Full Swing Template the Harmon Way (wrong)

Butch Harmon was quoted that anybody can play golf. One just have to bring the club up with the left hip going around the right leg and hit the ball by pulling the club with the right hip going around the left leg.

Now that I have learned the takeaway, I can now concentrate on the swing. I intend to fully use Harmon's advice above.

Just remember that I should just consciously only think of the left hip and right hip - not necessarily the takeaway which should be on auto mode.

As far as the takeaway, it is the alive grip. However, the left arm pushes down on the grip to bring up the club before the left hip takes over on the upswing. Note that during play, the proper fulcrum balancing of the right middle finger has to be experimented first before attempting the shot. The angle of the club being brought up must synch with the left hip as it takes over on the upswing motion. Find that compatible slot to bring the club up and the swing becomes a breeze.

26Jun2015:  The above does not work.  It makes my swing like a retiree - short.  Let us go back to what I posted when I was in the Philippines:

"If there is anything that I can call the secret to my swing, it should be the full cocking on every shot.  It actually twist my shoulders automatically and at the same time makes an automatic pull.  When the downswing is automatically initiated, it is just a matter of twisting my right hips towards the target. I should remember that the right hips is really the game changer tip but I cannot execute it without fully cocking left hand (and the ensuing shoulder twist)."

Add to this the Dustin Johnson takeaway note to keep the right arm higher than the left arm when the shoulders turn upwards.

3JUL2015: Found some good stuff in iGolfTV in YouTube.  Exactly the same as I am exposing here - use of the big muscles to get a repeating swing.

How to become a PGA Tour Player (Complete) Total Swing Understanding

Basically, what I liked from the above is his teaching about the left shoulder bringing up the club - without the need for a wrist break at the top (cocking). That really is custom made for my type of swing.  I went to the driving range and it worked for me.

14Jul2015: DO NOT FORGET THAT LIKE IN PUTTING, THE RIGHT HAND IS DOMINANT ON THE TAKEAWAY. IMAGINE THE WAITER TRAY.

The Chip - Unlocking the Secret of the Takeaway

The takeaway is the recent unsolved part of my swing. It is always and still that part of my swing that I do not own.  Every outing there is always something new to tinker and something new to learn and something learned to swear by. But every outing seems to be a "new" outing.  Well here I am again at it ready to swear by a new discovery!

Recently my game is very unstable. I am having a problem bringing my driver up again. It seems to be connected with topping the ball which leads to corrections to steepen up my takeaway which leads to changes on the grip which in turn leads to a meltdown of the swing. It is an interconnecting circle of bandaid solutions that exacerbate the problem.

But the solution may be right before my eyes and I have ignored it. How can I have solved the way to chip when I cannot do the same for a full swing - I asked myself? What am I doing in the takeaway in chipping that I am not doing in the full swing?

Well I learned in putting is just to bring my putter back and let the big muscles do the forward motion. I applied this to the chip and it worked so I retained the same technique to my entire swing. But while it works totally on my chips it is a work in progress with the full swing. When I started dissecting my chipping, I realized that I was just breaking my wrist backward on the takeaway while I was not consciously aware of this fact in the full swing. I was so engrossed with correcting the grip to steepen the plane when I should really just concentrate on breaking my right wrist backwards.

Topping the ball which started the merry-go-round corrections should really be secondary to the proper right-wrist-breaking takeaway. The topping can really be corrected by the alive grip.

I actually already found the solution but ignored the importance of it. "Another way of doing this using the left palm and pushing it downward while the right middle finger (alive grip) is used as a fulcrum." 16JUL2015: DO NOT FORGET THE PRECEDING!

Copied from a previous posting:
THE "FLICK".  THE FLICK IS ACTUALLY JUST THE ALIVE GRIP WITH THE LEFT PALM PUSHING DOWN WHILE THE FULCRUM FINGER PULLS AND PANS THE CLUB UP ALONG THE PLANE. THE RIGHT HAND GRIP IS EXTREMELY WEAK AND THE LEFT HAND MUST CONTROL THE CLUB ON THE FORWARD SWING UP TO THE PICTURE PERFECT FINISH.

The Golfen Rule

Thou shalt keep the head motionless.  Remember the upswing is moved solely by the upper body while the downswing is pulled by the lower body.

While the above rule may be the culmination of a long search and seems simple enough, it does need some amplification.

When we say the head should be motionless, it is particular important on the upswing since even a slight movement of the head will divert the ball to the right of target.  This actually results in all the body and parts of the swing to be unsynchronized resulting into different contortions of the body with unpredictable differing results.

When we say the upper body is responsible for the upswing, we are really being generally generous to the different body types of the golfing population.  In my case, it is mostly the hands and the shoulders that takes the club up.  At the top of the swing, all conscious thoughts should be diverted to the lower body to initiate the downswing.

As far as I execute it now... At address, while the club is set on the ground, I lift up the club using my right middle finger.  Somewhere along the route to the top, while the shoulders are turning, my left hand will take over and cocks the club firmly at the top - the force felt at the top. Then my attention goes to the lower body.

Even the club is still moving up, I usually turn my attention to my hips.  I feel the entire weight of the club with my waist but I consciously think the right hips into making the turn and bringing down the club towards the ball.  My intent is to finish solidly and firmly on the ground with my picture perfect finish although it is still a work in progress.

The main point to remember here is the upswing is the upper body and the downswing is the lower body.  This is very important because this rule applies to all shots, even the putter.  If you can do this with the putter then the rest should be easy, e.g., chips and full shots.

