[Yoda]

What does Ben mean when he says 'Don't look at the shaft'? this is after the student has hit the tire and is holding their postion.

He actually says "Don't look DOWN the Shaft."

In this drill, Ben is teaching the correct Clubface Impact Alignments -- the Left Wrist is Flat, Level and Vertical -- and the 'Right' Timing of the Clubhead Thrust. The Primary Lever Assembly (Left Arm and Club) impacts the tire with the Left Wrist Level (not yet fully Uncocked) and on its way to Full Extension (Full Wrist Uncock). After Impact, the In-Line condition of the Left Arm Flying Wedge (2-K #2) is maintained as the Club abruptly stops and the tire speeds away. In other words, after the Flail's Angular Acceleration Phase (2-K #1), the Club is prevented from moving into its Momentum Phase (2-K #2) or its Deceleration Phase (2-K #3).

Accordingly, the Clubshaft has not yet 'passed the Hands', and you should therefore be looking at the back of the Shaft (which is perpendicular to the Line). If, instead, you are able to look down the top of the Shaft, it indicates that the Club is not at right angles to the Plane Line and that the Left Wrist is no longer Flat. It has passed the Hands -- geometric disaster -- the inevitable consequence of Throwaway and its Bent Left Wrist.