[GSanders]

This is a great thread and I look forward to the discussion. To answer whether or not Kenny Perry is a Hitter or a Swinger, let's look at the barebones identity of the two motions. Hitting is PUSHING and Swinging is PULLING. (10-19-0) That is all there is to it, to paraphrase Homer Kelly.

It appears that Kenny Perry uses muscular thrust of the right arm, active thrust, to propel the primary lever (left arm and clubshaft) through the ball. Hitters stay just in front of Centrifugal Force and use active right forearm driveout to hit the ball. (6-B-1-0)

In slow motion videos of Perry's swing, I believe he is doing this very thing. He uses an expert pivot lag to deliver the club from top, through start down and backstroke, into release. (8-6 - 8-9) He then uses the right shoulder as a launching pad to straighten the bent arm though impact into the follow through.(8-10 - 8-11) This right arm action is the same for hitters and swingers, it just the intention. This action is ACTIVE in Hitters and PASSIVE in Swingers.

The presupposition that Perry is not a Hitter because he can not hit a fade, could be evaluated by looking at Hinge Action. Because of the active drive and paddlewheel action of the right arm through impact, Hitters will produce Angled Hinge Action ( a simulutaneous closing and laying back of the clubface)and thus a possible fade on the ball. I think Perry uses Horizontal Hinge Action (closing only of the clubface) thorough the impact interval to follow through which, with his 10-5-E setup alignments, will produce a draw. You can definitely override the tendency of Angled Hinging with Hitters, and perform Horizontal Hinging. (I-L-4) In his case, he does it time and time again.

Homer teaches the most important part of his system, Educated Hands in 6-H-0, and gives us a curriculum ten things to train and look for if we are dealing with Hitters and Swingers. In hitting, none of these include Hinge Action. I think 3-F-6 explains all of this. You can execute any Hinge Action, Swinging or Hitting,with any Stance Line/Plane Line combination to produce a variety of ball flights. (The Master's Level of Execution) To me, this says that I could do whatever I wanted to with the golf ball if I understood the correct Alignments and Hinge Action. Brilliant.

Kenny Perry has his stroke pattern (12-0)and has used that to earn millions of dollars on the PGA TOUR. He is a a magnificent player and a Hitter. Perhaps we could ask him one day, "Do you feel like you push or pull the club through the ball?" Again that is all the difference that separates Hitters and Swingers.

To paraphrase Homer again, do what you want and have fun. Aren't we so lucky that we can categorize these different types of actions and understand them. Maybe that will help us hit the ball just a little more like Kenny Perry. Maybe?

Curt Sanders

P.S. Check out Kenny Perry Iron Swing Vision on youtube to add to this evaluation.