Why is this better?  I guess it simplifies the swing to the barest of essentials where once the club is pulled up, there needs to be no more other things to do but just bounce the club back to the same starting position.  The works best when putting!

6May2015:  Important clarification.  One essential clarification for this topic is the centrifugal force.  The main objective of the upswing is to create a tautness at the top and the objective of the downswing is to pull that force or tautness towards the ball and around.  Without that feeling of the weight of the club at the top, the swing cannot be properly executed.  By the way, the pull is not exactly just done by the right hip or the lower body.  It seems that the whole body is involved in pulling that club down towards the ball and around to the picture perfect finish.  The right hip just seems to just tag along for the ride.

THIS IS REALLY FUCKING IMPORTANT (April 20, 2015)

IMPORTANT (April 9, 2015)

What was discovered here is the essence of the golf swing.  On chip and putts, the axis is the hands is while in a regular swing, the axis is the shoulder.  The pulling force is dependent on the individual.  The main point to remember is the golf swing is the fluid motion of bringing the club up pivoting along the axis with the body feeling the weight of the club.  When the desired moment is reached when the club has stopped its acceleration, the pull of the body is started and the club thrown towards the ball, letting the pulling force be as violent as desired towards the target and then the body closing up to the picture perfect finish.

We must remember that this is the whole objective in the Imperfect Golf Swing - to create this fluid motion of bringing the club up and feeling the weight of the club and pulling and throwing the club head along the ball towards the target and turning the body to the perfect finish at the top.  All the rest, the grip, the stance, etc. are dependent on the capability of the individual to execute this move.

This topic is copied in different postings to remind us of this fact.

YEAH RIGHT BUT HOW DO YOU BRING UP THE CLUB?

OK, we know how the shot is made - either by the hands or shoulder pulling.  It is easy to start the swing when it is the hands that is doing it but how about the shoulders.  The helicopter move does not really make it easy, so how?

Easy, throw the left shoulder with the left hip and then turn the shoulder as much as possible - and then pull with the left shoulder! Easy, right? Yes.  The left hip starting the move is crucial since it brings the left shoulder in the correct position so it can easily turn around.  Feel the left shoulder hurling the club and at the top most (like the chipping feeling), then pull the club violently towards the target.  Big hit!

April 20, 2015:  It is very important to note that what is to be pulled is not the weight of the club but the tightened left shoulder at the top.  Let us start again on the ideal swing:

1. The club is raised (figure out the best way to start the lifting, e.g., right middle finger lift the club) and when it reaches the plane, the left hand takes over and lifts up the club along the plane.
2. The club is lifted up to the point the left shoulder should go for that shot.  At the top, the LEFT SHOULDER is then hurled by the hips towards the target and in the process rotates to a picture perfect finish.
3. Remember it is the left shoulder that is hurled and not the weight of the club.  The reason is the shot might need that extra twist sometimes and it might throw the rhythm off is other parts are concentrated on.  With the shoulders as the main thought of being hurled, it does not matter how small or big the shot is going to be. 
4. April 22, 2015: Include the cocking... When the club is raised along the plane by the left arm, the left wrist MUST ALSO cock the club fully until the whole weight of the left arm and club is felt wrapped around the shoulders.  Feel the left shoulder and then execute the turn-around where the hips bring all towards the target - and a picture perfect finish. What will be felt is like the way Hogan described it in his book - the club will just be hurling itself towards the target.
5. April 24, 2015: New interpretation of the pull.  It is not really a pull but it is just a return of the club to the ball.  Easier to explain when describing the putt - the left hand does the takeaway but the forward motion is really not forward but a reflex motion created by the right hip.  For a full shot, take a full swing with full cocking, then just return the club using the right hip towards the ball.  This promotes accuracy especially on chips and putts.  Try it.  Oh, the right hip is used because of no. 4 above - easier execution than explaining the turnaround.

Flicking of the Right Wrist is Not That Simple

The start of the back swing which is flicking of the wrist backward is not that simple or straightforward as it may seem. In order for it to be standard as part of all the golf motion, especially for putts, it must follow a certain path or way. This move is particular very essential for short back swings as in putting and chipping.  The good way to describe this is it is like the Hogan cupped right hand usually shown on the forward swing but it is really the way the back swing should be started.

Here is another way to describe it.  Start by flicking the wrist facing to the sky and at the same time starting the upswing.  On small back swing as in putting, the cupping of the right wrist might completely pan away because of the short stroke but that is OK.  As a matter of fact, the motion is like the forward motion of Mickelson - the forward press - except it does not need to go forward or be the start of the back swing.

THIS MOTION MUST START ALL THE GOLF SWING! HOWEVER, DO NOT FORGET THE VISUALIZATION OF THE PLANE ON THE BACK SWING! ALSO THE LEFT HAND MUST BE IN CONTROL ON THE FORWARD SWING.

This is really posted after the original date.

It is important to note that the flick of the wrist is started by the visualization of the plane. The club head is flicked and panned along the plane first before the shoulders starts their rotation.

Important Right Hand Path 

When the right hand flicks the club, there is only one way it can go up. THE V FORMED BY THE THUMB AND FOREFINGER MUST BE THRUST UPWARDS ALONG THE PLANE - NO OTHER WAY. The grip has to sit on the club in such a manner that this "thrust" to the top is accomplished.  With this action, the grip can become a solid grip and the whole turning around and hitting the ball become so solid that one can feel the repeating swing.  The repeating swing promotes confidence also.

And Yet Another Way to Visualize How the Club is Brought Up

Usually the problem lies only on the upswing for the driver (woods). 

