[Jeff]

I believe that most golfers have their hands higher at impact with a slightly steeper clubshaft angle than at address. Therefore, the correct lie is established at impact, and not at address. At address, the toe of the club should be elevated slightly off the ground if the lie is correct - see next photo.



Note that the toe of the club is off the ground for both woods and irons.

At impact, this next diagram shows the likely hand and clubshaft position.



Blue color = Address position. Grey color = impact position.

The degree that the hands are higher at impact varies between different players. Hogan got to the same low hand position, but Zach Johnson's hands are much higher at impact than address - see next photo.



The red line is the hand plane at address. Image 4 shows the difference in hand position between address and impact.

Homer offers this piece of advice to establish the swing radius.

""A geometrically proper procedure is to establish the correct radius with the Clubhead raised to the desired Impact relationship. Then maintain the center of the arc-that is, the left shoulder-as now established, and hold the Hands at the height and angle now established, then let the club swing down from the Wrist to rest on the ground. Now apply Extensor Action (6-B-1-D) to stretch the left arm and 'get as 'far away from the ball as possible."

I personally don't think that it can be very critical to pre-establish this swing radius at address, because the true swing radius at impact is very different (as demonstrated in the Zach Johnson photo) and the left shoulder socket is not in the same position at impact as it is at address.

Jeff.