[YodasLuke]

A key difference is rotation, and the orientation of the shaft to the loading.

When you swing, you are loading the left wrist due to two primary factors, a startup swivel (rotation onto the plane) and going to 'end' (loading in the plane of the left wrist cock and getting 'under' the shaft)

When you hit, you are loading the right elbow with effectively no real rotation so rather than load against the 'top' of the shaft as in swinging, you are loading more on the 'side' of the shaft. A 90 degree difference - always loading the shaft at 90 degrees to the direction of the loading force in either case.

When you use a horizontal hinge 'hit' you aren't using the full benefits of CF and you are 'forced' to time the squaring of the clubface manually. In other words, since you didn't allow the rotation back, you must 'make' it happen coming through, which is an inconsistent way to play.

As combinations go, loading for hitting and then horizontal hinging isn't the worst, because it does make it easier to hit a draw. The question is the ability to control just how much draw.

The opposite case, loading for swinging and then angled hinging, is an easy way to hit a fade, and again, the question is the ability to control just how much fade.

The force vectors just are less compatible than for a 'straight' ball. As long as you understand the shot shapes that naturally result from each, you can play effectively with any combination. I suspect this is why Homer stated that hinge action does not differentiate hitting and swinging.

Very good post Ed-Miester, Eddie-Jam, Ed-A-Rama.

Also, Dave, the recommendations are for uncompensated (unmanipulated) strokes.