1.  Let me state first that the first objective of the back swing is to launch the club head (not shaft) as strong as possible to the top most and pull the left side body muscle before the down swing is started.
2. What has to be done is visualize the woods or any club like a short iron - where the face is used in contrast to the woods where only the plane and, therefore, a line or the plane line is visualized.  
3. The face of every club must be visualized because the main objective of the perfect swing is to fan the club face along the plane like a waiter carrying his tray. 
4. However, since the club face can easily be "squared" to the target (by weight shifting), the club face must be kept square to the target line as much as possible before it is fanned out along the plane (waiter pan).

Helicopter Takeaway

After playing today, my takeaway is a mess.  Too many ways to do it.  I think the easiest way is still visualizing the helicopter rotors along the plane.  I think this is the one that can withstand the pressure of actual play.

IMPORTANT (April 9, 2015)

What was discovered here is the essence of the golf swing.  On chip and putts, the axis is the hands is while in a regular swing, the axis is the shoulder.  The pulling force is dependent on the individual.  The main point to remember is the golf swing is the fluid motion of bringing the club up pivoting along the axis with the body feeling the weight of the club.  When the desired moment is reached when the club has stopped its acceleration, the pull of the body is started and the club thrown towards the ball, letting the pulling force be as violent as desired towards the target and then the body closing up to the picture perfect finish.

We must remember that this is the whole objective in the Imperfect Golf Swing - to create this fluid motion of bringing the club up and feeling the weight of the club and pulling and throwing the club head along the ball towards the target and turning the body to the perfect finish at the top.  All the rest, the grip, the stance, etc. are dependent on the capability of the individual to execute this move.

This topic is copied in different postings to remind us of this fact.

Rhythmatic Powerful Swing

The basic pattern for my golf swing is the chip with a spin.  It is chip where the club is pulled and flailed to create maximum spin.  The whole execution is the template of my basic swing.  It is that action that unifies the backswing and downswing and follow through and picture perfect finish into one cohesive rhythmatic powerful swing.

The posting is a memory jogger post.

1. When things are getting awry and I feel as though I am lost again, I should go back to this posting to try to go back to my golf 101 template.
2. When I am trying to learn something new and if I want to check if I am proceeding the correct path, then I have to read this posting again.
3. When it is the beginning of the golf season, I should go back and read this posting again to remind to start with the basics.
4. When my game is lost and different shots are performed with differing techniques, I should go back and read this posting to unify all again.
5. When I am trying to make my shots powerful and long, I should go back to this posting and ensure that I have done it already - and here is the correct way.
6. When my putting is having a problem, I should read this again and re-pattern the stroke to the chip stroke - in a very minimal way.

LONG DRIVE (the GOLF SWING in general)

Like spin chipping, the club must be brought up (see other postings related to this) and pulled down and around by the feet (ala Nicklaus) - in the process mimicking the rhythm of the spin chip.  The rhythm sounds like this - sssssssssSSSWWWSHHss. The club is pulled along the plane and the power is provided by uncoiling the hips and the LEFT hand holding the club all the way to the top.

IMPORTANT (April 9, 2015)

What was discovered here is the essence of the golf swing.  On chip and putts, the axis is the hands is while in a regular swing, the axis is the shoulder.  The pulling force is dependent on the individual.  The main point to remember is the golf swing is the fluid motion of bringing the club up pivoting along the axis with the body feeling the weight of the club.  When the desired moment is reached when the club has stopped its acceleration, the pull of the body is started and the club thrown towards the ball, letting the pulling force be as violent as desired towards the target and then the body closing up to the picture perfect finish.

We must remember that this is the whole objective in the Imperfect Golf Swing - to create this fluid motion of bringing the club up and feeling the weight of the club and pulling and throwing the club head along the ball towards the target and turning the body to the perfect finish at the top.  All the rest, the grip, the stance, etc. are dependent on the capability of the individual to execute this move.

This topic is copied in different postings to remind us of this fact.

My God, I Accidentally Found the Slot! (REVISED)

While I was trying to implement an article about how professional golfers ...

So I wrote the previous posting.  While I was trying to implement the pull and pull - or double pull technique, I found out about this slot.  Let me explain, I was hitting balls at the driving range and I was having a problem trying to bring back the club.  I remembered what I told Anthony about the proper takeaway before.  I think I even posted something about it.  I told him that the takeaway was just bending the right wrist backward.  So I started it, a little like the alive grip but more of the wrist bending. More and more, my backswing was getting smoother and then, bingo - it happened.  The backswing was perfect - so perfect that it matches what I was working on - which is the double pull technique

Well here is everything, not only the takeaway but the full swing.

The grip is a little bit the alive grip but the three right fingers are more holding the club.  They are the one that flicks the club head and launches it like a satellite.  Only the right wrists moves - until the momentum pulls the left shoulder in - then it (the left shoulder) joins the takeaway.  Somewhere along the backswing, the slot materializes and the corresponding "plane" or the target slot appears. I guess the hips are also pulled but the attention at the top of the swing is already on the target slot where the butt of the club will be pulled in.  That is the downswing - the butt of the club is pulled to the target slot and the body turns around to continue and power up the shot.

By the way, the action is a flick of the right wrist.  Another way of doing this using the left palm and pushing it downward while the right middle finger (alive grip) is used as a fulcrum. Use whatever works.

Do not forget to use this for all shots including the putter. The right wrist must start and all the rest follows when pulled by the club.

