Preface
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.
However, today March 26, 2023 in Chicago, while lying in bed reminiscing that day in Richter Park, that 2nd par 5 hole, my third shot, I am looking at the ball and inside me I was telling myself, just let go, just let go, don't think how to hit the ball, just hit it and let go. I did and the ball just disappeared and went, but I don't know what happened and how I did it! Now I know. I pulled the club towards the ball and it released and unleashed my upper body to turn around and bring the full force of the clubhead on the ball. This is the secret of that day. It also is the secret for accuracy and power to the golf swing.
Now I have written that the objective of the backswing is to create a weight for the forward swing to pull, I am now adding that the objective of the forward swing is for the waist twist to unleash the power of the upper body like a trebuchet. Both instances, the lower body is the moving force. The upper body is frozen - one piece upwards and downwards. The path taken by the upper body is akin to the infinity sign.
Introduction
This is the Beginning. This is the year when there will be no more searching, the Perfect Golf Swing has been found. All the years past is now done, the Quest fulfilled. The Mental Block Obliterated. The Divot perfected.
Parts of the Golf Swing
The main thing that we should be careful about is assuming that the golf swing is composed of independent different parts. This is the farthest thing to the truth. The golf swing is one full inter-connected movement where one integral part, although can be described separately, cannot be taken out - of the whole coordinated and fully integrated movements.
Dukot Setup
These are the parts of the swing which can be left to the reader as their personal choices to discover. This may include the stance, grip, ball positioning, etc. This is up to the reader to learn. However, my setup is a frozen one piece upper body that will be conducive to a waist borne takeaway. It will be a setup that encourages a spear like takeaway with ball positioning to ensure an accurate clubface and ball contact.
As of April 27, 2023, it was re-discovered that the set-up is something that is essential for my no-think golf . The set-up must be the Dukot setup because it promotes the correct takeaway and promotes the "throw" downswing. Essential to the set-up then is the LOWERED RIGHT SHOULDER.
Again, today, May 4th, 2023, it should be said that making this a non-essential topic is, in reality, the farthest thing to the truth. The Dukot setup must be like the Putting setup (everything triangulated) where there is a feeling of control that one can feel. The most obvious one is when the right shoulder is lowered and the club grip is left hanging down by gravity - the left wrist bends the club shaft against the right V of the hand. Not so obvious is the RIGHT ELBOW GLUED AND TUCKED IN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE STOMACH. Everything feels that this is how it should be. ONLY then can the club continue its upward move.
Waggle
When the reader has positioned himself or he is done with the setup, this is the action that follows.
Waggle is the left wrist breaking on top of 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 repeatedly, the plane magically appears ala Ben Hogan's plane. Hogan has a big waggle and it is necessary to be able to make the plane appear in the mind.
Not only will the plane appear but it is during the waggle that the DUKOT upswing will be brought into play. Seeing the plane with the lowered right shoulder, the shoulders will "pull in" backwards the club, and in the process, making sure the lower body still faces the ball (in reality, it will get pulled also) - telling the consciousness that you are still targeting the ball and you are bringing back the clubhead so that you can throw it vigorously towards it again.
Right Ribs and Elbow (RRE)
At all times whenever physically practical, the right ribs and right elbow must be fused together. THE RIGHT ELBOW GLUED AND TUCKED IN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE STOMACH. This position and feel are the essences of the golf swing. These are the body parts that are frozen one-piece and pushed by the left hand during the dukot takeaway. They are essential in all swings, e.g., chips, and pitches.
Extreme L-Setup
Essential to the Frozen Technique below 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 dukot takeaway by the waist of the club intuitive and employs centrifugal force to bring the club up. Note that the club is taken back like a spear along the plane.
Stiff Triangle One-Piece (STOP) Takeaway
Self-explanatory? Not really. This section promulgates the frozen upper body with the shoulders (lowered right) turning (along the plane), the arms, the hands and the club - all frozen together is one piece. One can say that the whole upper body is the club itself.
