Weather report:30 degrees, windy and steady compression in the late afternoon
Originally Posted by innercityteacher
Paying careful attention to right foot/left foot/right foot set-up and stance width tonight in 37 degree temp. Impact Fix on the drag lag spot right forearm on plane. Tracing back/stepping back to inside of right foot and shifting the belly button left. Thrust/lag drag in front of short irons-110 yard 52 degree wedge, 130 yard pw, 141 + yard 9 iron all straight with narrow stance and very high/soft landing, drag lag of middle irons and hybrids to back of ball- 6 iron 170 yards plus carry 3 hybrid 180 yards 2 hybrid inch in front of ball for almost 200 yards carry (have to retrain my stance to get wider!) and the driver, choked down an inch, teed low floats very high past 230. Drive works best with feeling of dragging the lag to the middle of my stance. Have to keep my hands back and let the weight shift throw the club head at the Base line of the plane.
ICT
The Right Forearm Angle of Approach and Bucket Drills provided by Daryl have led me to a lot of new insights based on TGM. I have a driving range buddy Anthony, who is a huge fan of Ben Hogan and has read every book, purchased rare volumes and films and hits the ball a ton. I showed Anthony the Bucket Drill and he was blown away and then I explained the term "Right Forearm Angle of Approach" (RFAA) and Anthony says "well Hogan used that but you don't do it as far as he did!" and so we go on and on...
I knew I wanted to do it, carry the right forearm laid off down and stay connected, that is. Anthony said that he had noticed a "hitch" in my swing that seemed to disrupt my swing. I said "you mean my line of compression?" "I was off-plane?" So I explained "line of compression." Anthony did not realize there was a term of that, again.
Anthony explained how Hogan said that any shot below a 5 iron needed an open stance so the hips would be pre-turned since the clubs were so short that they straightened earlier (came into line). So, I started opening my stance and shortening it. The hitch disappeared! The RFAA and elbow connection was sustained. I felt the ball compress as I have since Daryl suggested I shorten my stance weeks ago.
Anthony said it was the first time he saw my left shoulder work up and my swing look "smooth" He explained how in his study Hogan and pros create a huge space between their front hip and front shoulder so the club can stay on plane, but that the foot work has to be good. I told him about the "both arms straight position" being necessary for full extension and power and again he was surprised that there was golfing language for that.
So I shortened and opened my stance for every club including my # 2 hybrid ( 200 yards high and straight despite the cold and wind) and driver ( old Adams Red Line 9.5 senior shaft ) where I actually saw the ball "double accelerate" off the face of the club time and again !
For each shot, I knew I would go through "both arms straight" compressing the ball, hitting through the ball and either drawing or fading the ball based on ball position. I had been watching a lot of Mike Austin and his "step and throw" which like Hogan's had kept his right Elbow attached to his side for a long time.
So by stepping left and keeping my right elbow connected or using the RFAA Bucket drill, I was able to sustain the Lag on plane and in balance! I am not throwing as Mike Austin did but simply dragging the mop through by stepping left. The balls left the driver shooting like bb's and went high and straight or any way I determined based on ball position. As narrow as my stance was, I was able to reach full extension through the both arms straight position and finish with the "arrow through the ear " finish fully facing the target with my chest and with both knees almost touching.
Daryl had told me that the RFAA would result in much straighter ball flight and better compression. By opening and narrowing my stance and stepping left, I am now able to carry my right elbow and Power Package through strongly gaining both power and precision.
Thanks guys!
ICT
__________________
HP, grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Progress and not perfection is the goal every day!
The Right Forearm Angle of Approach and Bucket Drills provided by Daryl have led me to a lot of new insights based on TGM. I have a driving range buddy Anthony, who is a huge fan of Ben Hogan and has read every book, purchased rare volumes and films and hits the ball a ton. I showed Anthony the Bucket Drill and he was blown away and then I explained the term "Right Forearm Angle of Approach" (RFAA) and Anthony says "well Hogan used that but you don't do it as far as he did!" and so we go on and on...
