Questions submitted for the
"live" question-and-answer broadcasts
Click on the date of the broadcast to view the
submitted questions.
Questions submitted for the May 9th 2011 "live" broadcast
Question number 1: (Lee)
My question pertains to
video analysis of the golf swing.
In particular, are there any telltale signs when viewing a video of a golf swing
from a face-on perspective as to whether or not (and to what degree) a golfer
has come over the top? Assume a standard 30 frames per second video
recording. Determining an over the top swing is easy with a down the line
view, but since most recreational/amateur golfers use just one camera when
analyzing their swings, it may be useful for golfers to pick up from the face-on
view whether (and how badly) they are swinging outside-in.
Question number 2: (Shane)
My biggest issues seems to be maintaining the reverse K spine
angle and not tilting towards the target in the backswing, and not achieving a
Mike Austin/Ben Hogan like hip turn. I believe I possess sufficient hip
mobility as I practice yoga regularily and have passed all of the hip
flexibility tests. The only thing that seems to help me in some way is to
pretend something about a half meter behind the ball on the ground is very
interesting and keep my eyes (and therefore my head) glued to it throughout the
backswing and early transition. Once I feel the pull from the left side I
allow my head to lift up and try to get it to follow the swing arc. I am
seeing better spine angle but I'm not sure this won't lead to other issues.
Is this a good approach and if not, or beyond this, what drills can I do to
maintain my spine angle and reverse K in the backswing? Please keep in
mind I'm a chronic reverse pivoter so extreme measures will be required!
As far as the hip turn, I would also welcome any information on drills I can do
to feel the proper hip turn action.
Question number 3: (Johnny)
While watching a golf tournament a commentator mentioned that one of the players had been working the last year to increase his forward club shaft angle at impact. I was wondering how you would do that or what drills you would use. You could address the ball with your hands further forward but I don't think that is the answer. I understand the left hand should be pulling, the right arm will be extending to help rotation of the left hand arm. If centrifugal force is throwing the clubhead outward and downward toward the ball, what is the mechanism to increase the forward leaning club shaft angle?
Chuck Evans demonstrating optimum
ball position
Question number 4:
(Russell)
Question number 5: (John)
These are questions for the live videos, I understand if you
can only answer one. Most are in relation to the Tom Tomasello videos on
youtube.
1) Tom seems describes the first move away for a swinger as a simple bend of the
right wrist, nothing more. Is this the swivel I hear about and is it as easy as
it sounds?
2) From this start up is it simply a case of bending the right arm with the left
arm feeling that it's travelling straight up?
3) Tom states it is vital to return the right elbow to right hip on the
downswing, this feels like my whole right hand side has to
squash/condense to get it close to my hip, is this correc?
I have supplied a link to these videos, the youtube user has the full set of
videos if you havent seen them already.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Question number 6: (Bret)
What is the condition of the hands/wrists at address and
impact. By this I dont mean a forward leaning clubshaft etc but the trickier
problem of level and cocked etc.
Also what is the best way to train/feel the bent right wrist through impact,
when I focus on this in particular I just have a lot of miss hits and ball that
go right.
Brian Gay at address and the end-backswing
Brian Gay at impact
Zach Johnson at address and at impact
Lee Trevino
Questions submitted for the March 14th 2011 "live" broadcast.
Question number 1: (Air)
How about discussing the difference between a hand controlled pivot and pivot controlled hands?
Question number 2: (John)
My question concerns the obtuse angle of the left arm flying wedge.
At address (particularly with the short irons) the obtuse angle of the flying wedge is set by relaxed arms (which fall almost vertical) and the shaft angle (which is determined by the club’s lie angle). This consequently establishes a fixed distance between the left shoulder and the ball (ie the longest side of the flying edge triangle) at the address position.
From your second broadcast you state that the PA2 should be “fully released” before PA3 is undertaken.
My question is “At impact (with PA2 fully released) the longest side of the left arm flying wedge triangle must be longer than at address time. How is this extra length accounted for – assuming that at impact the left shoulder joint returns to its address position?
