3Jack's Translation of TGM: Part 7F

6-F (Timing)

Homer talks about the 'Rope Handle Technique.' This is a technique used by many swingers in the startdown of the downswing. At the top of the swing, the golfer using a 'swinger' procedure will feel like they are pulling the club straight down with the left arm. This will feel like the golfer at the top of the swing is pulling a rope to a large bell straight down to ring the bell.

Homer states that 'timing' in golf terms is to bring the maximum force at impact.

With the 'rope handle technique' this moment of maximum force happens at the release.

There is also the 'axe handle technique' that Homer talks about and that's the technique employed by the hitter. This is basically the feeling of using an axe and driving the axe into the tree. If you want to grasp the axe handle feeling, I would suggest taking a club, pretending it's an axe and 'chop' an imaginary tree. That is the 'feeling.' There is no centrifigul force in the hitter procedure because the hitter actively drives the clubshaft into impact.

Homer says in the 'axe handle technique' this moment of maximum forces happens in the release as well, but to achieve it, the hitter needs to be more precise with their trigger delay and timing.

6-F-1 ('Right' Timing)

Homer states that to get the 'right' timing down, it's not a matter of PEAK SPEED, just a steady buildup of momentum (or force). So you want the clubhead to be steadily be gaining speed up to impact, but remember...according to the Endless Belt Effect (2-K), the hand speed stays the at a constant rate while the clubhead speed gradually gets faster.

Homer also says that 'right timing is actually Maximum Compresson.'

Acceleration ceases when the speed it has produced equals that of the thrust. So if the clubhead speed equals the speed of the thrust (or is greater than the speed of the thrust), the clubhead cannot accelerate anymore. Remember, LAG IS ELUSIVE. ONCE YOU LOSE LAG OR LAG PRESSURE, IT'S GONE FOR THAT SWING. That's because once the clubhead speed is at least equal of the speed of the thrust, the clubhead physically cannot accelerate anymore.

6-F-2 ('Off' Timing)

'Off Timing' is when there is not maximum compression. Off timing is a basic element of Zone #2 (the arms). However, Zone #1 (body -- pivot) can actually cause the arms to move improperly.

Homer notes that the flat shoulder turn can especially cause the timing to be off. This is important to note now since the Stack and Tilt guys preach an upright shoulder turn with an inside 'hand path' on the backswing. Homer believed that a too flat of a shoulder turn can be the result of faulty hip control.
Homer states:

These flaws may be uncovered by checking the selected Stroke Pattern. Or they may simply be components not yet incorporated into the Stroke, and therefore not known and consequently erratic. Three corrective actions are available -- and in the order of acceptability are -- incorporation, toleration, or compensation. Compensations are like temporary taxes -- seldom eliminated and soon forgotten.

So you may have a flaw in your swing that shows up in your stroke time to time, but is not fully incorporated in the swing. Thus it causes erratic swings. So you can either incorporate the flaw, tolerate the flaw or compensate for the flaw.

6-G (Hand Motion)

All swing motion is focused on driving the HANDS - NOT THE CLUB - towards the BALL.

Homer talks a bit more about this in the next few sentences. I would read those next few, self-explanatory, sentences. But this is a key part of TGM.

Again, Homer states that the focus is on DRIVING THE HANDS. The problem with most golfers is that they concentrate solely on driving the CLUB and usually the concept is to drive the ball INTO THE AIR. Good players tend to drive the HANDS into the BALL and provide a force that feels like they are driving the ball INTO THE GROUND.

Whether you hit or swing, keep those hands moving. Good 'hitters' keep those hands moving by using the force of the right arm thrust pushing them thru. Good 'swingers' keep those hands moving by using the force of the left side and pivot pulling those hands thru. Remember like I posted earlier, pretend at the top of the swing that your hands are a long distance runner and the finish line is outside your left thigh. You don't want the runner to stop short of the finish line and that will require you to either keep pulling that runner or keep pushing that runner into the finish line.







3JACK