Maybe Hector can take my last little Basic Motion Stage One action at the end of the Basic Motion segment (Video #2). But there won't be much to it, because there is Zero Pivot, a Motionless Head and only my Right Arm (and Elbow Bend) actuate the Left Arm and Club (joined in-a-line as the Primary Lever Assembly by my Flat Left Wrist).
The Basic Motion (Stage One) involves a miniaturized Stroke (12-0) -- approximately two feet back and two feet through. It puts in place the Basic Body Position and the Power Package alignments. It is a One-Accumulator Stroke, and that one Accumulator may be either the Right Arm (Accumulator #1 / Hitting) or the Left ( Accumulator #4 / Swinging).
I have elected to begin the Stroke from the Half-and-Half Fix (10-8-C). Here, the Body is in Standard Address Position, and the Hands are in their Impact Location and Position. This is the second of four Address Position alternatives listed in 10-9-0; namely, "Both at selected Impact" (10-9-0-2).
Let's examine this Selected Impact Address Position (10-9-B) and its Power Package alignments and then the Basic Stroke itself.
The Body
1. Square Stance and Plane Line.
2. Feet close together with Weight slightly toward heels.
3. Appropriate Knee and Waist Bend.
4. Hips Square.
5. Head centered.
The Arms
1. In Normal Position, i.e., Left Arm Straight and Right Arm Bent (6-A-4).
2. Right Forearm On Plane (2-F).
3. Left Arm and Right Forearm Flying Wedges established and properly aligned (6-B-3-0-1).
The Hands
1. Strong Single-Action Grip (10-2-B).
2. In Impact Location.
3. Left Wrist Flat.
The Club
1. Forward-Leaning Clubshaft.
2. Clubface Square.
The Stroke
1. Only one of the Arm Accumulators (Right Arm or Left) is active in this Stage One. The Hand Action Accumulators (Left Wrist Cock and Uncock and Left Hand Turn and Roll) are introduced in Stage Two (Acquired Motion). I have chosen to use the Right Arm and the bending and straightening of the Right Elbow to lift and lower the Left Arm (7-3) and to provide the Basic Thrust of the Stroke. Thus, this is a Hitting Stroke. Had I elected to Swing, I would have used my Left Arm to Pull the Club through Impact (Pull Minor Basic Stroke / 10-3-D). Also, I may have used the Standard Address Position with an Extensor Action Takeaway (6-B-1-D) to Flatten the Left Wrist (and Bend the Right) in Start-Up. Had that been the case, Backstroke Arm Motion would have been minimal. Downstroke action and alignments would have remained the same.
2. Note that my Right Shoulder moves little, if at all, throughout the Stroke. That's because I am using my bending Right Arm -- and not my rocking Body -- to move the Club away from the Ball. In Start Up, I apply Extensor Action against Pressure Point #1 (heel of the Right Hand against the Left Hand thumb), and I use my Right Forearm and bending Right Elbow to "Carry" (7-9) the Left Arm and Club (Primary Lever Assembly) to the Top (Up, Back and In in a true Three-Dimensional Start-Up). The Right Forearm Fans (about the Elbow) and Traces the Straight Plane Line. Had this been a Swing, I would have used a "Swing-Back" Motion instead of the Hitter's "Carry-Back" Motion. Also, when using Standard Address position of the Hands, I would initiate Extensor Action using Pressure Point #3 [Right Hand index finger] to pull the Left Arm and Clubshaft In-Line. But no matter which Motion is employed, the geometry of the Right Arm and Elbow Action -- how they 'look' to an observer -- is identical. All this is in stark contrast to most golfers whose Basic Motion is to freeze their Right Arm and Elbow and then to rock their Body back-and-forth to move the Club (Paw Minor Basic Stroke / 10-3-H).
3. During the Start Down, I Load my bent Right Elbow against Pressure Point #3 (Drive Loading / 10-19-A). From the Top, I simply Push radially (sidewise) the entire Left Arm and Club Assembly through Impact (Right Arm Throw / 10-20-B). When Swinging, I Load my Level Left Wrist against Pressure Point #2, the last three fingers of the Left Hand (Drag Loading / 10-19-C). I then simply Pulllongitudinally (lengthwise) only the Club itself through Impact (Left Wrist Throw / 10-20-E).
4. At Impact, I have returned precisely to my Half-and-Half Fix Address Position alignments. The Body -- including the Head -- has remained Motionless and the Power Package (Arms, Hands and Club) has returned to its Impact alignments. Compare Photos #1 and #14. They are identical.
