Pressuring the clubshaft at impa

In this post, I am going to analyse two recent videos produced by Bertie Cordle.

Video 1: "How to pressure the shaft".

The first video is labelled "How to pressure the shaft." Watch the first 1:28 minutes of the video. BC has placed his clubhead against the base of the alignment stick at ground level and he generates forward shaft lean by pushing against the resistance of the ground and he then describes the "feel" that he experiences in his lead hand and trail hand when he is in a condition of forward shaft lean - he states that he "feels" the lead hand's hypothenar area pushing against the club handle in an away from the target direction and he "feels" like his trail hand's 2nd finger is applying a positive push-pressure against the aft side of the club handle at the PP#3 area. Note that it produces a counterclockwise torque about the coupling point (mid-hands point) - note the yellow-colored arrow rotating counterclockwise. BC believes that this creates a clubface-stabilising phenomenon at impact. I cannot agree with that opinion because if a golfer comes into impact while applying those lead hand/trail hand forces (as described by BC) at impact, which will result in a counterclockwise torque about the coupling point, I think that it will more likely promote a rotation-about-the-coupling point hand release action that is taught by Brian Manzella and his acolytes.

Here is a capture image showing the rotation-about-the-coupling point hand release phenomenon taught by Brian Manzella and his acolytes.

The alpha torque graph measures the torque being applied to the club handle by the hands in the direction of the target (= parallel to the functional swingplane direction) - note that it is positive during the later downswing all the way to impact and that it only becomes negative after impact when the lead wrist bends allowing the clubshaft to flip passed the lead forearm. Most importantly, if the trail hand's 2nd finger is applying a positive push-pressure at impact against the aft side of the club handle (as suggested by BC), then that represents a positive trail hand couple scenario.

I agree with BC that is is advantageous to have forward shaft lean at impact, where the clubshaft is angled away from the target relative to the lead forearm, but I think that the best way to ensure a clubshaft-stabilising force at impact that promotes forward shaft lean (and that will act to resist/impede any clubshaft flipping phenomenon) is to have the lead/trail hand forces working in the opposite direction, which will promote a clockwise rotary torque about the coupling point that will better promote a continued condition of forward shaft lean continuously existing through impact and into the early followthrough time period. In other words, the lead hand must be pulling the club handle towards the lead hand's hypothenar area at impact - by maintaining a bowed lead wrist while allowing the lead hand's 3rd, 4th and 5th fingers to be continuously pulling against the aft side of the club handle in a targetwards direction. By contrast, the trail hand needs to be applying a negative trail hand couple force at impact - by ensuring that the trail wrist remains continuously extended through impact thereby resisting any tendency for it to straighten - and that negative trail wrist torque scenario will be the exact opposite of applying a positive "pressuring shaft force" with the trail hand to the club handle below the coupling point at impact (as described by BC).

Consider Cameron Champ's DH-hand release action through impact.

Image 1 is at P7, image 2 is at P7.2 and image 3 is at P7.4.

Note that his clubshaft is angled back relative to his lead forearm at P7 and to a slightly lesser degree at P7.2. What are the likely clubshaft-stabilising forces that CC could potentially be applying between P7 => P7.2 with his lead/trail hands to prevent a clubshaft flipping phenomenon. Surely, it must be the forces that I described in the last paragraph, which particularly involves the use of a negative trail hand couple force, which is the exact opposite of a "pressuring the shaft" force being applied below the coupling point. I cannot understand why a pro golfer would want to be applying a positive trail hand push-force against the club handle below the coupling point ( = "pressuring the shaft" below the coupling point) at impact-and-through impact if he specifically desires to ensure that he has forward shaft lean at impact-and-through impact!!!

Listen to what BC states-and-demonstrates starting at the 3:30 minute time point of his video. He talks about having the correct impact geometry at impact where the clubshaft is angled back relative to the lead forearm, but where the amount is different for a driver compared to a short iron mainly because of ball position. Note that he does not like the term "lean angle" and he prefers to use the term "lag tension". That's a major golf instructional difference between BC and me because I want a golfer to manifest the same impact geometry (same lean angle) recommended by BC and the same low point characteristics where the deepest part of the divot happens a few inches ahead of the ball when hitting a short iron, but I have zero sympathy for BC's "idea" of lag tension.

