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

 

Introduction

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

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

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

Parts of the Golf Swing

Waggle

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

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

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

Right Ribs and Elbow (RRE)

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

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

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

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

EXTREME L-SETUP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Use the CTUA section to better understand this section.

Power Slot at Top (PLAT)

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

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

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

 

 REVERSE-COCK

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

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

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

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

2022-09-17 REVERSE-HIT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CONCENTRATED SETUP FOR AN EASY TAKEAWAY 

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

DOWNSWING 

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

OH MY GOD, THE SOG IS THE BOUNCE!

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

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

Wow! So much to learn still. 

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

PUTTING

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

There is something beautiful in a stance like this: 

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

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

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

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

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

SHANKING 

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

CHIPPING

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

PITCHING PARALLEL TO THE GROUND (PPG)

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

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

HISTORY 

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

GOING FOR DISTANCE

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

My TREBUCHET Swing (2022-06-01: THIS NEEDS TO BE RE-WRITTEN BECAUSE OF THE RIGHT RIB TAKEAWAY AND ASSOCIATED FORWARD SHIFT START)

 

Introduction

This posting will be a self-contained tutorial for all my golf related swing. It will explain and relate in some way how I got to where I am currently. Although I started documenting my experiences way back in the 80's, my real golf quest started in 1999 where I accidentally shot a 78 at Richter Park with my late friend, Dan O'Rielly (rest in peace, Dan) and another walk-in couple. How I played that day was a total abandon to my instincts and even up to now, I am not convinced that I have discovered what I was doing then. However now I believe it was the sling shot 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.

The Richter Rhythm

NEVER, NEVER FORGET THE 1999 BREAKING 80 TAKEAWAY THAT STARTS EVERY GOOD GOLF SWING. THIS TAKEAWAY IS THE ESSENCE BEHIND ALL THE GOOD THING HAPPENING TO MY CURRENT SWING.

I remember that day. At the first tee, I used a no. 4 wood club because it seems to be always the right weight, always gives me the feeling of an easy swing, easy takeaway that puts me in the position where it seems easy to hit the ball. 

2022-05-06: STICKING THE CLUBHEAD TO THE SKY NEEDS A TOPIC OF IT'S OWN. (It takes out the mental emphasis from the left shoulder but rather to the clubhead being pushed upwards. Also a big big change is the visualization of the plane. It is no longer like a disc but just the circumference line of the plane.) IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE TAKEAWAY. IT GIVES THE LEFT ARM THE TOTAL CONTROL FOR THE WHOLE FORWARD SWING (2022-05-24: but only if enough weight has been created by the backswing). Not only that, it gives the left side control of the backswing. It also promotes the use of the plane and, therefore, accuracy. IT IS STARTED WITH THE EXTREME LEFT WRIST BREAK TAKEAWAY.

2022-05-16: It is the one piece takeaway with the sole purpose of cranking up the backswing to promote an all explosive PULL of the body of the clubhead to the ball. The left shoulder moves the clubhead along the outer edge (circumference) of the visualized Hogan (disc) plane. Extreme "ALIVE" L wrist necessary. 

2022-05-09: Waggle is the left wrist breaking on top and supported by the right hand palm. Right arm is kept straight and frozen. Only the left arm waggles - in essence. And when this is done, the plane magically appears and that is when the left shoulder pushes the club to the sky to initiate the takeaway. 2022-05-19: In addition, an active Hogan waggle is also necessary in order to be able to make the plane appear in the mind. IF YOU DON'T WAGGLE, DON'T PLAY. THAT IS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR ME. THAT DIFFERENTIATES ME FROM THE PROS. ALSO A BIG WAGGLE IS NEEDED TO SEE THE PLANE, OR BETTER, IT MAKES THE PLANE APPEAR.

2022-05-25: THE PURE TREBUCHET GOLF SWING

1) Normal Hogan setup. But accentuate the lower right shoulder, the hands more forward than the ball position, and the HEAD behind the ball - thus the clubhead is felt being pulled backwards rather than sideward to the right - on the takeaway. This will in effect will make it natural to pull the club with the left hand and ensure that the clubhead will be thrown outwards to the right and upwards, thus, resulting to a full RELEASE of the club. Something to pursue further is maybe executing the FROZEN ONE-PIECE TAKEAWAY (Jason Day Scooping Chip) this set-up. 

2) Extreme L left hand grip. Club weight supported by the left arm. (ball comes back to the same spot with extreme L grip)

3) Hogan waggle the clubhead to make the plane visually appear.

4) In sync with the backswing waggle, (2022-06-01) THE RIGHT RIBS WITH THE RIGHT ELBOW TOUCHING IT, pushes the clubhead up and around until it (left shoulder) touches the chin but the weight must be felt to start the downswing. 2022-06-06: PLUS THE TURNING OF THE HIPS HURLS THE UPPER BODY INCLUDING THE CLUBHEAD TOWARDS THE BALL AND AROUND.

5) (2022-06-01: THE BODY SHIFTS TO THE LEFT WHILE THE UPSWING IS IN MOTION TO THE TOP, ALMOST RIGHT AFTER THE RIGHT RIB TAKEAWAY 2022-06-10: THERE IS NO UPSWING OR DOWNSWING,  IT IS ONE CONTINUOUS GOLF SWING) Execute the downswing while feeling the chin and shoulder frozen together. This is a LEFT SHOULDER aware swing. 2022-05-24: THE OBJECT IS TO CREATE A TREBUCHET AIDED SWING BY LETTING THE SHOULDERS SWING AROUND THE BODY ON THE UPSWING AND ONLY COMING DOWN WHEN THERE IS ENOUGH TWIST TO BE ABLE TO PULL WITH THE SHOULDERS THE CLUB - SO THE THE EFFECT IS LIKE SCOOPING OR DRAGGING THE BALL TO THE TARGET. THIS IS THE CULMINATION OF THE FROZEN ONE-PIECE TAKEAWAY OF JASON DAY. THE ARMS ARE NOT AT ALL PART OF THE DOWNSWING - IT IS ALL THE UPPER BODY PULL AND SHOULDER TURN. 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 results 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. Mental? Left shoulder control passed to right shoulder impact. STIFF TRIANGLE, GRIP, CLUB - ONE-PIECE SETUP NECESSARY. STIFF MEANS STIFF, ONLY THE UPPER BODY IN CONTROL (NOT SHOULDERS). 2022-05-28: The power on the downswing is the turning/closing hips (right foot?). The rest are just hurled for the ride.

