NEVER WAVER, COIL AND UNCOIL, BUT DON'T FORGET TO REVERSE-COCK THEN REVERSE-HIT (back-up)

 

Introduction

Although I started documenting my experiences way back in the '80s, my real golf quest started on August 29, 1998, at Richter Park Golf Course where I accidentally shot a 78 while playing with my late friend, Dan O'Reilly, and another walk-in couple, Denise and Bill. How I played that day was a total abandonment of my instincts and even later, I am not convinced that I have discovered what I was doing then. However, now I believe it was the slingshot action - not a golf technique - that made it happen then. Thus it was difficult to discover the golf technique that did it because it was never the technique in the first place. It was actually the total complete continuous golf swing, swung with abandon like a slingshot that was the secret sauce of my perfect golf game that very memorable day.

Of course, I would not be writing like this now if I have not yet found the solution to these problems.  Let us just put it this way, I had to spend 23 years, 20 months, 22 days, and reach the age of 78 to discover the secret of my scoring 78 in 1998! I found on YouTube a mention of the body part that starts the takeaway - the right rib! It was the Eureka moment for me. That mention worked well with my current knowledge and with a little tinkering, I was able to develop it into my own swing - the SOG swing. And why the title is the Stroke of Genius, I will leave the explanation at the end. As of July 10th here in Cancun in Royal Islander,  I can definitely say that the Hogan-style swing is now part of me. Today is my born-again golf day. 

BUT I MUST REMEMBER, DON'T MAKE THE SWING COMPLICATED. IT IS SIMPLE AS COIL, UNCOIL. It is now 2022-10-18, my 79th birthday. Somehow this Coil, Uncoil message to me keeps on coming back periodically.  It seems that I always find a better way, but it always ends up at a dead-end. What really happens is during actual play, I get nervous and everything is forgotten. The only thing that I revert to is the simplicity of the shoulders - turn, return.

Parts of the Golf Swing

Waggle

My quest for the 78 was also hampered by my constant inability to bring the club up along the plane.  In my mind, there seems to be a mental block that prevents me from smoothly taking the club up at setup and bringing along the plane on the way up.

Waggle is the left wrist breaking on top and supported by the right-hand palm. The right arm is kept straight and frozen to the right rib. Only the left arm waggles - in essence. And when this is done, the plane magically appears. Hogan has a big waggle like mine and it is necessary to be able to make the plane appear in my mind. If I don't waggle, I better not play at all. This is how important this is to me.

Lately, however, with the discovery of the RRE below, the waggle has lost its importance because the plane became so easy to find.

Right Ribs and Elbow (RRE)

At all times whenever physically practical, the right ribs and elbow must be fused together.

This position and feel are the essences of my golf swing.  These are the body parts that initiate the takeaway as well as confirm when the imaginary slot at the top is reached. They are essential in all swings, e.g., chips, and pitches. 2022-09-05: BUT ALWAYS REVERSE-COCK!

Stiff Triangle One-Piece (STOP) Takeaway and HIT!!!

2022-08-04: Self-explanatory? NOT REALLY. This section promulgates the frozen upper body with only the shoulders turning as the moving piece and is the complete description of the modern golf swing - at least, my swing.  22-08-18: Also, just before the takeaway, the arms are fully hanging down and the grip gently resting on the hands. The fused RRE then pushes the SHAFT to the ground creating the bounce without even thinking of the plane. 2022-09-05: BUT ALWAYS REVERSE-COCK!

EXTREME L-SETUP

Essential to the Frozen Technique above is the incorporation of the EXTREME L-SETUP. The L formed by the arms and club is so extreme that the clubhead looks up rather than lie flat on the ground. This setup does two things. It ensures that the club returns to the ball on the same spot at set-up.  In addition, it makes the takeaway by the shoulders of the club intuitive and employs centrifugal force to bring the club up. 2022-09-05: BUT ALWAYS REVERSE-COCK!

Behind the Ball Setup (BBS) Updated 2022-07-24 to conform with the latest findings.