Watch the video starting at the 5:54 minute time point where Jonathan Yarwood demonstrates a drill intended to foster the "feel" that should exist at impact. Note that he places the clubhead against one of the table's feet and he then "positively stresses" the clubshaft by applying a positive push-force with a body rotation/motion in order to "artificially" create a bowed lead wrist and forward shaft lean at simulated impact. However, that demonstrated drill has no relevance with respect to a full golf swing action where a pro golfer uses a pivot-induced TGM swinging action (lead arm swinging action) and where there is a sequential release of PA#4 => PA#2 - as seen in the following capture images of Rory McIlroy's driver swing.

Image 1 is at P4, image 2 is at P5.2, image 3 is at P5.5, image 4 is at P6, image 5 is at P6.3 and image 6 is at P6.8.

I have drawn a yellow line along his proximal clubshaft.

Note that his entire clubshaft forms a straight line with that yellow line at his P4 position, which means that no positive alpha torque is being exerted at this time point.

Note that he must be applying a positive alpha torque at P5.3 and P5.5 because his peripheral clubshaft is bent back relative to the proximal clubshaft. However, note that he must be experiencing a negative alpha torque (negative hand couple) phenomenon in his later downswing between P6 and impact because his peripheral clubshaft is bent forward at all time points between P6 and impact relative to the proximal clubshaft. In other words, his clubshaft is not being positively stressed at impact (in the "artificial" manner demonstrated by Jonathan Yarwood where the peripheral shaft is bent backwards relative to the proximal clubshaft), and there is therefore no reason to believe that Rory is applying a positive trail hand couple torque force in his late downswing or at impact.

According to Dr. Kwon, Sasho MacKenzie and David Tutelman, no pro golfer has a positive trail hand couple force existing between P6 => P7 and they all agree that the trail hand's couple force is negative - as shown in the following image.

The red graph is a measure of the club torque being generated about the mid-hands point (coupling point) by the hand couple during the downswing. Note that it becomes increasingly negative after P6 and it is very negative at impact (position 5 on the graph which is vertically below the zero time line on the horizontal axis).

Watch the BC-video between the 7:15 - 7:50 time point where he features Pete Cowen. PC talks about applying a positive pressure against the shaft with the trail hand during the later downswing and he refers to Ben Hogan's statement about "wishing he had three trail hands" that PC seemingly believes would enable him to better compress the golf ball. How is that possible? What could a pro golfer do with the trail hand via a "pressuring the shaft" phenomenon to ensure a better compression of the ball at impact? BC seemingly implies that "three right hands" could apply a greater degree of "pressure against the shaft" below the coupling point, but that claim directly contradicts the scientific evidence presented by Dr. Kwon, Sasho MacKenzie and David Tuteleman, who all claim that the trail hand's hand couple torque is negative during the later downswing and at impact. So, this issue needs more clarification (which I will provide later in this post).

Watch the BC-video between the 7:50 - 8:17 minute time points where he features Justin Rose. JR states that he wants to have forward shaft lean at impact when hitting an iron, and I 100% agree with JR that it is very desirable. That's how golf club irons are designed = when the sole of an iron club is placed correctly on the ground you will note that the club handle is ahead of the clubhead indicating the physical condition of forward shaft lean. I therefore fully agree with BC's opinion that forward shaft lean should exist at impact, and I only disagree with his junk science opinions about lag tension and a pre-stressed clubshaft.

Consider the following image that BC features in the 2nd video called "Best Golf Video Ever".

BC refers to a lag impact scenario where coming into impact with forward shaft lean "delivers a pre-stressed clubshaft which resists against the mass of the ball efficiently transferring the stored energy into the ball". Where is the scientific evidence that a clubshaft is positively pre-stressed when being delivered into impact by a pro golfer and where is the scientific evidence that there is "stored energy" that is being delivered to the ball at impact in a pro golfer's driver golf swing action? What is BC actually talking about? I am very open to considering alternative/contrary opinions that support BC's claim about a "pre-stressed shaft" and "stored energy" even though I presently believe that it makes no sense! Any suggestions?

