[airair]

http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/forum/thread5898.html

Phillygolf wrote:

. I looked through 2 dictionaries and an online dictionary to confirm my original understanding. Their definition isnt what Homers was, or the one you posted.

However, that being the case, in my little yellow book, there is a definition that is readily availably for us to use, as you stated. And I suggest we use that (as you also stated). In fact, I now suggest that EVERYONE use glossary definitions before consulting with the dictionary - why? Because dictionary definitions are revised over time, and apparantly, the definition Homer used has fallen off the dictionary I have (and no less then 2 others, since they pm'd me saying my definition was exactly what they had).

-Patrick

....

Thanks for the post, Patrick. All this adds to our understanding, and that is The Big Deal.

All I can say is that I had great geometry classes in high school and am a Ramblin' Wreck from you know where, so this whole concept of being 'vertical to any plane' is as natural as breathing to me. [It does get more complicated when you are learning to execute each of the Three Planes of Motion on one Inclined Plane, but that is for this next week or two!]

Still, if you shoot an arrow directly into a book, and then turn the book horizontal to the ground, the arrow is vertical to the book. It you tilt the book at an angle, the arrow is still vertical to the book. If you position the book vertical, the arrow is still vertical to the book. Once you understand that we are talking about vertical to the book, then the meaning is clear. We are not talking about vertical in relation to anything else, just the book!

In fact, until I saw Martee's pictures with the now infamous "horizontal" hinge pin perpendicular to the vertical plane, I could not fathom where the conflict in perception was. But when I did, it helped me immensely to understand why ALMOST NOBODY I HAVE MET IN THE PAST 20 YEARS, INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE GOLFING MACHINE REALLY UNDERSTANDS THE HINGE ACTION CONCEPT. And yet, it is one of most important concepts in the Game. Again, with it, you learn the Scientific, Mechanical, and Feel basis to control the Clubface for the rest or your life. How important is that?

As far as dictionary defintions go, remember folks, Homer never just stopped at the first one. His position was that as long as ONE definition fit the criteria he needed to define his concept, that was good enough. I remember him saying:

"If there were seven definitions, and if number seven worked, that was good enough for me!'

So, in your research -- and, make no mistake, it is research -- look at all the definitions and then choose the one you feel fits best.

In this case, at least in my Webster (New World, 2nd College Edition), it is the 2 (b) definition. Now Yoda is no spring whatever -he - is, and this one is copyrighted 1970, so maybe things have changed. But I don't think so! Certainly, either the first or second definitions in www.Dictionary.com work. But for us, even if the definition has changed, it makes no difference. Because Vertical to the Three Planes of Motion is what it is all about in The Golfing Machine and The First Imperative. If you can't get this, you can never get The Golfing Machine. Never in a million years. It's as simple as that.

Now, this really isn't difficult. If I install a hinge (with its pin vertical)into a book and then turn the book every which a way, I haven't changed either the pin or the action of the hinge. All I have changed is the plane of motion. And applied to G.O.L.F., this concept will allow you to reproduce each of the Three Basic Planes of motion with your Clubface, while remaining on the same Inclined Plane of Motion. And that...Junior Jedi..is exactly what we're going to educate your Flat Left Wrist to do in the coming days.

Meanwhile, please don't tell all those people living on the Equator of this great round globe we call Earth -- who think they are vertical to a Horizontal Plane -- that they are really vertical to a vertical plane! Let's hear it for gravity!

Now, that's a small wrench of the concepts, isn't it!