Start with the normal Hogan setup and his roped arms with armpits facing upwards - to promote the right arm folding inwards and creating the desired slot at the top of the swing. (Employ the RRE and the One-Piece Takeaway.)

Then accentuate the lowered right shoulder, the hands more forward than the ball position, and the head behind the ball.  The club head is thrust backward (dukot) (right wrist cocked and the elbow staying glued to the right ribs with plane bottom focused on the tip of the shaft/heel of club) rather than sideward - on the one-piece takeaway. 2022-09-05: BUT ALWAYS REVERSE-COCK!

 Finding the desired slot at the top will in effect make it natural for the left hand to pull the club grip towards the ball (since the right hand is cocked stiffly) and ensure that the club head will be thrown outwards to the right and upwards, thus, resulting to a full release of the club. (This slot and the dukot method are really the CTUA now.)

It is advisable to employ the dukot takeaway to get the best slot and body position for an instinctive left-side assisted downswing. The power is in the left shoulder pulling the club to the ball. The left forearm kept stiff and felt actively connected to the club while the body is in forwarding motion. (This really describes the bounced uncoiling in the CTUA now.)

There is one basic swing for me now - just like the lady swing I saved in Viber. Dukot upswing and simple automatic no nonsense downswing - with a pause at the top. IT IS POSSIBLE, NEVER WAVER. And why the dukot swing? Well, to start, it prevents the chicken wing fault. Also, this swing is lower body dominant, the left hand only guides the club head, and the COIL (by fused right ribs and elbow), and UNCOIL (by the left side of the body) are the muscles employed. Use the shoulders along the plane together but the hips are better. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO FOCUS THE DOWNSWING FORCE TOWARDS THE HOGAN BALL POSITION TO BE ABLE TO TRANSITION SMOOTHLY THE WEIGHT TRANSFER AND CLOSING OF THE HIPS, OTHERWISE THE CHICKEN WING RESULTS. 2022-07-18: It is impossible to chicken wing if you are doing the hammer throw golf - which is my swing now. 2022-07-19: SWING THE UPPER BODY, NOT THE CLUB. (The fault in this paragraph is not employing the Barrel Roll in the CTUA.)

 Use the CTUA section to better understand this section.

Power Slot at Top (PLAT)

When the right elbow is glued to the right ribs and the right wrist is fully cocked, the club at the top seems to find a slot that feels good, comfortable, and very reassuring.  It is a feeling that makes you want to use the left side and left arm to deliver the full weight of the club head to the ball. This we will call the PLAT. It is the tucked right elbow feel when the club is at the top of the swing. It promotes a left-side hit. In the forward swing here, the right side remains passive.  The work is mostly done by the left side and left hand. But remember to point the butt of the club to the ball to start the downswing.

 One must understand that the takeaway we are employing is a FROZEN ONE-PIECE TAKEAWAY. At the top, ensure that the left wrist is fully cocked. 2022-09-05: BUT ALWAYS REVERSE-COCK! Actually, the left wrist, from the waggle, slightly starts the upswing (ahead of the right rib) but this early cocking is not part of the mental picture of the "along the plane" teachings. The cocked club does not need to follow the plane, only the body and left arm should. 2022-07-13: Cocking may be detrimental to my game and cause occasional shanking. PROVEN: DO NOT USE INTENTIONAL COCKING AS IT PRODUCES A HIGH INCIDENCE OF SHANKING. EMPLOY THE CENTRIFUGALLY CREATED COCKING INSTEAD. 2022-07-22: PRE-COCK IT AT ADDRESS. 2022-09-01: Intentional cocking is not the problem - it is just promoting a handsy swing and the turning of the shoulders is forgotten. It is the lack of the shoulder turn that promotes shanking. 2022-09-05: BUT ALWAYS REVERSE-COCK!

Use the CTUA section to2022-09-05: BUT ALWAYS REVERSE-COCK! Better understand this section.  The fault here is not realizing the coiling motion that is needed.