2022-05-28: To make the clubhead go from inside to outside to prevent the duck hook, make the takeaway plane lower - at least equal or lower than the shoulders.

Reason Why These Are Done

Behind the Ball Setup (BBS)

Accentuate lowering the right shoulder. The hands are more forward than the ball position. And the head is behind the ball. This BBS promotes the STOP takeaway below, thus the clubhead is felt being pulled backwards rather than sideward to the right - on its way up. 

Stiff Triangle One-Piece (STOP) Takeaway

The Two Must be Together

The "Behind the Ball Setup (BBS)" and the "Stiff Triangle One-Piece (STOP) Takeaway " must be used together for one important but not so apparent reason. The BBS promotes a thrusting motion of the clubhead on the takeaway which results in a very efficient (less movement) STOP takeaway. Not only is it an efficient takeaway but it feels like a natural move to make with a frozen upper body of the STOP takeaway.

A late addition to the two above is the FLAT plane and right FOOT push, both intended to correct the duck hook. 

2022-05-30: On actual play at Grassy Hill, extreme STOP takeaway where the thrusting of the ball is almost facing backwards and the pull is like a DUKOT, seemed to have hold out better under pressure. The ALIVE grip may also force the left arm to straigthen and avoid the chicken wing fault. ACTUALLY WHAT IS AGAIN MISSING IS THE EXTREME COCKING THAT I ALWAYS NEEDED TO DELAY THE HIT. SO MY PROBLEM AGAIN IS THE EARLY HIT DUE TO PRESSURE. 

Frozen Golf Swing (See the next topic - The TREBUCHET Swing)

The Golf Swing may, on the onset, appear to be simple and quite easy to learn but on the contrary it took a lifetime for me to figure them out and realize my mistakes. Essentially, my errors narrowed down to two - the mental aspect of hitting the ball and the upswing start sequence. 

The long mental journey was riddled with no road map and being highly intelligent, sought the intelligent way - the obvious one - that is, played it the right handed hammering way. Mentally, it was the obvious way. Actually it proved to be the reverse - the left hand must be dominant and the action must be a pull rather than a hit of the ball (hammer the ball).

As far as the start sequence, that has always eluded me from the start.  I just never figured out why I, most of the time, cannot feel comfortable bringing the club up. I think the answer is just setting up a few rules.

COIL, UNCOIL - THE PRIME DIRECTIVE

2021-09-23: Right now the perfect golf swing for me is this. 

1. 2022-05-06: STICKING THE CLUBHEAD TO THE SKY NEEDS A TOPIC OF IT'S OWN. (It takes out the mental emphasis from the left shoulder but rather to the clubhead being pushed upwards. Also a big big change is the visualization of the plane. It is no longer like a disc but just the circumference line of the plane.) IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE TAKEAWAY. IT GIVES THE LEFT ARM THE TOTAL CONTROL FOR THE WHOLE FORWARD SWING. Not only that, it gives the left side control of the backswing. It also promotes the use of the plane and, therefore,  accuracy. IT IS STARTED WITH THE EXTREME LEFT WRIST BREAK TAKEAWAY. 2022-05-09: Waggle is the left wrist breaking on top and supported by the right hand palm. Right arm is kept straight and frozen. Only the left arm waggles - in essence. And when this is done, the plane appears and that is when the left shoulder pushes the club to the sky to initiate the takeaway. 
2. 2021-12-08: Remember that a natural cock first (rather than Slapping technique) to start the swing should be experimented for the 2022 season. I think it will increase the distance. By the way, the new "old" irons encourages that fanning clubface start. All left hand cock backswing.
   
   2022-03-17: FANNING START and EXTREME L SET SETUP (GRIP DIRECTLY UNDER THE CHIN WHICH PREVENTS TOPPING THE BALL) ARE REQUIRED. The left wrist fans the clubhead while the shoulders brings the club up. 22-04-30:This worked during actual play. L-SETUP, EXTREME LEFT WRIST BREAK FOR TAKEAWAY AND IMMEDIATELY THE LEFT SHOULDER TAKES OVER TO THE TOP. AUTO DOWNSWING RESULTS. HOWEVER - NEVER, NEVER FORGET THE 1999 BREAKING 80 TAKEAWAY THAT STARTS EVERY GOOD GOLF SWING. THIS TAKEAWAY IS THE ESSENCE BEHIND ALL THE GOOD THING HAPPENING TO MY CURRENT SWING.
   
