[O.B.Left]

OB Left

A spinning top has a single axis of rotation because it spins over a tip point that is in-line with the center of its structure and its COG is in line with the tip point.

Human beings have two legs and the pelvis cannot rotate around a single axis. The pelvis pivots over two separate femoral heads, and the backswing pivot action forces the spine to become angled when the pelvis rotates. That creates a reverse K posture of varying degrees of rightwards upper torso tilt.

Here is a photo of VJ Trolio rotating during the his backswing - from his swing video at

The blue dotted lines depict his reverse K posture.

The red arrowed line shows that his head is centralised.

Now, if you think that VJ Trolio is rotating around a centralised pivot axis that is straight in-line with his head, and if that thought helps you to improve your golf swing, then I do not feel impelled to convince you otherwise.

I simply see reality differently. I simply see the end-result of a well-executed backswing pivot action - a reverse K posture where the body is generally left-centralised between his feet with his head in the center. His body is left-centralised because he favors shifting his pelvis leftwards in the late backswing in order to get his COG closer to his left foot.

I can see and understand exactly what he is doing - and I do not have to think of a hypothetical "pivot center" or hypothetical "pivot axis" to make sense of his biomechanical actions.

He has a rotary motion and not any lateral swaying motion. I think that a good backswing pivot action must have that type of rotary motion. However, I find it perfectly acceptable if a golfer has a rightwards-centralised body position because the COG of the body is closer to the center of the stance, rather than closer to the left foot, as in these images of Stuart Appleby.



Stuart Appleby's head is right-of-center, but his COG is more centralised - compared to VJ Trolio.

From my perspective, both backswing pivot actions occur according to the same rotary principles - with no lateral swaying. They simply differ in terms of their weight distribution at the end-backswing position.

Jeff.

To me the axis of rotation as Vj defines it and TGM's pivot center are different concepts. For the perfectly spinning top they would be on the same centralized line but the human golfer with multiple centers, levers etc who is playing most of his shots with the weight left at impact will not have the two aligned.. We all need to get on our left side for most shots.

Now the spinning top analogy with the axis of rotation aligned with the COG and its implications to club head speed are relevant but should not be thought of as centralized between the feet for fuller shots for humans. The pivot center maybe is but not the COG or axis of rotation.

Its been a while since I read VJs book but isnt his whole "move" one of getting his COG (which he defines as a spot for him anyways which is underneath his belly button but mid body, close to spine) over the axis of rotation (which is around his left foot). So as to reduce the wobble about the axis of rotation and thereby speed the rotors (body's) blades (arms) to the fullest?

The Vj move and the main difference being his and Apps swings being that he gets it (COG and hips, axis tilt) there (left, over his axis of rotation) on his backswing rather than on his downswing. Apps will do this in the photos not included above, during his downswing. All pros get left dont they? Isnt that one of the things that sets them apart from us hackers?

Now all of this goes out the window if golf is a non rotational motion. So does CF I guess too.

Help me out somebody. Tag.

OB