Why the baseball bat technique works

22Sep2007: THE FINAL TEST IS THE HEAVY TRAINER CLUB. If the trainer club can be pulled by the body with an inside-outside effect of the club face, then it is correct. The real key is ending the coiled upswing at the top with the feeling of the clasped hands in the relative same position at setup. Only with this position will the trainer club be able to come back to the hitting zone with an inside to outside effect. By the way, even the right hand use is not necessary to get this effect. At address, if you would just imagine the plane as the same as the shaft and if you flick the club head around like an apron going backwards (with the right hand, with the left hand, or with both clasped hands) along that plane, then the shoulders will instinctively turn to bring it up - ending into a fluid motion at the top. It "should" end at the CORRECT position where the body can pull it down - the club coming back with and inside to outside path. But remember, the trainer club has to agree.

The above is the answer, using it as written in the previous posting makes the club go from in to outside on the downswing. Of course, with short irons the effect is more of going deeper (to the ground) than with the driver where the inside to outside swing effect is preferred.

A Matter of Trust

All the previous postings talk about how to execute the ultimate swing. We have learned that reverse scooping is very important. In addition, we learned that the right hand V position must almost be a the 12:00 o'clock position to be able to correctly do the reverse scoop. Everything talk about being mentally in control about what is happening with the swing but is this really the way it should be? Can we keep mentally alert all the time in golf?

The answer is NO. But how does Tiger do it? The answer may be what he usually say to himself, "Trust your swing, Tiger." Yes, I think it is a matter of trust.

But the trust must be built over solid foundations and it should be nurtured because you lose it if you do not prepare for it correctly. What I mean is for this mechanical, no thinking approach to happen, constant active practicing with the mind actively thinking out the sequences of the swing and the muscles remembering the mechanical aspect must be done almost every time while practicing and before playing.

What do I really mean? The mechanics of the swing must be actively practiced and during practice, one leads to the points where you let go and just reduce the swing into two mechanical moves - that Tiger may be doing. The two moves basically is: first, the reverse scooping is done mechanically by just flipping the right hand - slowly, towards the right and proceeding to the upswing, and second, the body just mechanically uncorks like Tiger Woods. No thinking at all.

By the way, the practice must follow all the mechanics mentioned in the previous postings. It must culminate to the two mechanical moves. Do not stop until the results are acceptable, i.e, ball going straight.

Golf Swing's Three Distinct Parts (book title)

The differing techniques and teachings of the golf swing really agree when one nets the swing to it's three different and distinct parts:

1. Right hand side flip
2. Left shoulder twist
   
3. Upper Body turnaround

The Ultimate Full Body Swing II

This is an update of the posting with the same title. The purpose is to document the swing that was found and then lost – see the recent postings. By the way, if one will read through all the other postings (like I did before writing this), there seems to be similarities on golf techniques found, except they are described differently. For example, the right hand early cocking, the double plane, etc. are things that somehow is in line with what I am writing now.

Any way, I went to the driving range and found the technique that was lost (in the previous postings).

Here are some points to remember. These are all important and are part of the whole swing. It is not because of a particular technique but the totality of all the techniques that make this “ULTIMATE” swing.

First, during the stance, I must imaging I am like Tiger Woods, looking proud and erect.

Second, the arms must feel like the tied-up feeling of Hogan.

Third, the two hands forming the grip must be joined tightly together.

Fourth, before the start of the swing, the right hand muscle at the base of the thumb and forefinger must be “felt” because that is the direction where the club will be brought up. 09Oct2007: Note that this might not really be true since the club is not brought up by the right hand. Actually the right hand flicks the club along the "small" plane to the right (see scooping below).

Fifth, to start the swing, the club head is brought up (09Oct2007: not up but sideways - remember the baseball bat?) by the right hand sharply (early cocking) - - - and along the club shaft plane. This is very important. It does not matter if this is done slowly or in a jerky motion. What matters is the right hand starts the movement. This is the reverse scoop, opening like a door and moving through the club shaft plane - that will give you a feeling on the hit like you are reverse scooping the ball.

