TGM waggles

[Yoda]

Do any of the videos in the gallery demonstrate the TGM over -the-ball and downstroke waggles? If not, Yoda, will your DVD include these when it is ready?

Along somewhat similar lines, is it improper etiquette to take a divot when making a practice swing? If so, then why rehearse a different swing than you are actually planning to make?

Homer Kelley taught an Arms Waggle, not a Wrist Waggle. He emphasized the Flying Wedge alignments and Hinge Action and was adamantly opposed to a Waggle that encouraged any Flattening of the Right Wrist. As he told me, "You don't do that in your actual Swing. You shouldn't do it in your Waggle. It has a purpose!"

Regarding the DVD, I have not yet recorded a demonstration of the three-step Address Routine of 3-F-5 (Practice Stroke, Waggle and Forward Press). It is a good idea, though, and needs to be done. I might add that Homer felt that these preliminaries (including Impact Fix) might ultimately be bypassed by skilled players. Once the alignments have been learned and have become subconscious, their purpose has largely been served.

Your question regarding the Practice Stroke is an interesting one. Personally, I use it primarily to rehearse the degree of Pivot Motion (Zero, Partial or Total) and the location of the Hands at Station Two (the Top) and Station Three (the Finish). In other words, a rehearsal of the boundaries of the Total Motion and the Feel of the respective Zones (Body, Arms and Hands). And always, from the Top, the Feel of 'dragging my wet mop' -- the correct Clubhead Lag Pressure Feel. It is the first Programming Routine of Chapter 14.

Again in my own case, the basic Practice Stroke is a just a light Lag Pressure 'pass' -- usually in conjuction with a Start Down Waggle -- and with only a sliver of turf being taken (but still a definite Downward Motion). I am particularly mindful of Impact Geometry with the short Pitch Shots -- especially Lob Shots with the Ball positioned at Low Point -- and also shots from uneven Lies where I want to make sure of my Impact Point and Low Point. Then I might make several Strokes, watching exactly where the Arc bottoms out. To speed play, I do all this whenever possible as others are playing.

Also, I do the Practice Stroke away from the Ball, not over it, simply because I don't like being "in the presence of the Ball" very long. Unlike my early days where I was agonizingly slow in my Pre-Shot Routine, I now get right with it, and once I step to the Ball, it is gone within a few seconds.