Setting up for compression

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Impact Fix
Sustain the Line of Compression
Balance


Many people setup such that they can not make a proper swing, and hit a good shot. They begin from an out of position, unbalanced 'pose' - with incorrect alignments.

A little drill to help you learn hands leading, downward compression on a chip shot:

stand with your feet 'together' (feet touching at heels and ball of the feet)

grip a club in your left hand, setting the blade at 90 degrees to your target line, and aligned with the outside edge of your trail foot

while holding that alignment, ensure your left arm and club for a straight line and your left hand visually looks at the 'center' of your feet as you look down

this may appear 'hooded' to some (but not in your grip, let your hands hang), ensure those alignments as you let your right hand 'meet' your left, no disruption of those alignments of the left arm, I use interlock.

imagine the right (trail) forearm is on line with the shaft from wrist to elbow and the angle of your right wrist is 'set'

'see' the circle your hands, PP#1, travels on and extend your lead arm gently with your trail hand to meet that circle

'swing' the club, your hands, back and through above the ground, smooth and heavy and slow

change 'center' until the club hits the ground before the full extension, send your hands to a point well ahead of the ball, on the ground

put a ball just before that point on the ground where you take a divot

drive that ball into the ground

stay balanced, close your eyes

feel your hands and feet

This is acquired motion. Do it until you 'hear' the stone and turf sing to you like a shot being fired.

If you were to stand with your right foot along a line on the floor perpendicular to your targetline, the leading edge of the clubface would be 'on' and matching that line.

To clarify, by outside edge of the right foot, think the 'ball' of the right foot (if you had the entire outside edge of your foot on that line your foot would be turned too 'closed').

Basically a drill to ensure that setup has 'built in' forward lean of the shaft when taking your grip.

videos
 

Thanks for sharing your drills with us Edz. Are they available on video? If not, will they be?

Perhaps Lynn can demonstrate when he appears on Academy Live, it would be an honor to be the 'model' as he uses them to describe the key concepts of TGM. Hopefully the folks at TGC will have him on soon.

In the meanwhile, it appears Golf Magazine has decided to publish one of them without giving credit.

On page 59 of the June 2006 issue, volume 48, #6, Bill Moretti demonstrates drill #2.

Edit:

And again this month: July 2006 issue, volume 48, #7, Todd Sones, "The Drill" page 67

Not the first time (Rick Smith demonstrated one on the Golf Channel May 24th, 2002 in his show on 'casting').

Edit:

For the record, yet another additon to those who publish them without giving credit....

Page 51 3.24 and 3.25 - "Your Perfect Swing" 2006 - Jim Suttie, Human Kinetics publisher ISBN: 0-7360-3423-4

Page 43 September issue of Golf Magazine 2006 in Mitchell Spearman article

Thanks
 

Ed (or EDZ),

Thanks for posting these drills. I tried the first 2 yesterday and had what felt like great results in ball striking consistency - generally I am inconsistent. Granted, this was in my yard with a full sand and gap wedge, and a 3-wood with an almost ball. I am hoping this will not be like most swing changes - a short-term improvement that doesn't last. These drills really seem to give me a feel for where my right arm should be on the backswing and where my left arm should be in the follow-through, something I tend to struggle with.

Another addition to useful drills from a previous post....
This is a very important concept that differentiates swivel, from hinge action.

A great drill - go to release point and slowly practice straightening the right arm through to both arms straight.

Next trying it with 'low' hands vs 'high' hands.

You can take 'low' hands deeper before release, but you pay the price in the increased precision requirements in your Rhythm due to increased accumulator overlap. The key reason that sweep release is easier to control distances with IMO.

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Keep in mind that the right forearm and elbow are the 'guide' in terms of any 'rotational' motion.

That is to say, swivel (startup and finish swivel) are not the same as hinge action.

Depending on the components used, hinge action may 'feel' like one smooth, constant swivel/rotation - but ALWAYS with the straightening right arm (with a bent right wrist) being the 'gatekeeper' for your Rhythm and rate of clubface closing.

Drill taking the club back to about hip high, flying wedges in place, and slowly straighten the right arm towards your impact fix hand location. You'll see that if the right forearm, the angle of approach, is correct, that the rate of clubface closing isn't a constant swivel action, even if it feels that way in some procedures (a true 'swing' with its throw out).

Please help i have been seeing a TGM teacher i am learning the right arm swing; but i am having the hardest time. i have a serious sway forward toward the target and i am getting better but i need help i cant figure out why i am doing this? My hands are getting better as well as my right arm swing but the sway is holding me back from reaching my highest levels, i also have a power leak in my stroke somewhere. please assist. thanks a bunch
Step

Hula Hula . . . you need to learn to make your hips go forward and not your upper body. The hula hula is deamed as such because the hips move independently of the shoulders while allowing the head to be "steady." Do a search on start down waggles . . . . good place to start.

What is your ball flight like? Why are you learning to right arm swing? Keep in mind with the right arm swing the center of your stroke is your right elbow. So the ball is played back. So if you are moving foward you are REALLY moving your low point well forward.

Why not ask Brian Gay to write a letter to TGC? Offering to appear with his coach Lynn Blake. I can picture it now - Lynn holding the little yellow book demonstrating the vertical hinge.

From the inside
 

EdZ,
Do you have a drill to reinforce the travel of the trail elbow in front of the trail hip anticipating the straightening right arm? I'm trying to emulate the Moe Norman swing, but getting it to come from the inside is a struggle.

Thanks,
Scott Robinson

This is why golfers get confused!

Which is it - does the left foot start the down-swing or the right knee?

The drills are great but I don't like being confused like this