Also, just before the takeaway, the arms are fully hanging down and the grip gently resting on the hands (Extreme-L Setup). THE RIGHT ELBOW GLUED AND TUCKED IN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE STOMACH REVEALING THE PLANE.. At the takeaway (started by the left hand but powered by the waist), the fused RRE then pushes the SHAFT upwards like a spear along the plane (right shoulder lowered). The downswing is powered by the Hogan tied-up arms with the left forearm SLASHING THRU ALONG THE PLANE LIKE A WET TOWEL IN ORDER TO FLIP THE CLUBHEAD AROUND FOR A PICTURE PERFECT END. THIS MOTION CURES THE CHICKEN WING SYNDROME THAT I SUFFER WITH.
(Copied from the "My Trebuchet Swing" article posting) 2022-05-25: It important to note that the automatic snap of the club together with right hip closing and the created divot are the natural result of the correct execution of the downswing. Otherwise, the clubface will close early with the tendency to end up with a duck hook and/or chicken wing follow through.)
Putting It Al Together (with DUKOT)
There are multiple ways to execute the golf swing. Most golfers will prefer to twist the body ang finish the upswing with the club parallel to the ground at the top - the closer to parallel being the gage to success.
However, my objective of the upswing is to create a "desired" counterweight that can be felt and pulled on the downswing back to the ball. This way, it will be easy to unload the body twist (shoulder twist) at the bottom of the swing. This will be a very distinct twist at the bottom - very different from the traditional untwisting where the untwisting is not as "violent".
At address, lower the right shoulder, open the clubface a little bit to facilitate a pronation and the spearing move with the DUKOT takeaway. This will help in a fuller and tighter upswing but above all, it will facilitate a snapping and follow through hit on the ball. The upper body will instinctively supinate by staying ahead of the clubface, thereby, making the follow through automatic.
Using the shoulders (waist consciously left alone), turn the whole frozen upper body and arms for the upswing (do not forget the spearing action of the golf club), feel the weight of the club, then, using the waist, pull the weight (of the whole frozen upper body) or the club towards the ball. Then let the whole frozen upper body automatically turn clockwise to create the divot and photo finish look. It should be noted that the whole upper body turning automatically is the source of the kinetic power impacted to the golf ball.
SIDE NOTE: Today, March 26, 2023, there is a better explanation on the purpose of the downswing. It's main objective is to let the frozen upper body (and shoulders, arms, hands, club) automatically turn around and unleash its power on hitting the ball. It (frozen upper torso/body) acts like the trebuchet releasing the club like a slingshot to throw the ball forward with KINETIC power. 2023-04-15: Just go and watch the fucking Jack Nicklaus lifetime video!
Starting May 9, 2023, use the FOREARM/SHAFT to hit the ball for ALL shots, even putting. This technique prevents being ball bound.
2023-05-26: ONE-PIECE TUCKED ELBOW BODY SWING (PUTANG INA)
This is the tucked right elbow set followed by the fused waist slinging the club upwards along the elbow plane. The whole body comes along with the club. The waist then goes the same way on the downswing, bringing along the fused club downwards continuing through and upwards along the plane to the finish.
The main thing about this swing is the frozen body with the club acts in a singular harmonious way with all the parts in a synchronized as if melodic motion slushily swimming and on the plane without effort.
The tucked elbow should really be tucked ELBOWS or tied-up Hogan arms. The right tucked elbow enhances the waist centric swing while the tucked left elbow prevents the chicken wing fault.
2023-05-28. When the setup is done, the way to take a divot is to imagining hitting with the whole face of the club. Use the left forearm as the slicer(vs. plane) and, of course, the L-WAIST as the driving force (like closing the door with the waist). When all is said and done, let the waist (left, right) MAKE THE SLICING MOVE for an unimpeded and STRONG swing. BUT ALWAYS REMEMBER, THE SECRET IS THE FUSED ELBOW LOWER BODY, HURLED BY THE WAIST - WHICH CREATES THE TIMING AND POWER TO THE SWING.
