Vertical Hinge & Club Face

[Yoda]

Jeff Hull's (can we call him Hurricane Hull with all that wind?) ATT warm up video demonstrates a hitting pitch shot with an open club face at address. When I tried this, I noticed that at follow through, the face was facing upward as if using a vertical hinge action. This seems much easier than the reverse roll action of a true vertical hinge. Does it work the same way? ie Does the ball travel the same way?

Horizontal Hinging with the Clubface laid well-back produces the same Lofted Ball behavior as does Vertical Hinging. That is because the Clubface already has been laid-back -- when taking the Grip at Fix -- and it maintains that precise degree of Layback through Horizontal Hinging's 'Closing Only Clubface' Motion. Note: From a Square-Square Plane Line/Stance Line combination, Vertical Hinging's Square Clubface produces a straightaway Flight Path. In contrast, the Horizontal Hinge / 'Open' Clubface combination will produce a 'Pushed Slice' Flight Path. This requires that the Plane Line be adjusted (to Open-Open).

As you have suggested, this technique can be preferable to the 'Reverse Roll' deliberate manipulation of the Hands required in a true Vertical Hinge Action. Why? Because you are using the normal (and much more natural) counter-clockwise Hand Roll through Impact.

Another reason to consider this technique is because Ball Location now becomes much less critical. Vertical Hinge Action requires a forward Ball Location to accomplish its maximum Layback (and hence, greatest Loft). With the Horizontal Hinging procedure described, the amount of Clubface Layback is determined at Fix and thus is irrespective of Ball Location. This flexibility allows the steeper Angle of Attack required with more difficult Lies without sacrificing the necessary Loft.