In that 2nd video, Ben Doyle states that the "secret of golf" is "sustaining the line of compression" through impact. I think that it is an outdated TGM concept, which has no scientific validity when referring to a full golf swing action (as demonstrated by Rory McIlroy's driver golf swing action)! Ben Doyle talks of the "feel" of "dragging a wet mop" into impact and through impact where there is a "feel" of lag pressure being felt (+/- being positively applied) by the trail hand's 2nd finger at PP#3, which is below the coupling point. I can certainly agree that it could exist when he demonstrates his handle-dragging release technique when performing a chip shot, or a punch shot, or a shortened pitch shot. However, I don't believe that is applies to a full golf swing action - like Rory McIlroy's driver swing action.

What happens in a driver golf swing action, and in a full long iron golf swing action, is that a skilled pro golfer (who performs a pivot-induced TGM swinging action) can theoretically use the trail hand's 2nd finger's PP#3 point to sense lag pressure, but not produce lag pressure, if the trail hand moves continuously at the same speed as the lead hand throughout the downswing action. Under those conditions, a skilled golfer could theoretically sense a lot of lag pressure via his trail hand's 2nd finger at PP#3 during the P4 => P6 time period (when the peripheral clubshaft is bent backwards relative to the proximal clubshaft) and then theoretically sense a significant decrease in his lag pressure sensation between P6 => P7 (when the peripheral clubshaft is bent forward relative to the proximal clubshaft). What I cannot understand is how trying to monitor the "feel" sensation of the degree of lag pressure via PP#3 can causally result in a golfer obtaining the exactly desirable amount of forward shaft lean at impact. I can readily agree that virtually all pro golfers come into impact with forward shaft lean, but I believe that this essential skill is based on optimising the timing of the release of PA#2, and not based on sensing, and responding to, the degree of lag tension during a full golf swing action (where a handle-dragging technique is not being used).

BC quotes Jack Nicklaus at the 11:00 minute time point of the video as follows-: "Striking the ball with your hands slightly ahead of the ball is fundamental to solid shotmaking".

I agree with Jack Nicklaus and I can even agree that using one of BC's custom-made golf clubs, that have an impact line drawn near the hosel, can help a golfer learn how to better achieve the desirable amount of forward shaft lean at impact. However, what I cannot understand is how "pressuring the shaft" below the coupling point with the trail hand's index finger can be desirable/useful in a full golf swing action (where a handle-dragging technique is not being used).

It is amazing to me how many golf instructors are susceptible to the "idea" that it is useful to "pressure the shaft" below the coupling point without explaining how it can be advantageous if a golfer uses a pivot-induced TGM swinging action technique.

Consider the following video by the golf instructor, Alex Elliot.

In that video, AE analyses a drill that Ludwig Aberg performs where he places his flat trail hand with fingers fully extended against the aft side of the club handle below the coupling point, and he then performs a full golf swing action using a pivot-induced TGM swinging action (lead arm swinging action). What is the purpose of the drill? I have never seen LA provide a personal explanation of why he does that drill. However, AE automatically presumes that the purpose of the drill is to engrain the "feel" of pressuring the clubshaft with the trail hand. Note that he performs the drill a few times and he then finally hits a very solid shot holding the club with both hands gripping the club handle in his usual manner. AE concludes that the "feel" of pressuring the clubshaft below the coupling point while performing the drill helped him to strike the ball more solidly in his final golf swing action. I think that his conclusion is irrational and wrongheaded. Why?

Consider how AE normally grips the club with his two hands by viewing these capture images that I have created from his video.