2023-06-02: THE REAL PUTANG-INA MOMENT
On Feb. 15, 2015, the caddie at Villamor CC, 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.
Can you imagine back then, I was already given the correction to my fault and I did not heed it? What a dummy!
Well, I will now make a rule for myself which, which hopefully, I will not forget. ALWAYS END THE GOLF SWING WITH THE HIPS FACING THE TARGET!
Here is now my latest golf swing as of June 2, 2023:
- Set up with the TUCKED ELBOW.
- Execute the no. SEVEN upswing where the left elbow ends up against the chest and forming like the number seven (arm and shoulders).
- Close the right hip and end with the HIPS FACING THE TARGET!
Here is my golf swing as of June 11, 2023: Now understanding the use of the body as a trebuchet where all parts must be rigid and the power emanating from the foot attached to the ground. (Remember the golfer seated on the bar stool demonstrating power is lost / counter-balanced when the stool is not rigid?) In addition, in order to end up automatically on the picture perfect pose, the COIL must be employed so that the uncoiling is automatic. And for accuracy (feels like aiming with a rifle sight), use the left hip to DUKOT takeaway the club backwards along the plane. Uncoiling should be automatic and you should see the clubhead coming back through the desired path and depth.
- Set up with the TUCKED ELBOW and the HOGAN TIED-UP ARMS.
- 2023-06-14: Pull and Push with the RIGHT hip.
- Visualize the plane.
- With the left hand, throw the clubhead back along the plane (Remember the right hip dominates).
- Coil along the plane (dukot move). Memory jogger: On the plane, the right arm stretches forward while the left hand throws the the club shaft back, momentarily forming a V.
- Uncoil the clubhead back through the ball ala Briella - pure pull, no push hit (Remember the right hip dominates).
- If the backswing and forward swing is rhythmically done, there will be a feeling with the hands that club swung and hurled itself.
- End with the HIPS FACING THE TARGET!
OH MY GOD, THE SOG IS THE INFINITY STROKE! (2023-03-26: update this section to incorporate the trebuchet downswing)
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?
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:
- Feet close to one another to facilitate automatic turning.
- Open the body approximately 45° to the target line and the right forearm is kept parallel to the target line like a billiard stroke.
- 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.
- It feels so good but looks kind of weird seeing both arms triangulate at the grip.
- Remember, the visualization now is entirely different. The putt and chip now are like a train passing along the train tracks, yes, train tracks.
- 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.
- 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. 2023-05-20: USE the LEFT shoulder to chip while the right elbow is glued to the stomach
ALA HOGAN'S TIED-UP ARMS!
2023-06-01: USE THE TOE OF THE CLUB TO CHIP ESPECIALLY IN THE ROUGH. Backswing must be done by the left shoulder. BY THE WAY, THIS TIP IS GOOD FOR AROUND THE GREEN WORK INCLUDING STANDARD BUNKER SHOTS.
2023-07-11: For pitching and chipping, just tucked the elbow all the time. This forces the body to control the shot and it ensures a measured-perfect no skulling return to the ball. 2023-07-26: The breaking LEFT WRIST is the PRIME mover of the chip (and pitch).
2023-09-01: Remember SLICING BUTTER WITH THE RIGHT WRIST. A technique I accidentally felt while pitching at Grassy Hill Country Club at hole number 15, while playing with Winston, Wednesday, August 30, 2023. This is the secret to the quick stopping chips. 2
023-09-07: Two things that make this work. First, the cocking of the right wrist is preparatory to a slicing motion. Second, the club is pulled to start the slicing motion. Here is the best way to do this:
1. Usual address position - tucked elbow, dukot hands position. CENTER BALL POSITION for easier dukot upswing.
2. With the left hand assisting, cock the right wrist in a way where the clubhead starts first until the plane appears. NOTE: THE PLANE IS NOT THE END OF ALL THINGS. IF IT APPEARS, FINE, BUT MOVE ON EVEN IF THE PLANE IS TILTED OUTWARD. 2023-09-18: Experiment with the clubhead fanning upwards - the right wrist oily loose and intentionally paasive. THIS WORKS, CALL IT THE BINHI SWING., BOTH OILY WRISTS, NOT JUST THE RIGHT.