   2022-03-30: Incorporate the FROZEN ARMS takeaway - THE LONG SOUGHT AUTOMATIC TAKEAWAY TECHNIQUE.
3. DON'T FORGET THE QUICK COCK TECHNIQUE - can be the way to launch penetrating ball flights also.
4. 22-04-06: MERGE THE TWO TECHNIQUES INTO ONE. 2022-04-11: And, as third, the TREBUCHET shoulder hit?
5. 2022-04-18: MAKE THE LEFT SHOULDER THE INITIATOR and FREEZE BOTH THE L GRIP TOGETHER WITH THE UPPER BODY. A FROZEN UPPER BODY MUST BE FELT - FROZEN CHEST SIDE MUSCLES (Palikpik), FROZEN GRIP, FROZEN L-GRIP SUPPORTING THE FROZEN CLUB. BRING BACK THE FROZEN CLUB AHEAD WITH A THRUSTING BACKWARD MOTION, ALONG THE PLANE USING THE LEFT SHOULDER BUT IN REALITY, A FROZEN ONE-PIECE MOVE OF THE UPPER BODY. VISUALIZE THE CLUBHEAD ARCHING BACKWARDS WITH THE LEFT SHOULDER GOING AROUND THE PLANE AND TOUCHING THE CHIN AT THE TOP. SQUEEZE THE TOWEL. 2022-04-24: Initiate the hurling upswing by TIMING with the left hand waggle.
6. 2022-04-18: No doubt, the above is Rory's golf swing. Rigid body, rigid turn, rigid downswing. DON'T FORGET,  DON'T WAIVER!
7. 2022-04-01: The following list is a detailed expansion of this paragraph - in a way, my swing thoughts for the 2022 season:
1. At set-up and during the entire swing, the arms and wrists MUST BE FROZEN. The arms, wrists, hands, and club is now a passive part of the swing.  The UPPER BODY, with the driver seat on the center of the ribs, will now bring the club up and the body will be responsible to primarily hit the ball. This solves my long suffered takeaway insecurity.
2. Essential to the Frozen Technique above is incorporation of the EXTREAME L-SETUP. The L formed by the arms and club is so extreme that the clubhead is looking up rather than laying flat on the ground. This set-up does two things. It ensures that the club returns to the ball on the same spot at set-up.  In addition, it makes the the takeaway by the shoulders of the club intuitive and employs centrifugal force to bring the club up.
3. This is really a part of the above but deserves it's own paragraph is the grip. The left hand must be pushing down to support the weight of the club using the right hand as the fulcrum. The purpose is so that the right hand can further cock the club at the top - TO CREATE THE SOG WEIGHT .
4.  MENTAL THOUGHT - The upper body guides the frozen arms, wrists, club along the plane to a SOG bounce.
5. SOG DOWNSWING - On the bounce, the upper body guides the club along the plane to a perfect finish - ala Rory McIlroy.
8. 2021-10-05 copied from a previous post (At setup, lower the right shoulder and then feel the TUCKED right elbow.)
9. Visualize the plane. 
10. 2021-10-10: Get ready to execute the reverse divot utilizing the left shoulder. 2021-10-19: PIVOT THE LEFT SHOULDER ALONG THE PLANE USING THE RIGHT BICEP AS THE AXIS. Execute ala Rory McIlroy, i.e., Bounce and Freeze.
11. Maintain a LIMPED LEFT wrist with the right hand supporting the left hand.
12. Even if there is a feeling of disconnection, feel the one-piece takeaway and turn the left shoulder around the plane and COIL to the top. (Should be easier mental picture since the shoulders and arms are the only ones in the picture. The club and left hand are not since they are allowed to move automatically with the limped left wrist)
13. 2021-09-30: During actual play at Crestbrook, I can confirm that the visualization of the left shoulder going under and along the plane is a superior way vs. others. However, the visualization included the left hand actively raising the club leading the turn to the top.
14. 2021-10-08: THE BACKSWING MUST BE ONLY ACCOMPLISH BY THE LEFT SHOULDER GOING DOWN ALONG THE PLAIN - NO OTHER WAY AND NO EXCEPTIONS. 2021-10-12: Ala Nicklaus, with the left shoulder, supinate/fan the clubhead to the utmost top. Full turn, definitely. 2021-10-16: With full intent of cocking the club with the left hand at the top. 2022-05-01: During play yesterday,  big left wrist waggling on the flat of the right palm, culminating in a big left wrist cock against the V of the right hand and the left shoulder taking over immediately on the takeaway (pierce the sky with the the clubhead) - WORKED GREAT. As an afterthought, during the waggle, the right elbow rested against the tummy and this supported the arms and club tight and makes you feel like you are holding a wedge instead of the actual driver/woods.
    2021-10-09 PACI Timberlin Golf Club: Why does the left shoulder start works? And why it does not? It is actually the circular saw action that does the trick.  2021-10-10: Get ready to execute the reverse divot utilizing the left shoulder. 
    2021-10-16 Copied from Ben Hogan's book: on the backswing, the plane serves the golfer as sort of a three-dimensional road map. HIS SHOULDERS SHOULD ROTATE ON THIS PLANE, CONTINUOUSLY INCLINED AT THE SAME ANGLE. THE ARMS AND HANDS SHOULD ALSO FIND THIS SAME ANGLE OF INCLINATION AS THEY SWING BACK. (IMAGINE THE CLUB FACE OPENING UNTIL IT FINDS THE PLANE AND THERE IT JUST CONTINUES BACK UP - ALONG THE PLANE - TO THE TOP AND THE LEFT HAND IS COCKED)
15. Then unleash the power of the TREBUCHET on the ball position - making sure the LIMPED wrist stays LIMPED and cooperates in the process. 2021-10-05: ONE-PIECE DOWNSWING, STUPID!

2021-10-03 PAINT THE BALL

To understand this, one one first understand how the TREBUCHET works in SPORTS and with the GOLF SWING in particular.  Turning the beam of the TREBUCHET creates the torque. Wait for the bounce, then paint the ball with the backhand (Ala Hogan). The Hogan backhand is not so important as the staying down motion - thus, painting the ball!

(2021-10-05 But always apply the smooth stroke with the smooth transition - the SOG below.)

PUTTING 2021-10-04 (copied from COIL, THE PRIME OBJECTIVE post)

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 with bending of the right arm is parallel to the target line.
• Amazingly, the putter shaft droops perpendicular to the T-line and so is my left arm (almost)! 
• 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 is like a train passing along the train tracks, yes, train tracks.

