A Cure All?
 

I really improved my ball striking today by using my pivot in such a way so as to not let my right arm straighten until past the ball. That may not be what is actually happening, but that is how I am perceiving it. In so doing, the following results are noted:

More distance.
Better accuracy.
A sense of free-wheeling with effortless power.
I don't have to think about anything else.

Not sure why this one thing delivers so many benefits, but it does. Maybe this will help someone else, too.

Hallelujah! Brother you seen the light!

That's exactly what should happen!-Think no more:happy3:

Bob,
Have you been exploring the nuances between hitting and swinging?

For me, swinging feels like everything releases much later due to the automatic nature of the procedure. I don't get to both arms straight until well into follow through. Hitting is deliberate and the feel of the right arm extension "may" feel closer to impact.

My "lights out" pattern is swinging, but I"ve experimented with deliberate hitting and its just sooo darn good I've been tempted to adopt it. Kinda like the two Angels sitting on your shoulder...In this case both are good ones.

Actually, my feeling is that the right arm doesn't begin to straighten until after the ball. I must have been really messed up.

I agree that having more than one angel with you is good. Johnny Miller said he had three swings he could use: his own for a straight ball; Lee Trevino's for a fade; and, Chi Chi Rodriquez for a draw. He felt confident that one of those three would be playing good that day.

To have an "on plane" right forearm at impact, the right elbow will be bent. Even Mo Norman with his outstretched arms had a bent right elbow at impact. How much depends on a lot of factors.
The key is that it is bent "just enough" to be on plane.

You are right, of course. But I didn't "own" a feel that leads to those correct alignments.

I believe I was having some serious downstroke sequencing problems (6-M-1) in that release was initiating before my arms, right elbow and left hand passed line-of-sight-to-the-ball (6-B-1-C).

So, I had book knowledge, but I had not translated it to a feel that leads that leads to ownership and ability to repeat the swing. The feel that the right arm doesn’t straighten until past the ball appears to have corrected that (for me).

Never say Quit !
 

The secret of 1-L-15 :) !

"Sustain the Lag"
 

"using my pivot in such a way so as to not let my right arm straighten until past the ball."
In stead of "Releasing", you "Sustain the Lag", which doesn't "let the right arm straighten until past the ball".

"More distance."
Because the clubhead is still accelerating at impact, due to "Lag".

"Better accuracy."
Because the movements of the body and club are stablized and smoothened by "Lag".

"A sense of free-wheeling with effortless power."
With "Lag" sustained, the "effort" (or tension) is evenly distributed throughout the body and felt "effortless" (or tension free).

That's why it's the "Secret", which is usually too simple for the general public to believe.

Transporting a Bent Right Arm - Week #2
 

Week #2 -

I was thumbing through an old book and read Sam Snead's advice to return the right elbow to the right side early in the downswing. I worked on this in my range session today and found that it perfectly supplements my "major" feel, which is to let my pivot transport a bent right arm past the ball. Pretty good antidote for over the top, too. I felt like I could really go after the driver and not worry about over the top.

RWH,

Congrats on the better ballstriking!

My only thought is - feel is usually not real. If possible, video your swing to verify what the difference is. You may feel one thing but doing a entirely different movement.

Keep us posted on what you find (assuming you have a video camera).

Patrick

If he is a much better ballstriker, why go the extents of further analysis with video? I would may be do a video, jot down some notes, and look at it only if and when things start crumbling down.

For the time being why not just enjoy a better game of golf?

Door #1 or Door #2?
 

Thank you, Patrick and plgolfer; I really appreciate your encouragement.

You raise an interesting point: Does the "feel" have to be "real"?

rwh,

If what you are doing feels real and the results are evident, then stick with the program.

Feeling like we are making a good swing, is as important as seeing the good results that usually follow.

Thank you, Burner.

Hi RWH,

My best to you and your family for the New Year!

My point is, what I (or you) may not be real.

Meaning, maybe I fee like I keep my right foot down through impact, when, if video'd, I may be doing an Irish Jig!!!

But....in relationship to my previous swing/feel, my right foot is alot more down.........

However, that does not negate the fact that it is not down through impact.
(cause I LOVE the Irish Jig!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Feel is real. Knowing what is real is the next step.

Good point.

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.