[Yoda]

There are some teachers out there(some of them TGMers) that recommend a PRE-SET of the spine at Setup(Address). They usually want a few degrees of spine tilt to the right at Setup, or advocate the left ear being over the navel. They may say it any number of ways, but it is a Pre-set Axis Tilt.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this? I seem to do better with the head CENTERED between my feet.

Another provactive question, lagster. Keep'em comin'!

First of all, when we talk about the Axis, we are referring to the Spine and its function as the Axis of the Shoulder Turn (2-H).

Second, any Axis Tilt -- to the right (Backstroke) or left (Downstroke) -- is accomplished by the Hip Slide, a.k.a. the Weight Shift. This is the Hula-Hula Flexibility of 7-14.

Third, the Centered Head Position is established at Impact Fix (9-2-2 #1) and should remain Stationary throughout the Stroke. It is not at all dependent upon the degree of Hip Slide and its consequent Axis Tilt (in either direction).