 

 REVERSE-COCK

The club has to be extremely cocked, not right angle cocked but reversed palm cocked. The grip must be positioned at setup to facilitate this reversed palm cock. Also, the left arm does all the movement. The right just tags along.

As a teaching aid for the novice: USE LEFT ARM. COCK FULLY. HIT WITH THE LEFT ARM.

2022-09-14: This reverse-cock actually led to the realization that the grip and all the muscles work better while "firm". And being firm, the club is held firm and the grip is like a fulcrum and "alive". This paragraph is written with the whole purpose of how to smoothly bring the club up. 

1. Set up with the left arm firm and hanging straight down. 
2. Achieve the reverse-cock first to achieve a delayed hit. If the frozen tight muscles happen, only then do you do the one-piece takeaway. 
3. The grip is firm and supported the club. "SUPPORTED" is not carried. It is an ALIVE grip where the left arm pushes on the grip and the right middle finger provides the opposing lift action.
4. Smoothly thrust the club outward and upward and not stop until the reverse-cock is achieved. Ala Jack Nicklaus. 2022-09-15: USE an All-Frozen One-Piece Takeaway. 
5. Fire.

2022-09-17 REVERSE-HIT

As a follow-on improvement to the reverse-cock, we will now concentrate on the hit. We will now imagine the hit as a dragging hit on the ball. The swing will try to drag the ball forward with the club head. The good thing about this is the setup will be a traditional Hogan setup (2022-09-19: not really, BBS is still advisable). The takeaway will be an early reverse cocking along the plane. The hit will drag the club head towards the ball and let it flip towards a smooth picture-perfect finish. 2022-09-18: THIS WORKS.

2022-09-22: smooth takeaway needs RRE but the left hand V is the key to start the smoothtakeaway. The body opens up and smoothly drags the takeaway. RRE IS REQUIRED!

2022-09-23: Have the Cake and the Icing Too

 A smooth flowing swing (along the plane) with an automatic extreme cocking (Reverse-Cock) resulting in a perfect hit (Reverse-Hit) can be achieved by employing the FUSED-RRE, NICKLAUS GRIP, and the DUKOT or Reverse armpit-V takeaway (the left hand V is the key to start the smooth takeaway).  Slow-mo practice-swing first along the plane in order for the muscles to remember it.

 Memory Jogger: During the reverse-cock setup, make sure that the V of the left hand is pointed to the right shoulder - where the RRE will sheath it. The object of the downswing is not to hit the ball but to throw the left fist a couple of feet past the ball. 2022-09-23: If you can pull the club with the body butt, everything is automatic and correctly timed.

THIS IS THE HOLY GRAIL OF GOLF (2022-09-23: UPSWING-FUSED-RRE WITH NICKLAUS INTER-LOCKING GRIP. 2022-09-28: fused upswing with reverse-cock at the top for a smooth takeaway. ).

 NEW REVELATION RE: STIFF LEFT ARM (SLA) or LOAD and PULL

2022-08-30: The left arm does not make the hit. It just stiffens and waits for the body to turn around and do its work. And now that we know the left arm just comes for the ride, I can now imagine the golf swing as a baseball swing so that I can turn around fully and hit stronger. 2022-08-31: The left arm pushes and cocks the club up towards 2:00 o'clock and the "waist" pulls the club down for the hit. It really is an up-and-down motion but it is so "choreographically" synchronized that you feel you are dancing. The hit is like the pitching technique where the left arm stiffens and the weight shift exacts the blow. 

THE SWING IS THIS SIMPLE. PLEASE TONY, DON'T COMPLICATE IT. BUT REMEMBER, NOT ONLY EARLY FULL COCKING IS NECESSARY BUT THE CLUB MUST BE PULLED UP WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO CREATE A FEELING OF PULLING "SOMETHING" TO PULL DOWN. 2022-09-01: ALL THE SETUP ROUTINE APPLIES, ESPECIALLY, THE INCLINED LOOK (which makes the up motion go along the plane, and when winded, the pull down along the plane also is automatic and can be used for POWER golf).

