Golf in Three/ Two Moves

The full golf swing can be executed correctly in three golf moves.  These moves are performed by three different parts of the body - the hands, shoulders and hips and in that sequence.  The hands flips the club upwards, then the shoulders twists the body to the max and the hips then flips the body and club downwards towards and around the ball. Doesn't this remind you of Hogan?

1. First move - the right hand:
1. At address, visualize Hogan's plane, like a pane of glass resting on your shoulders and the other end touching the ball, the surface of which is aligned with the target line.
2. While waggling, feel the weight of the club head. Gracefully bend your right hand backwards by the wrist and flip the club head weight up.  It should find its way along the plane.
3. The desired effect is when the right hand is fully cocked - meaning fully bent by the wrist.
2. Second move - the shoulders:
1. When the club and left arms starts to align with the plane, the shoulders in turn pick up the weight of the club head and further flips it up by turning the shoulders fully until it pulls the waist with it.  In fact, you should not stop until this pulled feeling is felt by the waist. 
2. The desired effect, again, is the shoulders are fully twisted.
3. Third move - the waist:
1. When the waist has been pulled tightly, the downswing is started by the waist uncoiling.
2. The the rest follows, shoulders uncoils, hands hits the ball.
3. Please do not under estimate this move.  This could be Hogan's secret.  In his book, he did now elaborate on this.  He just mentioned about the plane changing the axis or slope when the ball is hit.  However,
1. this waist first move, not only changes the plane axis but ensures the lag (delayed hit) happens,
2. and it also corrects any tendency to hook the ball - it straightens the ball flight,
3. and, of course, provides a stronger hit resulting on more authoritative and longer ball flight.

1. Move One - Wind up
1. Set up the club by the ball with the club shaft perpendicular to the line of flight.
2. Set up with the right shoulder lower and the head behind the ball.
3. Set the grip with the pincer thumb and forefinger (to be used for aiming).
4. Use the "alive" grip.  Feel the right middle finger.  This finger will be the fulcrum that will "cock" the club.
5. Push the left shoulder towards the ball and around until it cannot go any longer. The right middle finger should be pulling the club up while the left hand is pushing down.
6. At this point, one would have felt the shoulders twisting the body and winding up to the top and the club fully in the "slot".
2. Move Two - Unwind
1. Unwind to the ball and just let it happen!
2. The lower body should be leading and will move the head a little forward of the ball.
3. The upper body untwist and scrapes the ball along the path - a visible divot created.
4. Follow through to a complete "C" finish,.

19OCT2013: I INCORPORATED THE HIPS AND IT WORKED PERFECTLY.  TO MY AMAZEMENT I READ THIS IN THE GOLF MAGAZINE - ALMOST A CARBON COPY OF MY NEW METHOD.

Butch Harmon tip: "If you had never played golf before and had some athleticism, I'd tell you two things: First, you swing on two posts - your legs.  Make your back-swing around the right post and your follow-through around the left post.  And second, you want to fold your right arm on the back-swing and fold your left arm on the through-swing.  Golf is that simple."