I knew I wanted to do it, carry the right forearm laid off down and stay connected, that is. Anthony said that he had noticed a "hitch" in my swing that seemed to disrupt my swing. I said "you mean my line of compression?" "I was off-plane?" So I explained "line of compression." Anthony did not realize there was a term of that, again.
Anthony explained how Hogan said that any shot below a 5 iron needed an open stance so the hips would be pre-turned since the clubs were so short that they straightened earlier (came into line). So, I started opening my stance and shortening it. The hitch disappeared! The RFAA and elbow connection was sustained. I felt the ball compress as I have since Daryl suggested I shorten my stance weeks ago.
Anthony said it was the first time he saw my left shoulder work up and my swing look "smooth" He explained how in his study Hogan and pros create a huge space between their front hip and front shoulder so the club can stay on plane, but that the foot work has to be good. I told him about the "both arms straight position" being necessary for full extension and power and again he was surprised that there was golfing language for that.
So I shortened and opened my stance for every club including my # 2 hybrid ( 200 yards high and straight despite the cold and wind) and driver ( old Adams Red Line 9.5 senior shaft ) where I actually saw the ball "double accelerate" off the face of the club time and again !
For each shot, I knew I would go through "both arms straight" compressing the ball, hitting through the ball and either drawing or fading the ball based on ball position. I had been watching a lot of Mike Austin and his "step and throw" which like Hogan's had kept his right Elbow attached to his side for a long time.
So by stepping left and keeping my right elbow connected or using the RFAA Bucket drill, I was able to sustain the Lag on plane and in balance! I am not throwing as Mike Austin did but simply dragging the mop through by stepping left. The balls left the driver shooting like bb's and went high and straight or any way I determined based on ball position. As narrow as my stance was, I was able to reach full extension through the both arms straight position and finish with the "arrow through the ear " finish fully facing the target with my chest and with both knees almost touching.
Daryl had told me that the RFAA would result in much straighter ball flight and better compression. By opening and narrowing my stance and stepping left, I am now able to carry my right elbow and Power Package through strongly gaining both power and precision.
Thanks guys!
ICT
Lifting up my left heel, as Lynn showed me two years ago, gets all my weight going back and my back is almost square to the target. Lifting my right heel forces my BACK hip to drop, my BACK shoulder to drop on plane along with the reconnecting back elbow, my RFAA to flatten and pressure PP # 4 pulling PP # 3 from the TOP with speed so that the LAG is THROWN AT THE BALL WITH GREAT SPEED. The head must be steady AND THE BACK ELBOW WILL RECONNECT WITH THE HIP DROP AS THE ARMS ARE PULLED STRAIGHT TO COLLECT THE CHIN WITH THE TURNING BACK SHOULDER!
45 degrees and same increased distances as yesterday! Ball position for me seems to be a couple inches back from normal given my unusual leg length. THE FEELING I NOW HAVE IS OF RELAXING, SINKING INTO THE RIGHT HEEL LIFT AND WAITING FOR THE PULL OF PP # 3 TO PULL THE ROPE/CLUB TAUGHT THROUGH THE BALL AND MAKING ME LIFT MY HEAD TO SEE THE BALL VERY HIGH, PENETRATING AND STRAIGHT.
Thanks guys!
ICT
__________________
HP, grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Progress and not perfection is the goal every day!
Last edited by innercityteacher : 01-07-2013 at 01:24 AM.
Lifting up my left heel, as Lynn showed me two years ago, gets all my weight going back and my back is almost square to the target. Lifting my right heel forces my BACK hip to drop, my BACK shoulder to drop on plane along with the reconnecting back elbow, my RFAA to flatten and pressure PP # 4 pulling PP # 3 from the TOP with speed so that the LAG is THROWN AT THE BALL WITH GREAT SPEED. The head must be steady AND THE BACK ELBOW WILL RECONNECT WITH THE HIP DROP AS THE ARMS ARE PULLED STRAIGHT TO COLLECT THE CHIN WITH THE TURNING BACK SHOULDER!
