Why are they called Flying Wedges?
 

1) Why did Homer Kelly choose the term "Flying Wedges" to describe "the precision assembly and alignment of the Power Package basic structure" ?

2) Is there a reason that the Flying Wedges were presented with power accumulator #3 ? ?

the wedge shape- like a sail - flys via Educated Hands along the Plane Line.

These wedge shapes form by the horizontal right arm and wrist, set into the vertical left arm and wrist (the cock-uncock of the transfer accumulator- #3) are whirled or driven (flying) as the striaght plane line is traced by pp3.

Two wedges - one horizontal and one vertical = TGM.


Dang- Tigers scored two runs. Oh well, up 5-2. still :happy3:

so far, knock on wood (twice) wearing my lucky shirt and hat. :eyes:


OUCH- a third run !

Is the word 'Wedge' specificaly used to imply that when the flying wedges are set, there is literally an imaginary 'wedge' jammed into this plane of motion ?

If this is the case, then does the right arm flying wedge freeze and maintain it's bend, while the left arm flying wedge allows the left wrist to cock and uncock which alters the size of the wedge ?

I believe that Homer Kelley selected the term 'Flying Wedges' very carefully.

LOOK LOOK LOOK . . .



FLYING WEDGES Example – multiple sails on a sail boat.
Mechanical – Push-Pull rams on hydraulic excavators mounted at 90 degrees to each other to position and hold the main beam.
Golf – Maintaining the constant simultaneous In-Line relationship of the Clubshaft with the Left Arm and the Right Forearm positioned at ninety degrees to each other along the Line of the Left Wristcock and the line of the Right Wrist Bend.

Check the video in the gallery under Lynn Blake called Dowels and Wedges. I think that is one where Lynn explains the shape, a TWO sided wege shape (Left arm and acc#2- it is NOT a TRIangle)that flys as accum#3 is released.

Yes- the right FW remains bent. Its wedge is the bend of the wrist and hand.

check the video.

Thank you so much, Bucket !

These pictures are great, but I still am confused a little bit. I know from the machine concept that the right arm should be a piston. These pictures clearly show a hydraulic arm which is powering these machines.

I think it is the mechanics that I do not understand:

FLYING WEDGES Example – multiple sails on a sail boat.
Mechanical – Push-Pull rams on hydraulic excavators mounted at 90 degrees to each other to position and hold the main beam.

The main area of confusion is the 90 degree thing. My original interpretation of this was that the right arm supports the left arm at a 90 degree angle to the primary lever assembly. Sometimes I think I feel this, but it is difficult because my hands are the tip of the triangle.

I am looking at sailboats and trying to see where the force is being directed to accelorate/power the boat. I can visualize the sail catching the wind then pulling or pushing the boat where ever the sail is attached to the boat (it also depends on where the sail is located in relation to the direcion of travel), and I can also see the big beam in the middle as being important; but I cannot see exactly how this relates to our flying wedges. It is getting 'less unclear', but you guys have helped alot.

I would really like to understand these flying wedges.

The KEY . . . it is Left ARM Flying Wedge and Right FOREARM Flying Wedge . . . Not Right ARM.

Head to the Archives and check out the Magic of The Right Forearm Primer . . . the answers you seek are there.

Thank you again, bucket.

I have taken your guidance and enthralled myself into the archives on the Magic of the right forearm. In one post Yoda says 'read the last paragraph of 7-3 until you know it'. I am giving that paragraph serious incubator time.

Also, I am trying to LOOK, LOOK, LOOK at how my right forearm moves the club.

I think my wedge assembly is improving, and sometimes I feel 3 dimensions.

Flying Wedges
 

Focus on the wing and supporting strut. Remind you of something?

Great image ! I LOVE appropriate pictures. They really help me with visualization and understanding. Bucket's pics are great also. I still look at them alot.

Thank you. That is very much how my arms are beginning to feel. My right arm feels tighter and closer than it ever has before.

I can sense a major difference in the way I hold a golf club, and the way that I move it....all because my power package assembly is improving. Before flying wedges and my TGM quest, my golf swing was very sad: I had no idea about how to apply force through the golf club and into the ball. All I was concerned about was hitting the ball and I probably flipped my hands at the ball. I think that I was primarily swinging the club with my wrists and body pivot. No power. No idea of proper mechanics. I could hit it straight (if I actually hit it), but always wondered why I would hit a 7 iron and my dad was hitting his Pitching Wedge on the same hole.

Then, after I got into this great book I made some nice improvements. But, I never felt like I was applying the ideas in the book; probably because I did not understand them (still do not completely, but I am scratching the very large surface). This website has resulted in exponential gains in my swing progress in a very short amount of time. Now, I go through sections in the book that I have not read in a while and will actually realize 'hey, I never understood that sentance before...not it makes sense'

I am putting alot of focus on my flying wedges. I think that without proper flying wedges trying to take on anything else in the book is like 'spittin in the wind'. My wedges are the only thing between my body and the golf club.