20Sep2007: The reverse scoop motion is mandatory. It is also advisable to make this move a "sideways" flick of the right hand and the harder the better. The shaft plane is really a flick from the point of the grasped hands to the tip of the shaft (before the club head). It does not mean that the plane is imagined as parallel to the ground. On the contrary, the flick is best angled a little on the up side so the club head descends on the ball on the way back - which results on a flushed hit (remember the solid thump sound heard at the driving range today?). 09Oct2007: To get the scooping motion correctly, move the V of the right hand grip closer to 12 o'clock.

Sixth, after the right hand starts the swing, the left shoulder takes over to complete the turn to the top. This transition can be a fluid motion or not – the fluidity is not important. What is important is that the left shoulder must perform to the top – not an incomplete turn.

Seventh and very important, the body hit must be executed. It is not the shoulders, it is the body. The body hit can be automatic like Padrig’s Harrington (see other posting) or it can be guiding although too much guiding might be a negative thing.

Eight and last, the feeling after the swing is like finishing like Tiger Woods. Maybe, setting up on the balls of the feet may help the balance like what he recently said when he won the Fedex cup.

Let me see if I can update the posting before:

1. Make sure the grip is firm with both hands acting as one. The tied up feeling from the previous chapter or posting must be utilized. The intent is to take out the hands in the equation.
2. Make sure to start the club with the right hand (two o'clock, remember? ) (15Sept2007 - extreme "EARLY" cocking of the right hand going to the 2 o'clock position.)- bringing the club head back along the same path I want it to follow when it hits the ball. Remember it is the reverse ice cream scoop! However, to make this a mechanical move - the club head should be brought back along the club shaft - as the plane (see paragraph below).
3. Then the shoulders take over twist as far as necessary for the swing at hand - full for a longer carry.
4. The body then springs back and makes the hit - all automatically and by muscle memory. However, the body hit must be felt like a hit by the heavy firm upper body - in particular, the main point is the sternum. It is not a plain lazy turn around; it is a deliberate hit by the firm upper body. If it like the hit of the forearms (tied up feeling of Hogan) but more felt by the chest.

The result of this simplified routine is an extremely accurate straight shot. When you really analyze what is happening and break down the movements, it is really simple to explain. First, the right hand moves back the club head - along the desired path / angle. Second, the shoulders take over and further twist the body (with the right hand still continuing to do its work). Third, while all this is happening and when the body is fully twisted, the body yanks everything back to where it started (the club head coming back to the ball) and plus more.

And going further, let me update the rest of the previous posting:

By the way, BRINGING THE CLUB BACK ALONG THE PATH, can this be really the little baseball bat as exemplified by AJ Bonar? If it is, then we can really make this swing powerful, repetitive, and mechanical. Let us pursue and study this matter for later reporting.

RESULT: Yes, this is it! (18Sep07: but not like the apron technique – it is merely a normal upswing started by the right hand) The club head must be brought back in the same plane as the shaft - in contract to the regular Hogan plane. Bringing the club like this makes the twisting effect on the body to be so natural - as proven on the golf course today. The driver is the biggest benefactor of this change. TONY, PLEASE REMEMBER THIS! It is important to remember the feeling. The full weight of the centrifugal force is felt at the top. The downswing is just a reaction to the weight of the club - an automatic uncoiling action. No other action is needed, just the body uncoiling the arms and club, then club head towards the ball - and up, up as far as it will go around the body.

13Sept2007: No, it is not the early cocking of the hands. It is the baseball bat effect of AJ. All the other techniques mentioned above, I have already tried before (and failed). Only the baseball bat technique is new enough to create that automatic body winded feeling which unwinds to a straight shot. On the driving range today, I tried just forgetting everything and seize on muscle memory - that did not work. Second, I tried the early cocking - that did not work. I went to the baseball bat technique - the hands opening the club head like an open door along the shaft plane lift an early cock - and then the shoulders taking over (as close as possible to two movements). The opening door can be visualize like an apron where the club head starts from 12 o'clock and tries to finish at 3 o'clock before the shoulders takes over. This is the move that re-created that feeling (and ball flight effect) that I had when I last played. (18Sep07: NOT REALLY - not like the apron technique – it is merely a normal upswing started by the right hand, executed along the club shaft.)

