I have watched Tiger on the range many times and was always shocked by his pronounced "drop in" move, which is obvious only while watching from behind.
Stack and Tilt proposes a similar concept - drop the left shoulder to start the downswing...same idea?
Where can I learn more about the Chi line?
Thanks.
Many instructors believe it is not so good to have all this up and down motion. But where did the idea come from that we're supposed to be so still? The idea of the head being still was standard instruction from 40 years ago. We know it isn't right to stay so still. The down motion of Tiger's head and body weight might be indicators that he can feel which let's the body know when the next move is supposed to start in addition to setting off SSC's. Not sure about it being the same as S & T though. Email me at speedchain@gmail.com for more info on Chi Line Trainer. Thanks, Kelvin
Hi Kel:
Great article!!! Marrying the concepts of the chi line and the slight drop and counter-rotation in the backswing (M. Kwan) is amazing. I played the other day and never hit the ball with such power and I might add accuracy (72). I also find that the concept of jump/twist is very descriptive of what I feel.
Thanks again.
Peter
Thanks Peter. Always interested in what your take on this is. I'm just trying to find the most athletic moves possible regardless of what sport the moves come from. Kelvin
Kelvin, another highly insightful article and point of view on the power mechanisms of the swing! I've been doing a lot of tinkering on the range with the video camera on topics you've covered in the last few articles and I've come away with a new appreciation between simply achieving positions in the swing sequence vs. learning how to move my body to increase torque and power. I tried to explain the subtleties to a friend (unsuccessfully) so I left him with a story... "Imagine yourself trying to sling a yo-yo without the ever so slight tug up as the yo-yo reached the end of the rope... it would never re-bound due to a lack of power to overcome gravity. Power in the golf swing has a bunch of these little subtleties but when there all there, you can feel it and it's just amazing!"
Loved the feel-test on collapsing the left knee. Back to the range...
Thanks Jeff, you're definitely understanding this. It's not about static positions. It's all about movements and sequencing. K
Are you suggesting that there is a slight spine compression in both the take-away and again in the down swing.
No, there has to be some spine stretch (vertical) in order to help the downward compression. That way it's more than just gravity pulling you down during transition. Kelvin
Congratulations!........................For years I have accepted this move as Hogan's secret.
"Who bends a knee where violets grow, a hundred secret things shall know".
Tom
Thanks, Hogan was well before his time. He really fired his spine engine as Tiger does. K
Well, my thoughts, the move keeps the front shoulder abduction that was set in the back swing, as well as increasing the rear shoulder adduction on the way down. This is lag you want, the true lag, shoulder lag, using the gliding joints of the scapula. Now you can make some use the palmar flexion of that front hand, because this move puts your hands even, or in front (with an iron) of the ball. Thats where the power is, or ends up, once it's transmited from the Hara. The move also maintains the forward inclination that was set at address, through impact. The move also keeps the shoulders from rocking, see sawing back to the ball, there is no power there... The move sets the arm assembly on a devastating path to the ball, Like a wrecking ball, so you can fire from the top, instead of the slot. Like Nicklaus says, you cannot release too early if you are on plane. This move puts you dead on plane, with the bow string loaded. I trigger this move with a contraction of the rear quadratus lumborum. I call it Squish and Turn.
Kelvin, Your website is the best.
Tom
Tom, I hope people out there reading can understand your anatomical terms because you're right on the money! If there's one big emphasis I want to make of your words is that the shoulders don't do any hitting. EMG studies have found that amateurs use their shoulders while the pros do not. Why? Because the spine engine is driving the swing while the amateurs have the erroneous notion that the shoulders do the hitting or as you say rocking/see sawing. Thanks for your explanation. Funny you mention the scapula because there is something huge going on there. It will be discussed in a future column. Kelvin
Kelvin, I believe power is generated from the center, it is helical.
Like anything in nature that wants to propel itself, it must use a
spiraling screwing motion. Like swimming or a lady walking. This can clearly be seen in the hip action of the pro swing. (like in your anamated Bubba example),
Picture a strip of DNA super imposed over Bubba's body from the feet to the shoulders.
What enables us to turn and control the torso is to leverage the ankles, knees and hips, against the turf. But the ankles knees and hips are not the primary force. Not a pushing or pulling action, but a Torquing. The swing circle center top of the spine 7th cervical must be maintained at all cost, and Torquing makes this possible.
The head, "cerebellum" above the SCC, must offset the rotational swing with the back to front posting hips or you fall away or topple.
I liken the power genegation the golf swing to a childs musical top. You press down abruptly on the plunger of a helical shaft
and it rotates the top. As it spins at a high rate, it appears motionless. When it begins to slow down it wobbles. This is why
pro swings look so smooth. There are four sets of bones and muscles in the human body that can generate a helical motion.
As you say It is about Torque, arcs and circles. When they teach lines in the conventional method they teach deacceleration.
Please excuse the long post, but there is so much more I would like to share. Again this is the best golf website for learning.