Here we are April 4th 2014 and finally found the missing link that binds all the moves illustrated here.  What is missing is SEEING THE BACK SWING PLANE WITH THE CLUB FACE BEING PANNED ALONG IT WITH THE "FLICK".  THE FLICK IS ACTUALLY JUST THE ALIVE GRIP WITH THE LEFT PALM PUSHING DOWN WHILE THE FULCRUM FINGER PULLS AND PANS THE CLUB UP ALONG THE PLANE. THE RIGHT HAND GRIP IS EXTREMELY WEAK LIKE THE EXPLANATION IN THE FOLLOWING POST. THE LEFT HAND MUST CONTROL THE CLUB ON THE FORWARD SWING UP TO THE PICTURE PERFECT FINISH.

IMPORTANT (April 9, 2015)

What was discovered here is the essence of the golf swing.  On chip and putts, the axis is the hands is while in a regular swing, the axis is the shoulder.  The pulling force is dependent on the individual.  The main point to remember is the golf swing is the fluid motion of bringing the club up pivoting along the axis with the body feeling the weight of the club.  When the desired moment is reached when the club has stopped its acceleration, the pull of the body is started and the club thrown towards the ball, letting the pulling force be as violent as desired towards the target and then the body closing up to the picture perfect finish.

We must remember that this is the whole objective in the Imperfect Golf Swing - to create this fluid motion of bringing the club up and feeling the weight of the club and pulling and throwing the club head along the ball towards the target and turning the body to the perfect finish at the top.  All the rest, the grip, the stance, etc. are dependent on the capability of the individual to execute this move.

This topic is copied in different postings to remind us of this fact.      

The Double Pull or the Essence of the Golf Swing

I finally got it all together.  In the process, I found out that some of the "truths" I have written before no longer are true while the other ones I have stitched together to embody the perfect golf swing.

Essentially, the perfect golf swing is indeed a pull motion but the pull is done by two body parts - one starting the swing and the other one accelerating it further.  What I mean is the upper body pulls the club towards the ball and the lower body then taking over and pulling it further to speed up the velocity.  It is a swing where the body feels the weight of the club being pulled towards the ball and at a given split second, transfers the pulling force to the lower body - until it goes around to the perfect finish at the top.  The swing is felt and the body reacts.

This reminds me of the billiard stroke.  In the process of learning it, one eventually forgets the cue and just executes the shot.  It is now possible to feel the golf shot and execute it without thinking.

So how should it be done?  Well right now, I have only practice the shot in my bedroom but it does not seem to be impossible to transfer to the real thing.  One thing I noticed is because I am trying to feel the club now, I felt that the upswing now has to be like a round-house kick motion where the weight of the club is thrown away like a launch of of satellite until it is felt to arrive at the top.  Then the pull action by the "mostly" upper body towards the ball starts - the weight of the club being felt all the time. Somewhere and sometime, the lower body and the hips turns around to launch the club head further along its way.  It is a two stage launch!

By the way, just to emphasize the technique - this is actually the implementation of the chip pulling spin action I have written about a couple of postings before.  But now that I have further made it a two pull action, that chip technique must now also be revised to ensure that the body now pulls the club - upper body first and the turning hips afterwards.  Of course, this is all done by feeling.

This new way must now find its way to all the shots - from putter to the driver.

IMPORTANT (April 9, 2015)

What was discovered here is the essence of the golf swing.  On chip and putts, the axis is the hands is while in a regular swing, the axis is the shoulder.  The pulling force is dependent on the individual.  The main point to remember is the golf swing is the fluid motion of bringing the club up pivoting along the axis with the body feeling the weight of the club.  When the desired moment is reached when the club has stopped its acceleration, the pull of the body is started and the club thrown towards the ball, letting the pulling force be as violent as desired towards the target and then the body closing up to the picture perfect finish.

We must remember that this is the whole objective in the Imperfect Golf Swing - to create this fluid motion of bringing the club up and feeling the weight of the club and pulling and throwing the club head along the ball towards the target and turning the body to the perfect finish at the top.  All the rest, the grip, the stance, etc. are dependent on the capability of the individual to execute this move.

This topic is copied in different postings to remind us of this fact.

Alive grip, important or essential?

Well let us go back first and explain what an alive grip is.  It is the grip where the right middle finger is used as a fulcrum to balance weight of the club as it is held during set-up.  It automatically also brings the club up at the time of the backswing.

In addition, let me relate what happened to me today at the driving range.  It is winter here and all my practice is done inside my bedroom.  I just found out how to impart a spin on my chips on my carpet which actually led to my thinking of how the golf swing really works.  What I found out is that the club is actually pulled to hit the ball - and in contrast - not hammering the ball.

To see if my bedroom discovery is correct I had to go to the driving range.  Although, I validated my pull discovery, I lost my way of bringing up the club.  I lost my skill to perform the takeaway - which I was doing in my bedroom just a couple of days ago.  Well, I let it go since I was not there for practice but just to prove my theory.

At home, I went back and read what I have been writing about recently and I found the topic on the alive grip.  I had forgotten - easy now since I am getting old - gripping my club at set-up with the alive grip.  I went in my bedroom and used the alive grip.  Well what a revelation!

Because of the pull technique of golf shot (with the alive grip), just turning the left shoulder in without starting the club with the right hand, is actually enough to make a complete turn automatically - the same every time! Could this be another Hogan secret?

Takeaway from this topic:  FROM NOW ON, ALWAYS USE THE ALIVE GRIP AT SET-UP! JUST TURN THE THE LEFT SHOULDER IN AT THE SAME TIME COCKING THE CLUB WITH THE RIGHT MIDDLE FINGER FOR THAT EVER REPEATING BACKSWING! Of course, do not forget the extreme grip that I wrote about in the previous recent postings.  It creates the divot.