AE uses a strong lead hand grip that positions the lead thumb on the aft side of the club handle. He then uses a neutral trail hand grip using the interlocking fingers method. Note that most of his trail palm abuts against the lead thumb area (called pressure point #1 in TGM terminology) - see the red-colored area that I have drawn over the image - which is above the coupling point. That means that any push-pressure being applied by the trail palm is most likely being applied above the coupling point, and not below the coupling point. This is a critical point that I will discuss later with respect to the "idea" as to whether it could be advantageous in terms of enhancing a golfer's ability to stike the golf ball more solidly. If I am correct, then there could be another explanation as to why LA performs the drill that is not related to the "idea" of "pressuring the shaft below the coupling point".

I think that there could be a far more rational explanation as to why LA performs the drill, which could be as follows-: LA uses a strong lead hand grip, which means that he rotates his lead hand >60 degrees clockwise over-the-top of the grip so that the lead thumb is placed at the 2 - 3 o'clock position (when viewed from above). A great advantage of adopting a very strong lead hand grip is that it allows one to automatically/naturally acquire forward shaft lean at address - if the club handle is placed along the lifeline crease of the lead hand. That makes it much easier from a biomechanical perspective to get into a desirable condition of forward shaft lean at impact - without having to bow the lead wrist. Another advantage of adopting a very strong lead hand grip is that there is minimal need to perform a lead forearm supinatory motion between P6.5 => P7 (during a PA#3 release action) because the back of the lead hand will always be traveling roughly parallel to the functional swingplane, and ball-target line, between P6 => P7, and there is no added need to rotate the back of the lead hand counterclockwise so that it faces the target at impact. In fact, a golfer, who uses a very strong lead hand grip (like LA), must come into impact with the ulnar border of the lead hand facing the target, while the back of the lead hand must still be facing the ball-target line. If the golfer allows the lead hand to rotate counterclockwise between P6.5 => P7 that will cause the clubface to be too closed at impact, so the golfer must deliberately avoid that possibility! I think that the "correct" use of the trail hand can help a golfer avoid that possibility. Note that LA uses a neutral trail hand grip which means that his trail palm must be traveling perpendicular to the ball-target line between P6.5 => P7 and the trail palm must face the target at impact. If you understand this point, then it provides a rational explanation as to why LA performs that drill - he places the trail palm parallel to his clubshaft so that he can ingrain the "feel" of the trail palm coming into impact facing the target, and not rolling too much counterclockwise as his hands reach impact. In other words, LA is powering his golf swing action with a pivot-induced lead arm swinging technique, and he does not need the trail hand to apply more swing power. The trail hand is mainly used to help guide the motion of the lead hand/club handle into impact and help to avoid the possibility of non-intentionally over-rotating the lead hand during the later downswing as the hands reach closer to impact by ensuring that the trail palm is facing the target as it reaches impact.

Now, I want to expand on this complicated issue of how a golfer can more fruitfully use the trail arm/hand when performing a pivot-induced TGM swinging action (lead arm swinging action) technique by more thoroughly analysing this Danny Maude video featuring Pete Cowen.

The main topic of that video is how to optimally use the trail arm/hand in a full golf swing action. BC extracted a small section of that video where PC talked about "pressuring the shaft" to better compress the ball at impact. However, what does PC really demonstrate in the Danny Maude video about how to use the trail arm/hand in the downswing? Watch the DM-video between the 4:11 - 5:40 time point of the video where PC explains what he wants the trail arm to do during the downswing - he talks about "spinning" the right forearm downwards while maintaining a bent (extended) trail wrist into impact. What does he mean when using the term "spinning"? PC does a very poor job using biomechanical terminology when describing the right forearm "spinning" motion, but I can mentally grasp what he is implying.

Keep watching the video and particularly watch the video very carefully starting at the 9:50 time point when DM states that he does not know what to do next. PC provides his answer between the 9:50 - 10:06 minute time point of the video when he talks about "spinning" the trail forearm down while maintaining a fully extended trail wrist.

Look at this capture image from the DM-video - captured at the 9:58 minute time point.