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 (may be better) is a point and shoot technique. Set the putter down pointed to the target line. Bring the putter back with the left waist. Freeze and pull forward.

(2021-10-05 But always apply the smooth stroke with the smooth transition - the SOG below.)

2022-02-19

1. Optional: Practice the stroke to gauge the distance 

2.  Stand behind the ball and aim the putter to the ball while the left hand supports the putter.

3.  Go back to set-up while ensuring the putter stays on the same spot. Align the right arm with the putter direction. As a self-check, the VISUAL direction will ALWAYS point LEFT of target.  Re-start if not.

4.  Execute the billiard stroke - aiming to where the putter is pointed (a little left of target). 

CHIPPING

Use the same technique as putting. (2021-10-05 But always apply the smooth stroke with the smooth transition - the SOG below.)

PITCHING 

Use the same technique as full shots. Just be an expert on the distances using different clubs and grip positions.  Stay with the  center ball position at all time. (2021-10-05 But always apply the smooth stroke with the smooth transition - the SOG below.) 

1. Employ less force, use a lower number club.

2. Everything is on the center ball position 

3. Shallow swing, shallow divot - open clubface

4. Weight on the left foot at all times

5. Low finish

OH MY GOD, THE SOG IS THE BOUNCE (2021-10-05)

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

2022-04-03: Yes, so much to learn - or rather, so much to DISCOVER.  The bounce that I previously referred to as the SOG is actually the FROZEN technique I mentioned in the early part of this article.  The golf swing is actually the whole body, frozen - bringing the club up along the plane and returning back to the ball with a resulting follow through - as if frozen in time, in slow motion (or fast), like a martial artist using the power of the ground to impart the blow.

 

 

 

I Must Go Back to the One Piece Takeaway Because ...

1. 2021-07-11: The correct Golf downswing is best executed with a fully coiled body, fully cocked hands, the tautness uncoiling automatically like the rotors of a helicopter along the plane.
2. 2021-07-11: The objective of the upswing MUST be to place the body in the COILED ALONG THE PLANE position. 2021-09-09: PLEASE REMEMBER THIS AND DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE OTHER DISCOVERIES THAT FOLLOWS. IT IS COIL, UNCOIL. IT IS THAT SIMPLE. JUST EXECUTE THE SECRET OF SOG. 2021-09-10: At Crestbrook learned, after a nice coiled turn where the weight of the club is felt at the top, JUST YANK the felt weight towards the ball and continue to turn to a picture-perfect finish. NO HAND MANIPULATION AT ALL. But the left wrist is firm and left arm is in full control. 
3. 2021-07-11: In a broader way, the one piece takeaway is the answer to achieve the correct COILED feeling. However, an explanation of the parts and sequences is in order.
1. The shoulders must start the turn.
2. The left and right hand must flick the club bank along the plane.
3. Continue and bounce the club back.
4. 2021-07-12: Using the shoulders and the wrists, coil-flick the club head to the top.
1. This is the same as no. 3 with the coil-flick phrase invented.

Putang-ina mo, One-piece Downswing pa la lang! 

2021-07-31: Grassy Hill Golf Club with Dean Suba and Ernie deBorja. One-piece takeaway, one-piece pull, then right palm it to a picture-perfect finish. 

2021-08-05: While practicing, leaving the left hand fully lifting the club - essentially making the club weightless -  makes a one-piece takeaway simpler to execute. The cocking also becomes automatic and one does not need to be aware of it happening. 2021-08-21: Wrap the right hand firmly to get a better bounce on the upswing. It is also a must for chipping. 

IMAGINE

2021-08-14:  First, execute the one-piece takeaway without thinking of the plane. Imagine, on the downswing, pulling with left shoulder the clubhead towards the ball with the sole purpose of hitting it forward (to burrow the ground) and through - finishing high and weight shifting intentionally forward. Right hand guiding.

CLUB-HEAD CENTRIC

2021-08-23: Mind, sight, feelings and emotions are all focus on the location of the clubhead. You see where the clubhead is, you feel its weight, your mind visualizes what you want to do with it and your emotions controls the tempo, strength and speed of its intended travel. In short,  it is the clubhead that one must focus on, think about - when rendering the golf swing.

2021-08-24: And here is the main reason why this MUST be done. It is not because it makes the shot crisper and so many other little pluses. IT IS BECAUSE ON THE DOWNSWING WHEN THE ONE-PIECE DOWNSWING IS EXECUTED (upswing forced the body to face backwards at this stage), THE BODY IS ALREADY PAST THE BALL POSITION WHEN THE CLUBHEAD REACHES THAT POINT (DUKOT move while the body is still facing backwards) - THAT THE WEIGHT SHIFT AND RESULTING SNAPPING ACTION (body faces the target) - BECOMES A U T O M A T I C .

Note that there will be times when the mental picture of the swing is like helicopter rotors on the plane with head sticking out. No problem,  the intent should be the same. Of course, the sticky hands is the result of a full throw of the clubhead at the upswing. 

STICKY LEFT HAND

2021-08-29:  On the downswing, when the left shoulder pulls the club head towards the ball, the left hand must be sticky and actively be pulling the club. This is true for all, even in putting.

Experiment if sticky both clasped hands will work better? Answer: No, it is only the left hand. And we can say, as a result, that the primary purpose of the upswing is to load up the sticky left hand.

2021-09-06:  The one-piece takeaway pronates / fans the clubhead to the top and the one-piece downswing pulls it back to the ball. By the way, this fanning motion brings the weight of the clubhead around the body - thus coiling the body fully and creating a stored explosive power. 

2021-09-08:  On the downswing, make sure that the body mass is already past the ball by the time the clubhead reaches it, thus ensuring a pulling action and consistent divot. Correct ball position is a big factor in achieving this objective. 

