[TheHeat]

Heat,

There is a major -- but common -- misconception surfacing here, and I will explain it using the first three photos you have have provided. [Photos Four and Five are out-of-sequence and should appear as Three and Four. Photo Three should be the final Photo Five.]

Regardless of the Plane Angle used, the Right Elbow -- and therefore the Right Forearm -- are On Plane only during the Release Interval. Almost immediately in Start Up, the Right Elbow (and with it, the Right Forearm) leaves the Plane. This is true even when the Stroke is on a Zero Shift Elbow Plane. It is the Hands and the Sweet Spot that adhere to the selected Plane, not the Right Elbow. In other words, though the Right Elbow's Impact Location is the reference point that establishes the initial Plane Angle, the Right Elbow does not adhere to it.

In the Backstroke demonstrated in the first three photos, a Plane Shift does indeed occur. The Club begins its journey (to the Top) on the Elbow Plane and then gradually Shifts to the Turned Shoulder Plane. This particular Plane Shift is catalogued as the Single Shift Variation (10-7-B).

So, the thought that "the Right Elbow is On Plane (with the Elbow Plane) throughout the Backstroke" is simply a flawed concept. The fact that the Right Elbow at The Top appears to be touching the original Elbow Plane is irrelevant. What is relevant is that the Hands and the Sweet Spot have arrived at the Top on the Turned Shoulder Plane. Alternatively, had they arrived at The Top on the Elbow Plane -- the Elbow Plane coupled with the Zero Shift Variation -- then the Elbow necessarily would be below that Plane. Again, whether or not the Right Elbow appears to be on -- or off -- the original Elbow Plane means nothing. In other words...

There is an Elbow Plane for the Hands and Sweet Spot, but there is no "Elbow Plane" for the Right Elbow. [/quote]
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Yoda,

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I have been almost pulling my hair out trying to understand this afternoon, and I really don't have that much hair to spare.

One final question to completely clear the fog. Should there be a deliberate effort to get the hands and sweetspot back down to the elbow plane? I think understanding this moment of transition may be a real help for me. If there is no concerted effort to do this, can you elaborate on a feel or key?
Thanks again.

JN