MY INTERPRETATION - HIPS/FEET-CENTRIC - 31OCT2013

1. Set-up
1. Set up the club by the ball with the club shaft perpendicular to the line of flight.  It is perpendicular for no other reason now... just a carry over from previous belief that the right hand brings it back up normally aligned to the right arm.  Now I do not know if this is necessary with the focus on the hips or foot.
2. Set the grip with the pincer thumb and forefinger (to be used for aiming) but the alive grip is very necessary and essential because the right middle fingers picks up the club head to the top and promotes automatic cocking.
3. The left arm is stiff straight at address and throughout the swing.  This promotes accuracy (less deviation to the target), creates a divot and prevents skulling the ball.
4. Other normal set-up routines apply
2. Hips/Feet
1. Back-swing:  Turn the left hip around the right leg and feeling the club reaching the top. The right hand middle finger is very actively involved here.  As soon as weight of the club reaches the top...
2. Downswing: Turn the right hips along the left leg and feeling the club head rip through the ball.  The finish should be automatic if the hips are the one in control.
3. All the time, the club head's centrifugal weight is sensed... thrown up and pulled down.
4. Note:  All the swing is done by the hips however, the feet can be the active initiator too - if one can do it.  The feet mostly is like Nicklaus way - just transfer of the weight by rolling of each foot.
5. 06NOV2013:  Something to prove... I seem to be able to hit the ball realistically better when I am thinking that I am hitting the ball with the club and by my right hip... when my body is already facing the target and basically hitting the ball "sideways".  Sideways, meaning my left arm are down and on my right side already; the right hip just pushing the stretched left arm towards the ball... and hopefully past it.
6. 07NOV2013:  The main worker in the back swing is the left arm (right arm is almost not needed).  It's movement is just like throwing the "cape" towards the back - this case, the club and extremely cocked (and extremely rigid straight). THE LEFT WRIST ACTIVELY AND EXTREMELY COCKS THE CLUB! 09FEB2014: BUT THE LEFT WRIST IS FIRM EVERY TIME ON UPSWING AND DOWNSWING. THE HANDS DO NOT HIT THE BALL... THE UPPER (FOR PITCHES OR CHIPS) OR LOWER (HIPS) BODY DOES. THE HANDS JUST HANGS ON FOR THE TRIP, SO TO SAY. This is true for all shots even chipping.  When the top is "loaded", the right hip is closed like the previous instruction.
7. 09FEB2014: CORRECTION ON NO. 6 above.  When the club is brought back, there must be an active connection to the HIPs (for full shot - upper torso, otherwise).  The HIPS must be felt to be actually bringing the club up so that there will be a connection to the hit.  A little hard to explain but it is necessary, otherwise, there will be that feeling of disconnection.  Again, the left wrist must be firm to ensure that the twisting body is doing the hitting.
3. 25NOV2013: Putting it all together.
1. After all the mechanics has been dealt with as all the above, the bottom line is, they must all be forgotten.
2. What should remain is at address, just the think of what you want the right hip to do to make the ball go the desired route and landing.
3. That is it...

SUMMARY

This posting has started on the swing done by the shoulders.  It graduated to the hips.  But finally, it now has reached the feet.  I would say this is a vast improvement in such a short time.  Also, what is not stressed here although I know it since I am the one who writes is the takeaway.  The combination of the push of the left hip or roll of the left foot and the alive grip - the right hand middle fingers (just one for me because of my arthritic right finger close to the little finger) automatically pulling the club up makes for a simplified smooth but perfect and automatic takeaway.

Secret sauce

1. Why is the right hand thumb and forefinger pincer grip important in putting and chipping?  It is because it gives me the feeling of being able to aim the putter (or club) to the target.  The feeling is becomes like I am using of "off-set" putter or club and I feel like I am dragging the "head" of the club.  This feeling makes it easier to see the line - actively - meaning from putter to the target and not the other way around (target to putter head)
2. Why is it a must to keep the head behind the ball at the moment of impact?  The reason is it forces me to move the waist first before the turning of the shoulders to hit the ball... which is the correct golf swing.
3. Why is the club shaft at address suppose to be perpendicular to the ball direction and not parallel to the arm?  Because the club is pulled up with the right hand (or middle finger) first which automatically puts the shaft parallel to the arm at the point where the arm takes over carrying the club to the top.  It just makes the transition from the ball to the top automatic - a common problem solved by this method.
4. Why is the shoulders have to be twisted as much as possible?  One will notice that the twisting of the body has a direct effect to the divot.  It forces the lower body to move the head a tad to the left and delays the hit.

Grumblings

Rhythm

After all is said is done, rhythm is everything.  It is the glue that binds all the learned mechanics together.  Without it all is for naught.  When pieces of an artist creation are not glued together, they stay as pieces and not an art.

Take putting.  Bring back the putter with the right hand and swing forward with the shoulders.  Easy said but in practice, there is something off sometimes.  You feel it but cannot put your fingers on it.  You keep practicing to get the "feel" back.  It is rhythm that is missing.

What is rhythm in the golf sense of it then? This may be a personal thing for me.  To others, this can be automatic or inborn.  But golf rhythm is something I was not born with... I have to work hard for it.