14Sep2007: This AJ move and Hogan's cupped hand is the same technique however it is just so difficult to find a common way to implement it. It might have been easier for Hogan to cup his left hand while I find it easier to do the "apron" way. The purpose of all these techniques, I believe, is delaying the hit that makes the hook impossible. Hogan said that when he can hit the ball as much as possible but cannot over do it. This also happened to me while I was playing - the one that started this topic.

17Sep2007: At the driving range I found that the apron technique is lacking. What really worked well is the extreme and early cocking (not up but backward cocking) of the right hand at the start of the back swing going to the 2 o'clock position - just like the wedge chipping technique of Tiger Woods! This was mentioned above - 11Sep2007 - but I said no. That is odd why I said that... (18Sep07: YES but it is merely a normal upswing started by the right hand and along the club shaft plane.)

22Sep2007: THE FINAL TEST IS THE HEAVY TRAINER CLUB. If the trainer club can be pulled by the body with an inside-outside effect of the club face, then it is correct. The real key is ending the coiled upswing at the top with the feeling of the clasped hands in the relative same position at setup. Only with this position will the trainer club be able to come back to the hitting zone with an inside to outside effect. By the way, even the right hand use is not necessary to get this effect. At address, if you would just imagine the plane as the same as the shaft and if you flick the club head around like an apron going backwards (with the right hand, with the left hand, or with both clasped hands) along that plane, then the shoulders will instinctively turn to bring it up - ending into a fluid motion at the top. It "should" end at the CORRECT position where the body can pull it down - the club coming back with and inside to outside path. But remember, the trainer club has to agree.

I remember But I Cannot Re-produce?

Yeah, I remember the feeling. I brought the club up and at the top you get the feeling that the body was pulled and twisted and the only thing you can do was to untwist to the ball and around. The feeling at the top is a self realization that a complete coiling has been achieved and the only move to take was to uncoil.

But how was this done? It is somewhere between the "reverse scooping", to the transition to the "baseball" effect of AJ and into the "shaft" plane. I think it has something to do with the wrist position at the top. This has to be tested. I believe that the reverse scoop locked the wrist at the top in a suppose to be wrong "reverse" way but it actually helped because it game me the feeling that I cannot fire the hands but forced to use the body to make the hit.

Let us see what happens at the driving range.

What I found out in the range is the baseball effect or starting the clubhead to the right is part of it. This indeed will force the body to turn and come back by turning also - not hitting with the hands. Also important is disengaging completely the pincer fingers of the right hand - the same way Michelle Wie's right hand grip should be used.

So in summary, the backswing must be started by the club head opening like a door to the right (baseball) and making a full turn afterwards. The right thumb snugly around the club - not sitting on top. The hit should feel automatic and the body just turning the club around towards the ball and pass the ball.

One key thing that is done is the right hand brings the club head around the body along shaft plane until it reaches the top. (The movement is unusual in such a way that it is like reverse scooping the club around your body). By the end of the swing, the right elbow must be fully tucked on the side with the centrifugal weight of the club fully felt. Somewhere either before the club completely reaches the top, the shoulder also makes the turn. This movement is what has to be remembered (see previous posting) because it is the one that sets up the full body turn around hit - where the hands are not used at all.

09Sep2007: This is another way than the previous paragraph and may be the real answer the one I was looking for. What am I looking for? When I last played I had this feeling that the swing, especially the driver, it seems to be easy to bring to the top and I can feel the tightness at the top. In addition when I bring it down, their is this feeling that I cannot fire my right hands (or both for that matter) and that the only way to hit the ball is bringing by body around. The result was there was no way for me to hook or slice - my body can just guide the club head square to the ball. No matter how hard I hit, I can only hit the ball straight.

