Setup with weight favoring left side. The club is resting fully aligned with the left arm and the ball more to the right of center aligned more to the right foot.
  2. Visualize the low plane - hands to ball, parallel to the shaft. Because of the "Separation of Church and State" theory, the right hand INITIATES the swing by cocking the club shaft towards the two o'clock direction and bringing the club along the low plane. Somewhere at the early part of the takeaway and as soon as the club enters the plane, the shoulders take over swaying the club along the low plane, hip high - the body turning around the vertebrae. (Read the last pointer)
  3. Pivot (more like swaying) the body (not the shoulders since the plane is by the hips) around the hip high plane until the desired feeling (for the distance) is felt. This can be half, three quarters or partial swings - it is not necessary to go all the way.
  4. Again, make sure that the turn is full as signified by getting that "enough" feeling. (Read the last pointer)
  5. The shoulders make the hit by turning the upper body towards the ball along the hip-high plane.
  6. As in putting, rhythm must be established by making a connection between the upswing and the downswing.
There are so many mentions of the plane that you must now realize it is very important. With this technique, you can open the club face and make a LOB SHOT out of this pitching technique. However, there must be a clear distinction between the plane for full shots (shoulder-high) and the plane for pitches (hip-high).

Friday, December 15, 2006

The Shoulders Swing Version 2.0

Now is the time to visualize the golf swing as hitting the ball with the shoulders - all the other parts purposely ignored. After several practices and developing the previous chapters on the "Isosceles Triangle" and the "Separation of Church and State", I realized that a few written chapters need to be modified. WORD OF CAUTION - DO NOT FORGET THAT THE MAIN INTENT IS TO MENTALLY THINK OF THE SWING AS A SHOULDER SWING - the arms and hands just automatically executes by centrifugal force. The small wheel and the big wheel concept must be junked.

Here is how to do it:

  1. Standard setup for targeting purposes - feet, shoulders aligned. However, the club is resting fully aligned with the left arm - to the point that the hands rest to the right of the head (vs. directly below).
  2. Feel the right thumb and forefinger wrap and resting on the club. Feel the right palm comfortably sitting on the left hand. Right fingers are not jammed towards the left fingers - it is gripping comfortably the club. The right hand will actively lift the club like a hammer towards the two o'clock direction.
  3. Be consciously aware of the knee-locked right leg.
  4. Firm up the left arm and hand.
  5. Because of the "Separation of Church and State" theorem, the right hand INITIATES by cocking the club shaft towards the two o'clock direction. Somewhere at the early part of the takeaway, the shoulders take over finishing the up-swing. (Read no. 10)
  6. Pivot the shoulders right locked leg until the left muscles is pulled all the way and the left shoulder is way under the chin. Of course, for half or partial swings (as in pitching) - it is not necessary to go all the way.
  7. Again, make sure that the turn is full as signified by the left shoulder hitting the chin.
  8. The shoulders make the hit by moving the weight and turning towards the ball.
  9. The weight movement should automatically force a reverse C finish.
  10. As in putting, rhythm must be established by making a connection between the upswing and the downswing.
I REPEAT AGAIN - DO NOT FORGET THAT THE MAIN INTENT IS TO MENTALLY THINK OF THE SWING AS A SHOULDERS SWING.

Please do not be fooled that this section may not be important. At the moment, I would say this is the most important section that I have written.

The locked knee is a crucial part of it for it maintains the body's alignment to the target. The shoulders pivots around the knee - as far as it will go. This mental change, that is, having the focus on the weight of the upper torso while swinging is very, very important.

THIS IS REALLY A VERY SIMPLE MOVE AND LEAVES YOU WITH THE FEELING THAT YOU EXECUTED TIGER'S SWING. MINUTE CHANGES TO ACCURACY IS ACHIEVED BY APPLYING THE THEORY OF THE ISOSCELES TRIANGLE.