right arm fanning
 

Lightbulb went off on the right arm fanning motion. I always interpreted this to be a rolling motion with the right hand, hence it scared the heck out of me as I roll too far inside. Instead, the fanning is the right hand moving back from the elbow with no cocking of the right wrist, no rolling, extensor action keeps it from going too far inside, right? I was thinking the fanning rotated the left arm flying wedge, the fanning rotates nothing, it merely pulls slack out of the left arm. Thanks for the great instruction from Yoda as well as the other members, you cannot help but learn here.

Good points Dodger. Proper fanning of the right forearm was the key to getting me back on plane from the shaft being too vertical. Non TGM teachers told me I needed more rotation, I would rather my pivot follow my hands, that's what fanning allows in my pattern... This place is the greatest!

Kevin

I struggled with it as well. Then I sort of discovered the problem by accident and then looked on this site and saw a nice diagram of right forearm fanning and not only was I right, but that's when I finally understood learning feel from mechanics and that's when my game started to really improve dramatically.

For me, it's a bigger focus on the right elbow. That needs to stay in a fixed position (or very close to it) in the takeaway while the right forearm fans back. I was moving the right elbow in order to trace the plane line. I got home and got out a laser and found that yes, you can easily trace the plane line even if the right elbow is in a fixed position.

What I love about the right forearm takeaway is that there's no more consciously or subconscious thinking of where to take the club back in the backswing and trying to keep the clubface square. Now it's just 'fan the forearm' and you're usually set to go.



3JACK

Richie,

Your new elbow position is very evident in the latest swing on your blog. Looks GREAT!!!

Kevin

Im having trouble with the concept of a RFT but then swinging down with the left hand/arm (well having #4 pulling the left side) I know about extensor action and the inert left arm, and that all makes sense, but the transition from rt arm on BS to left arm on the DS is what Im having trouble with.

As a swinger would it be easier to take it back w/ a push of the left arm (Bobby Jones/Byron Nelson) maybe even w/ a little lagging club head action, and then pull down w/ the left side?

I can clearly see how the RFA takeaway for a hitting procedure makes perfect sense.

thanks

Left arm is powered
 

I do not pull my left arm with my left arm unless it is a pull minor basic stroke (just #4 Acc.) My left arm is blasted off my chest by the pivot. Do not give up on the RFT! Right arm participation is HUGE! If you make the right forearm fanning motion on a horizontal plane (like a seal clap) note the clubface alignment relative to the arc i.e, at right hip height on the backswing the toe is "up" in order for it to achieve the same square to the arc relationship on an inclined plane it will feel like a turn (rotation.) It is not a true rotation of the right forearm. Check out the badminton raquet drills on Alignment Golf DVD # 2.

I love this site!!!
 

This post saved my game. Thanks 3jack. After seeing my swing on video last week I was horrified. I was moving my head, standing up, taking my hands straight inside. And here I thought I was tracing a straight plane line. :sad2: My right elbow was moving, as well as my head, I was swaying :naughty: . When I fan my right forearm now, keeping the right elbow still, it feels more like a right forearm pickup. Just like Lynn demonstrates in Alignment Golf DVD. Grab your left wrist and pick it up (on an inclined plane that is). That's what it feels like now. Night and day. My pivot looks a lot better now too. My motion is starting to look golflike. I love it.

Rewatched the dowel drills on Alignment Golf DVD, right forearm pickup with the dowel, tracing the plane, makes the backswing so simple you kick yourself for following the fads.

thanks okie, I will keep working w/ the RFT. So the consesus here is that a "shoulder turn take away" is not as repeatable/reliable?

I ask because I have had a couple lessons form that "Italian guy" who's big on the "TSP" and am now making some changes based on Alignment Golf.

Neeigh!
 

I am interested in The Stallion's rationale on that one, care to share?

well, basically he just doesnt think you can trace a straight plane line during the course of a swing. He is more of Nicklaus guy, TSP vs. elbow plane. doesnt believe it's an imperative to set up w/the rt forearm on plane, never mentions extensor action. He obviosly makes a great pass at the ball and knows his stuff, but I just need more structure in my swing than what his patterns prescribe.

also, he does not use a RFT either. To each his own, Im finding it easier and little more consistant to stay on plane using the RFT and extensor action.

Ah
 

Yeah, go with the structure! Like Nicklaus did not utilize extensor action! I think the Golden Bear traced a mean straight plane line in his time.

No magic of the right forearm for him then, huh? Me, I am going to insure mine! A pattern devoid of anyone of the three imperatives is not worth equine manure.

you are correct sir....structure and alignment for me too

Insured like JLO's @$$
 

There are a lot of ways to get the job done. I guess the fact that the RFT is THE KEY piece to my new and much improved stroke pattern makes me a little defensive. Yoda says that some people like to "just horse it around." Without RFT my head moves too much, making low point geometry a crap shoot. Also, without RFT there is not a whole lot of fanning going on, putting me under plane and laid-off at top. Once you get over the shock of what UP feels like right arm participation ushers you into a new world of sensory experience! I am still working on a centered head, I tend to pre-sway by having it over my right knee. Once I have that licked I'm gonna post it. I wish I had a lot of before stuff, but I can tell you that the after is much more powerful and precise. I may make a return to the competitive arena!