45 degrees and same increased distances as yesterday! Ball position for me seems to be a couple inches back from normal given my unusual leg length. THE FEELING I NOW HAVE IS OF RELAXING, SINKING INTO THE RIGHT HEEL LIFT AND WAITING FOR THE PULL OF PP # 3 TO PULL THE ROPE/CLUB TAUGHT THROUGH THE BALL AND MAKING ME LIFT MY HEAD TO SEE THE BALL VERY HIGH, PENETRATING AND STRAIGHT.
Regarding the Lower Body's participation in this fundamental Motion...
First, remember that the correct Pivot demands a Fixed Point on Both ends. So, the Head will remain Stationary and, to a large degree, so will the Feet. Both Feet will remain Flat on the Ground, and even Rolling should be only enough to maintain your Balance.
On the Backstroke, your Weight will Shift, the Right Hip will Clear (straight back), and your Left Knee will accomodate that Motion by rotating slightly inward and forward. On the Downstroke, the Weight will once again Shift as the Hips Slide and Turn slightly. These motions should not be exaggerated, and thus the Body will remain 'comparatively Squared Away.
Both Knees will remain Bent throughout (Right Anchor per 10-16-C) and will rotate slightly as you enter the 'Sit Down' position. The angle of the Right Leg (to the ground) will remain constant on the Backstroke and shift slightly forward on the Downstroke to accomodate the Hip Slide.
In short, your Feet and Knees -- collectively the Legs -- support the Motion. The Right Hip Clears a path for the Hands to be taken Up Plane by the Bending Right Elbow and Foream.
ICT
__________________
HP, grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Progress and not perfection is the goal every day!
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Thomasville, NC
Posts: 4,378
Originally Posted by Seanmx
Not too sure if any of you have seen this before. I downloaded in a few years ago and I find it quite interesting. Does this technique represent acquired motion with a right forearm takeaway??
Written by Ben Hogan 7-20-78
Hitting for distance and accuracy. (I can't show you, but thought this would put you on the right track.)
The Golf swing is a nebulous thing and the majority of golfers spend a whole lifetime of golf using what is commonly called their own individual swing. They spend a lot of money on golf equipment with the erroneous idea that the best equipment will help them achieve their yearning and hope for a swing that will permit them or help them play a good game, if not an excellent game. Granted good equipment fitted to the golfer's size strength, and athletic ability will help providing it is used correctly.
The sad part about this is the fact that clubs alone do not make a golf game. Acquiring the proper technique is the only way that a good solid game of golf can be developed. It is difficult and almost impossible to analyze the swing of a top pro. None of them can describe what they do entirely so that the average golfer can copy them. It would be facetious to say that all you have to do is acquire the correct fundamentals and you would become almost an instant pro. Many golf instructors do not teach the correct method in such a way that it is easy to acquire.
The Pros spend many years and a lot of dedication to build a solid basis for their game. Their short game, pitch shots, chip shots, sand shots, uphill and downhill lies, knock down shots where they want to deliberately keep the ball low, hook shots, and fade shots, side hill shots with the ball on an up slope or a down slope are some of the difficulties they have to master; and then comes putting. These skills take a great deal of time to acquire plus hours of practice and memorization of just how to do them. The gist of this short treatise however is to try to explain as clearly as possible how to hit the tee shot, which is the key that opens the door to good play.
This will be explained by using the old technique of illustrating with stick men. This was explained in detail to me by one of the greatest pros to play the game (Walter Hagen), so there is no need to verify or justify its practicality and basic soundness.
First the club must be gripped (lightly) correctly the left hand should be in such a position that the V formed by the thumb and index finger points to the right shoulder. The right hand grips the club so that the V formed by the thumb and index finger also point to the right shoulder. The small finger of the right hand overlaps between the small finger of the left hand.
The thumb of the left hand should be placed slightly to the side of the shaft. The grip should be adjusted slightly to the right or left until you have the grip that permits the two hands to work together. To achieve this hit a number of balls and make these slight changes in the grip until you acquire one that permits you to stroke the ball smoothly and hit it straight; and so that no jerking movement takes place in the hand grip.
