[innercityteacher]

With the exception of Jack Nicklaus, virtually every great player in history started from Standard Address: Hands mid-body and the Clubshaft at right angles to the Line (or nearly so). A few names over the past century come to mind: Harry Vardon, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper, Lee Trevino, and a host of today's players including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Lee Westwood.

At 1.20 of the video, the professional asks with an incredulous tone "Why would anybody start this way?" It's a good question, especially in the light of his compelling logic: "You want to be here at Impact, so why would you not want to begin that way?"

Homer Kelley had a pet phrase describing this phenomenon of logical opinion versus scientific fact: "Seems as if". And that is exactly the situation here. Leaving aside the fact that the above mentioned players apparently found their own reasons, let's answer the question this way:

The mid-body position puts the Hands in a very advantageous position from which to lead the Club into the Backstroke. In fact, they now are already leading! This creates, in the very beginning of the Stroke, the condition of Lag and Drag. The Lagging Clubhead puts a Drag on the leading Hands. This Feel is maintained throughout the Backstroke. Then, from the Top, the direction of the Stroke reverses. The Hands sense that reversal and continue their Dragging Feel as they lead the Club through Impact.

The key is Lag and Drag. The Wrist Conditions that best promote this at Address are Flat Right and Bent Left. At Impact, they are the opposite: Flat Left and Bent Right. Unfortunately, the "logic" that promotes Impact alignments as Address alignments is as familiar as it is flawed.

For those who would play their best golf (especially Swingers) . . .

Caveat emptor.

Lag and Drag to Swing.


ICT