Hitting and relaxation
 

I posted this on another board but hope I can get some good suggestions from the learned parties here.

First, I hope this forum is lively and continues for a long time. I've read Lynn Blake's postings and found them informative and articulate. He even uses correct grammar and can spell !!! Wow !

I admit to being ignorant of the " Yellow Book" nuances and have a question regarding the " hitting " stroke.

How does on relax during the stroke. I know tension can wreck swing-speed and my mind says to " kill" the ball. I know that is the wrong approach and counterproductive. How does one hit smoothly???

fdb2:

The one thing Homer Kelley said is that all strokes should feel, "Deliberate, Positive and Heavy". While at the range, I can often start to get quick after hitting a few hundred balls....sometimes, I need to take a step away from the ball pile, and just think of what Homer said, "Deliberate, Positive and Heavy". You almost have to say it slow...I try to translate the words into my swing....remember, the goal is to have continuing acceleration of the hands from the top...err constant acceleration. I know if I start to try and 'kill' the ball, I start to get throwaway!

Remember this, whatever speed you start your hands at the start of the downswing should continue to impact, follow-through and the finish. Don't try to add all the acceleration right from the top!

FL-John

The feel is one of "swinging in slow motion", the hands and chest moving through impact together.

Hit your 160 club 100 yards with a full, smooth motion. Let the club 'fall' as you start down. You shouldn't 'try' to make the club swing, you must 'let' it swing. Don't get in the way of the swinging force, when you do, you won't be able to feel the 'heavy' feel of maintaining lag pressure.

Thank's to both of you for your replies.

FB

The swingers startdown is the biggest hurdle. The startdown should be deliberate, positive, and heavy.
For hitters, I often use many different analogies to fix this problem.
1. I tell them that they cannot make the club move fast until after impact.
2. I use a music analogy that the club would sound like a crecendo. It starts softly and gets louder. (Slower to faster)
3. As a drill, I'll have them make the downsing last three times longer than normal.
4. Finally, I'll try to get them to start down with the entire body remaining still (zero pivot).
Try some of these things to see what gives you the best feeling and result.