Is extensor action at address ok?

[Yoda]

Pull your Left Arm straight by using your Right Forefinger and Thumb. That's the Pressure Point #3 application of Extensor Action. It pulls the whole of your Primary Lever Assembly (the Left Arm and Club) taut, which may inhibit Left Wrist Cock.

Tongzilla is correct in his response regarding the use of Pressure Point #3 to create Extensor Action, especially his comment regarding inhibiting the Left Wrist Cock.

Personally, except for Extensor Action Takewaway, I find it much easier to create (and teach) Extensor Action using Pressure Point #1 (the heel of the Right Hand pushing against the Left Hand thumb).

It is particularly effective to feel this 'Right Arm Pushaway / Left Arm Stretch' at the Top. Practice daily the Start Down Waggle while applying Extensor Action 'Push / Stretch'. The combination of the two is the first Check Item at the Top in the Mechanical Checklist For All Strokes (12-3 / Section 6).

[lagster]

Tongzilla is correct in his response regarding the use of Pressure Point #3 to create Extensor Action, especially his comment regarding inhibiting the Left Wrist Cock.

Personally, except for Extensor Action Takewaway, I find it much easier to create (and teach) Extensor Action using Pressure Point #1 (the heel of the Right Hand pushing against the Left Hand thumb).

It is particularly effective to feel this 'Right Arm Pushaway / Left Arm Stretch' at the Top. Practice daily the Start Down Waggle while applying Extensor Action 'Push / Stretch'. The combination of the two is the first Check Item at the Top in the Mechanical Checklist For All Strokes (12-3 / Section 6).

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Could it be that HITTERS ARE BETTER STRETCHING THE ARM WITH #1, AND SWINGERS WITH #3, OR IS THIS JUST A PREFERENCE? HOW ABOUT A COMBINATION OF 1 AND 3?

[Mathew]

Moe Norman had one of the best strokes in terms of precision. When asked what was the most important thing he said "full extension back and through". When you think about it the extension is the extensor action and tracing of this point is back and through but there is another part of this where he says "full". The plane is infinate and the plane line is infinate also.... You should be trying to trace back along that line to infinity also....this way your hands will never be "out of bounds".

Tiger Woods talked alot about width when he was winning alot in 2000. I remember watching him drive a 330+ yard drive over the green to what to me looked like a super short backstroke (and woods has no flexability troubles...lol).

Jack Nicklaus said he took it straight back with plenty of width. Again this is the same thing.

I also think most people try to overload accumulator no.2 IMO. Leadbetter and other pop instructors from the golf channel have bought into this idea you need to set the wrists to a 90 degree angle yet if it wasn't for the front perspective distorting what you see, I bet you would see alot less than a 90 degree angle (more like 70ish) in historys best ballstrikers or they have a way to really stretch from the top to the end and load that accumulator to the maximum. What you are looking for is the purity of the clubhead orbit being onplane, not setting accumulators to the max. If the impact fix degree of flat and wristcock motion that is completely vertical is rigidly maintained during the entire stroke (1 of 2 ways I can see it being done) then the wristcock is also got to comply co-ordinately with no.3 with that plane because the left arm is above plane and the left flying wedge goes into the plane at an angle.... just like if you set that flail in 2k on the floor with a full wristcock and tilted it up - that clubshaft can't uncock into the floor.

[cometgolfer]

Except with Zero #3 Accumulator, the stretch (Non-Accelerating Thrust) of Extensor Action -- whether executed by Pressure Point #3 or #1 or both -- is not On Plane, i.e., toward the Impact Plane Line. Instead, it is Below Plane -- in the direction the Left Arm is pointing.

Could the incorrect directional application of extensor action (i.e. directing it toward the plane line rather than below plane) cause the club to get too flat from start down into release? Although I'm able to go from start up to top staying nicely on plane, I've always fought a tendency to have the club move under-plane from start down to release (a Sergio like motion). I just grabbed a club trying to feel proper extensor action, and I can see that my natural tendency is to direct that stretching direction toward the plane line.