I remember that before I played then, my main technique was reverse scooping (see posting on the body swing) and I said there that maybe I can may this mechanical by just doing the baseball technique. What I found while playing was it was better to visualize of the baseball technique if the the club head is swung on the same plane as the club shaft. I did not realize that the way my right hand is gripping and bringing back the club was important. Actually, it was because it actually was the reason I cannot fire the hands. (Note: I might have stumbled into Hogan's secret.) The V of my right hand was pointing to the right shoulder (Hogan's) and I was flipping the right hand (naturally 2'oclock) back along the shaft plane. At the top, the club cocks in such a way that the only way to bring it square is bring the body around. Any way the hands are used will change the squareness of the club to the ball (in my head) so I was forced to use the body!!!!

The right hand grip needs to be explained further so that it can be understood easily much later on when one will be reading this posting again.

• First, imagine the right and left hands gripping the club. Rest the V pointing to your chin or we can call this the 12 o'clock position (in relation to the shaft). The right hand palm is perpendicular to the ground.
  
• With the right hand, fan the club head (lying on the address position) to the right and back to the left - back and forth- keeping the hands pretty much on the same position, acting like the axis. If you imaging the ground as a clock, you will notice that you can bring the club head pretty much from the 2 o'clock to the 10 o'clock very easily.
• Now grip the club with the right hand at the extreme 3 o'clock position (in relation to the shaft and right palm parallel to the ground) and try to fan the club head on the ground. You will find that you can pretty much pass the 2 o'clock position but it is hard to go past the 12 o'clock position.
• The desired position of the right hand is somewhere closer to the 3 o'clock (the V pointing to the right shoulder) where it will be in a position to force you to use the body in hitting the ball but loose enough to not feel restricted.

This right hand positioning should be studied more since it's effect from handiness to no hands bring a lot of other uses in golf. This really opens up a lot of possibilities - including the short game.

Also, do not forget, the body hit must be felt like a hit by the heavy firm upper body - in particular, the main point is the sternum. It is not a plain lazy turn around, it is a deliberate hit by the firm upper body. If it like the hit of the forearms (tied up feeling of Hogan) but more felt by the chest.

11Sep2007: Is it possible that all this is really just the early cocking of the hands?

13Sept2007: No, it is not the early cocking of the hands. It is the baseball bat effect of AJ. All the other techniques mentioned above, I have already tried before (and failed). Only the baseball bat technique is new enough to create that automatic body winded feeling which unwinds to a straight shot. On the driving range today, I tried just forgetting everything and seize on muscle memory - that did not work. Second, I tried the early cocking - that did not work. I went to the baseball bat technique - the hands opening the club head like an open door along the shaft plane lift an early cock - and then the shoulders taking over (as close as possible to two movements). The opening door can be visualize like an apron where the club head starts from 12 o'clock and tries to finish at 3 o'clock before the shoulders takes over. This is the move that re-created that feeling (and ball flight effect) that I had when I last played.

14Sep2007: This AJ move and Hogan's cupped hand is the same technique however it is just so difficult to find a common way to implement it. It might have been easier for Hogan to cup his left hand while I find it easier to do the "apron" way. The purpose of all these techniques, I believe, is delaying the hit that makes the hook impossible. Hogan said that when he can hit the ball as much as possible but cannot over do it. This also happened to me while I was playing - the one that started this topic.

17Sep2007: At the driving range I found that the apron technique is lacking. What really worked well is the extreme and early cocking (not up but backward cocking) of the right hand at the start of the back swing going to the 2 o'clock position - just like the wedge chipping technique of Tiger Woods! This was mentioned above - 11Sep2007 - but I said no. That is odd why I said that...

The Ultimate Full Body Swing

Lately, to my surprise, I can now hit the ball like Tiger.

1. Make sure the grip is firm with both hands acting as one. The tied up feeling from the previous chapter or posting can be utilized but not necessary. The intent is to take out the hands in the equation.
   
2. Make sure to start the club with the right hand (two o'clock, remember? ) (15Sept2007 - extreme "EARLY" cocking of the right hand going to the 2 o'clock position.)- bringing the club head back along the same path I want it to follow when it hits the ball. Remember it is the reverse ice cream scoop! However, to make this a mechanical move - the club head should be brought back along the club shaft - as the plane (see paragraph below).
   