Everytime I pass by it sparks my imagination.
Tom
Tom, great analogy of the DNA helix and the child's top. Totally agree with your notion of torque, arcs and circles. Teachers look at 2D video and make inferences that are flat and linear when the movement itself is created by arcs and circles. This makes learning and understanding so much more difficult. Kelvin
Yes Sir,
And those photos is where the static position style of teaching comes from.
The slot is not a static position, but most apply the stumulus from that position. That's too bad. There are many more yards from the top the swing.
When you can grasp the concept of torquing from the swings center of gravity, you understand the release of power within the transition, 2 different directions.
Balance and timing become second nature.
Tom
Totally agree. It's one thing to look at static positions within great motions but the average golfer gets lessons in static positions. They are entirely different. And no one can learn all of this from static positions. You are on the money. Kelvin
Kelvin,
I'm new here- I found you on my search for the athletic golf swing. I really admire the way you're thinking- it really speaks to me. I'm blue in the face, as they say, telling people how badly Tiger is swinging the club from a physical and athletic perspective. You're analysis of him is just fantastic! The destruction of his 'ferrari' is indeed depressing to watch..
I've been fascinated by the lines Bobby Jones created in his motion for ever- they stick out like a sort thumb to me. In particular the line formed from his right foot to right shoulder at approx 90 degree shoulder turn in the back swing, and the mirrored line formed between his left foot and left shoulder on the through swing. In my study I've been referring to them as energy planes because that's the way they look. It's pretty cool to hear 'official' terminologies. It seems that the chi line in the through swing is observed but have you looked into the one on the backswing that I mentioned. It really is very interesting. It seems as if the stack and tilt people looked at similar things and concluded a version of it that is incorrect- and tragically unathletic. Regardless, it's great to see what you're doing. Keep up the good work...
Here's a Jones link for your observing...
Cheers, B
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5XeiFcLyGw&feature=related
Could you elaborate some on why you point out the roundness of Bubba's back when viewing down the line? Love the site, Thanks.
Eric, many golfers look very straight in lower spine at impact and more square with the hips and shoulders. It is most likely as a result of excessive right leg/hip thrusting forward towards the target at impact. Many call this "losing one's spine angle." But the really bad thing about hip thrusting is that it effectively shuts down the spine engine. So imagine using this hip thrust in hitting a baseball. You wouldn't do it. It would be so un-athletic. Yet so many golfers inadvdertently do this. So maybe I ought to do another article on the dysfunctional moves of the spine engine so that you have a comparison. Thanks, Kelvin
Hi K: stimulating to hear you and Tom discuss the swing...although a bit difficult to follow without a degree in biomechanics..at least for me...but more to the point...are you suggesting that the emphasis in downswing is the turning of the erector spinae to and around the chi line? I do like the spinning top analogy..the pushing down of the handle seems similiar to the ice skater getting ready to jump...a slight downward rotational move followed by the jump/twist of the erecter spinae??? Is that more accurately descriptive?
Thanks
Peter
Peter, the erectors are indicators that we can clearly see in motion or not. But it is just a part of the whole spine engine. Remember the pics I have of MW from back view that obviously showed glute firings when she was 14 but was gone by 17 years old. Of course Bubba's rear view shows this same glute firings as well. Kelvin
Peter, For me (without scientific terms),
the chi line swings like a pendulum, follow the tail bone.
The top of the spine does not move. In the backswing the tail bone swings only 6 inches to the rear, points at the rear heel. From the top of the swing, the tail bone swings 12 inches and points to the front heel. This action forms the front chi line. The spine and front leg become one in line virtual post. You turn the rear side around that post. How you generate this downswing action is through compression of the rear lower back muscles, nothing more. Study Kelvin's photos of Bubba's rear view in the Hocus Focus section. You will notice
The heel leaves the ground in both the back and forward swing.
This detachment of the heel frees the front hip to turn around the rear lower leg forming the backswing chi line. When you compress the rear side from the top, that swings the tailbone forward, forming the front chi line. This is not a Hip bump or leg driven thrust. It is a detachment, to free the respective side to rotate. How you detach,(without the scientific terms) is to try to touch your 12th rib to the top of the pelvis. This action lowers the rear shoulder and raises the rear hip/heel, causing the lower spine to swing to the front automatically, without force. This is where you expirence the distinctive on plane drop.
So it's more of a gravity driven feel. As you clear the left knee, turn everything around that front chi line. Right hip, left shoulder, right shoulder as a unit. The mistake of not detaching then keeping the rear heel planted and not letting it evert, (come out leading) in the downswing, is why most cannot hit a 1,2,3,4 iron. So now now they sell hybrids... This is the most efficent way to swing a club, and is in no way injurious to the spine. Because you are not twisting and grinding the vertabre. The spine is swinging and turning in a compound action, it's helical.
Tom
Tom
I just found this site and would like to get in touch with you. Kelvin has some really interesting stuff and you seem to be the guru here.
