What is Zero Pivot in the Hinge Action Education Drill?
 

For the purposes of a newbie just getting started in TGM and trying out my first drill (the Hinge Action Education), what EXACTLY is a Zero Pivot?

Does a Zero Pivot imply that the only thing that should move are the arms ? (i.e. is the idea to get the feel of having no rotation around the spine?)

I tried this drill over the weekend, and can only assume that (if I was doing it correctly) the ZP causes a "feel" that will be felt only (or primarily) by "hitters" and not "swingers".


1) Hinge Action Education

Per 2-G: "For a Practice drill, Educate the Left Hand (5-0) to reproduce - with Zero Pivot - the three Hinge Actions, distinct and separate, while swinging continuously back and forth. First without a Club, then with a short Club, then with both Hands. Then with increasing Pivot motion using the Right Forearm per 7-19. Learning only one Action isn't so helpful because you won't know their differences.

Zero pivot is require in basic motion. Simply, the hips, knees
And feet remain in their address position. The shoulders may rotate as they are part of the power package as well; therefore their turning does not violate zero pivot.

Basic motion will feel like a hitters motion when you set up with impact hands at address. In this case the right forearm acts as a piston back and through.

Got it.

One thing I notice when I allow my shoulders to rotate like this was that I was not making contact with the ground in front of the ball. The low spot is NOT opposite the left shoulder but is at address position.

This is what made me believe that I was doing the drill wrong.

If I only allow my arms to move (with the "right arm feeling like a piston") then I get more of a divot feel in front of the ball.

Remember that the clubshaft remains fully on a flat tilted plane. Sounds like the clubshat is below the inclined plane on either bs or DS.

The shoulder motion supports the clubshaft. Be sure the shoulders aren't leading ( pivot controlled hands) but supporting the hands moving back up and in on plane.

The levers length - arm and club are both for hitters or swingers the same length which is (hopefully) what you set up alignment wise at Impact Fix. Whether you swing or hit you hope to pass through Impact Fix with that same length from whatever your Address type is. If you do not hit the ground, then you have changed either the length of the lever (check that FLW and EA), or the Height of the machine (Bob) or Swayed the machine changing where the Low Point would have been.

If you keep the image simple, at Impact Fix you have a lower case "y" which is being lifted and taken through impact. If you start from Impact Fix its easy mentally to monitor Basic Motion. Start from say Standard Address and your "Y" becomes a "y" during the mini takeaway. If you don't take a divot it's likely you are going back to a Y at you hit the ball and so will most likely get all ball and not ball, big ball :)

Working out of my sixth , this was a point that I missed, got stuck on as I froze the whole shebang. I locked the Pivot and Shoulders up, no Shoulder motion. Something I didnt like at all. Something that set me back a ways, induced Quitting even , ouch.

An Arm (left or right), Zone 2 only, Push or Pull Minor Basic Stroke will have some Shoulder Motion! As if the ARm pushes and pulls the shoulders a tad. My Pull Basic Putting Stroke can look very Shoulder Stroke like as the shoulders do move but it isnt a Paw Minor Basic Stroke!

Ive always wondered about Tiger's putting stroke, though it looks like a shoulder stroke -Paw Minor Basic, could it really be a Push Minor Basic Stroke (Right Arm Only) with Shoulder Motion as opposed to Shoulder Work. Thats something Id ask him given the chance. He practices, trains with just his right arm attached when chipping and putting. More of a fanning right forearm than an inline Push Basic deal....

Any of you guys know for sure? Having displayed the best putting of all time in my opinion his old pattern would be nice to decipher.

Two Critical Alignments
 

Thanks, Paul. This is so important.

There are two radiuses -- radii, whatever! :laughing9 -- involved in the Golf Stroke:

1. From Left Shoulder to Clubhead (the Primary Lever and actual radius of the Stroke); and

2. From Left Shoulder to Ball.

At Impact, these two alignments must agree. Otherwise, the player Stubs (Shoulder to Clubhead radius greater) or Tops (Shoulder to Ball radius greater).

Fortunately, pre-emptive measures (to assure the mandatory synchronization) may be taken at Address and during its Routine.