3. With the left hand now in control, turn the shoulders up finishing with a nice feeling cocked right wrist. Pause.
4. Butt weight shift (This an automatic controllable pause created by the shoulders reversing direction). Turn downswing with the shoulders and simultaneously hit with the right wrist (may also be the left hand leading blow) and follow through without hesitating. The hands hitting at this point may happen but not intentional. It is only a result of a good AJ SHOULDERS swing.
5. The above move should feel like a very smooth up and down motion, a silky feeling movement. 2023-09-08: THIS IS THE CODE, NOW CRACKED and BROKEN. 2023-09-11: include the bounce because it ensures a full turn with the shoulders plus an automatic waist pull. Also, the use of the shoulders, not only powers the swing, but it solves my chicken wing fault. 2023-09-24: REMEMBER THAT THE LEFT HAND HOLDS THE CLUB AND IN CONTROL ALL THE TIME DURING THE SWING. IT BOILS DOWN TO A SMOOTH TURNING OF THE SHOULDERS AND THE CONSEQUENT UNWINDING. 2023-09-26: EXECUTE A "REAL" ONE-PIECE TAKEAWAY to WRAP THE CLUB AROUND THE BODY. 2023-09-29: MY SWING NOW - DUKOT SETUP. ONE-PIECE TAKEAWAY, FIRM WRISTS. OWL FINISH. It is important to imagine you are sticking the clubhead backwards and the implement starts from the left shoulder. This way, the forward swing OWL finish is automatic because you are imagining pulling a long stick and the motion is like casting a big beach fishing pole.
- 2023-10-02: Played at Tradition with Sonny, Winston and Paul. Previous night, I found a SLING NOT SWING video that i sent to Ethan. I applied it but I had timing issues and ball bound bouts. It works but not all the time, plus it has no power - just minimum distance. Next time, change the SLING to an AJ PICK & THROW motion or ONE-PIECE SWING.
- Pick and Throw the chipping. That should be the same mental picture for the big swing. You can even half throw it for the short irons, just like the Pros do.
- 2023-10-06: YIN YANG SLING
- 2023-10-10: RIGHT HAND FOR YING; LEFT HAND CONTROL FOR YANG, TO ENSURE CORRECT WEIGHT TRANSFER AND PREVENT CHICKEN WING SYNDROME.
- 2023-10-15: Ying YANG or Right Left is good and correct but it works better with one-piece takeaway - which I thought was no longer necessary and did not employ today. Wrong. And fully cock using the left V moving along the plane. The V is more important than the plane. THE V TAKEAWAY ALWAYS FIND THE MAGIC SLOT AT THE TOP AND PROMOTES THE CORRECT DOWNSWING HIT.
- 2023-10-22: Ronald said to use the hips. Better, just do Nicklaus' left to right to left foot and the hips can work automatically. BUT THE RIGHT HIP MUST BE CONCIOUSLY BE CLOSED (DeChambeau power move at end of downswing) AFTER THE WEIGHT SHIFT (start of the downswing). 2023-10-26: The secret is not the hips but just the full cock and turn around - intentionally leaving the club still cocked and just turning around to hit the ball. This is also the secret for the chip and pitch and PUTT. 2023-10-30: YinYang Golf (don't for the shoulders in the Yang - forget hitting with the shoulders. It does not work for me.). 2023-11-02: THE PLANE IS ESSENTIAL TO MY GAME! So back to AJ swing using the V along the plane and full cock. 2023-11-06: FULL AJ FROM NOW ON. 2023-11-09: Add the DUKOT hit that will ensure the club going back to the same ball position at setup. In other word, the dukot cures the WHIFF (and Skulls). 2023-11-11: WITH MANLY GRIP OF CLUB LIKE HOGAN (the left wrist is frozen) NOBEL and MOST IMPORTANT DISCOVERY I HAVE MADE SO FAR. 2023-11-16: And use the left foot to power the swing ala Nicklaus.
