Hitting Revelations, Part II

In the second part of the 'revelations' I'll be discussing the downswing. While I believe that the downswing is what 'counts' in the golf swing because you can't hit the ball with just a backswing, it's still important to have 'hitter' components in the backswing if you plan on becoming a hitter. Furthermore, it helps that those components are in good positions so you can increase your chances of making a better downswing.

The beauty and probably most misunderstood part of TGM is that it's incredibly FEEL oriented. In fact, Homer Kelley stated that golfers should learn feel FROM mechanics. Mr. Kelley was enamored with feel.

One of the drills I liked was the 'hitters flying wedge' drill that I had posted up on YouTube.



I could maintain the right forearm flying wedge with the 'basic motion' (2 feet back and 2 feet through) and with the 'acquired motion' (right forearm parallel back and right forearm parallel through). But when I would get to the full stroke, I would lose the right forearm flying wedge.

The 'frozen' right wrist feel wasn't working. 'Seeing' the wedge and trying to maintain it wasn't working. 'Swinging the axehandle' was not working either.

So I went back to the 'basic' motion and the 'acquired motion' and started to think about feel. What was I feeling in the basic and acquired motion versus the full stroke? And what do we know about 'hitting' patterns?

Well, we know that while hitters can use all 4 pressure points, the 2 key pressure points that hitters use are the #1 and #3 pressure points. We also have heard from hitters that they start the downswing S-L-O-W. 'Wonder why that is?' I asked myself.

But what about the basic/acquired motions versus the full motion?

'Shorter swings in basic and acquired.'

'Right elbow is closer to the body as well.'

'Hmmm, let's take that new backswing with the right forearm takeaway and the right elbow close to the rib cage. Y'know, that new flatter, but a properly executed flatter backswing.'

'I can feel the right forearm flying wedge better when I'm at the top of the swing in my new flatter swing than my old, more upright swing.'

I then proceeded to hit some shots, but wasn't compressing them quite like I wanted to.

I then thought about the pressure points. And in case you forgot or don't know what they are, here's the #1 pressure point and #3 pressure points, the main Pressure points for a 'hitter.'



Well, I use the #3 pressure point in the takeaway. However, when I try it on the downswing it almost makes sure that my right wrist gets flat at impact. You do NOT want a flat RIGHT wrist at impact. You want a flat LEFT wrist at impact with a BENT right wrist.

So what happens with these pressure points when I do the flying wedge drill in basic and acquired motion?

That's when it hit me. I use and maintain the #1 pressure point on the way down in the flying wedge drill. In fact, it sort of feels like I'm thrusting the #1 pressure point into the bottom joint of my left thumb.

A lot of people will talk about the #1 Power Accumulator (the folding and then straightening of the right arm) as like a boxer throwing a punch. The arm certainly moves in that type of motion. However, the HAND and the WRIST does not because in the boxing punch the wrist flattens. In the golf swing, the right wrist should be bent at impact.

So what's it really like?

I would say a 'palm heel strike' in martial arts.



So, the revelation was not only that the flatter backswing helps me on the downswing with lag (as well as downswing path). But, that if I try to maintain the #1 pressure point and feel like I'm sort of using a 'palm heel strike' into the base joint of my left thumb, that will maintain the right forearm flying wedge. And I wound up getting impact alignments like this:




It's far from perfect, but far better than it has been. And after awhile it was getting noticeably better. Like hitting 215 yard 4-irons with a range ball that go on a frozen rope.

I started to feel that 'down, out and forward' motion of the clubhead. I also started to feel that pushing, 'piston' motion of the right forearm through impact. Lastly, not only was my balance and rhythm greatly improved, but I was getting the ever elusive 'effortless power' instead of the dreaded 'powerful effort.' Maintaining the #1 Pressure Point THRU TO THE FINISH is key for me on the downswing.

I cannot wait to hopefully take this to the course.





3JACK