I first met Yoda over twenty years ago at Atlanta Country Club. I had been to a golf school that was based upon TGM, but never had I met someone who really understood Homer's teachings like Yoda. He was out of golf at that time, but would help me as we hit balls together until in 1996 when I moved to Denver. During the last year, I have been in Atlanta more frequently and have seen Yoda more around the club.
Yesterday, Yoda asked to see me swing. I told him that I was not striking the ball well and that a bad right shoulder was causing some pain. I was also nervous because he was watching! In fifteen minutes, Yoda had the fix and soon I was on plane and sending the ball straight down the fairway.
First, Yoda pointed out that I was playing the ball too far back in my stance. Secondly, at address, my hands were so low that my club shaft and right forearm were on different planes. Thirdly, I was collapsing at the top with no extensor action and my left wrist was arched at the top.
Yoda had me move the ball forward in the stance and address it with the club shaft and right forearm on the same plane. Then, he had me take the club back with the right forearm. He also wanted extensor action pressure with the cup of the right hand on the left thrumb at take away and particularly at the top in order to extend the left arm.
Also, instead of arching the left wrist at the top, he had me cup it more (based on my grip) so that it would perform more like a hammer. In just a few minutes, I was getting more extensor action with no pain in the right shoulder.
Yoda is the greatest, and I look forward to my next visit with him on the range.
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