:golfcart2:

RE: golfguru

I hear, understand, and agree with what you're saying. Let me try to explain my initial question in a different way, however, since it sounds like I wasn't completely clear....

If my swing is orbiting (pivoting) around my spine and the ball is positioned directly below this center point, the radius of the circle is the distance between the ball and the spine. This also defines the low point of the circle. As long as the radius of the circle or the center point doesn't change, the divot should not be forward or rearward of the ball. My understanding of the Basic Motion Hinge Drill is to fix the radius and only change the hinge action (vertical, horizontal). I think I've convinced myself that I was doing the drill correctly by virtue of the fact that I WASN'T getting a divot.

If I were to change the orbiting center point to my left shoulder or, alternatively, move the ball further back in my stance, THEN I should see the divot taken forward of the ball since the ball will now be up-plane.

My initial question was related to what constitutes a "Zero Pivot" in this drill (and, in general). It's a little ambiguous because without a pivot how can you have any angular motion?

False Start
 

Can't read past here, ckniker. We have "issues" . . .

Namely, with the basic definitions of Swing Radius and Low Point.

Until we agree on these basics -- yours definitely are not those of TGM -- further conversation, questions, observations, etc. result only in more confusion.

:salut:

Hi Yoda,

Yes, I agree (though not necessarily that I have "issues" :-) ).

As a rank beginner to TGM, I am trying to understand the subtleties of the system and the language. I hope that I can quickly come up to speed. The fastest way I can think of (before I can schedule a lesson with a TGM instructor) is by asking questions here.

A Private Exchange and Public Plea
 

Ckniker and I exchanged the above PMs earlier this evening. All was and is cool here. Except as provided in our rules of decorum, we don't censure or condemn around here. That said, our Forums bear ample evidence that disagreements can be spirited! :eyes:

What needs to happen here is a common definition of Swing Radius and Low Point.

My Post #7 above gives important information, but as I've stated in the above PM, Yoda is pretty much 'out of the building' this next week. So, please guys (you know who you are!) . . .

Help!

:salut:

What changes notations should I make the 6th edition's 12-3-1 BASIC MOTION 2nd sentence where it reads : "Zero out the PIvot, Shoulder Turn and Accumulator #3" ?

Wow. This is why I love this Forum and Website so much. I mean; some people wait forever for someone to post such a great question, but at lynnblakegolf.com, it happens every day.

CKnicker, the Right shoulder is like a conduit through which the Pivot transmits all force and geometry to the Power Package. Move the right shoulder a little bit and as long as it doesn't directly influence the Power Package with Force or directed Alignment, then you've met the "Zero Pivot" requirements. Also, Variations in Right Shoulder Location can vary "Low Point" Location so, using Zero Pivot will maintain Low-Point opposite the Left Shoulder.

HK's intentions, although not spelled out, are for you to practice "Hinging" only around the "Pulley". That means no Straight, or Angled Delivery Path. It also means that you must know and understand all of the various Power Package Alignments for Release. Just you and the Pulley. You Have some options. Without Force and Motion from the Pivot, you'll isolate the Alignments of the Right Elbow, Hands and Clubhead/Clubface and be able to Practice them by preventing interference from an occasional poor Pivot Execution.

For Dual Horizontal Hinging you can practice Throwout by Tracing the Arc of Approach or you can add a little Layback to the Clubface by Tracing the Angle of Approach. For Hitting, use "Drive out" to practice Angle Hinging or use it to Trace the Arc of Approach to produce a Cut Shot (Dual Vertical Hinging - no Clubface Closing).

Anyway, the options are seemingly endless and can provide hundreds of Hours of fun and enjoyment and productive Practice. :)

Now, if only someone can show you what all of this means. :laughing9

Thanks for the response, Daryl.

Lots to chew on in your thought-provoking reply, many of which go beyond my to-date understanding. I've got lots more to read and understand.

Candidly, this is the first I've seen anyone refer to the "Pulley". For my benefit, can you briefly describe (or point to) what you mean? Given that my questions are related to the Basic Motion drills, I can only assume that this doesn't involve a wrist cock (accumulator #3?).

(Correct me if I'm wrong but the wrist cock doesn't get added until Acquired Motion (?)....)