- 2023-12-08: Simplify the current swing. Just push with the left foot the one piece takeaway body along the plane and just let it bounce back to start the forward swing. Vigorously turn the shoulders to a full finish or owl.
- 2023-12-12: billiard putt - concentrate on making the arm work like a pool shot. Do not look at the putter.
- 2024-01-02: This day I started making the left shoulder the prime mover of the swing - in addition to what I was doing currently. It worked GREAT. Next time, implement this post from 2015, "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." Don't forget the left shoulder pivots the right on the upswing upswing. Side note, the alive grip might be the secret sauce that facilitated the Richter swing. At home, the alive grip COCK (2024-01-26 V wrist and butt downswing) seems to promote the Richter automatic swing. 2024-01-09: True, the alive grip is the secret sauce of the Richter happening. But there is more. The alive grip sets up the shot to be done but the mental picture of the required swing is the glue that calls all part of the swing together. In essence, this is where the mechanics are forgotten. This is my billiard moment. 2024-01-22: The right shoulder pivots the left shoulder on the downswing. 2024-01-25: After Golf Lounge 18, a Bounce must start the downswing. Actually, I am forgetting here the main directive of the Richter Swing, that is, Cocking to V wrist that is pulled towards the ball. 2024-02-03: I have lost distance. Maybe I should hit with my waist? 2024-02-04: No, throw the club as Ben Hogan portrayed at the Ed Sullivan Show. 2024-02-06: HOGAN'S THROW WORKS. 2024-02-16: TO GET THE EXTREME COCK AND EXTREME HIP TURN NECESSARY FOR THE HOGAN UPSWING AND DOWNSWING, USE THE ALIVE GRIP AND PUSH WITH THE LEFT HIP THE FIRM LEFT ARM ALONG THE PLANE, THEN PULL AND THROW THE WEIGHT OF THE CLUB TO THE BALL AND PHOTO FINISH.
- PITCHING PARALLEL TO THE GROUND (PPG)
Ect
My technique requires that the club shaft, at the backswing, reach PARALLEL TO THE GROUND in all instances
- 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, employing DUKOT just like a full shot.
- Remember the body turn is necessary. The shoulders turn but the waist is left passive and just pulled by the upper body turn - indicative of the DUKOT principle.
- 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... the "body first" pull technique applies in chipping too and it might be a good way to experiment on the full swing.
- BUT ALWAYS REMEMBER THE GOLF SWING IS NOT A HIT BUT A SWING / PULL (DUKOT).
- To make this easier, pull the centrifugal weight and sweep the ball with the left shoulder turn, not the right hip.
- 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.
- 2022-09-13: USE THE SHAFT TO MOVE THE BALL
HISTORY
- 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.
- 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!
- 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.
- 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.
- 2022-09-05: Found out, on practice at the yard net, that the REVERSE-COCK is the common denominator to a solid golf swing!
- 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.
- 2022-09-18: Perfected the Reverse-Hit.
- 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.
- 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".
- 2023-04-15: Played at Deerfield GC with Doy. First time for this season. Thinking too much about the golf swing mechanics was not as fruitful. It just became interesting (for the better) is when I just firmed up my upper torso and just swung with it (frozen) and just made sure I let go with the follow through. Not too much thinking, more on the feel. This works. Incidentally, the previous post talks about the same experience. Turns out the simple swing I am trying to describe is the Jack Nicklaus swing. So just watch the video!