3. Then the shoulders takes over twist as far as necessary for the swing at hand - full for a longer carry.
4. The body then springs back and makes the hit - all automatically and by muscle memory. However, the body hit must be felt like a hit by the heavy firm upper body - in particular, the main point is the sternum. It is not a plain lazy turn around, it is a deliberate hit by the firm upper body. If it like the hit of the forearms (tied up feeling of Hogan) but more felt by the chest.
   

The result of this simplified routine is an extremely accurate straight shot. When you really analyze what is happening and break down the movements, it is really simple to explain. First, the right hand moves back the club head - along the desired path / angle. Second, the shoulders take over and further twist the body (with the right hand still continuing to do its work). Third, while all this is happening and when the body is fully twisted, the body yanks everything back to where it started (the club head coming back to the ball) and plus more.

By the way, BRINGING THE CLUB BACK ALONG THE PATH, can this be really the little baseball bat as exemplified by AJ Bonar? If it is, then we can really make this swing powerful, repetetive, and mechanical. Let us pursue and study this matter for later reporting.

RESULT: Yes, this is it! The club head must be brought back in the same plane as the shaft - in contract to the regular Hogan plane. Bringing the club like this makes the twisting effect on the body to be so natural - as proven on the golf course today. The driver is the biggest benefactor of this change. TONY, PLEASE REMEMBER THIS! It is important to remember the feeling. The full weight of the centrifugal force is felt at the top. The downswing is just a reaction to the weight of the club - an automatic uncoiling action. No other action is needed, just the body uncoiling the arms and club, then club head towards the ball - and up, up as far as it will go around the body.

The Foreams - Hogan's Tied-up Feeling

Now I know why Hogan emphasized the tied-up feeling of the forearms. The firm forearms actually is used to "hit" the ball and ensures extreme accuracy of golf shots.

Slow and Delibarate Rhytm

Today I played golf and I noticed that I was inconsistent at the beginning and at times even forgetting how to swing the golf club. At first I noticed that I was not using the firm solid grip but the upswing most often feel odd - so are the results. Then I started slowing the upswing and setting-up ala Tiger Woods. When I started doing this, I noticed at the start of the swing, I also was pointing the club in a deliberate manner along the target line and then executing the shoulder twist. It became easier to reach the top fully coiled and the weight transfer to the left foot starts the downswing. Very controllable shots indeed.

Shoulders Plus or Making Sure of The Finish

Now is the time to move forward and get longer and better accuracy. How do we do it? Instead of purely relying on the shoulders, think target now. Use the rhythm as learned in putting - remember, backswing... and rebound or automatic forward swing? Same thing with the full swing, concentrate on the target, twist the shoulders but 'feel' the weight of the backswing and with a powerful move, full the club with the body - to the hole.

By working the swing with the full body, the shoulders will be able to complete the turn and the club will wrap around. Without this, the club tends to finish short. Remember how Padrig does it. Watch how most of the professional golfers pull their shots... to a wonderful finish.

Sand shots, pitches, chips and putts

While the long game needs the shoulders as the swing engine, the short game, however, needs the rock solid hands instead. And like the long game where the swing stops at the top and the mid-point feeling is felt (like a fly fisherman flicking his rod backwards), so is the short game. With a flick of the hands, a feeling is felt of fullness of the little swing - and then the solid hands starts the hit (not downswing since sometime, the hit is done sideways).

Back to square One or Making it simple

Now that we know we will use the shoulders to make the swing, it is not really necessary to use the hands or even focus at it. We can just imagine the golf swing as pure shoulders swing and at the same time simplify it all. Like the objective of the blog when we all started - we will use the big muscles and simplify the swing.

So the main thing now is when making the golf swing, just think with the shoulders. The hands or grip is just part of the mechanical set up but the actual swing is just he shoulders going back and twisting.

Ok, guys, this is it. This is when we break 80 - consistently.

Update to Aug. 31 Swing Points...

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Swing Check Points - In the beginning...

