The golf unification secret - Left and then right!

(make sure you read the progression of changes (shown by dates) to the original thesis)

ACTUALLY, THE SECRET OF THE SWING IS THE LEFT WRIST FLICKING THE CLUB UP AND THE SHOULDERS FINISHING THE MOMENTUM THE FULL BACK SWING UP TO SLOT (COILED UPPER BODY IS NECESSARY) WITH THE LEFT ARM KEPT STIFF. THE SHOULDERS AGAIN UNCOILS DOWNWARD AND THE RIGHT HAND/ARM ASSISTING AT IMPACT. One can imagine this as the roped arms of Hogan but that mental picture may let one erroneously conclude that all the three - shoulders, left arm and right arm - are all important but they are not. Only the two, left arm and shoulders are important. IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE ALIVE GRIP IS PERFORMED (FOR EASE OF THE WRIST FLICK ALSO) - MEANING THE FULL COCKING IS NECESSARY. IN OTHER WORDS, THE L ADDRESS OR EARLY COCK IS ESSENTIAL FOR ME. ELSE I SHANK.

Now why is the the golf unification secret? It is because the shoulder turn, the stiff left arm and the right hand assist is the essence of every golf swing - putt, chip, pitch, half swing and full swing.

Let us talk about putting. Once the body has been set up, the only thing to do is perform the "mechanical" move. With a stiff left arm, the shoulders brings the putter back as low as possible. In putting the shoulders do not initiate the hit - it is all right hand bringing the putter face forward. However, it is still shoulders back and right hand hits. TO MAKE THE PUTT HOOK OR GO STRAIGHT (NOT PUSHED), THE BACKSWING SHOULD ALIGN TO THE SHAFT'S PLANE. 11/25/2010: Remember to incorporate the AJ technique (baseball club) - let the face open and right hand slap afterwards.

In chipping, it is exactly like putting. However the shoulders pulls the club forward and the right hand follows and assists.

All the others (pitch, half swing, full swing) is the same except the cocking is done early with the "alive" grip and the shoulders are turned until the upper body is coiled. This coiled feeling is the power behind the golf swing.

11/25/2010: Maximizing spin on chips and pitches? Keeping the club low at back swing and forward swing and apply the AJ technique (still has to proven).

In order to have a standard stroke as I have learned in putting (shoulders first then right hand hits), the right hand must hit also. This is necessary in all shots, chipping up to full shots. However, this is only can be done if the backswing is coiled at the top and the forward swing is initiated by pulling the body towards the ball and the L cock performed. The right hand only comes in just before impact and at the same time the weight is transferred to the left foot. REMEMBER, THE LEFT WRIST FLICK STARTS THE VOYAGE OF THE CLUB WHILE THE ROPED FEELING OF THE CHESTS BRINGS IT UP TO THE DESIRED SLOT. THE ROPED FEELING OF THE CHEST ALSO PULLS THE CLUB BACK AS HARD AS DESIRED TOWARDS THE CLUB AND BEYOND.

16Jun2010: Instead of the flick of the left wrist, use the alive grip to send the club to start the centrifugal force up. It makes is easier to get a full cocking which is needed for a longer ball.

17Jun2010: The secret of the flick is the alive grip alright but it works like this. The right forefinger cradles the club while the left hand pad pushes the club grip downward. At the same time the left shoulder pushes down and around to start the body centrifugal force upwards. I hope I remember the feeling because this explanation is not exact. The shoulders then twist as much as possible and the down stroke is automatic. The chip is in the pudding - the same technique should be followed.

22Jun2010: Alive grip is correct but the one move that is really necessary and needed is the cocking of the club done by pushing the pad and the pulling right hand middle fingers. It is not the grip but the resulting extreme cocked back swing.

23Jun2010: Important Point to learn: arms and hands do not actively work in this type of swing. WARNING: DO NOT USE THE RIGHT HAND TO GAIN DISTANCE. AT THE MOST, USE THE LEFT ARM AND WRIST ONLY. REMEMBER THAT HOGAN IS A NATURAL LEFTY AND HE MAY BE ADVOCATING THE RIGHT HAND USE BUT THAT IS BECAUSE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIS RIGHT TO OVER POWER HIS LEFT (LEFT SIDE OR LEFT HAND).

1. How can I stay on my left side after the hit? Of course, uncoil the shoulders towards the ball, moving to the left at the same time.
2. How do can I consistently use my shoulders to uncoil to the ball? Use the shoulders "only" to bring back the club to the top. Start to push the club head with the left shoulder and keep on coiling up to the end.
3. What happens to the cocking of the hands? Using the alive grip at setup, once the left shoulder push starts, start also the left pad push and the right middle fingers pull.
4. Is there a different feeling with this swing? Yes, at the top you will feel coiled and also feel that there is nothing else to do but uncoil to hit the ball. The arms and hands are just pulled by the uncoiling shoulders.

2Jul2010: Tiger Swing

1. Forearms stiff but springy, directly dropping down.
2. Stiff springy wrists forming almost an L with the arms and club
3. Alive grip forming a solid grip - firmly holding the club above the ground. The last three left finger in command.
4. The feeling of the whole body and arms is tight but springy.
5. The left shoulder goes down toward the ball but immediately the focus changes to the left arm tightening the upper body twist along the plane.
6. Weight transfers to the left and the club is pulled along the path of the plane toward and past the ball.
7. Full left side finish.
8. Objective was to have a simple twist back and twist forward. No other mental thought is intended - just pure mechanical action. The body feels like a robot - firm and simple move.
9. If done correctly, the right arm muscles becomes like a wall that stops the club from cocking lamely. There is a strong tightness of the right side muscles which forces the turning of the shoulders more - but the effect on the downswing is brutal. 11/25/2010: Watch out - this may have caused my back pain. Do not try to force this move to stretch the muscle - bad thing to do. MAY EVEN END YOUR GOLFING DAYS!
10. One more thing, when the alive grip is taken, it is forgotten afterwards, only awareness of shoulder turning is left consciously in the mind - the "roped" feeling of the arms is put in automatic mode.
    
11. 25Nov2010: In addition, as learned recently from my vacation at Orlando, incorportate the AJ technique to everything, putting, chipping, pitches and full shots - especially the drives. Take care that you do not over-do the pronation, shoulders must still be aligned with the target line. Try to remember how it is done with putting - a push of the shoulder that opens up the putter head slightly, then the slap of the putter by the right hand back to the ball.
12. AJ technique - let the club open and slap it back. This is the same as Hogan's pronation and supination teaching except Hogan did not emphasize it as AJ. For full shots, the shoulders push the clubhead away, allowing purposely to let the club face to open, and then coming back with the whole weight in the attemp to slap back the ball - AJ style (remember the AJ bat style club?).
13. The grip must be solid - not left hand or right hand domination. The last left three finger must be holding the club. The alive grip employed - left pad pushing down, right middle fingers pulling up.
14. The arms must be tight - forming a roped feeling - together with the L-forming solid alive grip.
15. VERY IMPORTANT - ESPECIALLY FOR 3 WOOD USE. Make sure that the club at the top (even waiting for it is good) is fully cocked by the right middle fingers. This ensures a solid descending hit on the three wood club - else, you top the ball most of the time. It seems that I tend to hit faster and not letting the full cocking happen at the top. Most clubs will allow this but the three wood would not. Further effects of the full cocking should be tested in the future and posted here.
16. Start cocking with the left hand and expect the best swing ever.