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.