My email is alan@deltaland.net
Thanks
Alan
Thanks Tom...that helps .....it's almost like an inverted "T" whereby via the compression of the floating 12th rib automatically initiates the downswing (I think:)I'm assuming the 12th rib is not anteriorally connected to the sternum. Is the 6" move back, (tilting the "T")and the everting of the front heal a simultaneous move? This is so interesting. Thanks for the explanation.
Peter
Peter
Yes, it can be simultaneous move, it's perfect for an old guy like me, and that move from the front side governs the one piece takeaway. I am 57 6' 1" 200 lbs. and still hit 300 + when I wish to.
I have a drill that I use using the torquing of the tibia and fibula
Of each leg to force you into squishing the left then right quadratus lumborum.
First, look up quadratus lumborum so you know what it is and where its located and attached, it controls the lateral flexion of the spine. You can actually play golf using the drill to get you back on track, if your shots begin to stray during a round.
The move creates a flat in the arc of the swing. Keep in mind as you study that muscle, that the goal is to keep the turn on and not ahead of the chi line.
Thanks Tom..but did I miss the drill in your last comment...I can feel the compressing (squishing) of the quadratus lumborum but I;m not sure if I really understand the drill. It seems like I push the bottom of the tailbone to the right with a slight downward squish to the chi and then reverse the move for the downswing. Is the chi line bascially a triangle with the top situated on top on the spine and the two lower points connect at the bottom of the left and right QL?
So many questions, so little time :)
Peter
The physical Chi line runs from the Head and spine 7C, through to the center of gravity.
Think of Chi line boundry as the virtual lines of an A frame,
top of the spine to each heel. The more you line up the physical chi, to the virtual legs of the A frame at the ends of the swing, while rotating the respective side around those virtual posts, the more precise the stroke will be. Because the swing center top of the spine remains centered/stable. Though the COG is extremly mobile, You see then how the measured distance to the ball that was set at address now will not change, because you swing the chi line within those boundries that are teatherd to a stable top of the spine. 7C
being the fixed point of the pendulum, with the hips being the bob. The hips can now move in a helical manner while swinging back to front without a straght line lateral move, you are instead, turning, creating torque, then releasing it.
It is necessary to swing the chi line because we are bipeds. That is how we walk. The law of torque demands this. Focus on the move, don't swing the spine by pushing or pulling with the legs, let it react to the compression of the QL. The chi line will seek the boundry and make the swing repeatable.
You are not hitting with the chi, you are letting it swing as you turn around it. As Kelvin states this is where the pros who hit the long ball get their power from. The bodys members react to the propulsion of the COG because they are attached to it.
Study the rear shots of Michelle Wie in Kelvins Sadlowski rotational axis post. She has broken through the Chi line axis
and retarded the turn. A hudge deacceleration and power loss.
Like a broken axel. Taking too wide a stance at address causes this, stay within the width of the shoulders.
BTW I did not post the drill.
Much more clear....you and Kelvin understand the swing like noone I have ever studied...thank you for the clarity...I initiallt thought that the tail bone was to move laterally to the back chi and then to the front chi..but turning, torquing to and around the chi makes it much easier to follow. Any chance to get the drill?
Thanks
Peter
BTW...what do you mean when you say hips being the "bob"
The Bob is the weight at the end of a pendulum. It's COG.
In the golfswing It's movement is like a foucault pendulum.
Look up foucault pendulum. It's helical, it spirals.
You will notice how important keeping the fixed point top of the pendulum, your 7th cervical stable, is so important. Clubhead speed without hitting the sweet spot is a loss of power. The stability of the swing center 7C keeps the sweet spot on plane.
The seminal thought is that if you start the swing by firing the spine engine, (compressing the QL),
all of the members move in Harmony, not a kinetic chain.
I will post the drill, I'm condensing it.
I stated there are four sets of bones that can generate torque.
Two of the double bone sets are the lower leg tibia and fibula via flexion of the hamstrings. Do not hyper extend either leg while doing this drill.
The torquing is done from the knee down.
Where most make the mistake, is they shift, or bump, as they post, losing center, this drill prevents that, here is the drill.
For the backswing, the shift is not a shift at all, it is a swing of the hip. This 6 inch swing / shift is caused by the compression of the front side QL, nothing more. No sliding, pushing or pulling with the legs, instead it's a torquing, shearing, twisting of the tibia and fibula.
Turn promotes turn.
As you compress the front QL, you form the rear post with a counter clockwise medial screwing of the rear foot/knee into the turf, spikes against the turf from the knee down.
This prevents the rear hip from over turning, and lateral swings the rear hip to the rear chi line boundry, then stops.
The counter clockwise rotation of the rear foot/knee provides the post for the front hip and shoulder to wind around,
against the counter clockwise torque.
You feel the weight fall left as the rear post forms.
This is the point where you turn the front side around the rear post.