To my mind one solution might be to not fully release PA2 – but to return PA2 only to the same obtuse angle set at the address position – golfing pros like Tiger Woods appear to achieve the same club shaft angle at both address and impact!!
Another solution might be to fully release PA2 and position the left shoulder joint away from the ball at impact (eg raise the left shoulder joint) and/or move the left shoulder joint towards the target.
I would appreciate your thoughts on this.
Question number 3: (John)
I’ve been struggling for years trying to get the correct bend at the hips. Eventually I came across Hogan’s Five Lesson explanation – essentially stand upright with perfect forward/backward balance - bend at the knees – and the hip bend will take care of itself. With this method you maintain a desired perfect forward/backwards balance.
If one bends further forward (at the hip) to say 35 deg, as you suggest suits your particular body type (and I notice Nick Faldo does this) – the forward/backwards balance by reason is then lost (ie the COG of the body moves forward to the toes).
To take this scenario to extremes one is essentially rotating the out-of-balance body mass (ie essentially the head and shoulder) around a ‘central spinal pivot’.
Could I have your thoughts on this very fundament point?
Question number 4: (Gus)
What I want to understand is the difference between clubhead lag, lag pressure, and clubhead throwaway. How to get and keep lag pressure, and how to avoid clubhead throwaway.
Question number 5: (Elliot)
I wanted to know if you could discuss more in depth the differences between a centripetal (CP) and centrifugal (CF) release actions. Are hitters more inclined to have a CP (center-seeking) and swingers a CF (center-fleeing) release actions? Or are these actions more for shaping shots? What are the pros/cons of each release and which do you prefer?
Dan Carraher's definitions-:
"These are release types defined by Mac O'Grady. CP means the
base of your downswing plane is square or left of your stance. CF is base of
plane right of stance line.
So for a CF fade the player must aim left of the target
So for a CF draw the player can play a push draw to the target while aiming at
the target. Think Phil Mickelson
A CP fade can be played from a square stance and finish on target.
A CP draw is aimed right of the target and is setup as a "pull draw".
Think Snead."
Here is a photo sequence showing Dan Carraher's CP-release action and CF-release action.
John Erickson's definition of a CP-release action and
CF-release action.
Question number 6: (Kenny)
In many different places within several of your papers you mention that the pelvic shift/rotation at the start of the downswing passively pulls the power package down to waist level without any mention of the golfer requiring to actively adduct the right upper arm towards the right side of the torso. In may other places you mention having to actively adduct the right upper arm down towards the right side of the torso as you shift/rotate the pelvis. I am therefore confused as to which way it is supposed to be. Please may you clarify this for me.
Question number 7: (Gus)
Do you agree with the explanation of the pelvic tilt (side bend) as explained by Mike Jacobs in his you tube video, Acceleration & Speed Range Show Act 2. Can you demonstrate what he is trying to tell us?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Question number 8: (Scott)
Do you have suggestions to avoid injuring my left knee? I noticed some low intesity pain and observed I was getting my weight too far to the left on the downswing, which I've since backed off from and flared out my left foot a little more. But this seems like an area ripe for inury. Is there a key point or angle to not go beyond in the movement of the weight shift, or other measures to take?
Questions
submitted for the January 31st 2011 "live" broadcast
Question number 1: (Larry)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT WEBSITE. IT IS OUTSTANDING. WOULD YOU KINDLY VISUALLY DESCRIBE THE SUBTLETIES OF THE DOWNSWING, SUCH AS WHEN TO WEIGHT SHIFT & WHEN AND HOW TO RELEASE . ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO CONSCIOUSLY HOLD BACK THE RIGHT WRIST AT IMPACT ? WHERE ARE YOUR SHOULDERS AT IMPACT ? AND HOW DO YOU GET THEM THERE WITHOUT SPINNING? I AM TOLD THAT I HANG ON AND DO NOT RELEASE PROPERLY AND BLOCK MOST OF MY SHOTS RIGHT. COULD YOU ADDRESS THESE ISSUES FROM A HITTERS AND SWINGERS PERSPECTIVE? THANK YOU. IF I SOUND CONFUSED AND FRUSTRATED, I AM.
