"Back to the target at transition"
 

I've been working a bit on the "right shoulder start down" and loading PP#4. Struggled mightily with my ball-striking on day 2 of a 3 day event. After looking at my swing at the range afterwards my partner thought I needed to "keep my back to the target a tad longer at the transition". It seemed to do the trick and I hit it very well on day 3.

That "tip" always seemed like typical pop instruction stuff. I know that there's no way to diagnose without seeing my swing, but would there be some validity to that "feel" (of starting the downswing arm motion before the back/shoulders start down) for a swinger?

CG

see hogan "power golf"
 

I think so - in the Power Golf photos in Hogan's book he keeps his right shoulder up and back for quite a long time... right shoulder only just below level of left shoulder when hands are at belt height(ie. near impact)!

The right shoulder goes down plane but it seems that most of that down occurs just before impact( and after impact) rather than transition.

May try Start Down with HIPS closed instead of shoulders. Hips control the Right Shoulder going Downplane.

Back to the target (left shoulder 'under' chin)is a very useful backswing key for a swinger IMO. A whole lot of backswing issues/compensations can be resolved by having a good full shoulder turn, which helps get you in position to come into impact on plane. It effectively gives you more 'time', and more room for the right arm through impact.

It is also useful for those that tend to go over the top, to think of keeping the back to the target as the arms drop, as in the 'pump' drill, although this can eliminate PP#4 for some and result in a 2 barrel swing or 3 barrel with 1,2,3

The idea in both is to get you into impact on a better delivery path, from the inside.

Transition
 

Bull, 12, Edz,

Thanks for the inputs..... all good ones which validate that feeling as being "reasonable" for a swinger. Used it again today with really solid results.

I had that awful "chasing the club" feel on Friday, and hit many more pulls than I normally do, which sort of confirmed that I had that dreaded "over-the-top" motion working. To 12's point .... it felt like my lower body had "gone to sleep".

I hate to resort to "band-aid" swing keys since I've been studying TGM. This one seemed to work and I just wasn't sure it complied with the physics and geometry that we get from TGM.

Thanks compadres,

CG

You need to check out the Video Section on the Address Routines. They are good. There is a section in I or II can't remember where the Start Down Waggle is DEMO'd . That should help you. Remember in the Pivot Train the Hips lead the shoulders. AND your Hip Slide should be PARALLEL with the your DELIVERY LINE . . . so out to Right Field with Angle of Approach Cross-Line procedures and Parallel to the Plane Line for On-Line procedures.

Now if your hips are Opening too quickly there may be a couple of things to try.

1. Even though your are swinging you may need to FEEL as if your Hip Slide is Cross-Line. That should help you with shoulders opening too quick.

2. You may want to try to put pressure down into the ground with your Right Foot (not just the left). That will help you keep from "over-committing" your right leg and hip. You may need to slow the hips down abit.

Not sure what thread it was in or who said it . . . but somebody said Yoda show them a drill where the put a dowel in the front belt loops running parallel to the plane line. So if you turn your hips too quick and don't slide your club will hit the dowel. Haven't tried that one out but sounds like a great way to get feedback.

Good luck. You aren't doing band-aids out here man. You are learning alignments.

Bucket Quote
 

Bucket Quote- 11-05-06 - SWEET!:)

Beginning of the End?
 

Uh . . .11-05-06 Bucket fears for his life. Mike is this the drawing in phase?

This is important for me too. I feel like my left butt cheek stays facing the target as I pull down with the arms. This slides my hips cross line before they turn and stops me roundhousing the shoulders

When I get off I just do the pump drill over and over and over and try and get that transition 'dropping' motion ingrained again