IMPORTANT (April 9, 2015)

What was discovered here is the essence of the golf swing.  On chip and putts, the axis is the hands is while in a regular swing, the axis is the shoulder.  The pulling force is dependent on the individual.  The main point to remember is the golf swing is the fluid motion of bringing the club up pivoting along the axis with the body feeling the weight of the club.  When the desired moment is reached when the club has stopped its acceleration, the pull of the body is started and the club thrown towards the ball, letting the pulling force be as violent as desired towards the target and then the body closing up to the picture perfect finish.

We must remember that this is the whole objective in the Imperfect Golf Swing - to create this fluid motion of bringing the club up and feeling the weight of the club and pulling and throwing the club head along the ball towards the target and turning the body to the perfect finish at the top.  All the rest, the grip, the stance, etc. are dependent on the capability of the individual to execute this move.

This topic is copied in different postings to remind us of this fact.

How to Slide the Clubhead Under the Ball Effortlessly

The usual hit of the ball by the club makes the ball jump out. How does one slide the clubhead under the ball to impart maximum spin?

Let me just make this clear, when one is trying to hit the ball, which is 99% of the time, one is not trying to impart a spin on the ball intentionally.  However, there is the 1% of the time that one really wants to put extraordinary backspin on the ball to make it stop or reverse.

In order to do this, the club face must slide under the ball, with the club head entering beneath the ball from the left edge and sliding around the ball until it leaves contact on the right edge.  This movement cannot be done intentionally.  It can only be done by centrifugal force - meaning the club is pulled and the head allowed to slice through the ball by the reaction to the pull.

Let me demonstrate how to execute a short pitch with the intent of stopping the ball abruptly.

Take an open stance and hold the club with the extreme style grip explained in the previous chapter. Hold the club to the metal part (this is not essential). The clubface must be at least slightly open to facilitate the clean slicing entry under the ball.

Raise the club with the right hand in a roller coaster motion where it leaves the ball and arcs upwards until the shaft is at least almost parallel to the plane and the butt of the club almost pointing to the target.  When this position is reached, just pull the shaft towards the target until it passes through and around the ball.  A slow motion hit make one feel this slicing motion better.  This type of shot must be learned and experienced.  It feels like one is slicing the butter.

The rule to remember here is the club must be brought back up to the point where the shaft is parallel to the target line and the butt is pulled along that line.

IMPORTANT (April 9, 2015)

What was discovered here is the essence of the golf swing.  On chip and putts, the axis is the hands is while in a regular swing, the axis is the shoulder.  The pulling force is dependent on the individual.  The main point to remember is the golf swing is the fluid motion of bringing the club up pivoting along the axis with the body feeling the weight of the club.  When the desired moment is reached when the club has stopped its acceleration, the pull of the body is started and the club thrown towards the ball, letting the pulling force be as violent as desired towards the target and then the body closing up to the picture perfect finish.

We must remember that this is the whole objective in the Imperfect Golf Swing - to create this fluid motion of bringing the club up and feeling the weight of the club and pulling and throwing the club head along the ball towards the target and turning the body to the perfect finish at the top.  All the rest, the grip, the stance, etc. are dependent on the capability of the individual to execute this move.

This topic is copied in different postings to remind us of this fact.

Divots - a better explanation

Wonder why I cannot make a divot?  It is because I cannot delay the hit to the point where my body position will be in front of the ball.  If my body is in front of the ball when I turn around, the lowest part of the arc of my swing should be able to dig in and create the divot.

Now how do I delay the hit? Use a solid sky looking grip - like the chip grip described in the previous posting.  This grip will promote a bigger turn of the shoulders.  Bigger turn, enough time for the body to clear the ball before the hit.

Actually the bigger turn is not the real answer.  It is hard to put into words.  With the bigger turn, my feeling is as if I need to pull my body back to the ball - not just a turning feeling - but a physical pull back toward the ball... and of course, the turning around after that.

Well, after musing this big turn late hit scenario, what really happens by this type of grip - it actually promote a steeper plane and, therefore, it creates a divot or sort of digs in more. But wait, do not forget that the alive grip is essential, if not important!

Putts, Chips and Pitches - Always a Pull

Now say this again and again.  The golf swing, even though they are putts, chips, or pitches, must always be a pull motion on the forward swing. It is always a pull, stupid!

The right hand can start it on the back swing but the for the forward swing, it is always the body pulling.  It might be a very slight movement as in putts but it is still the body pulling.

In putting the middle finger pulls the putter away from the target like a arrow being pulled from the bow. The visualization is not only for putts but for all shots... up to the driver.

Now let us concentrate on chips and pitches...

It seems that standardizing the setup is important.  From now on the grip is going to be important. The left hand must be almost flat with the backhand almost facing the sky.  The right hand sits snugly on the left hand with the backhand also almost facing the sky.  They form one solid sky facing grips - with the left hand really more pronounced. The left hand in this position promotes a cutting shot, if desired, thus sending the ball higher with a lot of spin. Of course, it can also drag the ball and not cut - when you want the chip to run.  To go further in standardization, hold the club short with the middle right finger resting almost on the metal part of the club.

Alive Grip Revisited

Cradling the club with the right middle finger at setup is sometimes forgotten but actually it is very essential to the whole swing. When the whole weight of the club is cradled by the middle finger:

1. It can be the reminder that the swing is started fully by the right hand.
2. That a line can be imagined to be parallel to the target line.
3. That in putting, the imagined line can be like an arrow being pulled with the bow.
4. That the right hand pulls - but the forward energy is like a bounce back.  It is bounce from the coiled energy created initially by the right hand and continued by the shoulders.  There is no deliberate forward motion at all.
5. On putts, this can just be as subtle as the rebound from the left stiffened forearm muscles!

