10-2 Position of the left thumb for hitting?
 

Lynn/Yoda/Holeinone:

Congratulations on the new site. We are all very eagerly awaiting the evolution of your site. I wish you the best of luck with the new venture. I know we in the golf world will all benefit from it.

My question is about the position of the left thumb on the grip when hitting. I seem to have a difficult time comfortably placing the thumb on the aft side of the shaft. When I do this and relax my forearms the clubface is very closed. Am I doing something wrong or can I use a more neutral left hand possition with my thumb right of center? What are the potential pitfalls?

Thanks,

Terry (OHgolfer)

The Aft Left Thumb
 

Thanks for your 'well wishes,' Terry. We're committed to the best golf instruction on the web. Watch us make it happen! And please...help us along the way with your constructive comments and suggestions. My PM key is fully functional and my Inbox awaits! As does the Inbox of our other Site Admin folk: Bagger Lance and Trigolt. We don't kill 'messengers' around here: We welcome them!

Regarding your question, the Aft Thumb Location (behind the Shaft) is independent of both the Left Wrist Condition and the Clubface Alignment. With your Left Wrist in the preferred Vertical Condition (neither Turned nor Rolled) at Impact Fix, the Clubface can then be aligned Square, Open or Shut (depending on the selected Hinge Action -- Vertical, Horizontal or Angled). Again, this alignment is independent of the Thumb Location.

But -- and here's the key -- you need to leave behind the popular teaching that states the Left Thumb and Forefinger 'webbing' needs to be closed. The best Thrust Support through Impact requires an Aft Left Thumb, and this mandates a slightly separated Thumb and Forefinger. It is the only way to maintain both the Aft Thumb and the Vertical Wrist). This is an important point, one that I soon will illustrate using still photos or video or both.

Now, it is a fact that most TOUR players don't do this. But it does not follow that they are using the best procedure. It means only that they were trained traditionally. Remember, these guys wake up every morning looking for any edge they can get. And like the 'Fosberry Flop' that revolutionized the centuries-old approach to the high jump...

This is one area that deserves their attention.

Delivering An On Plane Force Through Impact
 

Hitting or Swinging, the Club is driven through Impact by an On Plane Force (1-L-#10) moving toward the Plane Line. With Hitting, that Force is Muscular. With Swinging, that Force is Centrifugal. No matter how the Club is driven, that drive must be delivered through Pressure Points. And those Pressure Points are best located On Plane at right angles to the Clubshaft (1-L-#11). In other words...

On the Aft side of the Shaft.

Pressure Problems
 

Welcome, Ed. Good to have you aboard!

I've never had this Left Hand middle finger problem, Ed, even when I was predominantly Swinging. Do you use a Glove? Cord Grips? Do you Grip the Club 'loosely'?

Regarding the taping, the Tour players I've seen tape the Right Hand -- the one that is bearing the brunt of the Clubhead Lag -- not the Left.

Tough Hands
 

No glove and Tour Wrap cord grips. Hmmm...As I suspected. That combination demands tough Hands. At the height of his career, Larry Nelson preferred cord grips because they are very hard, and he felt he had more control with the harder grips. Nevertheless, as he got older and played less, he had to move to a softer grip. The cords were simply to rough for his Hands.