[O.B.Left]

I'm not sure what Homer said about a perfectly straight shot. But based on his impact drawings in ch two, i would say that a straight shot with as perfect as it gets compression would require a vertical hinge. Becaus a horisontal hinge would impose the rotation rate of the hinge itself on the ball. So even though we assume that separation occurs at low poing and club face pointing towards target it will be a small draw. But we are perhaps talking so small that it isn't even measurable.

Per 2-D-0

"The direction of the ball will be the resultant of the Vectors of the forces acting on the ball, unless all the forces can be focused on one line (2-C-1 #3). Then direction control would be stabilized and, in addition, the ball would be propelled by the sum of the forces acting on it, instead of the much smaller Resultant Force of scattered Vectors. The Vector of the spin-producing force cannot be brought into the alignment or there would be a loss of altitude control as well as Spin control. But the Spin can be produced on the plane of the actual Line of Flight and thus exert no interference with the alignment of the forces. Study text and sketches in 2-B and 2-C."

2-C-1 #3

"This is designated the "Ideal Application because it produces perfect Vector alignments because the Angled Clubshaft and the Closing Clubface (the "Full Roll" of Horizontal Hinge Action --7-10) are rotating around the same center and there is no glancing force except for backspin".

In other words 2-C-1 #3 shows;
- nearly total compression except for backspin provided by loft
-the point of contact between clubface and ball staying together as if welded together. Made possible by a uniform rotation of the clubface (the Horizontal Hinge Action) and clubhead arc given that they are both rotating around the same center. Not so with Vertical.
-a straight shot, no divergence in face angle and line of compression.

2-C-0

Between the precision Impact of 2-C-1 #3 and the total loss of compression in 2-C-3 #3 there can be every degree of Compression Loss Leakage ---some intentional (Backspin) but mostly unintentional.

Vertical Hinging, what Homer termed a "cut shot" is outlined in drawing 2-C-2 and if its associated loss of compression is "unintentional" as mentioned above then it must be a reference to "Steering", The Number One malfunction. Holding the clubface square to the Target Line.

Vertical Hinging though useful around the green is not good for a driver shot where you need as much compression as you can muster. It could in a way, be considered "intentional steering" when employed deliberately around the green. The geometry of compression loss can be made to work for you, when you need it and that we see on t.v. ALL THE TIME.

So I do think that Hinge Action is very real especially when you see all these guys on tour , who have probably never heard it's name, employ it.