Actually, I am beginning to feel like the golf club is an extension of my left arm and right forearm. It is a whole world of difference in comparison to my dainty hand and wrist swing. I try to think 'left arm is part of the club and is only moved by the right forearm'. I try to program it in at impact fix. 'right forearm'. I am actually finding pressure point #1 and it's related power accumulator as a result of better assembly. My old way: club hangs from the wrists and is moved by the wrists and body rotation. My new way: club is attached to left arm and right forearm. If the right forearm moves, then the entire structure is moved together as a single unit.

This gives a much different sensation than my very poor 'old way'. The old way felt like the club was just loosly flopping somewhere around my right shoulder at the top, then just kinda blackout after that. I think I was just feeling the clubhead and sort of flinging it back and forward (nothing even close to 3 dimensional, no down or out) My 'new way' makes me feel like all my muscles are working together to move this structure. As a result of the motion (always initiated by the right forearm) the entire golf club is being moved. It makes the shaft of my 7 iron feel like a toothpick. It feels very light, and I have the sensation that I am in control of it.

Sorry for babbling, but it's kinda exciting to feel like I am beginning to apply this concept of the flying wedges that was so mysterious to me.

The Image Worth A Thousand Words
 

Thanks, mb. The 'Airplane Wing and Strut' has long been my favorite image of the Flying Wedges, especially at the Top of the Stroke. In fact, I use it with every new student.

Demonstrating the Wedges at the Top, I'll make this analogy:

"The Right Forearm Wedge supports the Left Arm Wedge like the strut of an airplane's wing."

Then, I'll suddenly collapse my right elbow toward my left, bringing my elbows very close together.

"How would you like to be on an airplane with a strut that looked like this?"

"Or this?" [Poking my elbow way out.]

'Nuff said!

I did it !
 

Since that "Pressure point #3" video alot of major major concepts have hatched from my incubator. That incubator has been working overtime lately. My swing is all I can think about during the day, and I am even getting golf dreams and waking up in the middle of the night with a random line in my head like: "extensor action provides an indespensible control to all strokes."

Anyways, I spent some time hitting because it was working and the angled hinging was pretty simple. Lately I have been finding my swing, actually swinging has been just presenting itself to me...so I take it. The one thing that helped my hitting stroke was the Tommy T video about hitting vs swinging. While demonstrating the hitting procedure he says something like 'the clubface just keeps looking at the ball.' I found this to produce nice angled hinging which worked well with the right arm driving the club. This hitting gave me a good feel for my right forearm flying wedge. I really focused on maintaining a frozen BLV right wrist. This is easier for me that flat left wrist, maybe because I am a righty.

Today, I was thinking about the longitudinal center of gravity. I was looking for it on my sand wedge (just hanging it by the end of the grip). Then I started to see how it behaves differently depending on how you move the club. I tried to visualize where the LCOG was at all times.

Then I started swinging...Basic and acquired motions. Trying to let that LCOG do what it wants to do and base all motion around it. Then it happened. At address, and impact fix, I visualized a line from the leading edge of the clubface (also extending out from the toe of the club directly from the leading edge) which went up through my left hand (on the top of the club...sort of inbetween my left thumb and forefinger.) I think this line goes through the hand and extends at some angle from 6:00, or the bottom of the shaft). From the spot where this line goes through the left hand I can sense a line that goes straight up to my shoulder. I tried to only move the club in compliance with that line. All of a sudden, my takeaway was pulling this line back (with the right forearm). I was able to maintain this line with all those funky swivels required for dual horizontal hinging that I never really got before. This line stayed in tact from impact fix to finish. After 2 swings the light bulb went on: "OOOOOh, THAT is the left arm flying wedge!!!"

:)

Now I have two wedges that assemble my power package. It took some time to develop those wedges.....alot of incubator time. I'm pretty sure they are there to stay. It actually feels exactly like the little yellow guy at the top of the page next to the 'LynnBlakegolf.com' logo.

I love the Golfing Machine. I love LynnBlakeGolf.com

Yoda is my Golfing Machine hero.

David Orr could give you a visual on this that would hook you up like a tow-truck.

D . . . could you be persuaded to put of the LCOG pics up??? huh what?

I think the actual origin of the term flying wedge is the football thing . . . as in returning kickoffs. Kind of like ducks flying in a V.

How is this ?
 

How accurate are these ?

They are at a perfect 90 degree angle.

Keep in mind, I am no graphic designer. I was inspired by Mathew. I just have all these 3D lines and pictures in my head that I just have to get out. Maybe animations will come some time in the future....way in the future. This stuff is time consuming.

Accuarcy is my goal here. I want to get the delivery line in there. Would that be parallel to the right forearm pointing at the plane line ? Where should it come from ? The center of the shoulders, or the right shoulder ?

Are there any other lines that I can add ?

Labels...
 

Hi KnighT,

You may want to label your beautiful diagram for greater clarity.

Flying Wedge Origins
 

The first mention of TGM's Flying Wedges came in 6-B-3-0 of the first edition (1969):

"Consider the Hands as the point of a 'flying wedge' composed of the Clubshaft and the Left Arm, driving toward the Aiming Point."

And in the next paragraph:

"A 'flying wedge' using the Right Forearm instead of the Left Arm is equally effective..."