2022-09-01: Early full cocking is directly related to how low the grip is and how forward it is to the ball at the address. ALSO, YOU FEEL SOMETHING IS WRONG AT THE ADDRESS IF YOU ARE NOT SET UP RIGHT.  2022-09-04: ONE-PIECE takeaway means the SHOULDERS are the ones consciously doing the work. The cocking is done at setup (head way behind the ball) and they must be stuck UPWARDS, not away right.

2022-09-05: THE EARLY COCKING - FINALLY FIGURED OUT THE THING THAT MAKES IT WORK IS FINISHING THE COCKING WITH THE WRIST BACKWARDS / REVERSE-COCK (MY OLD WAY). NO OVER-COILING OF THE SHOULDERS IS NECESSARY. 

2022-07-20: COIL TIGHTLY, UNCOIL AUTOMATICALLY (CTUA)

Played twice in two days. While swinging the upper torso is definitely a better way of hitting the ball, the two days taught me something. No golf technique works if you don't COIL enough. And overdoing the coiling is really the key to automatic golf. However, do not forget all the rest in this article are equally needed. The RRE is the core of this swing, and so are the others. All can be described as a ROLL INSIDE BARREL (RIB) move.

1.  BBS
2.  Do not forget the RRE.
3.  At this point you should be at the pre-cocked position (dukot).
4.  Execute the PLAT. PURE SHOULDERS PLAY, NO ARMS OR HANDS. But the upswing is imagined like a sword being sheathed along a curving circumference of the plane. 2022-08-23: THE GRIP IS WAY AHEAD OF THE BALL AND THE CLUB FACE IS CROOKED BUT PERPENDICULAR TO THE TARGET, THUS MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY INVOKING A PULL HIT.
5. 2022-08-25: Now be aware of the straight shaft. The takeaway is the push of the club along the path of the shaft to the top - finishing up the right shoulder.  But wait - make sure the grip (both hands) is properly positioned to bring up the club in this direction. Since your eyes are behind the ball looking left, acquaint and INCLINE the eyes (and plane) to the grip, rather than the 12/6 position, making it more like a 2/8 position. So why does this work? Because the cocking is automatic or very cock-able (2022-08-27 in practice the automatic cocking cannot be relied on). 2022-10-07: During yesterday's round, realized that small muscles cannot be trusted and only the big body muscles can be relied upon.  Today while practicing the body swing, it is important for the grip (left and right) to be positioned in such a way to facilitate the bringing of the club up (not necessarily along the plane). The Vs point to the clubhead path. This swing is like rocking the cradle since the upswing purpose is to get a bounce that will make the downswing automatic. By the way, the upswing plane is a little tilted to the ground to ensure no topping. However it probably corrects itself automatically and untilts by the time the downswing is initiated. 2022-10-14: Try an early cock of the left hand so that all type of shots can be done with this swing, including pitches. We know that a not fully cocked swing leads to shanks, that is why.
6. 2022-08-26: The downswing feels like a Samurai slashing his sword along the inclined plane to the crotch of the ball. WARNING: PUSH THE SHAFT WITH THE LEFT SHOULDER- DO NOT LIFT IT WITH THE LEFT HAND. ALSO, IPAHID MO SA SINGIT NG BOLA YONG SHAFT SA TAKEAWAY, OK? MAS SOLID ANG TAMA SA BOLA. 2022-08-28: COCK FIRST/ COCK EARLY AND LET THE TIGHTENING OF THE LEFT HIP DETERMINE THE DISTANCE. EARLY COCKING IS GOOD FOR MY DAMAGED LEFT SHOULDER BECAUSE IT USES AND TIGHTENS THE BODY MUSCLES INSTEAD OF THE SHOULDERS. By the way, this will work for all shots - chips (yes! Stopper shots, too.) to full shots. 2022-09-05: BUT ALWAYS REVERSE-COCK! 
7.  Let the left shoulder bounce - coil tightly.
8.  Uncoil inside the barrel.
9.  Stay down and focus on the clubface passing the ball before executing the picture-perfect finish. 2022-08-29: Everything is done 100% by the left hand. It supports the early cock of the club, sweeps the ball downwards and upwards to the green, and carries the club behind at the finish. 2022-09-05: BUT ALWAYS REVERSE-COCK!