MUSINGS

2021-09-12: Cocked or arm-club straight at the top? Cocking may be longer but timing is off with YANKING. On the other hand, YANK is a simpler to execute and could also be long. Experiment this. 

2021-09-13:  The "straight at the top" is really the feeling of being aware of the weight of the club one is going to YANK towards the ball to get the desired distance and direction.  It is playing by instincts.

2021-09-16: LIMP LEFT WRIST

Problem: How come when I pull the club and shift my weight forward, the timing of the hit gets out of rhythm? But I remember eons ago that when I over-cock, it works! 

Answer:  The culprit is the stiff left wrist. THE LEFT WRIST MUST BE LIMPED ENOUGH TO MAKE THE TREBUCHET WORK! So one has to feel the weight of the club with the limped left wrist instead of the body alone.

2021-09-23: Right now the perfect golf swing for me is this. 

1. Visualize the plane. 
2. Maintain a LIMP LEFT wrist with the right hand supporting the left hand.
3. Even if there is a feeling of disconnection, feel the one-piece takeaway and turn the left shoulder around the plane and COIL to the top. (Should be easier mental picture since the shoulders and arms the only ones in the picture. The club and left hand are not since they are allowed to move automatically with the limped left wrist) 
4. Then unleash the power on the ball position - making sure the LIMP wrist will cooperate in the process.

The Club Face, Slingshot Cock

Body Golf is a Golf swing that relies on the body mass to hurl the golf ball. As discovered in the previous posting, one important part to promote this body Golf, is the hands ahead of ball at setup. 

This is the only move where I have twisted my body to the fullest - when I first thought about it and tried it on June 3, 2021. WHAT IS THE MOVE? IMAGINE THE HELICOPTER SHOULDERS TO BRING THE CLUB UP. The left wrist powered club violently piercing the sky with the C-cocked wrist moving along the plane is necessary. UNWIND THE CLUB TO THE BALL, KEEPING THE HEAD BEHIND THE BALL TO BE ABLE TO HURL THE CLUB SMOOTHLY AROUND TOWARDS A PICTURE PERFECT FINISH. 

Being aware that you are using the MASS of the upper body instead of speed to catapult the golf ball is important if not necessary. The stiff left wrist on the forward swing facilitates this action.

STRETCHING

In order for the body to achieve this physical and mental STATE to perform this newly discovered BODY GOLF, proper stretching is necessary. Do this first before hitting actual golf balls. The grip way ahead of the ball at setup is necessary to achieve a correct right hand dominated cocked upswing - punctuated by backward but along the plane back swing. 

Three things to remember during stretching and the actual game:

1. At setup, lower the right shoulder and then feel the TUCKED right elbow.
2. Grip is way ahead of the ball at setup. AND THE EYES MUST BE BEHIND THE BALL AT ALL TIMES, ELSE THE BODY CANNOT OPEN UP AUTOMATICALLY TO A PICTURE PERFECT FINISH.
3. Use the right hand to lead while the left hand fully cocks the ball. Left wrist C-cock along the plane going up until it bounces back.
4. Body Mass Trebuchet to power the swing on the downswing. Butter-blade hit the ball and dig a divot.
5. Go back to no. 1 if the left wrist is not completely C-COCKED.
6. Finish picture perfect.

NOVEL CHIPPING 

2021-06-20: The enabler here is really the fully cocked left wrist. Call this the open and shut door chip. Open the door with a cock of the left wrist. Close the door with uncocking of the left wrist, the right just tagging a long (can also hit at the right timing). 

Butter Blade

To the learn the golf swing easy, just learn to dig a divot with the left hand - like slicing butter. Retain this skill as the Prime Move that must be in every golf swing. All the rest, one can learn by reading Hogan's Fundamentals of Golf book.

Tony Boy's Way

This is Tony Boy's inspired swing.

The right hand will lead the upswing up to the top with a perfect cock. On the downswing, the left wrist stiffens, while the body turns to bring the club face square to the target... passive no left hand manipulations at all. Just guiding the club to the ball while the body turns to face the target.. Be generous with the right hand on the hit.

By the way, the left hand is not leading here on the downswing. It is just being pulled - due to the proper wind back of the left hip - on the upswing.

GOLF SWING MEMORY JOGGER

1. At setup, lower the right shoulder and then feel the TUCKED right elbow
2. TRANSFER THE WEIGHT FIRMLY ON THE RIGHT FOOT AND USE IT AS A PIVOT BY PUSHING WITH LEFT WAIST THE CLUB HEAD. 
3. AT THE SAME TIME, THE RIGHT HAND COCKS THE CLUB. 
4. THE COMBINATION OF THE WAIST PUSH AND THE RIGHT HAND COCK MAKES THIS AN AUTOMATIC SOLID AND ONE PIECE TAKEAWAY.  
5. NO FURTHER MENTAL OR PHYSICAL TWEAKING IS NECESSARY - SO DO NOT THINK ANY LONGER. JUST KEEP A BLANK MIND AND AUTO EXECUTE THE FORWARD SWING.
   

NOVEL CHIPPING 

Set up with the hands way ahead of the ball. Use the roped arms and use only the hips to bring back the club. The left wrist can be used to cock. Frozen left wrist is a must on the forward swing ala putting. 

COIL, the PRIME OBJECT

Trebuchet and Stroke of Genius (SOG)

Trebuchet (the physics behind the swing) and Stroke of Genius (SOG) must be the same thing and each one should be an explanation of the other.  In other words, the two must back up each other. When one part is not easily explainable in one, we can look up in the other for explanation and validation. 

One important but easily overlooked part is the initial move of the projectile above. It is dragged first before it is hurled same as in golf. So it is wrong to think one is slapping the ball but, rather, imagine it like a slingshot. IN ACTUAL APPLICATION, COILING IS THE PRIME AND ONLY OBJECTIVE OF THE GOLF SWING. HITTING IS NOT.

