Hitting down

[mb6606]

How much down does one need?
Is it possible to have to much down in the swing?

[metallion]

I'd say it should be just enough down to hit the ball before the ground. The clubhead travels on an incline plane and should reach lowpoint just inches after hitting the ball.

Since lowpoint is on an incline plane the proof of correct execution is that the divot is taken after the ball and points slightly to the right. Unfortunately that is not always the case for my shots - YET.

The more down, the more forward component we lose and the more out component we gain.

There are some decent drawings on the earlier pages of the book.

[mgjordan]

How much down does one need?
Is it possible to have to much down in the swing?

You need to hit down until you reach low point. It will be different depending on the club/ball position, but low point should always be under the left shoulder.

[tongzilla]

As per 1-L-15:

The Club starts up-and-in after "Low Point" but the thrust continues Down Plane during the Follow-Through.

[EdZ]

As per 1-L-15:

The Club starts up-and-in after "Low Point" but the thrust continues Down Plane during the Follow-Through.

Indeed it does

downplane force to both arms straight

[Burner]

How much down does one need?
Is it possible to have to much down in the swing?

An analogue analogy.

Look at your watch and observe the second hand sweeping around the perimeter of the face. See your clubhead on its downward travel.

Imagine the figure 6 as the low point of the swing arc - which will be at the outside edge of your left shoulder. See the second hand - clubhead - approach the figure 6 and watch its downward (club swing) arc of descent.

You need to contact the ball at one minute prior to the figure 6 and continue driving down - but effectively swinging up - beyond the one minute past 6 mark.

Dial in your swing.

[6bmike]

Originally Posted by mb6606

How much down does one need? Is it possible to have to much down in the swing?

You need to hit down until you reach low point. It will be different depending on the club/ball position, but low point should always be under the left shoulder.

Exactly.

Remember Yoda’s low point war cry “Obliterate the plane line!”

[DDL]

If one is observing the clubhead "blur" of the arc of approach, should one see the clubhead , after impact, continue travelling down and out , BEYOND the plane line, out to the low point line ? In other words, the farthest OUT the clubhead travels is out to the low point line, not the plane line?

If the farthest outward point the clubhead reaches is the plane line , just before travelling up and in, wouldn't the plane line be bent and cause the outside in divots?

If one is using the roof analogy( I hope I remembered this correctly), it's late autumn, the low point line is the gutter, the plane line is outermost edge of the shingles, and one sweeps the leaves in the gutter.

I hope I am not completely lost.

[tongzilla]

Remember Yoda’s low point war cry “Obliterate the plane line!”

Indeed! You obliterate the Impact Plane Line and touch the Low Point Plane Line.

And if your Low Point Plane Line is your Impact Plane Line, then you obliterate neither!

[tongzilla]

Answer in bold.

If one is observing the clubhead "blur" of the arc of approach, should one see the clubhead , after impact, continue travelling down and out , BEYOND the plane line, out to the low point line ?

Yes.

In other words, the farthest OUT the clubhead travels is out to the low point line, not the plane line?

Yes.

If the farthest outward point the clubhead reaches is the plane line , just before travelling up and in, wouldn't the plane line be bent and cause the outside in divots?

You've got it wrong here, see my notes below. If in doubt, the Straight Plane Line is never ever bent. As long as ball is placed before Low Point, divot points to the right. The further before Low Point, the more right the direction of divot points. Impact is always inside out, but the Stroke isn't. Study 2-J-2.

If one is using the roof analogy( I hope I remembered this correctly), it's late autumn, the low point line is the gutter, the plane line is outermost edge of the shingles, and one sweeps the leaves in the gutter.

I hope I am not completely lost.

Remember than the Impact Point Plane Line and the Low Point Plane Line are horizontal lines inscribed on the face of the Inclined Plane. They are parallel to each other. Always keep in my this model in your head. It clears up a lot of confusion. That's why Homer included 1-L. Because the Inclined Plane is inclined, the Low Point Plane line is further out (keeping in mind my previous post ).