3Jack's Translation of TGM: Part 7C

6-C-0

This talks about 'loading.' That means you are 'loading' up the power. Then you 'lag' the power, 'drag' the power and 'thrust' the power into the ball. It's a bit like a wrecking ball into a crane. The crane whips the ball back, then the wrecking ball lags, drags and releases (thrusts) all that energy and power into the brick wall. The major differece is the golfer can thrust the power whereas only centrifigul force is used in the wrecking ball.

Basically when something is connected to another object and it is trailing behind, it is 'lagging.' In the case of the golf swing, if the clubhead is trailing behind the grip, that clubhead is lagging. In the case of the flipper, the clubhead starts to move out in front of the grip...thus it is no longer lagging the clubhead. Homer refers to this as 'throwaway' because basically the golfer is 'throwing away' the lag. Somebody like Hogan got the clubhead way behind the grip, thus he had a ton of lag.

6-C-1 (Pressure Points)

There are 4 pressure points, with 2 of them in the right hand, 1 of them in the left hand and the other in the upper arm area:


PP #1 = Heel of the RIGHT HAND, right on the lifeline where it touches the left thumb or the clubshaft.

PP #2 = Last 3 fingers of the LEFT HAND.

PP #3 = The base Joint of the RIGHT index finger

PP #4 = Wherever the left arm contacts the left side.


Typically:

PP #1 & PP #3 = used by hitters

PP #2 & PP #4 = used by swingers

However, a golfer can use any ONE or any combination of pressure points.

6-C-2 (Clubhead Lag)

Homer states that Clubhead Lag is 'The Secret to Golf.' I know this may be unpopular to say, but this is in a way very different from Ben Hogan's 'Secret.' I'm not claiming that I know what Hogan's 'secret' really was, but I think most golfers need to worry about the 'real secret' --- creating lag --- instead of worrying about Hogan's secret. I believe Hogan's secret probably gave some end result where he could control the clubface better. Lag is great at not only creating power, but CREATING ACCURACY because it CONTROLS THE CLUBFACE BETTER than a golfer who flips the club through. But Hogan always had lag, he just couldn't stop letting that clubface close at impact and that's why early on he hit those snap hooks. So whatever his secret was, it was done to eliminate that shut clubface at impact.

I often talk about how realizing that 'creating maximum lag pressure at impact' took my game to another level and eliminated the flip. The key *for me* is the pressure points.

In my case, I use the #1 PP. When I can get maximum pressure at impact, that spells good news for me. That doesn't mean gripping the club with more pressure, but in this case, the left thumb is pressed at its maximum at impact. I believe this holds true for the other Pressure Points as well. Want to use the #2 Pressure Point? Feel maximum pressure with those last 3 fingers in the left hand at impact. The same goes if you use PP's 3 or 4 or any combination.

I think one of the largest issues with most, but not all golf instructors, even TGM AI's is that when teaching the grip they are concerned almost solely with where in the hands the grip is placed and whether the golfer has a strong, weak or neutral grip. I believe what's extremely key with the grip is if the golfer can sense the pressure points in the grip while addressing the ball and then use whatever pressure point or combination of pressure points in the swing. Put it this way, for myself:

Not sensing the pressure points at address = flipping

Sensing the pressure points at address = FLW at impact.

6-C-2-A

Homer states that the essence of clubhead lag is primarily aiming the lag pressure and thrusting the lag pressure point. The swinger 'subconsciously' thrusts the lag pressure point by pulling the left side and pivoting the body. The hitter 'consciously' thrusts the lag pressure point by thrusting the right arm and creating a piston like action with the right forearm into impact.

The clubhead lag pressure point is right where the #3 Pressure Point is. In fact, the #3 PP is considered the clubhead lag sensor. Here's a video from Jeff Evans describing this:



Homer talks about the clubshaft bending, which is sort of like this.


This is actually an optical illusion caused by the camera. The shaft actually bends somewhat like this at impact, like Homer describes. This is caused because you have pressure from the grip directed forward and the resistence of the clubhead hitting the ground.

If the Pivot moves the Right Shoulder at the same speed as the Primary Lever Assembly the Accumulators will not be released by this action until the right elbow can straighten.

That not only describes the importance of the right elbow and sequencing the pivot and the shoulder turn correctly, but describes how quick the accumulators release as the straightening of the right arm doesn't take very long.






3JACK