Master the Chipping to be the Master of the Golf Swing

In order to learn the Trebuchet golf swing, we will use the chip as the test platform for imparting the Trebuchet effect to the golf swing. Since trebuchet or SOG is used in every physical activity, then mastering chipping will eventually lead to mastering all the golf swing, from putting to full shots, in any kind of environment and surface. So why does raising the club parallel to the ground work?

As a personal objective in learning the golf swing, we will only try to learn one personal standard, the Trebuchet COIL Golf Swing.  We will not try to learn to manipulate the swing to impart different flight characteristics to the ball but instead just let the weather affect it.  This way, we will simplify the game, and let other things follow our way.

Very important discoveries 

2121-04-29:  Rythm and Tempo like the LPGA Pros with One Big 360º Shoulder Turn - At an advance level, the helicopter shoulders, ala Fred Couples, with the club head going back then forward 360º may be an excellent way to accomplish the individual rhythm and tempo to the swing. It is imperative that flicking - with the shoulders- the clubhead around to the top, strong enough to bring the left shoulder to touch the chin must be the initial objective. 

2121-05-10:  All these new "ways" do not really work.  Just stay with the normal proven natural and personal swing. Do not dream any longer in lengthening the distance. It is better to be short but able to enjoy the game ... and nature.

Trebuchet Putting 

Let the body big muscles do the moving. Let the hands and arms move like the sling part of the trebuchet. Move back the putter with the waist, freeze, and throw the ball forward in one frozen move.

The Parts of the Swing (LEFT WAIST UPSWING and RIGHT WAIST DOWNSWING) with COILING, as the PRIME OBJECTIVE

1. At setup, lower the right shoulder and then feel the TUCKED right elbow.
   
   
2. LOOK FOR THE PLANE - which is inclined low from the shoulders, not the eyes. When felt, proceed below. NOTE: IT IS EASIER TO USE THE BACK OF THE LEFT HAND TO TRACK THE PLANE.
   
   
3. TRANSFER THE WEIGHT FIRMLY ON THE RIGHT FOOT AND USE IT AS A PIVOT BY PUSHING WITH LEFT WAIST THE LEFT BACKHAND ALONG THE PLANE. THEN DO SEVERAL SLOW MINI UPSWINGS TO TEST THE SYNCHRONIZATION WITH THE PLANE. 
   
   
4. WHEN SATISFIED, PUSH THE CLUB ON THE GRASS WITH THE LEFT HIP AND CONTINUE with a continuous flick of the left backhand following and ALONG THE PLANE (like the left hand throwing the cape over the shoulders) up to the extreme cock of the wrist which then pulls the LEFT shoulder down and around. Imagine the right arm - from shoulder to elbow - as the AXIS. Go around along the PLANE UNTIL THERE IS A PRONOUNCED TIGHTENING OF THE LEFT BODY MUSCLES - A FULL COIL and a FULLY COCKED GRIP.
5. TONY BOY'S TECHNIQUE: USE THE RIGHT HAND FOR TAKEAWAY AND COCKING WHICH AUTOMATICALLY SETS UP THE LEFT HAND ALONG THE PLANE. HIT WITH STIFF LEFT ARM TO SLING THE BALL.
   
   
6. Last, started by the BOUNCE AND TIGHTENED MUSCLES,  WEIGHT SHIFT TO THE LEFT AND FIRE THE RIGHT HIP TO SWEEP THE BUTT OF THE FULLY COCKED GRIP TO THE BALL TO PULL IT TO A PICTURE PERFECT FINISH. 
   
   
7. It is imperative that the downswing is started by the left waist weight shift that pulls the club towards the ball and continued by the right waist turn till the ball impact, thus, resulting in a picture perfect finish. REMEMBER, IT IS A SLINGSHOT.

MUSINGS

Putting and Chipping

Putting and chipping have identical techniques. EVERYTHING IS THE SAME except the actual implement used. So with this in mind, one can consider even the fringes of the green as actually part of the green. Anything where you can chip has to be considered like putting.  One can really shoot for the flag no matter where it is because all around it won't matter (except water).

This is Miyazaki MDX II MD-001 putter.  It changes the visualization of the putt - from dying into the hole - to passing on top of the hole.  Actually, the major difference between between the two concepts  is the width of the line. The former just a line going and dropping into the hole while the latter is the line imagined is as wide as the putter and it just passes over the hole.  This makes is so easy to target the hole because there is no need to be as detailed.

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 with bending of the right arm is parallel to the target line.
• Amazingly, the putter shaft droops perpendicular to the T-line and so is my left arm (almost)! 
• 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 is like a train passing along the train tracks, yes, train tracks.

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 (may be better) is a point and shoot technique. Set the putter down pointed to the target line. Bring the putter back with the left waist. Freeze and pull forward.

PITCHING

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

• First, COCK the club parallel to the ground. Very important to note that raising is done by the flick or COCKING (after the left waist) of the wrist along the plane, just like a full shot. Remember the body turn is necessary. ALSO, THE STRETCHED LEFT ARM AND BACKHAND FOCUS "MEASURES" THE CLUBHEAD 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.  
• 
  
• To make this easier, pull the centrifugal weight and sweep the ball with left shoulder turn, not the right hip.
• 
  
• SOG APPLICATION TO THE GOLF STROKE: The right hand and arm is the mover that brings back the club. The COCKED left arm remains STIFF and slings back the ball.

MENTAL CHANGE TO TEST

Imagine pulling the ball with the club face vs. Slapping the ball - like I do now. Remember the feeling I got when the driver face was close but I hit anyway? The ball felt like sticking on the club face. Also,  the ball did not hook but went straight! 2021-05-31: I actually learned this already but I gradually forgot again.  I changed this Post today to reflect this knowledge.