Golf rhythm is the merging of the backswing to the forward swing in such a way that it is melded into one beautiful move... the one that delays the hit and creates the backspin, the one that makes the ball farther, the one that makes the hit sound ecstatic.

Grip 101 - Positioning

The hands must be ahead of the ball at address.  This is especially true for chips with stopping action.  The right hand grip should feel like the club is pinched but the hand is already cocked at address.  It is an unusual feeling where you know you have put the hands ahead of the position of the ball.  As a matter of fact, the club butt should be pointing left of the body while the eyes and ball position are on the center of the stance.

12Jul2013:  Something to experiment in the future.  Make the left hand responsible to the path of the ball (fade or draw) and the right hand for the trajectory.  Both should be accomplished by how the hands are positioned on the grip.

Finally the Secret

And I thought the secret to the backspin is the grip! What a mistake.  It helps and can be used with the secret but the secret is the flail with the left hand!  Yes the flail! Yes, it is the full cocking of the right and the left hand pulling and flailing the club underneath the ball.  The difference with the flail is where the fulcrum of the swing happens.  With the flail, the fulcrum is the hands.  On full shots and the putter, the fulcrum is the shoulders.  Like I said, the flail can work together with the Grip 101 and both should maximize the backspin.

One thing to remember is the flail back swing direction or height can vary - either steep to really pinch the ball to the ground or little lower (on chips) to make the ball run farther.

Another thing to remember is the flail is mostly used in chipping and short irons - when spin is needed.  Never with putting and, maybe, with the driver and long clubs too where you want the ball to roll farther but no spin at all.

03July2013: Another perspective to this.  Imagine Tiger Woods' way to blast the driver - full twisting backswing and a jerking forward swing, This is how to do it:

1. Start the cock very early with right hand.
2. Continue to twist the shoulder until it is felt by the body.
3. Now... feel your left hand in control of the club at the top
4. Hang on... and jerk the lower body around and pull everything connected to the left arm!
5. THAT IS IT!

Right wrist drags and cock (only), body unwinds (only)

The main purpose of this posting is for me to remember that the club goes only backwards and not forward.  The hit is just an unwinding of the body.  This is the essence of every shot, from putting, short game and the full shots. 09FEB2014: REMEMBER THE LEFT WRIST IS FIRM ALWAYS ESPECIALLY ON THE DOWNSWING BY THE HIPS.

The flip of the right wrist, in more detail, is done in the direction of the V formed by the right thumb and fore finger. 29Jun2012: Correction.  The V is not the key, it is just the right wrist flipping backward.  Let us put it this way, Hogan, who is a left handed player "cups" his left wrist while a right handed player "bends" his right wrist.

Essential motion of the right hand wrist

At address, while the putter head or club head is behind the ball, the initial motion is for the right wrist to flip backwards, essentially dragging the putter head or club head along the ground.  Somewhere along the plane, the right wrist cocks upwards up to the top.  Of course, in putting, the only motion is the putter being drag back... otherwise, chipping (somewhat), pitches (most) and full shots (definitely) will employ the full cocking.

29Jun2012:  Correction.  The V is not the key, it is just the right wrist flipping backward.  Let us put it this way, Hogan, who is a left handed player "cups" his left wrist while a right handed player "bends" his right wrist.

08JUN2012:  Full cocking is achieved when the left wrist freezes to support the centrifugal weight and the left hand is cocked fully like an L or a square tool. 29Jun2012: Correction. Once the right wrist achieves full "bending", the preceding statement may not be as important any more.

11JUN2012: Back swing is 99% left arm responsibility. The sequence is like this:

1. Left hand pad pushes down while the right fingers support the club like a fulcrum.  
2. The left hand continues up to an extreme cocking.  
3. What is the difference to using the right hand to bring the club up?  With the left hand  pushing down, it starts the twisting early and by the time the full cocking is achieved, the back is already turned facing the target.  
4. The feeling will be different because it will "force" you to turn around for the hit.
5. 29Jun2012: Correction. Once the right wrist achieves full "bending", the preceding statements may not be as important any more.

Putting

After getting the line, the putter head is brought back by cocking the right wrist backwards.  No forward motion is necessary.  The shoulders brings the putter back towards the ball and the hole.  29Jun2012: It is a positive thing that "cocking" was used here.  However, the term should be "bending."