- 2023-04-21: TIMING (pull and turn). Maybe it is best just to use the left hand fully - pronation and supinating and throwing the clubhead at the ball. Rather than pulling with the body and timing the closing of the hips to hit the ball. TAKE NOTE - THIS IS A BIG REVERSAL TO WHAT IS POSTED IN THIS ARTICLE. 2023-04-25: NAAH. LEAVE EVERYTHING TO AUTOMATIC SWING. NO MORE THINKING.
- 2023-04-27: Played 9 holes at Sidney R. Marovitz Golf Course in Chicago. Took a while to find the swing I brought in the course. Turned out it was the DUKOT. However, the dukot only came to light when I set up the grip in a way that it made the shaft looking backwards, and easy to take away backwards.
- 2023-04-27: Copied from previous postings about dukot: 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.
- 2023-04-28: How do you swing any club like a short iron or wedge? Easy, control them like short iron or wedge. Imagine you are hitting the ball like a wedge!
- 2023-05-09: Played at Deerfield GC. Tried to learn chipping and pitching to augment my Dukot full swing and employed my SHAFT technique. It really worked so well that I used is for full swings too! Turns out, this also worked well. So from now one, I will use DUKOT for the upswing and FOREARM/SHAFT for the downswing.
- 2023-05-19: Deerfield GC. Getting better. Still have the slight chicken wing problem causing my inability to nicely take a divot. Solid bogey player now. Excellent putting technique. Poor chipping, especially with the abundant rough around the green.
- 2023-05-23: Deerfield GC. Nothing worked - left forearm, waist turn. Extreme tucked right elbow did facilitate the plane. We should try, of course, ALL with the extreme TUCKED right elbow setup:
- more of the auto snap-in-mind swing. Really promising.
- Full body swing may be better. Must try this on the course.
- Additionally, experiment with hitting with the waist alone.
- Maybe in combination with the weight shift of Jack Nicklaus.
- Rory McIlroy's waist powered 1,2 punch.
- DON'T PULL IT, THROW IT.
- DUVAL SWING.
- 2023-05-30: Deerfield GC. Tried the L-Waist method / Tucked Elbow Plane - works but the chicken wing still bothered me. Tried the waist twist taught by the cadie in the Philippines. That worked well but not so easy to implement. However I think it cures the chicken wing because it forces the grip to be ahead of the ball - thus the hands can fold up easily negating the chicken wing fault.
- 2023-06-09: Foss Park GC. Implemented the closing waist technique taught in 2015 by a Filipino cadie. Yes, I can do it now but what I ended up doing to achieve this is flipping the clubhead to hit the ball and make my body turn around. It would be better, I think, is to be able to pull the clubhead to slingshot the ball instead. Practice this for the next game. ANSWER: COIL. Use the left hip extensively to raise and hit the ball with full reliance on the constant use of the plane and its swing prerequisites (on plane dukot takeaway). Use this for all shots, including chipping and pitches.
- 2023-06-15: Deerfield GC. The 1998 happened again briefly. The feeling is like a tight shell coil from the left hand cock. Think Rickie Fowler swing.
- 2023-06-20: Deerfield GC. Took video of my swing. What I thought I was finishing the swing is not really happening. It must be done right next time. SOLUTION: HELICOPTER 1) Set up with the TUCKED elbow. 2) Waggle with the left wrist to find the plane. 3) Fling the club to the top with the left wrist and continue with the shoulders. DUKOT UPSWING. 4) no. 7 if possible. 5) HIT with the shoulders with dukot if necessary. 6) turn shoulders all the way and look at the owl for a second. IF THE DUKOT HIT IS DONE, THE OWL IS AUTOMATIC.
- 2023-07-17: Crestbrook with Dante and Ernie. The above worked. In addition, I found out the incorporating the coil (may need to cock the club strongly, but the chest rori swing is needed to coil) and "controlled" uncoil works best with it, in lieu of just plain helicopter way.