 

2021 SOG Golf Swing

 

Introduction

This posting will be a self-contained tutorial for all my golf related swing.  It will explain and relate in some way how I got to where I am currently. Although I started documenting my experiences way back in the 80's, my real golf quest started in 1999 where I accidentally shot a 78 at Richter Park with my late friend, Dan O'Rielly and another walk-in couple. How I played that day was a total abandon to my instincts which I did not understand then but I am realizing slowly now.  I am still not sure but I think it is the catapult effect brought about by an extremely cocked left wrist (with abandon) that was the key.  It is only through a lot of continuous self discoveries that I realized I was actually creating an SOG (see other posting related to this topic) swing.

Aggressive Wrist Cock

For 99% of the golfers out there, taking a vigorous wrist cock may be the answer to understanding the correct golf swing. When the club is taken back and extremely cocked, the twisted body is pulled farther. This in turn turns a switch in the brain to pull the club with the body - hips turning - rather than starting the downswing with the hands. The feeling of the over cocked clubs leaves the mind hopelessly incapable of flipping the club back with the hands. It (the mind) orders the body to un-twist (turn the hips).

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.

2015-02-16: 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 twisted my shoulders automatically and at the same time summoned an automatic full hit.  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).

What is the Cause of Shanks and Mishits? Simple but hard to digest. It is the shoulders over-rotating and go off alignment with the plane. This is hard to detect. Usually the misalignment is cured by over-cocking the club and that is why the resulting late hit cures the misaligned shoulders. However,  when there is no cocking, the shoulders are late in correcting its alignment to the plane and the contact to the ball is met with an open clubface. Mishits or shanks occurs.

2020-06-15: STROKE OF GENIUS (SOG) APPLICATION IN THE GOLF SWING - The full cocking is the most important part of the upswing. It doesn't matter if the shoulders does not fully go up as long as the cocking is fully done. And it (COCKED wrist) is NOT subjectively released to take the divot. Yes, the delayed centrifugal release is caused by the SOG. The club/head is automatically released by centrifugal force which gives the extra power to the swing. 

2021-04-06:  IS EXTREME COCKING NECESSARY? Well, in my case it is. If not extremely cocked, my short irons go awry. Therefore, it must be incorporated in my swing at all times starting today. Change my upswing to instead of the left shoulder turning and pulling the body muscles taut, let the left extremely cocked hand do the work.

With the left fully cocked wrist pulling the body turn and creating the torque,  AN AUTOMATIC STRONG LEFT HAND HIT RESULTS. THIS MUST BE INCORPORATED IN MY SWING!

The V-angle Golf Principle

V-angle Golf is the belief that the very essence of the "correct" golf swing is the V-angle's inclusion in every swing.  Golfers may incorporate different ways and do other things but they all hit the ball the V-angle way. By the way, the V-angle is the use of the resulting angle in the golf swing where the vertex or the point of the V is pulled towards the ball. Then the clubhead is catapulted (reaction to the pull) to actually hit the ball and take the divot. That said, one can make a rule that states: every other part of the golf swing must complement the V-angle.  If not possible, do not even try it.

This is how the conversion to the left and pull technique versus the right and hammer golf can be achieved. It is a very difficult transition, even impossible to many.

THE V-ANGLE IS THE ANGLE CREATED BY THE SHOULDERS AND THE LEFT ARM ON THE TAKEAWAY WITH THE LEFT SHOULDER BECOMING THE VERTEX OF THE ANGLE.  The purpose of the angle is the one that is significant.  It creates the lag that professional golfers have.  And imagining the left shoulder as the vertex of the angle AND THE POWER MOVER OF THE GOLF SWING makes the average golfer ABLE TO EASILY execute the golf swing like a professional golfer. 

The angle must be made parallel to the plane.  It has to be parallel so that one can use the left shoulder to pull the club towards the ball with ease and with self confidence. THIS IS ONLY ACHIEVED BY A CORRECT TAKEAWAY HABIT.

The Parts of the Swing

LEFT HAND ONLY UPSWING with right hand actively guiding and SOG WAIST TURN DOWNSWING

• First, at address, LAY THE CLUB FACE FLAT ON THE GROUND. This may feel upright at the beginning but it is not. 
  
  
• Then lower the right shoulder and feel then feel the TUCKED right elbow. LOOK FOR THE PLANE - which is inclined low from the shoulders, not the eyes - and when mentally found proceed below. NOTE: OFTEN TIMES IT MAY BE EASIER TO USE THE BACK OF THE LEFT HAND TO TRACK THE PLANE with the right hand actively guiding the club along the plane and ultimately ensuring the extreme almost backhand cock.
  
  
• THEN DO SEVERAL SLOW MINI UPSWINGS TO TEST THE SYNCRONIZATION WITH THE PLANE.

• Third, WHEN SATISFIED, PUSH THE CLUB ON THE GRASS WITH THE LEFT HIP AND CONTINUE with a continuous flick of the clubhead following and ALONG THE PLANE (like the left hand throwing the cape over the shoulders and  the right hand actively guiding the club along the plane and ultimately ensuring the extreme almost backhand cock) up to the extreme cock of the wrist which then pulls the LEFT shoulder down and around - imagining, the right arm from shoulder to elbow - as the AXIS and going around along the PLANE UNTIL THERE IS A PRONOUNCED TIGHTENING OF THE LEFT BODY MUSCLES created by the EXTREME COCKING.

• NOTE: Pronate naturally and cock with the left hand the club WITH SOLE PURPOSE OF CREATING A CENTRIPETAL FORCE resulting to a BOUNCE (don't forget the idea is to achieve extreme cocking).

• Fourth and last, started by the BOUNCE AND TIGHTENED MUSCLES, continue to pull AND SWEEP the centrifugal weight with the left shoulder OR LOWER BODY - not the right hip - and AUTOMATICALLY supinating - WITH DELIBERATE RIGHT HAND FORCE OR JUST A NATURAL PULL- the clubhead THROUGH THE BALL AND TOWARDS THE target.  2021-04-09: CORRECTION - TURN THE HIPS TO THE TARGET TO POWER THE SWING AND EXECUTE IT USING SOG.
  