CG

[EdZ]

Could the incorrect directional application of extensor action (i.e. directing it toward the plane line rather than below plane) cause the club to get too flat from start down into release? Although I'm able to go from start up to top staying nicely on plane, I've always fought a tendency to have the club move under-plane from start down to release (a Sergio like motion). I just grabbed a club trying to feel proper extensor action, and I can see that my natural tendency is to direct that stretching direction toward the plane line.

CG

Trace your toe line with your extensor action and monitor where your HANDS are for plane angle. You will notice this will get your plane angle closer to where it should be and not as flat as you describe.

Interesting note - I was watching Lori Kane yesterday on the range at Kingsmill and noted that she was basically having this exact issue (too flat of plane) - and this lead to a small amount of 'round housing' - the only shot she could hit well was a blocked out slight fade or a 'very' solid and strong pull draw.

And all she needed was to get her plane angle up a bit.

What her caddy was showing her was making the problem worse (horizontal swings, very 'round' motion)

Forget about the club - the HANDS are what should be monitored per 5-0.

[lagster]

Trace your toe line with your extensor action and monitor where your HANDS are for plane angle. You will notice this will get your plane angle closer to where it should be and not as flat as you describe.

Interesting note - I was watching Lori Kane yesterday on the range at Kingsmill and noted that she was basically having this exact issue (too flat of plane) - and this lead to a small amount of 'round housing' - the only shot she could hit well was a blocked out slight fade or a 'very' solid and strong pull draw.

And all she needed was to get her plane angle up a bit.

What her caddy was showing her was making the problem worse (horizontal swings, very 'round' motion)

Forget about the club - the HANDS are what should be monitored per 5-0.

//////////////////////////////////////////////
EdZ, and others,
What do you do for the MANY players that come down the other way... TOO STEEP?

[metallion]

Pull your Left Arm straight by using your Right Forefinger and Thumb. That's the Pressure Point #3 application of Extensor Action. It pulls the whole of your Primary Lever Assembly (the Left Arm and Club) taut, which may inhibit Left Wrist Cock.

Wow. Great point. Never realized that before. Seems PP1 Extensor Action is the way to go.

[cometgolfer]

Trace your toe line with your extensor action and monitor where your HANDS are for plane angle. You will notice this will get your plane angle closer to where it should be and not as flat as you describe.

Interesting note - I was watching Lori Kane yesterday on the range at Kingsmill and noted that she was basically having this exact issue (too flat of plane) - and this lead to a small amount of 'round housing' - the only shot she could hit well was a blocked out slight fade or a 'very' solid and strong pull draw.

And all she needed was to get her plane angle up a bit.

What her caddy was showing her was making the problem worse (horizontal swings, very 'round' motion)

Forget about the club - the HANDS are what should be monitored per 5-0.

Good suggestion Ed. I just tried that sensation out and it looks like it has potential. I still haven't gotten myself to totally trust "monitoring my hands", even though I know better.

Thanks,

CG

[birdie_man]

I haven't been reading this too much...odd things....but someone reminded me of this...

Ever notice that you can Extensor Action-ize your left arm with the right hand off the club?

I don't doubt that the right hand stretches too...hell- it definately does...you can feel it....

But I can EXTENSORIZE my left arm by itself.

...

The only thing that comes to mind is that this could inhibit your looseness.

[EdZ]

//////////////////////////////////////////////
EdZ, and others,
What do you do for the MANY players that come down the other way... TOO STEEP?

Depends on the cause, be it:

setup (high right forearm)
underplane/over roll backswing
bad Rhythm ("starting to hit")

Generally, drills which focus on the 'out' of "down, out and forward" or the 'down' while keeping the shoulders from opening too quickly.

Pump drill etc.
Left hand only or right hand off through impact.

Clearing the right hip going back, or even an 'exaggerated' FULL ROLL, which gets them to hit solid pulls, and then add the 'out to first base' or Wally Armstrong's "Kicking a soccer ball" images to get them hitting the inside of the ball and sweep hooks.

Lots of potential variables and solutions depending on the student and their specific trends.