5. Through Impact, my Right Elbow Drive-Out against Pressure Point #3 (and possibly #1) has automatically produced Angled Hinge Action (10-10-C). That is, the Flat Left Wrist has remained perpendicular (Vertical) to the Angled Plane of the Stroke. This Action is executed as a 'No Roll' Feel and produces a 'Half-Roll' of the Clubface at the end of the Follow-Through. In contrast, the Swinger's Centrifugal Force Throw-Out will automatically produce Horizontal Hinge Action (10-10-D). That is, the Flat Left Wrist will remain perpendicular (Vertical) to the Horizontal Plane. This Action is executed as a 'Roll' Feel and produces a 'Full-Roll' of the Clubface. All Hinge Actions MUST be executed on the Straight Line Delivery Line. This is the essential requirement for all Golf Strokes and why only Items #22 and #39 are capitalized in the Mechanical Checklist For All Strokes (12-3-0).
6. My bent Right Elbow at Impact continues its Drive toward the Plane Line (NOT toward the Target!) during the Follow-Through (1-L-10 and -15). The Angled Hinge Action has insured that the Left Arm and Clubshaft have remained In-Line and that there is perfect Rhythm (RPM).
7. The Stroke concludes when my Right Arm has fully-straightened (6-G-0-C). This is the end of the Follow-Through (Section 11), and because it is also the end of the Stroke, it constitutes the Finish (Section 12). Since the Thrust has continued Down Plane until the Right Elbow has fully-straightened, there properly has been no 'Upstroke.' This despite the fact that the Club itself has passed Low Point (opposite the Left Shoulder) and has begun its own Upward, Inward and Forward journey to the Finish.
Work on your Basic Motion. Pay attention to each Component and its alignments. This is the foundation-stone of your Stroke and of your Game.
I have edited The Stroke section of my Post #14 above to include a more complete description of the Loading Action, Extensor Action and Hinge Action and, also, their respective executions by both Hitters and Swingers. References have been included to encourage further research.
Many thanks to our LBG friend Hector Garcia (hg) for supplying this Stroke Sequence of Acquired Motion -- Right Forearm level to the ground in both directions. View it 'live' in the Hull/Blake Video Series.
Actually, even though my Right Forearm is level to the ground at the Finish, I've gone a bit further than Acquired Motion because I've introduced the Finish Swivel (which properly is an element of the Stage 3 Total Motion). This has allowed the Club to successfully complete its takeover of the Hands without disrupting the Flat Left Wrist. I would introduce this stage only after the Student could demonstrate that, using a Pivot Stroke, he can execute a proper Hinge Action and take the Stroke to the end of the Follow-Through (Both Arms Straight).
Critically, I like most of what I see, but at least one Component needs work. Let's take a look:
This is a little Hitting Stroke, and I'm starting from an Impact Address (10-9-B): Left Wrist Flat, the Right Wrist Bent, Clubshaft in a slight Forward Lean, Clubface slightly Closed to the Angle of Approach, Weight left and the Body "comparatively squared away" (but still not in a Standard Address Position). I keep my Left Wrist Flat throughout the Stroke. If I were Swinging, I would use a Standard Address, with the Left Wrist Bent, the Right Wrist Flat, Hands mid-Body with the Weight equally-distributed between the Feet, Hips 'square' in Standard Address Position, the Clubshaft at right angles to the line and the Clubface square.
My Loading Action is a Random Sweep (10-22-B) with a Side Assembly Point (10-21-B). I Load well (with the Pivot) in the Start Down and then Store well deep into Release. My Hip Action brings my Right Shoulder well Down Plane prior to Release, which gives me a lot of Bent Right Arm to straighten through the Ball. My Extensor Action is good throughout the Stroke.
I execute a good On-Line Angled Hinge Action through Impact and into the Follow-Through (the Flat Left Wrist remains perpendicular to the Angled Plane of the Stroke as it goes through the Ball with the Feel of 'No Roll"); and I finish the Stroke with a strong Finish Swivel that rotates both Wrists back On Plane for the abbreviated Finish. There is zero Sway, and my Head moves left only as momentum carries me ino the Finish.
What I don't like is the little Bob at the beginning of the Stroke. I go down on my Right Knee just a smidgeon and that causes the Head to lower the same amount. There is no faulty move of the Back, so I'm now working on that Right Knee Anchor to bring it under total control.
Yo Pokechop! What Stage motion would one introduce a pinch of Axis Tilt to the Witch's Brew? When the stroke goes to Pivot Stroke Delivery?
Linear Mode