2022-08-28: Why then is the early cock necessary? Because that is the only way for me to ensure that the backswing is complete. Without finishing the cocking, my swing promotes shanks and mishits.

 2022-07-19: SWING THE UPPER BODY, NOT THE CLUB

 Something to think about occasionally. 2022-10-07: IF YOU ARE NOT USING THE BODY TO SWING, THEN YOU ARE MAKING A MISTAKE. IT (NOT BODY) DOES NOT HOLD OUT UNDER ACTUAL PLAY.

CONCENTRATED SETUP FOR AN EASY TAKEAWAY 

Perform all the necessary setup, Hogan placement, Extreme L-setup, right shoulder down, eyes behind the ball, Rib and elbow fused together. See 2022-08-25 posting. 2022-09-05: BUT ALWAYS REVERSE-COCK!

DOWNSWING 

2022-08-28: There is no way to describe how to perform the hit or the downswing because it is just a reaction to a perfect upswing. When done correctly, you will be able to see the clubhead pass the ball - a sure sign of a delayed hit. This goes to say that you can only perform the LONGSHOREMAN HOOK ACTION when there is this delayed hit.

OH MY GOD, THE SOG IS THE BOUNCE!

The STROKE OF GENIUS is actually the entire smooth transition from the backstroke to the forward stroke connected with a bounce. It is the stroke with rhythm. And now we know the complete story - we can proceed to learn the details because we know the big picture.

So in golf, we know now how to execute the SOG. COIL with the left shoulder, wait for the bounce, and then paint the ball! We just have to learn how much distance and ball action (flight and spin) we cover from each club, from varying trajectories (ball positioning).

Wow! So much to learn still. 

But remember that this is the same theory that is on display when we say that there is no upswing or downswing.  It is one motion that cannot be described independently of one another, something that cannot be split apart. THE GOLF SWING IS A CONTINUOUS INTER-RELATED MOTION and CAN NOT be picked apart. In short, the RRE and PLAT are the golf swing - combined. 2022-08-28: But can we imagine it clearer if we say the golf swing is a compendium of several stacked TREBUCHETs coiled from early cock, body muscle pull, leg pull - and the uncoiling in reverse on the downswing? 2022-09-05: BUT ALWAYS REVERSE-COCK!

PUTTING

By the way, do not forget to use the billiard arms in putting. It is essential in straightening the actual ball path and ensuring that the ball behaves as imagined and intended. 

There is something beautiful in a stance like this: 

1. Feet close to one another to facilitate automatic turning.
2. Open the body approximately 45° to the target line and the right forearm is kept parallel to the target line.
3. Amazingly, the putter shaft droops perpendicular to the T-line and so is my left arm (almost)!  Since this line is perpendicular to the target line, use it to align the putter to the target.
4. It feels so good but looks kind of weird seeing both arms triangulate at the grip.
5. Remember, the visualization now is entirely different. The putt and chip now are like a train passing along the train tracks, yes, train tracks.
6. The RRE is employed and it controls the movements of the putter. The RRE body brings back and rolls the ball forward.  2022-09-23: The left arm is kept stiff and only supports (PALM FACING SKY) the weight of the club. Address the ball at least one and a half inches apart. The ball rolls nicely, pretty straight, and with no yips.
7. 2022-09-13: Don't let the eyes be on top of the ball since you will guide using RRE the movement with the shaft rather than the putter head. The eyes over the ball promote a push-right motion imparted on the ball. The other way corrects it. 2022-10-04: And the hit is not a hit but a pull of the ball towards the (don't forget RRE) hole and keeping the rails of the pointed at all times (towards the hole).

ALSO, IMAGINE ROLLING THE BALL FROM THE FRONT OF THE PUTTER GOING TO THE TARGET. This will help in accuracy since the setup is secondary.  It will also help in properly lagging the ball to the hole.

