[innercityteacher]

The Right Forearm Angle of Approach and Bucket Drills provided by Daryl have led me to a lot of new insights based on TGM. I have a driving range buddy Anthony, who is a huge fan of Ben Hogan and has read every book, purchased rare volumes and films and hits the ball a ton. I showed Anthony the Bucket Drill and he was blown away and then I explained the term "Right Forearm Angle of Approach" (RFAA) and Anthony says "well Hogan used that but you don't do it as far as he did!" and so we go on and on...

http://youtu.be/NeFBj3361i8

I knew I wanted to do it, carry the right forearm laid off down and stay connected, that is. Anthony said that he had noticed a "hitch" in my swing that seemed to disrupt my swing. I said "you mean my line of compression?" "I was off-plane?" So I explained "line of compression." Anthony did not realize there was a term of that, again.

Anthony explained how Hogan said that any shot below a 5 iron needed an open stance so the hips would be pre-turned since the clubs were so short that they straightened earlier (came into line). So, I started opening my stance and shortening it. The hitch disappeared! The RFAA and elbow connection was sustained. I felt the ball compress as I have since Daryl suggested I shorten my stance weeks ago.

Anthony said it was the first time he saw my left shoulder work up and my swing look "smooth" He explained how in his study Hogan and pros create a huge space between their front hip and front shoulder so the club can stay on plane, but that the foot work has to be good. I told him about the "both arms straight position" being necessary for full extension and power and again he was surprised that there was golfing language for that.

So I shortened and opened my stance for every club including my # 2 hybrid ( 200 yards high and straight despite the cold and wind) and driver ( old Adams Red Line 9.5 senior shaft ) where I actually saw the ball "double accelerate" off the face of the club time and again !

For each shot, I knew I would go through "both arms straight" compressing the ball, hitting through the ball and either drawing or fading the ball based on ball position. I had been watching a lot of Mike Austin and his "step and throw" which like Hogan's had kept his right Elbow attached to his side for a long time.

http://youtu.be/962X9A1oQsI

So by stepping left and keeping my right elbow connected or using the RFAA Bucket drill, I was able to sustain the Lag on plane and in balance! I am not throwing as Mike Austin did but simply dragging the mop through by stepping left. The balls left the driver shooting like bb's and went high and straight or any way I determined based on ball position. As narrow as my stance was, I was able to reach full extension through the both arms straight position and finish with the "arrow through the ear " finish fully facing the target with my chest and with both knees almost touching.

Daryl had told me that the RFAA would result in much straighter ball flight and better compression. By opening and narrowing my stance and stepping left, I am now able to carry my right elbow and Power Package through strongly gaining both power and precision.

Thanks guys!

ICT

Lifting up my left heel, as Lynn showed me two years ago, gets all my weight going back and my back is almost square to the target. Lifting my right heel forces my BACK hip to drop, my BACK shoulder to drop on plane along with the reconnecting back elbow, my RFAA to flatten and pressure PP # 4 pulling PP # 3 from the TOP with speed so that the LAG is THROWN AT THE BALL WITH GREAT SPEED. The head must be steady AND THE BACK ELBOW WILL RECONNECT WITH THE HIP DROP AS THE ARMS ARE PULLED STRAIGHT TO COLLECT THE CHIN WITH THE TURNING BACK SHOULDER!

45 degrees and same increased distances as yesterday! Ball position for me seems to be a couple inches back from normal given my unusual leg length. THE FEELING I NOW HAVE IS OF RELAXING, SINKING INTO THE RIGHT HEEL LIFT AND WAITING FOR THE PULL OF PP # 3 TO PULL THE ROPE/CLUB TAUGHT THROUGH THE BALL AND MAKING ME LIFT MY HEAD TO SEE THE BALL VERY HIGH, PENETRATING AND STRAIGHT.

Thanks guys!

ICT