The #3 Angle is 'The Wedge'
 

You're on the right track, KnightT. However, I suggest you modify your drawing to include a little #3 Accumulator (Left Arm and Clubshaft Angle) in the Left Arm Wedge. Then, let that Angle illustrate the 'inverted' Wedge shape.

There still is a Left Arm Flying Wedge with Zero #3, but the 'Wedge' shape (the #3 Angle and Wristcock) itself has disappeared! Nevertheless, a basic illustration would not omit the identifying relationship.

Accumulator 3 mystery
 

Mmmm, I think I don't understand the difference between Accumulator #2 & #3!

The book is not helping much because picture 6-B-3-0#3 (this one is not clear!) is visually the same as 6-B-2-0#2.

As far as I understand, #2 is the left wrist coking & uncocking while #3 is the angle between the shaft & left forearm......so to me it relates to the same thing :scratch:!?

So, how is working the #3, how do you load it?
What does HK means in 6-B-3-A when he says "...unless it is "Zeroed Out" there must always be a definite Accumulator #3 "Overtaking" Action?

Thanks for your lights!

#3
 

Great, I have some work to do.

yodeli,

Accumulator #2 is velocity power.

Accumulator #3 is transfer power.

The sequenced power release is 4, 1, 2, 3.

Make sure you associate each pressure point with it's power accumulator. That is probably the reason why they are numbered so specifically. I remember when I first realized that, it was a nice big step.

Accumulator #3 is just turn and roll. Turn your left wrist (I think left wrist only...might be wrong) on the backswing, and allow it to roll on the downswing. Go to the Tom Tomasello vid on the hands (Also watch the one about arms, while you are at it). He clearly demonstrates the very specific job each hand has during the swing

I think in order to understand accumulator #3 you need to understand hinge action. Recognize the different rhythm associated with each hinge action at Stage 1. The full roll of horizontal hinging should give the longest distance because it is 'transferring' the most power.

Chapter 6 was a very big mystery to me for a while. I remember reading about turn and roll for the first time and having no idea how that could be considered power. Well, I'm sure you have figured out by now that Homer knew what he was talking about.

I know my pics above need refinement, but can you see the left arm flying wedge ? The red represents the plane of the left wrist cock and uncock. I think it was Bucket who posted a picture of a sail boat at the start of this thread (If you have the book, look up flying wedges in the glossary). That confused me for the longest time, but after making these pics I can see it now. Very clearly. The red is like a sail, it is a 2 dimensional plane (like a sheet of paper). Left wrist bend or arch breaks this plane, and makes it 3 dimensional. So you can see how the left wrist cock is up and down. Turn and roll would maintain this plane (as well as the right forearm's plane of motion) while rotating the left forearm/wrist. When you turn, the 'sail' catches wind....same when you roll.

Mechanical checklist: Delivery line prep, delivery line uncocking prep, DELIVERY LINE ROLL PREP. Are you prepared to roll down that line ?

Grab a club with your left hand only and visualize this plane. another good reference to actually see this in motion: go to the video series with Jeff Hull. I think it is the first one where Jeff is talking about grip pressure. He holds the club with only his left hand and performs almost an acquired motion. I think he uses accumulators #4,#2 and #3. #3 is easy to see.

You said you hit it long, so you are using power accumulators. You are just unaware of which one(s) you are using, how you are using them, and when.

As an 'outside the box' image - it can be useful to imagine the wedge with zero #3, as illustrated, regardless of the 'actual' #3 angle, zero or not

relate that image to the direction of extensor action, and delivery path tracing, and most importantly, to the plane PP#1 travels (fix location, top/end location and a spot on the ground straight down that 'imaginary' zero #3 line - for the sake of simplicity, straight down and extention of the left arm at address.

This allows you to 'trace' a line that is on the ground, parallel and between the stance line and the target line, where that extension of the left arm would intersect the ground, and use that line as your third point in the plane that PP#1 travels for a 'zero shift' motion.

You must watch the Blake/Hull video series. I forget which video but there is a point which Lynn demonstrates Acc #3 and its overtaking motion. An egg hatched for me watching it, take a look.

CW

Perhaps helpful to think of it this way - The #3 accumulator is the 'rotation' (roll) of the #2 accumulator angle with the left arm flying wedge (left arm/club line) as the 'hinge' around which that rotation happens. The larger the #2 accumulator angle (more left wrist cock/lower hands at fix), the more potential power, but the more precise Rhythm (rate of rotation) must be and the earlier the release needs to be.

I got it!
 

Thanks Edz for this clarification.
I just found also interesting informations on this in 4-D-0:
The #2 Acc. uncocks and #3 Acc. rolls - These are related to Wrist Motion and Hand Motion - coordinate but very independant.

And another very interesting regarding Hitting and Swinging: "The Hitter concentrates on Hand Motion (#3 Accumulator), while the Swinger concentrates on Wrist Motion (#2 Accumulator)" (Text in Bold Italics added by me).

Version 2 - with Accumulator #3
 

Drawing Makes the Precise Man
 

That's the idea, KnightT. Good work!