It is pure turn. You should feel rear butt cheek protruding farther back the more the front shoulder drops on plane.
As the front hip and shoulder abducts to the top,
take care to not let the inward torque of the rear leg break down.
Detach the front heel by compressing the front side then turn.
The same with the rear side.
To downswing simply compress the rear side QL, Nothing more.
As soon as you detach the rear heel, the spine swings 12 inches forward, as the front instep plants, the rear hip and shoulder is now detached and free to turn. But now you want to clockwise twist the front foot and knee by shearing the spikes against the turf. This sets the front chi line boundry. Compress the rear side, as you squish the bug with the front tibia and fibula torquing the lower leg clockwise.
Turn everything around that lower front leg. The rear hip, rear shoulder, and the front shoulder.
Keep that front post, keeping the post as solid and upright as you can.
The front knee will turn out through and post impact to the outside of the foot, spontaneously. Using this drill tightens the turn and maintains the center top of the spine. The drill lets the
Chi line COG swing to it's limit, providing stability through mobility.
As you get this, it becomes very subtle because the more stable at center top of the spine you become, you can really let it go while in perfect balance. The torqing action/ feeling of the tibias and fibulas eventually becomes negligable as you progress.
You are welcome Sir.
It's basically the feet together drill with the feet apart. So to not lose the distance. If my legs get sloppy during a round I refer to it and still hit 300.
When you absoultly have to hit a straight shot, you narrow the stance. That forces you to fire the spine engine, using the core muscles, letting the legs react, to maintain the balance, not drive the swing. Leg and feet pushing and pulling, sliding the hips, just retards the turn.
It's hard to put into words without scientific terms.
The listener must understand the terms. Kinesiology should be the universal language of golf, it's a more exacting. Teaching pro's should be required to use it... To put it simply...Drawing the right knee in for the backswing drops you inside, drawing the left knee in for the downswing, drops you inside.
Tom
It is a bit of a paradigm shift to look at the golf swing from a helical perspective. The other two bone sets that can generate speed via a helical action are the radius and ulnar bones of the forearms, They generate the snap. As the tibia and fibula support the snapping of the hips with a pendulum action of the spine engine, the helical action of the forearms support the pendulum action of the wrists. Use those four members as the plungers of the childs musical top. When you can time those two forces (the lower and the upper), to meet at impact you get High Torque Golf, Distance and accuracy. The problem with the accepted method is the primary focus is on the target, therefore the tendency to swing down the line or targetward, draging or delaying the strike. This can only promote an over the top, steep angle of approach. The work is in front of us. Getting the ball on the clubface while implying the mental image of how we want the ball to react should be the primary focus. Spin is a ball speed killer, so it is more efficent to hit up on the ball, that creates less spin. Hitting up does not mean flipping with the wrists. You hit up on the ball using the pendulum action of the spine, this generates a low, flat rising approach. Firing the spine engine from the middle, the center of gravity, creates this helical approach, and times the helical action of the four members in balance, forming the helical action of the whole. The hitting action then becomes under, out, and up, now that's efficency. Conventional methods teach to hit down, cross the forearms and smother trap the ball. All the effort goes to hell, into the ground.
Hi Tom: Very interesting...I'm unclear how the under, out and up creates as much compression as hitting in front of the ball...down, out and up?
Peter
Peter, Down is a given, for the fact that we maintain the 30* forward inclination to the ball that is set at address, the tush line. The "under" is the drop from the top. This is how the upper torso reacts to the 12 inch swing of the COG as we fire the spine engine, it creates lateral torso, hip/shoulder, rotation, utilizing the gliding joints of the scapula. To say "hit down" on the ball, infers an independant action of the arms and hands to create compression via raising and lowering the scapula, (fat shots). This is not the case, the body and it's members move in a unified manner. The independent dropping of the arms, into the slot, to get the hands in front of the ball, to create lag /compression, is an illusion. It is created by the foreswing of the spine, as a reaction to the compression of the rear QL...This is where the term passive arms comes from. The club head releases as the ball explodes off the face.
It can't do anything else but release.
It's not lag, its compression.
The ball stays on the face for an inch vs a 1/2 inch.
The longer the ball stays squarely on the face the more you can imply the intended flight path. Hitting in front of the ball from a steep angle is a glancing blow. Thin divots are best.
It is the compound pivot that gets the hands ahead of the ball so fast it enables you to release through the ball,
Under out and up, as you capture the ball.
You are throwing it as it compresses.
So you are not holding back, relying on collision. You are however maintaining the stretch of the muscle and tendons to transmit the power from the chi, via the mass of the body, coupled with hand speed, helical forearm speed.
It's a double force.
That is what you are timing.
Did I stray too far?
Tom
Tom, thanks for your contributions. I am still writing next month's column, which will be late as usual. But I think I need to put this in proper perspective and simplify for the readers. There is a scapula move that has to be defined and detailed in order to understand this golf swing and its dysfunctions. Kelvin
Kelvin, you are right on.