Chipping and pitching

Employ the wrist action (above) with the cocking variable to the needed outcome - more cocking means higher trajectory and vice-versa. The shoulders (most often) creates the hit. 29Jun2012: It is a positive thing that "cocking" was used here.  However, the term should be "bending."

08JUN2012:  With an open stance, flip the club up with the right wrist until the elbow touches the right body side.  With a firm left wrist to support the club, the lower body (with the right hips supporting and touching the arms/hands) turns around and "throws" the ball to the target surface.  The same approach is employed on full shots. 29Jun2012: The term "flipping" should mean "bending."

13May2013:  Just like in putting, the right hand cocks but instead of the shoulder moving forward, just concentrate of moving the body around the left foot.

Full shots

The cocking is a two motion move.  As explained above, the wrist is swung backwards moving the club face along the ground... continuing upwards and at the same time the right wrists breaks upwards to a full cock pulling the body muscles tightly where the only recourse is to uncoil.  05JUL2012:  This is a refinement of the  previous sentence with the purpose of creating a consistent hitting position.  The wrist is swung backwards or rather, the club head is flipped backwards by the right wrist - hard enough to create a centrifugal dead weight at the top, which when pulled by the body downwards forces the left arm to pull the club grip towards the ball - which promotes consistency resulting in a solid and timely hit by the club head to the ball.

08JUN2012:  Full cocking is achieved when the left wrist freezes to support the centrifugal weight and the left hand is cocked fully like an L or a square tool. 25Jun2012:  Another way to achieve this full cock is when the right arm is fully "holstered" at the top - meaning the upper right arm muscles are taught to the fullest and the club is "cocked".

There is no hit done by the hands or the arms.  All the power is initiated and provided by the un-twisting of the body muscles.  08JUN2012: However, the left frozen wrist plays a big part to guide the club face to the ball and provides the extra kick. 11JUN2012:  Primary goal must be to complete the left hand cocking where the left wrist cocks the club backwards as far as it will go.

25Jun2012: The "dukot" is an essential part of the full swing.  It is the similar to what Hogan suggested in his book wherein the plane dips just before the downswing.  In essence, this is keeping the head behind the ball and starting the swing with the body weight pushed towards the ball.  The ultimate part of this is when the mental aspect is already "hit" oriented and the left side, arm, wrists are in full control - back swing and forward swing - all moving without consciously thinking about it (just result oriented). NOW IT IS TIME TO INGRAIN THE THE FUNDAMENTALS INTO MUSCLE MEMORY !  29JUN2112 CORRECTION: THE BACKWARD BENDING OF THE WRIST IS MORE IMPORTANT.

Again, to summarize.  The club is only brought back and the body untwisting provides the power. 29JUN2112 CORRECTION: THE BACKWARD BENDING OF THE WRIST IS MORE IMPORTANT.

13May2013:  Just like in putting, the right hand cocks but instead of the shoulder moving forward, just concentrate of moving the body around the left foot.  In addition, concentrate on flinging the clasped cocked hands rather that the club which should create an explosive hit.

Going with Feelings

After learning all the basics of the "Golf Pro System", one needs to supplant it by learning the feeling of the golf swing.  By feeling I mean not the mental side but the emotion side.  The Golf Pro System teaches the basics for the mind but this section will try to teach the basics of golf feel.

Tacky Takeaway

Tacky takeaway is the way a golfer feels the first moments of the golf swing.  It starts from the waggle up to the top of the back swing.  After the waggle, the club head is rested on the ground for a split second. From there, the right hand middle fingers flips the club head up while the left shoulder takes over to the top.  It is a one fluid motion, a tacky feeling where the club head is raised by the right hand fingers and somewhere along the way, the left shoulder takes over in one fluid motion and hurls the club head to the top.  One cannot say when the hand-off from right to left is made; one just feels it.

The Loosey Goosey Upper Torso

Everything connected to the spine that one can described as the upper torso of the body must be connected to  the lower body like they are independent a just connected by ball bearings at the spine.  The lower body can just hurl it but it cannot stop it from centrifugally finishing the swing.