Tuesday, October 20, 2009

3Jack's Translation of TGM: Part 9E


10-7 (Plane Angle Variations)

The corresponding Chapter 7 Translation can be found HERE.

Plane Angle Variations are about what plane(s) the golfer swings upon. In the previous translation post we talked about the various plane angles the golfer can use. This post deals with whether or not the golfer changes planes and what plane changes they make. It's similar to Jim Hardy's 'one plane vs. two plane' swing, but it's not made nearly as important as Hardy makes it and there's different types of 'one plane and two plane' swings. Homer Kelley calls changes in the plane 'shifts.'

ZERO SHIFT - Golfer stays on one basic plane angle throughout the swing. Whether it be the Turned Shoulder Plane, Elbow Plane, Turning Shoulder Plane, etc.

SINGLE SHIFT - There's only one shift here and Homer is particular about what shift occurs. The golfer goes from the elbow plane to the TSP in the backswing and then stays on the TSP in the downswing. I have a 'Single Shift' swing.



Popular instruction would claim that my downswing is very 'steep', but the Angle of Attack actually is not that steep and I'm very much on plane in those swings.

DOUBLE SHIFT - There are two shifts here, but in particular the golfer goes from the elbow plane to the TSP in the backswing, then shifts again BACK to the elbow plane. Contrary to Moe Norman swing advocates, Moe had a clear double shift in the swing and is not a 'single axis plane' golfer.



The double shift I find to be very common on the PGA Tour. It allows the golfer to better eliminate the possible Over the Top move and thus when most PGA Tour golfers struggle with swing plane, it's usually getting too far under plane.

TRIPLE SHIFT - Shifts from elbow to TSP in the backswing, then shifts to a very vertical downswing stroke by getting to the Turning Shoulder Plane. I tried to figure out what golfer uses a triple shift and could not find one.

REVERSE SHIFT - It's a 'Single Shift', but in the opposite direction. So the golfer goes up the TSP on the backswing, then shifts to the Elbow plane on the downswing, very much what Tiger is doing right now with his swing.

THE LOOP - Like the single shift in that the golfer starts at the elbow plane, but moves to the Squared Shoulder Plane. This requires a very flat shoulder turn. Not a very advisable Plane Shift to use and to pull it off, you have to 'loop' the clubhead over to the Squared Shoulder Plane.

THE REVERSE LOOP - Golfer goes up the Squared Shoulder Plane and then down to the elbow plane. You could argue that Fred Couples uses a 'Reverse Loop' although I believe he uses the Turning Shoulder Plane on the backswing instead of the Squared Shoulder Plane. Still, the concept is similar.

THE TWIST - Golfer lifts either the wrists or the left arm vertically and straight back so they get on the Turning Shoulder Plane. They then come down vertically on the Squared Shoulder Plane. Homer Kelley states that the golfer has to have flat shoulder turn on the downswing to execute the 'Twist.'








3JACK

7 comments:

Kevin said...

Richie,

You KNOW how much I like what you have worked on. To my eye, without slow motion or drawing lines, that swing looks about as close to one plane as we can find. Very well done. IMHO, moving towards the Holy Grail!

Kevin

Rich H. said...

If you drew lines you would see that I clearly go right up the elbow plane on the backswing, then go to TSP and stay on TSP on the downswing.

That being said, with what I worked with Ted in our last lesson I wonder if I'm a double shifter. I lost the AC Power Adapter to my camera, so I can't record any swings right now. But I believe now I have gone from punch elbow to pitch elbow.

Unknown said...

Rich,

I really enjoy reading about your journey to becoming a better player. I can relate to you more than some teaching pro's who have never gone through all the trial and error that we have.
I have one big question about how to practice.
I find that I can keep the lag with pp#3 if I concentrate on keeping my downswing real slow and deliberate. But if I try to incorporate another component; such as using the right shoulder as a fly wheel, I find that I cannot keep good lag anymore because I am focusing on something else. How have you resolved that type of problem?
Thanks in advance.

Kevin said...

Hmmm, the book says pitch elbow will give the hitter maximum trigger delay per chapter 6. I wonder if there is a downside?

6-B-1-C MAXIMUM TRIGGER DELAY
is gained by causing the Right Elbow to “Pass the Ball’ – which is the Line-of-Sight-to-the-Ball- before Release. Study 2-N, 3-F-7, 7-8 and 10-14.

10-14-B SLIDE
The Slide Hip turn is a weight shift in both directions by the sliding of the hips with a delayed turn. During Line Path Delivery (7-23) use the Sliding Hip to carry the Right Elbow along into Release position for a Trigger Delay Control procedure.

You know, with the centered tripod pivot we are learning from Lynn and Ted, there is not a huge difference between us and S&T. Some terminology changes, especially on the back stroke, and a rotated shoulder turn are about all that separates our patterns.

Another possibility is you are going from 3 barrels to 4 like Yoda and Ted.

Too advanced for me to answer Rich, but I sure enjoy discussing it. I hope you will share Ted's thoughts on this.

Kevin

Rich H. said...

jandmarlow - I guess I would concentrate on the #3 PP and forget about the flywheel right shoulder. Although, if you are hitting you should NOT think about the flywheel right shoulder.

Rich H. said...

Kevin - Homer does talk about the plane shifts being potentially hazardous. So if you are on the elbow plane on the downswing, you're double shifting, and I guess that's where the potential problem could be.

Ted and I went to the pitch elbow motion initially to help get the right shoulder on plane, but I told him that I actually wanted to get a lesson from him after I played the club championship, but the shanking problem came about and I needed help immediately. But I also told him that what I was planning to do was get the lesson after the tournament and work on goals for next year, mainly adding distance. I figure if I can add about 25 yards to my driver and an extra club to my irons and pretty much keep my accuracy and consistency, I can get to about a +2 or +3 handicap.

Ted and I talked a bit about 4-barrel hitting and 'float loading the right elbow.'

Kevin said...

Thanks for the reply Rich. I love it when I close my eyes and still hit the dart board. :-)

Keep up the great work, I appreciate this site sooooo much!

Kevin