Question number 2: (Robert)
I have provided few questions of the many that I would like to ask you. 1. Would you discuss or write about the "transition" from the backswing to the downswing. I feel this is the most misunderstood concept in the golf swing. You touched on this topic in your Nov. 17th broadcast (Question 8), which I learned that I have a "stiff" spine since my shoulders turn with my hips.
Question number 3: (Irwin)
One thing I would like to see in future broadcasts is some greater emphasis on the body below the waist during the swing. All of the questions so far have related to the upper body. I have two problems in regard to the lower body. First, my efforts to "transfer my weight" tend to make me sway toward the hole or "get ahead of the shot" and secondly, I tend to end up with my weight on the forward part of my left foot. Do you see a relation there? I'm hoping there is one cure for both faults. In your discourse on the bk swing and dn swing hip pivot movements there is both a diagram and a statement of yours that shows and states that"the unitary structural integrity of the pelvis dictates that the right hemi-pelvis must be moving forward away from the tush line as the left hemi-pelvis moves back towards the tush line". Yet in Shawn Clement's Youtube video, he advises to keep the right hip "on the glass" while moving the left hip back toward the tush line; which to me would mean to keep it stationary while making the left hip rotate backward. I have recently found that if I think of keeping the right hemi-pelvis still and just rotating the left hemi-pelvis backward as I start the downswing, my ball striking improves significantly. What I think I've learned from this is that if you and Shawn are both right, I'm trying to do what Shawn says, but actually I'm doing what you said must be done? However, if I stand with my buttocks against a vertical mirror, it IS possible to rotate my left hemi-pelvis back to the mirror plane while keeping my right buttock touching the mirror. Are you saying that this is this just something I can do against a mirror and is not possible in a real golf swing? If so, why?
I will be referring to this diagram in my answer.
Question number 4: (Ken)
One of the major faults is coming over the top, number two fault, that I have and see most amateurs as well, is the FAT shot or Chunk. Could you discuss it? Another website visitor (Air) asked a similar question-: "Do you have good methods to stop duffing and skulling short pitches and chips?"
Question number 5: (Jeff)
Can you please show and discuss the proper lower body movement during the entire downswing? Please focus on the opening up of the hips at impact covered in Robert Baker's O Factor video.
Question number 6: (Ken)
Jeff.... Could you explain, in your next broadcast, in detail, adduction of the right humerus and rotation of the body at same rpm?
In my answer regarding the issue of "rotation of the body at the same rpm", I will be referring to this Annika Sorenstam swing video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ODdv5pmib4
Question number 7: (Harry)
Detail the action of the right forearm in the takeaway particularly its “counter clockwise” turn and how this effects the clubface relative to the arc on the backswing.
Question number 8: (Harry)
Is the INERT left arm a feel only. Why would you have a machine operate with a LEVER (left arm) that comes with its own power supply (muscle that move the left arm) and switch off the power supply and leave the rest of the machine with an extra 15 /20lbs (approx left arm weight) to move at speed ?
Questions submitted for the December 6th 2010 "live" broadcast
Question number 1: (Simon)
Can you please go into further detail into a true swingers action, performing the action from other angles other than face-on to get an idea on plane and forearm rotation, club face position etc. I have taken your advice on trying to concentrate on the right forearm flying wedge to improve my swingers action, however I believe all I am now doing is applying pressure via my right finger and thumb in a downwards motion at the delivery position and speeding up the release. This has made my right arm straighter and more dominate in the follow through, the opposite to how it feels swinging just using the left hand. Also I have flexible wrists and seem to be able to rotate them easily without much forearm rotation, would it be correct to say that my forearms and not wrists should rotate in a swinger's action so that the wrists are firm at impact and do not continue forearm rotation in the follow through?