1. The flail, the flail.
   
2. Club set-up: The club shaft points to the left shoulder and aligned with the left arm. Purpose: This simulates the clubface allignment at the moment of impact
3. Grip: The thumb and foreginger pinches the shaft "actively" with the feeling that the club is to be taken initially by the RIGHT hand toward the two o'clock position WITHOUT REGARD TO the swing plane. Purpose: EARLY COCKING TO START THE SWING.
   
4. Plane: DISREGARD.
5. The left shoulder pushes the club AS MUCH AS PRACTICAL. Purpose: BASIC REQUIREMENT HAVE A COILED SWING. Upper Body is coiled to the maximum. Purpose: To make sure that shoulders are fully coiled and the power transferred to the upper body. This is the upswing of the flail technique so "feel" the flail with the left shoulder!
   
6. Flat foot stance: Ensure that both feet are planted on the ground securely. The left sole and heel only lifts up when pulled by the upper body, else it stays down. Purpose: To ensure that the club comes back correctly and to maximize coiling of the upper body - for power.
7. Stiff right knee: The relative position of the right knee stays at right angle to the target line at all times during the backswing. Purpose: The samE as no. 5 - accuracy and power.
8. Coiled upper body - Downswing: Once the hands and arms have coiled the upper body, an entwined power is felt, and that coiled feeling is the one that hits the ball. Purpose: Delayed hit. This is the flail hitting the ball so "feel" the failing done by the left shoulder.
   
9. Reverse C: The coiled feeling is imagined as going around and through the ball - which imparts more power. The right shoulder is way in front of the left shoulder at the finish position. Purpose: P-O-W-E-R.

What is not so apparent here and hard to explain is how the early cocking of the right hand starts and culminates to the shoulders taking over in one complete motion.

A swing within a swing

Even with the preceding chapter, the Hogan Swing 3.0, it is still hard to bring up the club, especially the driver. There must be a way to create a swing that is automatic, the same way I putt now - after aiming, it is a mechanical movement of the shoulder doing the backswing of the putter and the hands moving forward for the hit, without even thinking of the target. Today, I went to the driving range and only brought the driver. I told myself that I will just keep on hitting it until I find that mechanical swing.

After a lot of balls hit, I found that I can bring the driver back with my right hand (see the previous posting for instructions) and just like the short irons, be aware of the face when bringing it back. And without even thinking of the plane, just bring the driver to the top where the right arm will be tightly haulted by the body. The hit is, of course, the left hand but naturally done to maximize the AJ force.

The preceding turned out to be useless when employed during play. What held up is the visualization of the plane. Also, by making the early cock swing, the visualization of the plane may become easier. This EARLY COCKING routine must be further studied.

The early cocking is like the making a abbreviated pitch within the swing. The early pitch visualizes how the club face is going away from the ball. The shoulders takes over afterwards. The hit is done by the shoulders and the "little pitch" hitting the ball is automatic.

The Hogan Swing 3.0

We can call it the Hogan 3.0 Swing. It entails the required grip, the cupped left hand and the body turn.

First let us talk about the set-up. It should be the standard Hogan set-up with the hands falling straight down while holding the club - with the L formed by the arms and club very apparent. The grip is a solid grip with the left thumb snugly fitted along the right palm line. The V of the right hand prominently pointing to the right shoulder. The right palm is not exactly in the shake-hand position, more pointed to the 2 o'clock position. The left hand is much closer to the shake-hand position. The palms are not really parallel - the left palm is more or less perpendicular to the ground at 12:00 o'clock.

Why is the right hand positioned like this? Because this is the position where the right hand can naturally flick with the wrist the club along the plane - even in a slow-mo way.

At address, the plane is visualized cutting throught the equator of the ball. At that moment when the equator of the ball along the plane is visualized, the right wrist flips the club deliberately along the plane. Somewhere at hip level, when the club shaft merges with the plane, the left arm takes over and continues the upswing - the right palm merely cradling the club like a waiter with his tray on the right hand. At the top, the left shoulder gives that extra twist.