Another (maybe better) is a point-and-shoot technique. Set the putter down and pointed to the target line. Bring the putter back with the RRE. SOG and pull forward with the RRE.

Remember to always apply the smooth stroke with the smooth transition - the SOG. Execute the billiard stroke - aiming to where the putter is pointed. 

2022-09-13: USE THE SHAFT TO MOVE THE BALL

SHANKING 

The RRE prevents shanking,  don't forget;  more especially on short shots like PITCHING.

CHIPPING

Use the same technique as putting. Guide with the left hand only. COIL and UNCOIL with the RRE. 2022-08-31: The RRE is more the shoulders turning back and pulling the left arm with it. 2022-09-13: USE THE SHAFT TO MOVE THE BALL!

PITCHING PARALLEL TO THE GROUND (PPG)

My technique requires that the club shaft, at the backswing, reach PARALLEL TO THE GROUND in all instances.

1. First, COCK the club parallel to the ground. Very important to note that raising is done by the flick or COCKING (after the left waist) of the wrist along the plane, just like a full shot. Remember the body turn is necessary. ALSO, THE STRETCHED LEFT ARM AND BACKHAND FOCUS "MEASURE" THE CLUB HEAD BACK TO THE EXACT BALL POSITION THAT PREVENTS SKULLING. THE LEFT BACKHAND TAKES IT BACK, THE RIGHT-HAND TAKES OVER BUT THE LEFT ARM GUIDES IT BACK TO THE BALL. THIS APPLIES TO CHIPS AND PUTTS, TOO. Then...
2. The "body first" pull technique applies in chipping too and it might be a good way to experiment on the full swing.
3. BUT ALWAYS REMEMBER THE GOLF SWING IS NOT A HIT BUT A SWING / PULL.  
4. To make this easier, pull the centrifugal weight and sweep the ball with the left shoulder turn, not the right hip.
5. SOG APPLICATION TO THE GOLF STROKE: The right hand and arm are the mover that brings back the club. The COCKED left arm remains STIFF and slings back the ball.
6. 2022-09-13: USE THE SHAFT TO MOVE THE BALL
   

HISTORY 

1. 2022-08-04: Played with Winston, Paul Dumlao, and Rolly Alzona. Still no personal swing. Tried Extreme One-Piece takeaway and HIT but cannot get going. The helicopter swing worked but that is not right. 
2. 2022-08-13: Next time try the SOG Bounce. It is really easy for the takeaway also. Do the BBS, freeze for the one-piece takeaway, feel the right elbow resting on the right rib, bring the club head along the plane, let it bounce, and HIT!
3. 2022-08-27: Kids Philippines. The latest upswing technique works but I lose the mental picture of the downswing. I have to try the cock-first-move (2022-08-28 posting) to it next time.
4. 2022-09-02: Played with Paul Dumlao at Crestbrook.  I fully practiced my LOAD & PULL SWING but it is impossible to be thinking in actual play. Best to learn and rely on muscle memory. USING THE SHAFT TO PUTT AND CHIP WORKS.
5. 2022-09-05: Found out, on practice at the yard net, that the REVERSE-COCK is the common denominator to a solid golf swing!
   
6. 2022-09-13: While practicing using the net - the newly found reverse-cock swing - I noticed that my muscles are starting to tighten up, and even my left-hand grip is solidly gripping the club. The effect is solid hard hits that I suspect lengthened my distance.
7. 2022-09-18: Perfected the Reverse-Hit.
8. 2022-09-24: Norwich Golf Course, FFACT President Cup. Still trying to be mechanical in the golf course is not ideal. It is time to play the course and just leave the rest to muscle memory. Next time, just think of the shot needed, load the weight...  and pull. No specific mechanics needed... except the left-hand use and the RRE to make the plane appear. 
9. 2022-10-06: At Grassy Hill - just found out that seniors get a discount. But most important,  it is hard to bring to the course things you think will work on paper. What may work is just use the big muscles, like "rock the cradle".

GOING FOR DISTANCE

2022-07-13: Forget looking for a better distance until 2024. Get used to the new swing first.