So what is the message?  That the forward motion is never a forward motion at all but it is a bounced motion.  And this motion is really initiated by a pull motion.

REMEMBER THIS ON PUTTING - very subtle muscle motions but the same as a full swing. Stiffen the left forearms and let the forward motion be a RECOIL motion.

The Golf Swing and the Divot

This is a very important topic and essential to learning the Complete Golf Swing.  So far what I thought I had been learning is already the complete golf swing but now I realized that it has to be complemented by how the divot is executed.

The divot is really the end part of the golf swing which is essentially a chip or a pitch if considered by itself and not part of the full swing.  Let me say this, if a golfer does not know how to stop or put spin to his chips or pitches, he will never know how to make a divot perfectly.

So how do one correctly make a chip or pitch stop abruptly?  Well it is the realization, the the chip or pitch is essential a "pull" of the club-head towards the ball.  The hands are pulled past the ball and the club-head allowed to rebound back to the ball.

How the hands play with the rebound is essentially a different matter.  On chips and pitches, the hands can make the ball roll further, stop on its tracks.

On full shots it can create a divot. AND THE MOVE CREATING A DIVOT IS THE FINISH OF THE GOLF SWING! It is the replacement to my "face the target" move.  It is the delayed hit!  IT IS THE SECRET OF THE PROS! It creates the spin that pulls the ball back.  It is the part of the swing that adds the distance to the hit. It replaces my right hip move.

The Caddie Tip - The Secret to My Swing

The caddie, I only know him as Jun 13, found something missing in my swing.  He noticed that I do not finish my swing. He demonstrated to turn the right hip at the end of my swing and face the target. At first at the driving range this was hard for me to execute.  However, the next time I went to the driving range, I started concentrating on cocking the club.  Cocking the club actually automatically forced me to unwind so that it was easy to just turn around my hips and finish as he suggested.  It worked.  When I played at Tagaytay Midlands with Vic Fernandez, Bong Obligacion and Joey Solis - I immediately found that confidence and played well from tee to green.  Of course, I still have the around-the-green problem so I did not really scored well.

If there is anything that I can call the secret to my swing, it should be the full cocking on every shot.  It actually twist my shoulders automatically and at the same time makes an automatic full.  When the downswing is automatically initiated, it is just a matter of twisting my right hips towards the target. I should remember that the right hips is really the game changer tip but I cannot execute it without the fully cocking left hand (and the ensuing shoulder twist).

The caddie also noticed my excessive waggle but I decided not to correct this as I am so attached to it already and it is not really a fault but maybe just a bad habit. He also showed me how to chip - making sure my weight is on my left foot and the ball position more on the right.  I have to practice this still as I really have not found out the right way to do this.

The Swing Imagined As a Closing Door

I already have a good swing.  However, I have this problem of topping the ball.  I cannot seem to be able to naturally get a divot.  I always struggle with this, my club coming back behind the ball or topping the ball.  Never a consistent depth, so to say.

One of the things I work on is fully cocking the club with the left hand until it pulls my left shoulder. This works and the club really digs in but I tend not to do this full cocking every time.  Another thing is full cocking is really not needed in every shot.

One of the things I have been tinkering on is imagining the swing like a door. Bring the club up along the open door (ala Nicklaus) and at the top, just slam the door shut.  This means that the ball is hit while the body is already past the ball - which may be the correct way.  We will see. Time will tell.

Well, here it is, day 2.  This idea of a closing door has some merit but it does not feel natural to me. However, seeing a swing of Rory McIlroy on the TV commercial of Rolex watch, reminded me about his right hip being the engine of his swing. His right hip moves first and the upper body just follows.

To make the story short, if I bring up the club up to the point where the right forearm and biceps are fully anchored on my right side - like a door fully opened -  I can actually bring my right hip forward and around, the club is pulled in automatically with that NATURAL feeling.  In addition, the clubhead comes back to the ground on the same spot it was on setup.  What else can I ask for?  This discovery seems to be a natural progression to the one I was writing about in the previous posting - so this is how I should play right now - the Rory McIlroy's way.

Just remember, the important thing here is the upswing finishing with the right upper body (right side) feeling the arms (biceps) very tucked in on the right side and with a feeling of very well connection (like glued) to the body (and therefore, the right hip).  So when the right hip starts, I can feel my arm, the club and everything being pulled by it - and bang - big hit and divot!

Golf, Ready, Set, Go

What could be the best way to remember how the golf swing should be executed.  It should also be a reminder that is so simple enough that you can use it while you are playing golf... that is, if you are forgetting how to play golf while playing.  This situation has happened to all of us a lot of time.  What could we do to fix the problem?  Well this might be one way of doing it.  Just remember to say to yourself, "Golf ready, set, Go!"

Golf

On this topic, we should always remember the set-up.  Go through the correct grip, stance, etc.  Do not put too much emphasis on this topic.  I myself just want to make sure that my grip is solid, the left hand more on the neutral position.  I like to slightly drop my right shoulder and check my club angle in order to avoid skulling the ball (my tendency as a result of a flat swing).

Ready

Here I will be thinking first of starting the takeaway with the left hand on a steep trajectory - along the same alignment as the two feet, almost pointing the club upward - twelve o'clock when cocked (see Set below).  Pretty much, I imagine the golf plane to be steeper.  This word reminds me that the left arm takes the club up - along the same alignment of the two feet.