Question number 2: (Anonymous)
Can you explain/show how extensor action works and explain it's importance in the full swing.
Question number 3: (Anonymous)
Another question would be to get advice about how to stop hacking, flipping and steering, all serious problems for many high handicappers.
In my answer I will be referring to this Annika Sorenstam swing video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ODdv5pmib4
I think that Annika Sorenstam has a perfect golf swing.
Features that I like about her golf swing include the following-:
1) She uses a natural rightwards-centralised pivot action where she doesn't sway to-and-fro, or bob up-and-down. She also doesn't try to keep her USC stationary throughout the backswing, and therefore she doesn't need to use an assertive "butt tuck-under-the-spine" pelvic thrust motion in the downswing.
2) Her downswing/followthrough pelvic motion is rotary, and it is perfectly time-coordinated with her upper torso rotation.
3) She immediately comes-up post-impact and there is no reverse C posturing in her followthrough/finish.
4) Her knee action is very limited - her knees only move in order to allow the pelvis to rotate. There is no knee over-flexing in the early downswing or knee over-bending into impact.
5) She has a compact backswing and never over-swings.
6) Her LAFW is intact throughout her backswing, downswing and followthrough.
7) Her RFFM has a perfect relationship to her LAFW throughout the backswing/downswing.
8) There is no hand crossover release action in her swing.
9) Her rhythm is impeccable. Her arms rotate at the same rpm as her body. She looks like a human pendulum that has no extraneous moving parts.
Question number 4: (JK)
I have been annoyingly skying my drives or just coming in too steeply most of the time. What has helped me correct this is trying to drop the club behind my right foot to start the downswing. I recall in your downswing chapter, you make mention that this is a good way to change direction, shallow out and create necessary lag during the downswing. I also recall you saying that it feels like the right forearm is paddlewheeling its way at the bottom of the downswing.
Do you think this swing thought of dropping the club behind my right foot is a good long term thought or just a short term fix?
Question number 5: (Mark)
Do you advocate a long thumb or short thumb and what are the consequences of these two styles?
I would recommend that viewers view this U-tube video lesson on the grip before they listen to my personal opinion - specifically the section between 3:48 minutes and 5:40 minutes, where he discusses the different positions the club's grip can lie across the palm of the left hand. I disagree with many of his opinions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYYYfFDTZrk
Question number 6: (Sean)
When i reach the top of my backswing, using right forearm takeaway, i have a tendency to overswing (i can see the club head out of the corner of my left eye). During my practice swings i do not suffer the same problem, i suspect anxiety once stood over the ball is the real problem but mechanically I am convinced that it is my left arm folding at the top of the swing. Is there any advice you can offer that may offer a solution to this problem? My handicap is 20, although when i am swinging well i can shoot low 80s.
Question number 7: (Jan)
Hello Jeff. My name is Jan and I live in Norway. 57y and 12 hcp. I am afraid your life broadcasting is to late in the night for me but I am really enjoying your first broadcast. I do hope you don't delete your first broadcast as fast as you said (in 14 days) because I need more time to reflect on part of your discussions.
I was very happy for your explanations of the vertical drop of the shoulder and how a most effective way depends on flexibility.and that a need for an active arm motion may occur for less flexible persons . I would be very pleased if you could discuss this in more detail and how it relate to swinger and hitter actions,
I discovered your site when studying Shawn Clement and have visited your site last 1,5 year. Gone down from 17 to 12 this season and think most of my progress come from studying you and SC.
I am fascinated by SC effortless swinging motion and his style. He is lately talking about a vertical drop and how it can power the swing. I would like if you could adress this action and pro and contra of using a hip action that results in a vertical lifting and dropping of the spine (as I understand it). He demonstrate it in the feet together drill
http://www.youtube.com/user/clemshaw#p/u/42/XwFfpzltvM0
and:
Golf Pro Lesson Get More Club Head Speed and Power!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTZ-2C-O0u8
I would very much like if you extend your review of SC and include some of his more recent videos. But it would also be very nice if you could comment on Shawn Clements swing style in your broadcast and discuss strong and weaker points in his way of performing and understanding the golf swing.