- 2023-07-24: At Grassy Hill with Winston. Today is the first where I think my swing is now in conformity with the standard golf swing. I just need to play more to hone my swing. But, unlike at Crestbrook, I did not get the body ache. The problem is I was not fully making a backswing and my forward swing was not a bounce back auto forward swing. I should make sure next time to make my backswing stronger to create a bounce. I REMEMBER NOW. THE SECRET OF YHE KID IN THE QUEST DRIVING RANGE IS THE BOUNCE. THE HARDER HE BRINGS THE CLUB BACK, THE HARDER THE CLUB BOUNCES AND RELEASES, THE LONGER THE BALL GOES. LEVERAGE IS THE KEY IN THE FORWARD MOTION AND RELEASE IS THE KEY TO LONGER HITthtS. GO BACK TO HELICOPTER GOLF, EASIER TO IMPLEMENT. 2023-07-29: IT IS THE LEFT THUMB THAT POINTS TO WHERE THE CLUB SHAFT IS GOING UP - and the plane is an after thought, not should be in the mind during the swing.
- 2023-07-31: At Crestbrook Park GC with Ernie. Big discovery. I found when I was doing the Left Thumb golf on the backswing that the forward swing is done by the body rotating back - no arms at all. Pure body forward swing. 2023-08-02: Actually, the hips (weight shift) throws the shoulders around - to hit the ball with added force. SO, USE THE HIPS! The upper body swings like a one-piece club.
- 2023-08-12: At Crosswinds, Played well with the LEFT ARMS backswing, BODY on forward swing. Remember the discovery at Crestbrook? Arms only going left, body pull going right. Excellent for CHIPS. Use the Helicopter and LEFT Thumb next time.
- 2023-08-14: Grassy Hill with Paul Dumlao and Rolly Alzona. Found my natural swing. I will now call it CRESTBROOK and revise this article to explain the swing and include comments why I am doing each part of my swing. Basically, it boils down to left thumb, helicopter, coil, and explode naturally - left wrist also hitting. Make sure to end up facing the owl. With this swing, I can now go for distance and create the divot. BUT THE VIDEO SHOWED ME NOT FINISHING THE SWING TO THE TOP! Read the Ben Hogan book again since my swing is becoming his swing. In other words, I should be able to understands his words better now. It can also be my reference book now. For example, I may have a question whether the hips can power the downswing. He explains it better in his book. Hips starts the downswing but the power is provided by individual parts cemented together.
- 2023-08-23: Tony Boy's tip: SHOULDERS. Played with Winston at Grassy Hill. Tony Boy's shoulder-dominant swing works. Couple it with the left thumb and the bounce-bounce and it becomes a formidable swing. Right thumb on the downswing? Bounce-bounce may be easier to execute.
- 2023-08-27: Played at Grassy Hill with Winston, Paul, Dean. Still not confident on the downswing and follow-thru using the shoulders alone. Next time, use the Owl on the forward swing. Tucked Elbow, Thumb, Bounce, Owl. THE ESSENCE OF A CHIP AND A FULL SHOT IS THE SAME: BOUNCE AND PULL.
- 2023-09-01: Revamp the swing. From now on, SLICE THE BUTTER WITH THE RIGHT WRIST (WINSTON COCK), then USE THE SHOULDERS TO SWING, and at the bottom, AUTO-HIT THE BALL WITH THE RIGHT WRIST (with a PULL). BUT REMEMBER, SLICING THE BUTTER ONLY WORKS BECAUSE THE GRIP IS PULLED. 2023-09-11: include the bounce because it ensures a full turn with the shoulders plus an automatic waist pull.
- 2023-09-14: Crestbrook with Rudy Ocampo, Sonny Bas and Winston Magno. Finally figured out what I was doing when I scored 78 at Richter in 1998. It is just a pure AJ swing. In order to duplicate it, when in the course, just take a practice swing, then place the ball where the practice swing hit the ground. Trust yor instincts and repeat the real swing. REMEMBER IT IS A PURE AJ SWING, THE SWING PULLS THE CLUB AND HITS THE BALL BY INSTINCT. And use the instructions in the chipping section. The setup and upswing still apply. Lastly, chipping and pitching is also done this way - practice swing, then hit instinctively.