A lot has been written and attempted to be explained about taking the club back on the back-swing with the left hand. The left hand does play an important part in taking the club away from the ball, but that is not the primary factor in developing a good sound golf swing. The basis of a good sound swing is correct leg work and body position. The center of gravity of the body must stay in one place throughout the swing. This is, if a line is drawn through the nose or head to the ground, the head must stay in that position throughout the swing. Difficult you say, impossible, ridiculous you say. Why look how Babe Ruth leaned into the ball when he hit it. Pictures of the Babe verify the fact that he did use his legs with tremendous effect and his head remained in one place throughout his murderous assault of the baseball and golf ball.
But to get back to golf, which is our primary objective. To achieve this in the golf swing the correct stance must be used with the knees slightly bent and the shoulders very slightly open to the target. If a line was drawn through the shoulders it should point slightly to the left of the target. The feet should be on the line to the target. This openness of the shoulders is accomplished by bending the right knee slightly more than the left knee.
Now the most important part of a good golf swing is to take the club back correctly so as to keep the head in one place. This can be accomplished is only one correct way; by moving the left knee in toward the right knee while moving the left shoulder in a slightly downward arc. This will take the club away from the ball without using the hands at all. It cannot be accomplished by sticking the left knee straight out. That will only throw you off balance and move your head which you don't what to do , or must not do.
As the club is taken back the left knee moves toward the right knee and the left side bends like a bow so that the weight comes to the inside of the ball of the left foot, and the left heel comes off the ground about one inch. At the top of the backswing, the belt buckle should feel like it is protruding out father than any part of the body or legs. This will permit the hips and shoulders to turn. It feels like the hips are moving to the right but this is not so. Sagging the left side keeps the hips in one position and permits them to make a true concentric turn, and as a consequence the shoulders turn correctly, and the head stays in one place.
To verify the correctness of this, take a short club and make this move with a light behind you so that it casts a shadow (a fairly long one). Note the position of your head when you address the ball. Take the club back by moving the left knee toward the right knee and sagging the left side in slightly (no movement of the hands or arms is necessary if the legs are worked correctly in conjunction with sagging slightly of the left side)--moving this correctly will move the club head at least six feet away from the ball without moving the hands or arms in relation, and the shadow cast by your head will still be in exactly the same spot.
Once this move has been accomplished you are in position to make a strong true arc swing into the ball. At the top of the back swing the left arm is on a horizontal plane to the ground that is sufficient to provide a good strong swing at the ball. The left hand should not be turned over on the back swing. To verify this you should be able to see only one knuckle of the left hand at the top of the back swing. Turning the left hand over clockwise creates a very flat swing and takes the club off the correct plane of the swing.
The first move on the downswing is to set the left heel back to the ground as the club head starts down and bring the right shoulder slightly down as the hands, arms and feet work spontaneously. As the club comes down the right knee sags in toward the left knee as the left knee did toward the right knee on the back swing. This will tighten the left side and bow the right side so that when the swing is finished the belt buckle will be pointing toward the target and the force of the swing will cause the hands to finish high. It will not be necessary to force the hands to finish high, they will do this automatically and spontaneously. At the top of the backswing the groin muscle on the inside of your right leg near your right nut will tighten. This subtle feeling of tightness there tells you that you have made the correct move back from the ball.
As to your inquiry about chipping I haven't explained it to you because you've never asked and I thought perhaps you had no problems with them. The best method that I have ever used was explained to me and demonstrated by Bobby Jones many years ago when I was a neophyte golfer. It has proven to be invaluable in salvaging pars from fifty yards into the green, and I have yet to find a better method. With a little practice it will give you accuracy and you can hit it to the pin with assurance that you will have an excellent chance for a one putt and a par.
Snead stole it from me when we were playing together in the Tam O'Shanter in Chicago and the rascal went on to win the tournament. Snead is very observant of other golfers unique or special shots and watched me knock one up to within four feet on the second hole from twenty-yards. The ball floated up hitting about 10-feet and rolled like a putt right at the cup. He didn't say anything but on the sixth hole, a 540 yard par 5, he was about 25 yards from the green and he pitched one up using my technique and almost holed out, but had only a two-foot putt for a birdie. "You see," he said, "us mountain boys learn fast, and are not as dumb as you think."
