To Learn the Golf Swing One Must Forget One Half of the Swing

In all the parts of the golf swing, especially on chips and putts, one must forget the forward swing!  Every conscious mental effort must be relegated to the back swing portions of the total golf swing (this includes the mini swings like putting).  This is the common thread to all the types of swing - full shots, pitches, chips and putts.

The Full Swing


Let us start with the full swing.  This is how it is executed. Usual set-up as learned previously.  The novel one is the shoulders twirls like a helicopter blade towards the right with the conscious objective of bouncing it back as it tightens the body.  The bounce is what makes the the helicopter blade go to reverse back towards the left and bounce again at the other end.  The helicopter blade must be tilted along the plane of the swing.  The finish is when the weight is transferred to the left side.

This helicopter turn is made possible because of the "alive" grip.  This type of grip is  mandatory for this technique to work.  An added observation here is the fact that the hit or forward swing is done by the shoulders and not the hands.  The arms and hands and club are just going for the ride.  19Jul2011: However, the Hogan tied up feeling must be included here somewhere - just keep that in mind.

4Aug2011: Cart overturned last week. Shoulder separation, type III. This means no golf for a long time.  However, do not forget that the alive grip includes the club must rest on the ground.  Else, the ball is topped.

The Pitch

This must be the same as the chip but I have to get a more definitive explanation later - once I have tested the pulling technique.

The Chip

The also employs the alive grip where the last three fingers of the left hand holds the club and the right middle finger (due to arthritis, my other finger can no longer grip the club tight) acts as a fulcrum to lift the club.

The left hand executes the back swing of the club  head, the length of which must long enough to let the forward motion of the club head be able to reach the target.  The back swing can follow any path without regard to the plane, the objective is to be able to execute the type of shot needed, e.g., high, low, quick stopping, lob etc.  Here is the secret here - the forward swing is not done at all - the right hand just throws the whole club to the target.  The club head is not swung at all - except it is just a reaction to the throwing motion of the right hand.  By the way, the length of the swing is varied by the speed and motion of the right hand.

The Putt

This is essentially a mini chip.  When the target line has been seen, the putter is just brought back by the left hand (correction: not the left hand but the left shoulder) - sort of "thrown" and opening like a baseball bat (AJ instruction).  The forward motion again done by the right hand (while trying to keep the left shoulder stationary) by pushing the grip of the putter back towards the hole. The blade of the putter is not manipulated at all.  It is just brought back by the "throwing" motion of the right hand.

Like in all three, the alive grip is also employed here.  The reason is to connect the right hand and putter blade together - same as in all of the above.  The length of the putt is controlled by the right hand! 


Connection between right hand and the left shoulder:


While holding the putter, try swinging with your left hand the putter and and then with the right hand, then back and forth.  Did you notice the left hand instinctively opens and the right hand closes - sort of fanning the putter face back and forth?  Now tilt your shoulders a little to the right and do it again - did you notice that the right hand closes the fanning better?

This is what happens to the putter - why it is important to bring the putter back with the left shoulder - to make it easy for the right hand to fan back the putter head to the correct line.  Conversely, when one "looks up", the right hand does not have that extra distance to fan back the putter before the ball is hit and, therefore, pushes the ball right of the target.

Conclusion

The common denominator in all type of the swing is the fact that the club head or putter blade is not manipulated by the hands.  Rather, it is always pulled by another part of the body - shoulders, hands.  Much later, it may be found out that other part of the body may better pull the club - the absolute must is the club or club head or blade putter must be pulled giving a pendulum effect - rather than a direct force, e.g., hammer blow.  Also, do not forget the fanning effect of the right hand... employ this where possible... imperative for putting and chipping for the hole.