- 2023-09-28: Crestbrook Park, Played alone. Played the latest dukot Setup, wind-unwind shoulders hit. Worked great but found myself ball bound again. Need to learn Divot golf now. 2023-09-29: MY SWING NOW - DUKOT SETUP. ONE-PIECE TAKEAWAY, FIRM WRISTS. OWL FINISH.
- 2023-10-02: Played at Tradition with Sonny, Winston and Paul. Previous night, I found a SLING NOT SWING video that i sent to Ethan. I applied it but I had timing issues and ball bound bouts. It works but not all the time, plus it has no power - just minimum distance. Next time, change the SLING to an AJ Pick and Throw motion.
- 2023-10-26: Crestbrook with Sonny Bas, Rolly, Paul Dumlao. Today I tried to use full cocking and the right hip hit. Something worked but putting both cock and hip together is hard to do. Concentrating on the full cock helped in getting more nice long hits. There seems to be something missing. When I got back home, I tested chipping with full cock and just turned around without lowering the club. That clicked and it also answered my difficulty during the round. I was trying to hit with the right hip (and lowering the club) but I should just leave the full cock and just turn around with it - no conscious right hip anymore or conscious lowering of the club.
- 2023-11-02: Played with Paul at Grassy Hill. Tried the no-think game. It was okay but you can also say it was a disaster. By the end of the round I actually forgot how to swing the club. It took up until the next morning to figure out that my swing is based on having a mental image of the plane at all times. Otherwise, i become like a rudderless boat. THE PLANE IS ESSENTIAL TO MY GAME!
- 2023-11-30: Played with Winston and Paul. The Nicklaus swing (left foot focus) with the firm left wrist (no bending) works. That is my swing from now on.
- 2023-12-13: FOUND THE GOLF SWING TO REMEMBER. PLAYED WITH PAUL AND WINSTON AT GRASSY HILL. I STARTED TURNING AROUND THE LEFT SHOULDER ALONG THE PLANE USING THE RIGHT SHOULDER AS THE PIVOT. FOUND OUT LATER THAT IT IS BETTER TO USE THE ONE-PIECE TAKEAWAY WITH THE FROZEN LEFT WRIST (LIKE AN L) AND JUST LET THE CLUB BE BY ITSELF. THE HIT IS JUST A PULL OF THE BODY BRINGING THE ARMS BACKWARD ALONG THE PLANE (L WRIST AND PALM PARALLEL/ALONG THE PLANE) TOWARDS THE BALL. TO MY SURPRISE, MY BODY NOW HAS FORGOTTEN THE CHICKEN WING FAULT AND NOW SQUARES UP NICELY FOR THE HIT. EUREKA MOMENT! 2023-12-20: Next year, on the downswing, try to make the left shoulder pull the clubhead along the ball, to create a digging divot.
- 2024-03-04: Is the Flying Tailbone the key to the Richter Secret? Showed something at Grassy Hill today- effortless distance. 2024-03-07: tomorrow I will prove this using Nicklaus "butt" pull swing and Hogan "arms bound" one piece takeaway and tighten the body twist. IT IS THE TIMING OF THE TURN...a ONE, TWO PUNCH. 2024-03-12: Every golf swing is a 1,2 punch - even a putt. 2024-03-13: No. 2 is the picture perfect pose.
GOING FOR DISTANCE
2022-07-13: Forget looking for a better distance until 2024. Get used to the new swing first.
2023-03-26: The power has now been discovered. It is the waist twist on the downswing that hurls the upper body like a trebuchet and unleashes the golf ball like a slingshot. Today, the secret has been discovered! THE INFINITY WAY.