How to fix head raise?
 

Man I do the same thing. I have a little sway before I even start tracing. Also my head raises a few inches. I drives me nuts because I don't feel the head raise I just see it on video. The right forearm fanning/pickup has helped a lot but the sway and head raise are still there just not as bad. I'm wondering if there is a way to fix this in my set up. It seems like my body is trying to get out of the way so I can trace. I don't know. Any suggestions? BTW, before TGM, AJ Bonar was my teacher and he told me not to try to fix this head raise/pre-sway. He said it would only screw me up.

Bobble Heads Anonymous
 

In my case I have a "static sway" in that my head is not centered but it lists to the right a bit. It used to be over the right knobbly, now it is between the knee and center. Perverted axis tilt at address. You cannot do this out on the course unless you have constant film feedback, the mirror is best. For me the more I use the right forearm takeaway the less my head will move. Watch ball postion. Sometimes a ball located too far back up plane creates a situation where you have a strong urge to get behind it. This is generally because of the seems as if of the head being the center of the orbiting clubhead. Keeping the pressure/weight on the insides of the feet is another deterrent to swaying. As for bobbing (which I have a hint of) I have found that setting my head where it needs to be at impact is key. Of course you have to find where this is, it is not just lower than normal. I tend to get my spine rounded and my knees have insufficient flex (they being anchors that keep the head stationary) The cool thing is if you undertand the proper impact alignments then you will be able to discern many of these other things. work on zone 1 and zone 2 independently then merge them with their seperate identities INTACT!

Okie, I here ya, Ive used both the shoulder turn take away and RFT. 2 schools of thought, different strokes for different folks.

Im leaning toward RFT right now.

good luck w/ your tourneys!

Cool Okie. I definitely have the urge to get behind the ball. I will try moving ball position forward and make sure the weight is on the inside of my feet. I hope the fix is that simple and not some mental thing like Barkley.

Lean harder!
 

It is ALL mental!:laughing9 By that I mean I believe is has a lot to do with having the right "concepts." Seems as if will never cut it except for out of bounds right that is! Two "biggies" for me were that the left shoulder is the center of the orbiting club head. To be honest I had never really thought about it! But I was operating (looking at my perverted axis tilt) on the head being the center of it all. Of course it IS the center of the pivot, but its relationship to the left shoulder is very important. The second is the right forearm takeaway. This made my newfound hand alignments meaningful i.e. hands to pivot. No longer wheeling it around with the shoulders then shifting up with the arms. My biggest challenge other than priming over 20 years of habitualized ignorance is "accepting" the turning feel of the right forearm flying wedge. Like many I would look like I was a crossing guard holding up a stop sign to say "STOP!"(what Yoda demonstrated as the common tendency in the Drills DVD with the badminton raquets) I keep a pair of pink $5.00 raquets in my bag and swish them quite regularly on the range. I am loading the club like a swinger, as opposed to a hitter trying to swing:naughty: I can feel #2 PP, and particularly the rotated pressure point (#3pp)! A lot of fun really.

Do I have to buy pink racquets? I get enough comments on my pink putter grip.

linky?? would love to see this

What knee/hip action are you using?

Try standard hip/knee action. Feel that you start your backswing by moving the right hip straight back/straightening your right leg.

Right hip back, right forearm up.

You should feel your weight stay very centered between your feet, and that helps the head stay very still.

I do attempt to use standard knee and hip action. For years my head was positioned over my right knee at address...that is what I meant by pre-sway. I am very used to looking at the ball from my old vantage point. I get it right in the mirror, as soon as I set up to the ball I lilt and tilt to the right. I like right hip back and right forearm up!

Right Hip back and Right Forearm up...alright for me!
 

That is exactly what I have found to work with my swing, being a person who does not get much shoulder/hip turn, as well as trying to transition from elbow to Turned Shoulder plane. What do you do for the downswing, a little bump to the left? I struggle with this little transition, and knowing TGM, this is no small matter because of how important it is. thanks

I've started playing better now that I've stopped doing the little bump to the left - on video it still looks like a bump, but all I'm doing is returning my left side tush line to the pane of glass as my transition move. This move promotes the right amount of axis tilt for me. Of course in the backswing I must not sway otherwise a bump would be necessary.

Back to fanning
 

Another question that I have had over the past few days: When I perform a RFT the clubhead still looks a bit "toe down" from a DTL view. Would too strong of a grip cause this? The only time I can seem to fully fan my forearm is if I take a very upright stance, but then I cannot bring the right shoulder far down enough for release. Could my view of "toe up" be misguided, anyone else have this perceived problem? :confused1