Set

Set to me means that I have to cock the club at the top - still with the left hand and wrist.  It is worthwhile to mention that the takeaway is all done with the left arm and left wrist/hand.  Also, the cocking is done almost pointing perpendicular - twelve o'clock -  to the ground as I tend to be flat on my plane.  Having a flat plane leads to skulling the balls.  Having a steeper plane promotes the divot.

It is also noteworthy to mention that the takeaway is a smooth pronating movement of the clubhead from the ball to the cocking at the top - very connected feeling... all orchestrated by the left hand (pronating along the steep plane).   THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BECAUSE THE TAKEAWAY IS ALSO A PULLING FORCE.  THE LEFT HAND STARTS ON THE GRIP GOING UP AND SMOOTHLY PULLS THE CLUBHEAD UP UNTIL IT REACHES THE TOP - SOMETHING LIKE A SLING ACTION BUT SMOOTHLY DONE.

Go!

Go means "Go SPIN The Body!"  The forward swing is never done with the arms or the hands.  It is all the upper body spinning around and pulling the arms and the club up the picture perfect finish.  IT IS THE SPIN, STUPID! The force comes from the spin or turn and pulling action of the upper body - not the hips as envisioned before.  RORY DOES IT THIS WAY!

DO NOT FORGET

Everything in golf is a pulling action.  The TAKEAWAY is a good example - as explained above.  However, the golf hit although it is a pulling action is not particularly done by pulling but by spinning the body (a pull but not just a pull).  Also, since the main force is the pull, particular attention must be rendered on having a solid grip.

Master of the Pull - THE GOLF QUEST IS OVER!

What would be an excellent memory jogger for this golf technique?  I think illustrating how the chip is accomplished is the best way to start this posting.

Assuming you have taken the stance, which on mine is the waist is nearly 45 degrees of the target line, cock the right wrist to the desired length (extreme is better).  NOW HERE IS THE MASTER OF THE PULL TECHNIQUE, the club stays motionless after the cock while THE BODY (left shoulder) PULLS THE CLUB BACK TO THE BALL and (left arm/hand) throws it to the target.

This pulling force is the essence of all the shots from putting, chipping, pitching, iron and wood shots.  There may be variations but the common denominator is the pulling action.

NOW IF YOU INCORPORATE THIS WITH THE PROPER FORM and the hinged upper body/lower body, then you will be really playing golf!  How do we do this then?  Let us start with the driver...

(no longer entirely true - see 16OCT2014 below): Take the stance, imagine that the upper torso is detached from the lower one (personal memory key: my BALL BEARING key chain), push the upper torso with the left hip .  At the top, fully cock the club with the left hand.  Immediately after cocking, pull the upper torso towards the ball (automatically shifting the weight to the left) AND TURN AROUND (left shoulder pull) TO A PICTURE PERFECT FINISH!  That is it for the driver AND ALL THE OTHER CLUBS!

The only difference from chipping (and putting also) is that the right hand cocks first while the driver, the left hip (no longer true - see 16OCT2014 below) starts the swing and left hand cocks.

In putting, the right hand brings the putter back (while the shoulders "feel" for tautness). The shoulders (can be the right hand) then pull the putter towards the ball while reversing the "feeling" for the right velocity.

I THINK THIS POSTING SUMMARIZES ESSENTIALLY THE PERFECT END TO THE SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT SWING!

HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO CORRECTLY EXECUTE THE ABOVE, AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE GEOMETRY OF GOLF IS NECESSARY.

The golf swing geometry is a two axis movement.  The neck is the first axis and the grip is the second axis.  The body pulls the second axis by turning the shoulders, along the first axis.  When the fully cocked grip reaches the bottom, the club is allowed to uncock around the second axis (the grip).  The late unwinding at the right time creates the divot and is usually referred to as the desired "late" hit.

THE HARD PART NOW IS TRYING TO PUT ALL THESE IN ONE COHESIVE REPEATING GOLF SWING.  ONE WAY IS PERHAPS  THINK ONLY OF COCKING THE RIGHT HAND AND BOLDLY UN-COCKING/HITTING THE BALL AFTER THE GRIP (AXIS) REACHES THE LOWEST POINT.  IT IS ASSUMED THAT THE GRIP IS BROUGHT DOWN TO THE LOWEST POINT BY THE LEFT HIP (the left shoulders now).

11Oct2014:

The solution to putting all the above together is the Hogan's cupping his left hand. The purpose of this cupping is really to delay the hit! Although, I think Hogan's main objective is to prevent himself hooking his shots which he tended to do at the beginning.

I found out about this cupping as a result of experimenting with the wedge shot.  I was trying to make the way I hold the club feel like an extreme offset and in so doing, when I was cocking the club with my left hand, the cupping of the back left hand is actually the one happening!  In reality, what I was doing is the chipping technique described above, except now I realized that it is the Hogan technique that I was implementing.

Now let us put this all together.  Because of the geometry of golf as I mentioned above, the second axis is not allowed to hit the ball early or not at all.  Hogan invented the cupping technique to cure his hooks but actually what he did was to ensure the late hit is assured.  Also, we found out about the extreme right hand cocking because of the chipping technique mentioned above.  With this new method I will explain, the hips will no longer be the main driver in the back swing.  It will be the right hand cocking the club first.  This move will pull the body around and the left hip too so it will be the same effect as the left hip pushing the club.  The downswing will have as its main purpose to paint the ball with the cupped left backhand. In order to accomplish this, the body (actually the left shoulder) will really be turning around and pushing the entire weight sliding towards the target until the point where the picture perfect finish is achieved.  This move makes the swing more natural for me to implement. Oh what a joy to finally find my own swing! Another good outcome of this owning my own swing and knowing the technical details of it will make be able to make necessary corrections easy, even when I am in the course playing.

