[Yoda]

Since we're on the subject of dowel practice. Do you vary the speed at which you swing/hit with the dowels? Slo-mo and full speed?

My students never swing the dowels. They only (a) use them for Plane Line, Stance Line and Target Line identification; (b) pose with them in the desired alignments; and (c) move very slowly with them through the Twelve Sections of the Stroke (Chapter 8 ). All in compliance with the Mechanical Checklist For All Strokes (12-3).

In addition, I will sometimes use the dowels for a drill I make up on the fly based on the student's need. Or to illustrate an important concept in a new and different way. Or to execute an established drill, i.e., the low bench drill (2-G). Finallly, we even 'double them up' to hammer home Inclined Plane Concepts. There seems to be no end to the way dowels can be used to facilitate learning.

There is one exception to the 'no swinging' policy, and that is where the student executes the motion I demonstrate in my 'Roll On Line' video (see The Gallery) filmed by 6BMike.That drill features the Left Arm and Club (the Flail) moving from Release to the end of the Finish Swivel. After the posing and slow motion work, this drill is done at speed...continuously back and through. At first emphasing only Arm and Hand Action and later adding the Pivot.

It is the 'heart and soul' of the Swinging Golf Stroke.