Note that DM is using a cack-handed grip when performing this right forearm "spinning" motion between P6 => P7. Note that it results in forward shaft lean at impact if the trail wrist is kept in an extended position. Note that it also causes the trail forearm to "spin" in a clockwise (supinating) direction, and not a counterclockwise (pronating) direction, between P6 => P7. Finally, note that the trail palm is applying push-pressure against the club handle above the coupling point, and not below the coupling point, at impact.

Also, note where PC's fingers are pointing when he talks about the "feel" of muscular tension in the right forearm. He is pointing at the lateral half of the trail forearm where the right wrist's extensor muscles and right forearm's supinator muscles are located. In other words, I believe that PC definitely wants the trail forearm to be supinated at impact, and not pronated at impact, when he talks about the "spinning" motion of the trail forearm.

Where specifically does PC want the trail hand to be applying push-pressure at impact if a golfer uses a standard grip, and not a cack-handed grip.

Keep watching the video when DM performs a right forearm "spinning" motion using his standard two-handed grip and pay very careful attention to what PC says between the 11:12 - 11:23 minute time point of the video when he talks about applying pressure with the trail hand at impact.

Here is a capture image from the 11:23 minute time point of the video.

Note that PC is patting the back of DM's upper trail hand, which is well extended at impact, while he states that this why "Hogan wished that he had three right hands". PC is presumably implying that any push-pressure being exerted by the trail hand is being exerted against the club handle above the coupling point (in the region of PP#1 which is located over the lead thumb), and not below the coupling point by the trail index finger alone. Why does PC specifically emphasize the golf instructional point that the trail wrist must be well extended at impact and that it must remain extended immediately post-impact? I suspect that it helps to ensure that the trail palm's push-pressure is not being exerted below the coupling point via the right index finger. What are the potential advantages of the trail palm applying push-pressure to the lead thumb and the club handle above the coupling point if the golfer uses a pivot-induced lead arm swinging action (like Rory McIlroy and Ludwig Aberg and Ben Hogan)? It can first of all help to ensure that the lead arm does not stall its targetward motion during the later downswing and through impact. Secondly, it can ensure that if any rotary torque is being applied about the coupling point during impact that it will be in a clockwise direction (which can help to stabilise the club handle's forward angled alignment through impact) rather than being in a counterclockwise direction (which will more likely promote a flipping motion of the club handle through impact). If the trail wrist is kept well extended during the impact interval, it can potentially help to maintain the anatomical structural alignment of a "bowed lead wrist and forward shaft lean" at impact and it also allows the trail hand couple to work as a negative trail hand couple at impact (which is potentially beneficial in creating a clockwise torque - and not a counterclockwise torque - about the coupling point).

What about the "idea" of having "three right hands at impact"? How can it be beneficial? I can perceive that it can potentially be beneficial if a golfer uses a right arm-powered golf swing action and not a pivot-induced TGM swinging action, which is used by most PGA tour golfers. I do not know of any pro golfer who powers his golf swing solely via a trail arm swinging-or-hitting motion.

It is obvious that a skilled pro golfer can perform a pivot-induced lead arm swinging action very efficiently without applying any push-pressure against the aft side of the club handle above the coupling point at impact - and a good example of a pro golfer who has this skill is VJ Singh.

Here is a swing video of VJ Singh's full golf swing action.

Watch the 1:21 - 1:23 minute time point of video - note that VJ's trail hand separates away from the club handle just prior to impact so he cannot possibly be applying any positive push-pressure with his trail palm against the club handle at impact. Nonetheless, he can easily ensure that he has acquired his desirable amount of forward shaft lean at impact, and he can obviously strike the ball very solidly.

It is therefore optional as to whether a pro golfer, who uses a pivot-induced lead arm swinging action, should apply a positive push-pressure with his trail hand at impact in a "pressurising the shaft" manner. However, and most importantly, if he does want to apply a positive push-pressure with his trail hand in a "pressurising" manner at impact, then I very strongly believe that it should be applied above the coupling point, and not below the coupling point (as recommended by Bertie Cordle).

Jeffrey Mann.

https://newtongolfinstitute.proboards.com/thread/1170/pressuring-clubshaft-impact