Your discovery of firing the spine engine, is the reason I am here posting. That is the magic move. It took me from 15 hcp to 3 over, the very day I found it for myself in 1996. I found it viewing a Sybervision tape on the long game that my wife picked up in a dollar store, miming/aping Bobby Jones in front of a mirror the night before a round while on vacation. After a month layoff, after Vacation, I lost it while applying
conventional methods to get it back. It took years of research and an interest in kinesiology to get it back.
Wow,
Tom, you're a freakin' genius.... having read on after posting my question to Kelvin, I found your reference to Bobby Jones. I wonder if you saw the same thing that I was asking Kelvin about. Reading what you were talking about C7 it struck a chord in terms of Jones and that same image. It's pretty damn cool to hear it being discussed. It's a pleasure to read your thoughts! Thanks, man....
B
Kevin/Tom
Thanks for your great article and Tom's insightful comments. Took your swing to the driving range-never hit it better. Tom, you have a special gift in conveying your thoughts on the golf swing. Continue posting!
Tom,
Are you Squish. I recognize a lot of Austin in your posts. Good stuff.
Yes!
Squish n' Turn. Kelvin is right on it. That's why I am here.
I know the Hollywood Three were on it also.
Joe Norwood, Mike Austin, Count Yogi.
Tom
I had to run to a meeting and lost my train of thought.
As to the QL, I have followed Mike Romo's workouts the past two years. His workouts conist of a lot of side bending exercises. He had told me that during TPI testing, it was learned that the average professional has much greater side bend flexibility than the average Joe. Now it makes sense.
Tom/Squish, I enjoy reading your posts and I agree 100% that Kel is right on.
Y'all go back and take a peek at the Sadlowski Footwork article and notice the very first sequence when he is planting the left heel while raising the right to begin the transition.
Yes Sir
When he plants, it's at the Chi line limit. It's a reaction to the firing of the spine engine. That's why the left heel leads. The key is to not break through the Chi line.
As the left heel plants the right heel leads in all great swings.
This is because the top of the spine is stable as the lower spine swings forward. Golf commentators call this a tiltback at impact.....They simply fail to see that the torso is anteior to the spine. They all want that right heel on the ground...there's no power there..... If you really make a go at like that, your gonna yank it. Tom
Tom,
Recently, I have had Transition issues. I take it to the top and all heck breaks loose as I immediately go left without transitioning. I played real bad this past Fri. & Sun. So, Mon. & Tue. I hit the range and just work on transition and yesteday, prior to going to my 9-hole league, I hit the range and work on my transition, ala Sadlowski's Footwork. I also took note of something you said, SHOULDER LAG. Geepers! I still need lots of work, but keeping the shoulders turned while planting the left heel and raising the right is an unbelievable feel when you finally go left and up. I have played golf for over 30 years and never felt anything like this "rubber band" stretching before. When I am patient and transition first, it is dead straight and long.
I went to my league and shot even par with two bogeys, two birdies and I lipped out a 15-foot birdie putt on the last hole. I hit fairways and greens and drove it on the green of a 305-yard par-4.
Thanks for your posts. Keep 'em coming.
Good Stuff! You make me happy. It has been my dream to early retire from the university, write a manual and teach blue haired laidies how to golf. Squish n' Turn, High Torque Golf. OK..... To simplify.
No push with the legs, no pull with the shoulders.
Start the downswing by contracting only that QL muscle, let the upper and lower members be in reaction to that. You will feel the left chest/shoulder abruptly rise as the right hip turns, as you clockwise rotate the forearms. Your right shoulder will feel over the top, but it won't be, because you started the downswing from the center of gravity.
The shoulders will remain and can only increase in their abduction and adduction.
Very powerful.
You, Sir shoot, are now on it. It will only get better.
Tom
Thanks, Tom. My name is Mike. Aren't you in PA? I live in NJ near Atlantic City. I think we are about the same age. I will turn 58 in 4 weeks.
Now I need to work daily on patiently letting the transition happen and then fire.
Yes Mike. 57, Pittsburgh, City of Champions! for this year at least.
Just focus on and trust the Quadritus lumborum compression of the rear side, just as you reach the top. That sets all 12 levers in motion, creates the shoulder lag, the abduction and adduction of the shoulders. When you do it correctly, the A frame (virtual boundries of the swinging Chi line) is very, very narrow.
The lower spine swings 6 inches back..12 inches through.
Tom
Tom, I hear ya. I need to program my brain to think "transition" instead of "runaway train going left". I was onto this stuff last year and gave up on it too easily. Kel's articles over the past 6-8 months have brought all this to light again.
I flat out clocked some drives employing Austin's two arm measuring method for addressing the ball with the driver. Exact same position/posture every time. Nice tight straight/draws instead of hold on blocks. Mike
Mike,
Mike Austin call's this move the Compound Pivot. Mike builds adduction on the way down.