  
• Tip to Tip: a technique where the tip of the club, the clubhead, is the focus. The clubhead is brought up and down towards the ball to create the fastest velocity as possible,  i.e., tip to tip.

MUSINGS on My Current Game

Putting and Chipping

Putting and chipping have identical techniques. EVERYTHING IS THE SAME except the actual implement used. So with this in mind, one can consider even the fringes of the green as actually part of the green. Anything where you can chip has to be considered like putting.  With this in mind, one can really shoot for the flag no matter where it is because all around it won't matter (except water).

I am currently using this Miyazaki MDX II MD-001 putter.  It changed my visualization of the putt - from dying into the hole - to passing on top of the hole.  Actually, the major difference between  between the two is the width of the line.  Before it was just a line going and dropping into the hole but now the line is as wide as the putter and it just passes over the hole.  This makes is so easy to target the hole because there is no need to be as detailed.

By the way, do not forget to use the billiard arms (SHADE LEFT) in putting. It is essential in straightening the actual ball path and ensuring that the ball behaves as imagined and intended. However,  there is something beautiful in my stance now. I open my body approximately 45° to the line and my right arm is parallel to the target line but amazingly, the putter shaft droops perpendicular to the T-line and so is my left arm (almost)! 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 is like a train passing along the train tracks, yes, train tracks.

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.

PITCHING

My technique requires that the club backswing reach PARALLEL TO THE GROUND in all instances. 
First, raise the club parallel to the ground. Very important to note that raising is done by the flick of the wrist along the plane, just like a full shot. 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. AND THE TAKEAWAY SHIFTS THE CENTRIFUGAL WEIGHT TO THE LEFT. 

To make this easier, pull the centrifugal weight and sweep the ball with left shoulder, not the right hip!

HOGAN'S PLANE

The plane is low and inclined from the ball towards the shoulders. It would have been easier to mentally incline it towards the eyes so it can be "seen" easily but in that position, the clubhead return to ball raises it a little high and invites topping or a necessary downward correction. KEEPING THE PLANE RESTING ON THE SHOULDERS PROMOTES A TRUE PLANE-TO-PLANE RETURN.

TRAIN TRACKS 

Imagining the golf swing as a train traveling towards the target rather than a slap on the ball - PROMOTES A TRUER BALL FLIGHT and very apparent in putting and chipping. 

GOLF UPRIGHT SWING

This is just a reminder for me why I am changing my flat plane to a more upright (relative to my usual flat plane with the club face pointing upwards) where the club face is correctly flat on the ground. 

During my last game (Tradition at Oak Lane, March 14, 2021 with Dean and Winston), I realized I must impart an active and strong swipe at the ball to get any decent distance. 

Well while practicing at home the next day, I also realized the value of the slow MINI big waggles AND SLOW UPSWING (Morikawa?) which makes the upswing-along-the-plane very easy to do. If this is easy, then I can go back to the more standard "upright" plane. When I experimented with this, to my surprise,  the club automatically cocked at the top WHICH RESULTS IN AN AUTOMATIC STRONG HIT AT THE BALL!  WOW, PROBLEM SOLVED.

THE LEFT BACK HAND UPSWING AND HIT - ACTIVE SUPINATION AND PRONATION

2121-03-17:  This is very important concept that is hard to put on paper right now. It involves the active use of the left hand backhand in the upswing. The downswing or hit is also the active left hand. Right it looks like it should be use in all shots that is why it may invalidate and replace all the teachings I have so far laid down in this section.

2121-03-21: DO NOT FORGET THE RICHTER 4-WOOD FLIP AND "FORGOTTEN AUTOMATIC" HIT. 

Go back to the V-angle to execute the Richter swing.

1) usual stance and plane visible 

2) Cock first (very early and when physically possible).

3) Wind up the backswing with the left shoulder,  i.e., v-angle swing. NOTE: THE LEFT SHOULDER MUST TURN BACK!

4) HIT hard with the left shoulder. 

2021-03-30:  IT IS THE SHOULDERS STUPID. And the trebuchet hurls the golf ball, not hit it.

2021-04-21: I discovered the art of coiling. Start with the left hand flip and follow right away with coiling the left shoulder and left WAIST until fully coiled. Execute the waist turn to hit the ball. The right hand actively (80%) facilitates the extreme cocking. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE PATH OF THE BACKSWING TO VISUALIZE. Do you want a Nicklaus upright backswing or a more circular one where the bottom will become the divot? BUT IT IS A MUST AND A FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENT FOR THE CLUB HEAD WEIGHT TO REACH THE EXTREME COCKING AS EVIDENCED BY A BOUNCE ON THE INVERTED WRIST! AND, REPEAT AND, YOU DON'T,  REPEAT, DON'T UNCOCK ON THE DOWNSWING. YOU JUST SWEEP THROUGH. NO PAUSE AT ALL FOR UNCOCKING NECESSARY. ESPECIALLY FOR CHIPPING! Emulate Jason Day's chipping and Rory McIlroy drive. NOTE 2121-04-11: THIS REVISES MY THEORY ON SOG BECAUSE IT POSTULATES A NO FORWARD DISCERNABLE REQUIRED MOVE OF THE SMALL MUSCLES. IT ACTUALLY PROMOTES A FROZEN SMALL MUSCLES MOVEMENT.  THE HANDS IN THE UPSWING AND "ALL WAIST TURN" IN THE DOWNSWING. 

MASTER CHIPPING TO MASTER GOLF

This section is primarily to learn the art of the stroke, for chipping and, therefore, golfing. Apply the power of the trebuchet at all times and in every instance.