Answer: In my answer, I will be referring to five golfers who do not bob-up-and-down during their downswing.
Here are swing videos of their swings.
Annika Sorenstam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ODdv5pmib4
Stuart Appleby:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFEq6hzmgTM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n32YlDrlg4g&NR=1
Chuck Quinton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyiFqz7Idk0
Mike Finney
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMN1aYSEH4E
Ted Fort
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Drr_JiGsS7Y&NR=1
Questions submitted for the November 15th 2010 "live" broadcast
Question number 1:
My name is Bob. I am a Right Arm Swinger with a Reactive Pivot Action. My handicap is in the middle single-digit range.
I have no problem simultaneously using the right upper arm and thrusting the right shoulder so my arm/shoulder structure moves at the same speed, resulting in a release of the left arm (PA#4). However, during the "right arm straightening action" phase, when the right palm exerts a push-force against PP#1/grip, I sometimes find myself unwilling to passively release PA#2 and PA#3. I have a tendency to want to continue the pushing force (driving the right arm and hand as the elbow angle opens-up) too deep into the downswing instead of backing-off (on the pushing force) and allowing a passive release. This habit of not allowing a passive release impedes clubhead speed.
My question is: Is there anything other than "feel" (or learned timing) for when I should cease applying push force and transition into passiveness to allow for the release? Thanks!
Question number 2:
So pleased your doing the ustream shows, have registered and look forward to
the broadcast. I completely took to and agree with all your terms regarding left
arm swinger, right arm hitter. Without doubt the right arm swing described is
what I believed the simplest and most rounded piece of instruction an amateur
golfer can take on the course with him. It allows a normally quick tempted
amateur to start his swing from the top, normally a bad trait in most techniques
but the perfect way for the right arm hitter. The reactive pivot also clears a
massive area of doubt amongst us when wanting to power the swing using the body
in some way other than really thinking about hips. And lastly pair those few
things with the stone skippers right forearm takeaway and you have enough to
play golf courses of short and average length and get opportunities of scoring
par, birdie attempts if approach good. I believe you have combined several
elements of the swing that allow a high handicapper to play, compete with simple
and easy swing thoughts. Utterly brilliant jeff !
However saying all that, I do believe a right arm swinger will only be using at
a guess 75 percent of distance with any club, unless exceptional arm and
shoulder strength. In some ways good, I believe lower ball flight, very
repeatable and arguably more accurate. However the feeling of left arm swinging
feels completely different and something I'd like to master so I can play both
ways, giving me best of both worlds.
So my main question I would love for you to discuss is the left forearm swivel
rotation. I understand and can visualise and execute the inward rotation on the
backwing. However I do not understand it reversing on the down swing, I realise
I can execute naturally on occasion without thinking but I tend to come back in
with the club face wide open and my left wrist not facing the target line. I
don't chicken wing but I am definitely going to be very close to doing this as I
feel like I'm not rotating or swivelling back to square at impact. Seeing jamie
sadlowski I realise a really strong grip can help and other additions but to be
neutral would be great. I guess when the wrist forearm should be rotated, if I
visualise using the frisbee throw I can use a great active pivot and really
generate speed. However I feel that to do that my wrist would be bowing like a
dustin johnson in order for it to be closing near impact. However I then just
hook or block never straight shot.
Hope you can discuss and I can view live to conclude this missing piece of the
jigsaw and help me master the swinging action.
Question number 3:
I have been visiting you website for the last year or so, and have found it extremely helpful. I will be looking forward to your first live broadcast on Nov. 15th The question I have is about the release of the golf club in the downswing. I am having trouble crossing my hands over in time. I always do it too late. If you could elaborate I would be very grateful.