Around 1905, James Braid at Walton Heath hit a 395 yd drive, on the frostbound course. Wood head, Hickory shaft and Haskell ball using the old Scottish corkscrewing release method Mike advocated. He called it the throwing swing.Tom
Another oldie, but goodie is Bill Melhorn. Melhorn hit it 300 yards back in 1920's. One of the NY papers annually sponsored a contest where the pros would hit 3 balls each, in opposite directions taking the longest one in each direction. If the two drives exceeded 600 yards they won a prize of thousands of $$$. Melhorn came the closest at 596 yards one year.
Hey Shoot..what is Austin's two arm measuring method?
Thanks,
Peter
Hey Kelvin. What have you decided to do the next article on, and when can we expect it? I can't wait. All the best.-Vern
vision54. You grip the driver, or irons, with the left hand and hold the club vertical and lower your arm to rest on your pectoral muscle. Let the club drop to horizontal and then down to address the ball allowing about 8" between your hand and your thigh. Now kick in the right knee to lower the right shoulder and place the right hand on the club. From there it is fire away. This way you address the ball in exactly the same way every time.
Tom, all I can say is WOW! Played 27 holes this past week in 5-over par having shot even for the first 19 holes before two very loose swings cost me 3 strokes over the next two holes. Quickly got it back on track. I just hammered it long and straight. NO swing thoughts except transition by SQUISHING the QL and then fire away. Thanks for your posts.
Mike,You will enjoy Pain free golf because you are using the spine the way nature intended it to be used, lateral flexion, with the horzontal abduction, adduction of the gliding joints of the shoulder muscles. The huge mistake in most instruction is the twisting of the spine and grinding the vertibrae, a shure route to osteoarthritis. Aside from better shot making, the benefits are that you will get stronger, and take a few inches off the core. Tom
Tom, I have played on Sundays with the same group of guys for the past 6-7 years, so we are all fairly familiar with each others games. I hit some drives on the front nine that had them questioning what the heck I was doing. Cannot explain what a different feeling there was to my swing. Got some work to do do.
Hey Thanks Shoot.....makes the set-up defined and consistent...
Peter
have you gotten close to 54...
my email is Vision54 which is the mantra of Sweden's golf team.
Tom...I live in Pittsburgh PA, too. I'm a long driver and stumbled upon Kelvin's articles, had some dialogue with Kelvin through email, and it brought me here; I'd like to get in touch with you, if you have any time, to talk about some of what is discussed in these articles. I can be reached at dpacella2@gmail.com.
Dan, email Sent.
Respond soon. I am leaving for florida saturday, for a week of golf at the Bonaventure East Course .... The Green Monster.
Thank's Kelvin
Hi Tom
Just found this site. Would like to get in touch with you. There are some very interesting things here. My email is alan@deltaland.net
Look forward to the visit.
Thanks
Alan
Email sent Alan.
BTW, The Guru is in you.
Hi K:
Can the spine engine be the focus of the backswing? It is so amazing for the downswing I was sitting here wondering if it could also apply for the take-away/backswing.
P
Peter, there are so many things to cover and so little time. The spine engine really should be the focus of the transition as there are a few moves that can really help the rest of the swing. I can tell you what to avoid. Flat backswings aren't good for your spine engine. And trying to coil on the backswing with your lower body bracing. I'm writing something up for external right hip rotation that is just eye-opening because we've been taught to keep it from turning for so long. Yet it has triggers if done right and in enough quantity to start your closed hip bump automatically K.
that is so cool k..I played today and focused on the spine engine during transition...much longer and the guys in the foursome commented how easy my swing appeared...and the few times I could not feel the transition was due to a flatter backswing...your ability to decipher the real root causes of the swing re incredible...so when are we going to get some info on the external right hip rotation...just a few tidbits would hold me over :)
peter
Peter, buy a $5 device called a Bally Total Fitness Toning Twist Board. Put your right foot on it and twist your foot as far as you can. Repeat 10 times. Then try hitting balls while standing on the lazy susan device. It'll awaken and stretch out some hip flexor muscles that should be moving rather than locked. Maybe I can post a video later. K
Peter, use the spine engine for the backswing.
Gracovetsky used a lizard’s body to prove that the spine engine provides for the locomotion of the bodys members. Its how we walk.
It is what turns the torso 70* away from the flight line.
It is only the continuation of the anteior abduction of the left shoulder toward the spine, and the posteior adduction of the right shoulder toward the spine, that give us the 90* away from the target look. The torso has and can only turn away from the target line 70*. To start the take away from the ball, compress the left side as the sole move. Let the legs and arms react. Simply fold the right arm 90* as you abduct and adduct the shoulders to the top. The lizard does not only use the right side to provide the locomotion, it also uses the left.
A left handed man's Downswing is a right handed man's Backswing.
Keep the swing symmetrical That will keep you centered and balanced. So you can use the hands and the torquing of the forearms to generate the clubhead speed.