Since then I have revealed it to Trevino and of course Dickinson. It has salvaged a list of pars for them. The basic idea (and now we get down to brass tacks) is to take a normal square stance (not open or closed) and a good grip (V's of left and right hand pointing midway between chin and right shoulder with the club face square to the line (be sure to not open or close the club face), then take the club back turning the hands clockwise 90-degrees bending the right elbow which folds as the hands move up in a short arc all the while keeping the upper part of the right arm in the same position as it was at address (in other words the upper part of the right arm does not change position in relation to the body). Very little movement of the legs is involved if any (keep knees flexed and limber). Keep your eye on the ball and swing the club head down to the ball. The hands will automatically revert to the position at address and will move the head of the club head (a nice delayed clipping action). The ball should be struck crisply and a nice divot taken, which will be in line with the flight of the ball. The firmer the ball is hit the higher the arc it will take with less run as it hits. The shorter the hit the more run involved but the ball will settle down and run as a putt.
It is simply a matter of practice, but one can be very bold with this technique because it minimized the amount of roll to a far greater extent than chipping with a seven or eight iron. Jan salvaged 5 pars with it and shot ? in the grocery tournament and was eight strokes up on second place. If she keeps it up they will ban her so she has to lose a couple.
See you soon sincerely
Ben Hogan
If you have a chance to check out the new Hogan DVD series, there is a video of Mr. Hogan demonstrating a Right Forearm Takeway with the right arm only to another pro . . . looks like Gene Littler but not sure.
__________________
Aloha Mr. Hand
Behold my hands; reach hither thy hand
Watch this tape without the sound concentrating on the front heel of Hogan and the easy flow of his hands and arms. Those things I have highlighted were shown to me by Lynn Blake and further reinforced by the nice people on this website in various communications.
__________________
HP, grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Progress and not perfection is the goal every day!
Last edited by innercityteacher : 01-11-2013 at 12:45 PM.
__________________
HP, grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Progress and not perfection is the goal every day!
Last edited by innercityteacher : 01-11-2013 at 02:30 PM.
Feeling the # 3 PP for an amazingly smooth, close strike!
While stepping onto my right heel with full weight feeling very tall and balanced, Swinging from impact Fix, very comfortable on my longer leg, Bent Right Wrist above my right ear, enjoying the highest hand position I've ever had, I had a very, very narrow stance (feet next to each other within one shoe size). The head seems isolated over the back leg, perfectly still until the club whipping through drags the shoulder up and the head with it. I watch impact without a concern or interruption.
Slight pressure on PP # 3 but the Bent Right Wrist is very, very relaxed. I step left on the left heel quickly and the BRW falls straight down with the pull of the left hip on PP # 3 and weight of the club head pulverizing the ball.
Irons and hybrids do inverted fishhooks straight out with little fades as my width stays narrow and as I focus on impact at the inner quadrant. Head is relaxed and completely stable and optimum strikes happen with the ball closer to me than ever before. Driver seems to double accelerate! Lots of fog here today, ball was rising at 200 yards before disappearing : > I do believe because of my left leg shortness, my weight flows very quickly to my left side in planting my left heel and throwing the club at the ball! ( It has taken me awhile to feel the shift because I am always feeling my right leg carrying most of my weight.)
(RFAOA right forearm angle of attack and Narrow Stance very effective thanks Daryl!)
ICT
__________________
HP, grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Progress and not perfection is the goal every day!
Last edited by innercityteacher : 01-18-2013 at 02:06 PM.
English?/French/Dutch or any google-translatable language would help!
__________________
HP, grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Progress and not perfection is the goal every day!
__________________
HP, grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Progress and not perfection is the goal every day!
The RFAA and elbow connection was sustained. I felt the ball compress as I have since Daryl suggested I shorten my stance weeks ago. 
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