Question number 4:
I love your website. I have a question about spine tilt in the set up. I used to try to keep my head still and centered in the golf swing and as a result I would reverse pivot. Thanks to your article on weight shift in the golf swing I think I now understand that I need to have my head behind the ball so that I can achieve a right center position in my back swing. My question is that when I tilt my spine to the right, away from the target, it seems to open my club face. The more I tilt the more open the club face becomes. Is this normal or do you think I’m tilting incorrectly? If it’s a normal result of increasing the spine tilt do I have to make an adjustment to the clubface. Do you feel that tilting the spine to preset the head behind the ball is less difficult with respect to consistency then letting the head float back as you shift your weight? I am worried about swaying when I let my head float during the backswing.
Question number 5:
Just noticed you will have a questions/answer video. Feel free to answer the questions you think more than me can get something out of. What does a stationary head mean in TGM? And what are your thoughts about this?
There was a while since i read your articles but i remember you speaking of an anatomical flat wrist and geometrical flat wrist? Can you explain this further? Are you supposed to have a flat left wrist on the top of the backswing? Do all pros have this?
In TGM Kelley speaks of the 24 components. Can you give some examples of this and some variations? I have a hard time understanding what the variations and components really are. For example feet action? Can you show the difference between right forearm takeaway and one piece take away?
Question number 6:
Hello Dr. Mann,
I stumbled upon your website a few days ago, and I've spent at least 3 or 4 hours reading already. I find your analysis of popular swing theories fascinating. I had a lot of questions about the swing and biomechanics of the swing that were answered. I have a one plane Hardy-type swing and struggled with a block/slice, especially with the longer clubs. Without any reason I began focusing on the straightening of the right elbow. I have since become much more consistent. However, while reading your paper on swingers vs hitters I couldn't help but wonder which swing, in your opinion, could create the most club head speed. In a uneducated guess, I would say the centrifugal force from a swingers motion could create more speed, but relies very much on tempo, similar to the cracking of a whip. Whereas the hitting motion could be easier to replicate, but you can't force a whip to crack. Are their any long drivers that have a hitting swing? And would there a significant difference in club head speed between the two swings?
Question number 7:
Hi Jeff:
There was an article in the Golf Digest by Sean Foley (http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/2010-03/save-your-back-foley), he says that tilting to the right in the golf swing would put undue stress on the spine, I would like to hear your opinion on this issue. Luke.
--------------------------------------------------
I will be referring to this animated gif during my answer to question number 7.
http://perfectgolfswingreview.net/SpineMotion.gif
Question number 8:
In your review paper called 'How to Move the Arms, Wrists, and Hands in the Golf Swing', and other papers, you mention that the right shoulder should move "downplane rather than horizontally in the early downswing". However in your paper called 'Book Review: The Slot Swing - Jim McLean' you mention that "Ben Hogan's shoulder sockets move in approximately a horizontal plane of motion in the early downswing". Also in your paper called 'Understanding the Club Release Phenomenon - The Endless Belt Concept', when talking about Jamie Sadlowski, you mention that "during the early downswing, his shoulders rotate perpendicularly around the rightwards-tilted spine, and during this rotational motion they are rotating relatively horizontally". In both these two papers mentioned in the last paragraph, there is no mention of the right shoulder having to move downplane in the early downswing. You do however mention in the former of those two papers that while the shoulders are turning horizontally, "the intact power package is also moving downwards in the direction of the ground - and that is due to an independent movement of the right upper arm in the right shoulder socket". So my questions are these: As the shoulders rotate in the early downswing, does the right shoulder have to move downplane as the right upper arm adducts towards the right side of the torso - and if so how is this compatible with a horizontal rotation of the shoulders? - Or does the rotation of the shoulders perpendicularly around the rightwards-tilted spine, that is established at the end-backswing position, cause the right shoulder to move downplane as the right upper arm adducts towards the right side of the torso? Also does the 'adducting of the right upper arm towards the right side of the torso' get passively pulled there by the rotation of the lower and/or upper torso OR sort of gets pushed there by the downplane motion of the right shoulder OR happens by a completely independent movement of the right upper arm in the right shoulder socket? Kenny.