Thanks Tom...a few questions/comments if you don't mind..is the compression of the left side the same as using the spine engine? If the "X", noted above comprises the spine engine, it appears.aka Tiger, that he turns the spine engine around his posted right leg. Do you think he is actually compressing his left side. On the downswing does Tiger merely compress his right side? When I worked on that at the range, it seemed like I gave up considerable distance, although direction was excellent. While I am watching Tiger 's downswing it also seemes like he dips at transition and then jumps-twists on impact. You mention (if I understand) that you compress the left on the backswing and reverse on the downswing...but you also mention torquing the forearms to generate club head speed...Could you explain that a little more?
Thanks
Peter
Firing the spine engine in kinesiology terms is lateral spine flexion. Spine flexion provides for the square, center of the clubface strike, and that has just as much or more to do for producing distance as clubhead speed does. What flexes, fires, or swings the spine left, right, right left, is the contraction of the QL's. That raises the leg to detach each heel so you can walk or turn the hip.
Clubhead speed comes from hand action, the snap.
You instinctivly snap the wrist through the quick rotation (torquing) of the right ulna and radius of the forearm. Try it....Hold the right forearm, (dorsal flexed, waiter tray position) bent 90* at the elbow in front of you. Rotate counter clockwise to it's limit of travel, thumb points at your nose. Now snap the wrist from dorsal flexion to palmar flexion, that snap action requires you to
torque or rotate the forearm abruptly clockwise. That my friend is called supination. The right forearm has gone from pronated position to a supinated position. Supination requires the contraction of the right bicept. Try it, place the fingers of the left hand atop the right bicept as you peform the mentioned exersise. You will feel the right bicept abruptly contract. The bicept is more powerful, this is why most hand tools are designed with supination in mind. (You know, Righty tighty...) You can throw the club head on a 180* arc that way. If you try to use the body to whip the hands through it delays the strike, slows the club head down. This is why most novices hit that 98 mph. swing speed wall.. they don't accelerate the clubhead.
The more the they try to use the body and feet, the more they delay and obtain slower swing speed. Then they say they can't hit a 2 iron and move to hybrids.
Advancing the club head via the torquing of the right forearm, is how Mike Austin, James Braid, Jack Nicklaus, attained such great distances. Using their heavy equipment, they started the release of the the clubhead from the top. They did not hit with the body, any attempet to bump or retard the hip turn to catapult just deaccelerates the clubhead. The club head must lead. If you try to keep up with the clubhead ...your dead.
The only indipendant action in the swing is that hand action. The firing of the spine engine moves everything else in harmony.
The left, then right core contractions support the throw of the clubhead. The body is a secondary force, the hands are the primary force. You don't hit with the body, you hit with your hands. The action of the spine engine controls the plane of the shoulders through the aid of gravity. The legs and arms remain completly passive they naturally torque to maintain balance. Thats why you have spikes and a firm grip. Just as you have a front chi line you you have a rear chi line. The compressed left side swings under the right posted right spine and leg in the backswing. The right side swings under and around the left posted spine and leg in the downswing Only 70*, only the shoulders complete the rotation to 90* either way.
With my FT-9 fubuki playing club and passive hands I hit 290 on the fly. I get 320 snapping from the top.
Hogan apex blade PW (E wedge), 120 passive hands, snapping from the top 160 on the
Fly. Tighter dispersion and better distance. This is not an agressive move of the spine engine I simply release (Throw) from the top. I'm 58 yrs old 6'1". If I get agressive with the body it wrenches the works. It's all about Keeping the top of the spine centered because the shoulders turn around it.. and the hips swing under it. It is the center of the swing..the hub. We must lateral flex the spine (fire the spine engine) because we are bipeds.
Thanks Tom for the insight and for taking the time to respond. Do you begin the transition with the spine engine and allow the forearm torquing to join in or do you begin with the torquing right from the top?
If the rain stops I look forward to going to the range.
Thanks again.
Peter
Peter
It begins at the top, it feels like the hands are flipping towards the target line. A cast of the wrist, not the arms. There is a huge differance in travel of the clubhead vs the spine swing travel. So to get the club shaft to line up with the left arm at impact it must be thrown forward faster if it is to line up with the left arm at impact. As the right heel detaches, left heel plants, as you throw from the top. You cannot throw fast enough. It is important not to lose the shoulder lag as you do this. Just snap the clubshaft from the wrists. I read Sadlowski said he is swinging the club as fast as he can from the top of the swing. His clubhead is way back there, more time to generate clubhead speed. Stop action in video or photos gives the illusion of lag. It is mearly an effect of distance vs travel time. That club head is leading. Lag is the biggest lie ever perpetrated on the golfing world. This is why there a gap between long hitters and average hitters, even in the pro ranks.
And Oh! This is why the speed chain works so well. It instinctively develops the release and strengthens the forearm.