At the same time, the twisted shoulders releases back towards the ball - and the weight fully going to the left. As the arms passes the ball, the left cupped back hand "paints" the ball. Then, after passing the ball, the body jerks to face the ball - imparting that "baseball bat hit" of the club head. All throughout the downswing, the left hand is in control - the right hand merely tags along (it is needed only in the backswing).

Putting / Chipping Version 2.0

The technique no longer follows the intent - use the big muscles for consistent accuracy. That one did not work for me, mainly because of misalignment errors introduced by it - as revealed by the theory of the "Isosceles Triangle" and corrected by the "Separation of Church and State".

The putting is MECHANICAL and the procedure now should be:

• While keeping the ball in front (perpendicular to the putting path) and looking at the hole ahead, do several practice putts to get the feel for the length of the putt and to feel the RHYTHM needed. Remember to think the ball rolling there to the target spot.
• Come back to the set-up spot with both feet together. Lay down the club with the "LEFT" hand square to the target (Ronald's tip).
• Read the putt, decide on the target spot on the green or the hole. Commit to the target by aligning the shoulders to the target line and opening the two feet.
  
• Bring the putter back with the SHOULDERS - "without" thinking about the target spot - execute the same rhythm felt and ...
  
• Without missing a beat, let the ARMS come back pendulum style to and through the ball - but the SHOULDERS MUST CONSCIOUSLY STAY where it was at the finish of the takeaway.

This technique makes my putt go straight to the aimed target spot. Here is how it works. My putts before always goes to the right of the target line. Using the theory of the Isosceles Triangle, what must be causing this is my lower body opens up before my upper body gets to the ball. Remember? When the lower body is ahead than the upper body, the hands cannot reach the point where they are equal at the points of impact. In order to correct my fault, I have to make a conscious effort to keep my upper body (the arms) hit earlier than my lower body - thus creating a straight putt (or a pull when compared to my previous technique).

This is the same technique for chipping.

Wind and Unwind

How big of a back swing will I do? How do I know when enough is enough?

One thing, as far as the back swing for old farts, there is no "enough" back swing. Go as much as you can. But what should you achieve for? I would say that when the right hand brings the club up, it should try to bring the club aligned with the plane. The shoulders should then wind up as much as possible - the club along the plane and the shoulders wrapping around the spine. The down swing should just feel like unwinding the shoulders. This should be automatic with no conscious steering - one way or the other.

How do we execute this wind and unwind technique? Well, one you have set up, where the club is left flat on the ground, the arms falling down straight to the grip, almost forming an "L", the right hand in control and dot on the muscle of the right hand is felt - then it is just a matter of looking at the plane and winding the shoulders parallel to it. This motion will bring the club along the plane automatically. Wind of the shoulders continues up to the desirec tautness.

The next is up to you. By the way, this is an extreme implementation of Hogan's plane.

How important is the L angle?

If it leads to shanks, it is priceless! I have this bad habit of straightening my arms in relation to the club shaft that when I forget, the resulting shanks will put me down miserably. Even if I know the correction, the feeling of insecurity pervades for a long time. I should explain this section better and with more detail.

Time to go to the next level - no swing thoughts?

It has been written by a lot of professionals that the ultimate goal is for muscle memory to take over and that the swing mechanics should be forgotten in order to achieve the highest level of golf skill.

Well, theoretically, I feel I can do this. When practicing the swing, I can feel that my whole focus when executing the swing is the upper body - in particular - the center part of the chest. I feel that my entire power is focused on that small part of my chest, the center bone of the chest, the sternum. That must be a technical term for that part of the skeleton. This is that part of my body I feel hits the ball.

Can I forget everything and just feel my way through the swing? The driving range reminded me that the answer is NO and it is because the cocking and bringing the club by the right hand up is a key ingredient of my swing. The downward hit is done by the chest but the upswing must be done by the right hand.

The reason and answer to this, I concluded can be found in the other topic - The Isosceles Triangle. I MUST RESOLVE NOT TO IMPROVE ANYMORE IF IT WILL ENTAIL A CHANGE IN MY CURRENT SWING. My swing is simple at the moment. Setup, bring the club up with the right hand, shoulders twist as much as possible, shoulders hit!

