The underhand toss

[Ed Miller]

Is this an effective downstroke thought for someone trying to hit? Does one need to feel the heel of the right hand leading the toss and keeping the bend in the wrist all the way to the finish? I do like the feel this provides but concerned whether it is appropriate or not.

[6bmike]

Is this an effective downstroke thought for someone trying to hit? Does one need to feel the heel of the right hand leading the toss and keeping the bend in the wrist all the way to the finish? I do like the feel this provides but concerned whether it is appropriate or not.

short answer yes.

It has been likened to a "heel driving karate chop" into a stack of boards. And what does it drive or toss off of? The right shoulder.

The right wrist remains bent into impact with both Swing or Hit strokes, and the 'Feel' for either is a toss because of elbow positions. Like a side arm pitcher. That bent right wrist is very important.

Welcome to the forum Ed.

[birdie_man]

Welcome Ed.

I took this one from my notes...

“Hmmm...so the farther down I grip the putter, the more the motion becomes exactly like tossing a ball underhanded with an extension of the right hand.....”
-EdZ

Got that quote from EdZ a while back...putting my hand down the shaft made me realize it's true.

[YodasLuke]

Welcome Ed.

I took this one from my notes...

“Hmmm...so the farther down I grip the putter, the more the motion becomes exactly like tossing a ball underhanded with an extension of the right hand.....”
-EdZ

Got that quote from EdZ a while back...putting my hand down the shaft made me realize it's true.

This just from memory and not a direct quote, but i think that Homer said that he thought the hardest thing to learn was straightening the right arm while keeping the right wrist bent.
Everything we ever throw has a wirst that goes flat: baseball. softball, football, basketball. But in golf, we have to keep the wrist bent. It's a little awkward.

[birdie_man]

You're right about that part of it.

Other than that, it's a great thought.

[Theodan]

Everything we ever throw has a wirst that goes flat: baseball. softball, football, basketball. But in golf, we have to keep the wrist bent. It's a little awkward.

I have a question on the "feel" of the "side/underhand" throw. As I start my right shoulder down the Plane, the motion feels like I am going to throw a ball. But the actual drive through the ball feels like a straight line punch off of the right shoulder. You used the word "telescoping" in another post. That's what it feels like to me. Not a throw. Am I overdoing the straight line drive?

FWIW, a Tac-Tic on the right wrist is a great aid. It tells you exactly if/when the wrist unbends. It's really helping to keep that "frozen" bend. Tough habit to break.

Charlie

[birdie_man]

The only other sport I can think of w/ a bent right at impact is Hockey.

Check out Brett Hull's slapshot/golf swing here:

http://www.golfdigest.com/instructio...00202hull.html

Kinda cool.

[DOCW3]

The difficulty I have with the throw or toss image is that the thrust is typically not down. Peter Croker, for his concept of hitting, drives a wedge into the ground at an angle with a sledge hammer. Hogan in 5 Lessons uses the "old" two-hand basketball PASS, which if the target is lower seems similar. Do you have any comments on these motions relative to how you feel hitting?

DRW

[mb6606]

DOCW3,

I suggest you review the Tomasello series. He has some good thoughts/video on the right hand/arm action.