16OCT2014: V for Victory in Golf

Why does my new chipping technique (extreme cock of the wrist and pull) works?  It is because of the V created by the right arm and club with the clasped hands as the apex.  Imagine the clasped hands as the apex or tip of a spear.  When the hands are brought down towards the ball like a spear, it consolidates all the energy into one point - towards the ball - and, in addition, energy is multiplied when the club unwinds by itself, smacking the ball.

Now extend this principle to a full shot ala Rory McIlroy and one will figure out the how to correctly execute a golf shot.  Imagine the shoulders as one side of the V and the left arm and club as the other. Think of the left shoulder as the apex.  Now with the right hand (pronation is mandatory) as chipping, abruptly but smoothly bring the club upward by breaking the right wrist and try to create the V closing the angle as much as physically possible while pulling the left side around. WITH THE LEFT SHOULDER, PULL THE APEX DOWN TOWARDS THE BALL, creatirng the same move as Rory, to a SMOOTH and full picture perfect finish.

Remember that the hands apex is also involved here.  In reality, this is a two apex swing.  The chipping apex (early cock) starts the swing and pulls the next apex (left shoulder) to the top.  There is a conscious feeling that the left arm joins the two apexes.  The joint feeling must be made very apparent on the downswing so that the oneness of the swing transition from the left shoulder to the club head is felt.  Everything from the upswing to the downswing must feel smooth like honey.  The left arm actually prevents a shank since it makes sure that the club head is squared before impact - which happens when the lateral move is early and leaves the club face still open at impact.

26OCT2014:  The down swing move by Rory is really the whole body just firing at the ball.  At the course today, I just:

1. Let the club align with my left arm.
2. My right hand grip is ready for the extreme cock (right shoulder down).
3. The left hip starts the club movement with a full cock done by the left hand. This is a key development.  The hip pushing the club head along the target line, not only steepens the plane (for divots) but also create a perfect takeaway! 03Nov2014.
4. The hit is the body going to the perfect finish position - no thinking needed. Reminder: This is what I do when I imagine the roped arms feeling and just hit with all the muscles firm.  Watch this:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvEzEYl0Re0
5. Try to create an upright plane for non-driver shots.

Drop and Drag Golf Evolves to Hip Golf

Like I said in a recent posting, the golf swing is a pulling action and not a hammering action.  This is very apparent when putting.  The best move in putting is when the putter is dropped back (back swing) and then dragged forward by a pulling action.  You can call this technique a "
Drop and Drag Golf".

However this posting is not about drag and drop but its evolution to the Hip Golf.  If the setup is done with the intent of drag and drop golf, then it is possible to just use the hips to create the backswing and the forward swing.  When employed, the whole upper body from the hips upward functions like the mechanical golf equipment where the mechanical part just rotates around the center.

It should be noted that employing the hips as the firing mechanism of the swing makes a profound change to the common golf swing method.  Firing the hips makes the golf swing a very mechanical and very accurate swing.  Hogan anyone?  Well, Rory McIlroy comes to mind when you think about a more recent golfer employing the hip swing.

The main thing to remember is how the upper body functions in connection with the hips.  The upper body becomes independent of the hips (remember the keychain?).  The hips throws weight of the whole upper body around backwards and forwards but it only does that - throws the weight. The upper body just rotates back and hits the ball by centrifugal force (but supposedly by muscle memory).  

TO EMPLOY, AT ADDRESS, RELAX THE TUMMY MUSCLES SO THAT IT FEELS NOT DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE HIPS. THEN USE THE HIPS.

16Sep2014: USE THE HIPS FOR THE BACKSWING WITH FULL COCKING OF LEFT WRIST AND LEFT SHOULDER REACHING CHIN.  AFTERWARDS, WITH THE LEFT HAND, PULL THE CLUB TOWARDS THE BALL WITH THE MAIN INTENT OF CREATING A DIVOT.  THE LEFT HIP WILL AUTOMATICALLY OPEN BECAUSE THE LEFT ARM PULLING THE CLUB HEAD TOWARDS THE BALL IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO WITHOUT CLEARING THE LEFT HIPS.  19Sep2014: To facilitate this said move, it is imperative that the grip of the left hand must be ultra close or sitting on top of the rubber grip - positioned in such a way that when the hips start the upswing, the left grip rides along the plane as if inverted, ready for the inverted cocking.  The result is a forced winding of the shoulders ending with the left shoulder ramming on the chin and eventually an automatic unwinding or hit towards the ball.  Hit with the LEFT arm and hand and EXPECT A LONGER FLYING SHOT!

To Hell and Back (with Hogan) or Explaining Hogan's "Secret"

In March of 2011, I discovered Hogan's secret.  Well I must have lost it again because now I am back and just recently discovered (again!) Hogan's secret.  It is not really a secret but why he is known for being so goddam accurate.  Making the golf swing simple is really Hogan's forte.  How do we do it, let me explain.

First, I have to say that the grip is important.  If not done right, the swing does not produce the desired result.  Let me enumerate the step.

1. Start the setup by feeling the left hand grip employing the fulcrum method to balance the club.
2. When done, wrap the right hand like a glove around the left hand, making sure that the middle finger, the forefinger and the thumb is gently but solidly wrapped around the shaft of the club. There is no looseness here.  The grip must feeling like a solid ball wrapped around the club.
3. Then drop the left shoulder around backwards until it touches the chin.
4. Fire away immediately after.

The simplicity and compactness of this golf swing makes it easily repeatable.  A repeating swing is Hogan's swing and it is Hogan's secret.