The Grip and Setup

Contrary to popular beliefs and teachings, the primary purpose of the grip is to "launch" the club head to "orbit". Consequently, if this maneuver is not precisely angled correctly, the club head will orbit but will not be able to successfully land smoothly. This may be an unusual analogy but the swing - up swing and down swing - is directly related to the movement of the shoulders. Therefore a smooth and correctly angled takeaway is necessary to achieve an accurate ball flight.

In addition to the grip, the set-up is also necessary. Set up relates to the position of the arms and hands to the club grip, the club shaft position and its height.

Additionally, the right pinching fingers (thumb and forefinger) need special mention. How tight should it pinch the grip? It should be tight enough to steady the club firmly (for pro-like consistency) but not too tight to encourage the right arm to takeover and derail the shoulder swing.

Here is a point by point instruction:

• Grip the club ala Hogan and lay the club head behind the ball.
  
• Drop the grip and let it stay where it wants to stay (gravity). The hands are directly below the chin. The club is more of a right angle than straight to the ball.
  
• Place the grip a little left just to make sure it lines up with the left arm.
• Now you should have that feeling that you can lift the club head with the right hand. It must be a nice and confident feeling.
• Feel that confident feeling; else start again.

More about the confident feeling... For me, it is feeling or being aware of the point of the V, where the right forefinger and thumb meet - at the instant before the club is taken back. That point is where the right hand brings up the club. The effort of the right hand bringing the club is like a fly-fisherman flinging his fishing pole backward. It is not a visual direction but rather a by "feel" direction. NOTE: ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING THIS IS THE COCKING OF THE CLUB BY THE RIGHT HAND IS DONE FIRST, THEN THE LEFT SHOULDER COMPLETES THE BACKSWING.

Swing Plane Must Cross the Target Line

It is so easy to make the mistake that the swing plane perimeter is imagined as a circle and and the plane goes along the target line. However, this is far from the truth. In our mind, we should endeavor to hit the ball with an inside to outside intent, in effect, crossing the line.

When using the shoulders to throw the club towards the ball, make sure that you understand the actual path the clubhead takes depending on the length of the club you are using. For example, if you are hitting the wedges, you tend to send the clubhead digging to the ground. This is because your swing plane is so upright that it almost mirror the target line. However, if you are hitting the driver, you must throw the clubhead more from the ball to outside the target line. You are in effect throwing the clubhead to cross the target line. In reality, what happens is the clubhead never crosses the line but just stays a little longer on the target line. If not purposely thrown to cross the line, the clubhead would have just have immediately come around and leave the target line, thus giving the ball a glancing blow rather than staying with it longer.

So what to do, you would ask? Well, if one cannot do the latter suggestion (below), then one must make sure the club is thrown (by the shoulders) to cross the target line - in effect forcing it. However, if one can twist his shoulder far enough at the upswing - really twist - then the swing itself is automatically corrected because of centrifugal force and because of "over" swinging.

The Perfect Lie

The "perfect lie" is a very appropriate phrase since it is true no matter how you read it. You can say that golf pro teachers have been lying since they do not emphasize the importance of how the club lies at address but this is very important - even more important than the squareness of the clubface at setup. This is more so for the woods and hybrid clubs. These clubs have a bigger head and on setup, their bottoms must nicely sit on the ground - even if it means that the face is not square to the target. The main reason is it is a prime importance to allow the club to nicely slide along the ground in order to prevent any unneeded twisting that can ruin the shot and direction of the ball. So the other meaning to the "perfect lie" is make sure that the club squats perfectly on the ground.

When addressing the ball, ensure that the club touches and comfortable sits on the ground before gripping the club. It is not advisable to lift the club like Nicklaus - let it stay on the ground until it is brought up by the right hand to initiate the swing. Again, this is a requirement and very important for the woods and hybrid clubs.

Remember also that letting the club sit on the ground may make the club face look like it is no longer square to the target. This is alright. The main important thing is that your shoulders and hips are aligned to the target line. Do the same thing for the irons.