Tom, At this point, I see our visions of the swing diverging and I don't want to confuse people with this imperfect way of discussion. Words are easily confused and abused therefore I have a solution. Write an article and back it up with pictures. Send it to me and I will comment on our differences so that people can make up there own minds. I am interested in the truth. I hope you are too. K
Kelvin.
I deleted my last post.
I had a change of heart. I will help in the search for truth.
It will be hard to do without the use of a electromyograph, to prove the release begins at the top, be it full, half, 1/4, or chip.
Otherwise you cannot square the face vs dragging it through at a glancing blow. Or the Serge Gracovetsky theory as to what muscles swing the spine engine for locomotion. Or that Lag is the biggest lie ever perpetrated on the golfing world.
Okay Tom, if you want to search for the truth. Please tell us how you arrive at the conclusion that lag is the biggest lie? Jamie Sadlowski has a good 130 degrees of lag and so does Bubba Watson from the pictures in the article. They both find a way to square the face so is this something you don't know? I study elite golf swings to find my truths. How do you find yours?
Kelvin
Hi Kelvin, thanks for responding, there is no law, only different points of view. I view you my friend....as a rebel.
I however... must be a swing anarchist.
Jamie is absolutely releasing the hands from the top.
He is releasing, as most elite long hitters do via the backtoss.
The backtoss is an outward throw of the club springing the shaft. Powered by a clockwise rotation of the 90* flexed right forearm. The left arm remains static and moves with the torso
as a reaction of the firing of the spine engine. The right humerus is also brought down to jamies side as a reaction to the firing of the spine engine, not an indiependant action.
The segments of this supinating right forearm action can clearly be seen in the wonderful Jamie sequence you posted above.
The left thumb pressure against the handle aids this outward tossing action from the top.. It is what triggers, loads the shaft as it can clearly be seen bending. This outward away from center toss actually enhances the dorsal flexion of the right hand in the slot.
This is what most refer to as lag. Its not lag, if any thing is laggin at this point (and necessary) is the shoulders. The hands are going from radial flexion to ulnar deviation propeling the clubhead at breakneck speed, using only the hands, trying to get the shaft to line up with the left arm for the moment of impact, due to the fact the compound action of the firing of the spine engine is such an efficent move. The action is so quick it feels as if you are flipping the hands forward.
So the action is going from thumbs up radial flex to thumbs down ulnar deveation. While the right hand is in an increasing the dorsal flexion due to the out and down pressure of the left thumb. When the hands finally do ulnar deviate, thumbs down. The the release is then complete. The continued turning of the shoulder, once the hips have turned 70* to their limit via the ball and socket rotator cuff, squares the face as the hands release. The shoulders then bring the right hip around to 90* up to the finish dragging the right toe.
So I see the club head being propelled via centripital force using the left thumb for an instant to the slot. The club head is the projectile. Thats what strikes the ball. The teaching of the illusion of Holding it till you get to the slot is a waste of clubhead speed, leaving you to square the clubface with the hips..then you pull hook, or retard the release and push. The spine engine can only power the body to a 70* turn to the slot, that is how humans a built. the shoulders continue from there.
So what has been perpetrated is that lag is dorsal flexion. So novices are taught to bend back the right wrist and do nothing. All that gives you is a miss directed glancing blow. Not a hit. You bought a club to hit the ball, hit the darn thing, Hit it with confidence, hit it with authority. Let the body react.
If you study the right forearm in the last photo of jamie post impact, he is releasing under out and up. The right forearm clearly in supination. All elite players hit with supination.
Tom, you and I are going to have to agree to disagree. I will use your last post to be your input in a future article. I will separate the wheat from the chaff. I will use pictures and analyze data to determine the truths. I can clearly understand your words and find them in error. For the sake of my readership, I must set the record straight. Kelvin
Thanks for responding Kelvin. Can't wait for your Article. I am quite sure your readership values you opinion as gold... as I do.
But to sum up what I have written.
The Firing of the spine engine including the left arm supplies the leverage. You can hit the ball with driver a fair clip that way...But you cannot press with passive hands, lest you break through the 70*chi line because you are forced to use only the body. There is your glancing blows way off the grid. Jamie stays in the grid with his conical release using his hands. Thats why he is the best.
Releasing the right hand palmar flexion supplies power and direction to the ball.
That right hand palmar flexion gives you the 30 extra yds.
You can play drives 280 C/R using just the leverage, passivly.
But to get 300+ or the long irons you must swing the clubhead from the top indiependantly snapping the wrist. The power is in the palmar flexion Try it.
I hit 330-350 yard in an outing on friday. Tell me what I am doing Right.
Tom, what would be helpful is a video of your swing. Instead of dealing with ambiguous words and terms, I will analyze the reality as I see it. If you have good high speed video that would be better. Rick, my genius research assistant can biomechanically crunch the numbers and get data from it provided the video is of good quality. Kelvin
Thank's Kelvin.
Recently obtained a casio exFH-20, I can get some one to take a few shots in the yard slow motion. Its the same swing there as it is on the course.
Thank you for offering your services Kelvin.
