Left Thumb Pressure Point and Swinging

[spike]

I use the left thumb as a pp to push my wrist into an uncocked conditon. The earlier and faster I try to do this the greater the clubhead lag pressure.

I've heard it said that this is negligable. I'm just wondering if the word should have been subtle, instead.

Uncocking, as I understand it is a pulling motion done primarily with the #2pp assisted slightly by the left thumb. But, reverse that, by using the left thumb then it becomes more of a pushing action.

Would throwing in this manner still be considered Drag Loading or a very subtle Drive Loading?

[12 piece bucket]

I use the left thumb as a pp to push my wrist into an uncocked conditon. The earlier and faster I try to do this the greater the clubhead lag pressure.

I've heard it said that this is negligable. I'm just wondering if the word should have been subtle, instead.

Uncocking, as I understand it is a pulling motion done primarily with the #2pp assisted slightly by the left thumb. But, reverse that, by using the left thumb then it becomes more of a pushing action.

Would throwing in this manner still be considered Drag Loading or a very subtle Drive Loading?

Not a bad thought at all. With Hitting you are PUSHING on the thumb. But with Swinging you are essentially using the Left Wrist Throw with your thumb thoughts in my opinion.

But focusing on your thumb uncocking down plane you are extending the lever assembly down and out on plane which basically is kinda like if you are uncocking down and out on plane you have NO inclination to flip it.

Your description sounds like Swinging to me . . . but maybe with a non-automatic release. You could allow/let CF sling your thumb down too that would be more automatic but the motion is the same.

[spike]

12 piece, thanks....so you'd say swinging/drag loading with a sweep release?

[nuke99]

I use the left thumb as a pp to push my wrist into an uncocked conditon. The earlier and faster I try to do this the greater the clubhead lag pressure.

I've heard it said that this is negligable. I'm just wondering if the word should have been subtle, instead.

Uncocking, as I understand it is a pulling motion done primarily with the #2pp assisted slightly by the left thumb. But, reverse that, by using the left thumb then it becomes more of a pushing action.

Would throwing in this manner still be considered Drag Loading or a very subtle Drive Loading?

Thats a TOM Watson move, when actively push No.1 using the wrist early , will release no.1 too fast and thus making a wide pulley. Not advisable and its the incorrect way to make lag pressure. and the shots will be very high. Especially when the hand is uneducated, it will yield Throwaway. Also , need a pretty steep swing plane for this to work. start sweeping too early.

For a swinging.. this lag pressure is generally created by the change in direction, and Pulled by the pivot against the lag pressure point 4 1 2 3 . could be any combo or all.

for Drive loading, the lag pressure is created by the right arm driving actively pushing the left arm... Like pushing against a wall. 7-19, pushing against the back swing. ...

None of them use the wrist muscle actively. They are the worse muscle to use in golf . Unless you want throwaway.

[spike]

Thats a TOM Watson move, when actively push No.1 using the wrist early , will release no.1 too fast and thus making a wide pulley. Not advisable and its the incorrect way to make lag pressure. and the shots will be very high. Especially when the hand is uneducated, it will yield Throwaway. Also , need a pretty steep swing plane for this to work. start sweeping too early.

For a swinging.. this lag pressure is generally created by the change in direction, and Pulled by the pivot against the lag pressure point 4 1 2 3 . could be any combo or all.

for Drive loading, the lag pressure is created by the right arm driving actively pushing the left arm... Like pushing against a wall. 7-19, pushing against the back swing. ...

None of them use the wrist muscle actively. They are the worse muscle to use in golf . Unless you want throwaway.

Well, 99...would you believe....

Aw, just kidding.

Anyway, not really sure about your reference to pp#1. For me #1pp is part of the balance and alignment, through extensor action, in the backswing and shores up or supports the FLW during the impact zone.

I know what you mean about Tom Watson and I think, like you, that the left thumb used as a pp from his type of backswing would be tough to master. My swing is on a much flatter plane than his which allows me to push down rather than out (casting type direction) much more easily.

That being said, what I am attempting to do is get rid of the clubhead...first. Of course this is impossible as the dynamic weight (is that correct terminology?) of the clubhead becomes so heavy that the body parts are literally moved out of the way of that force. The key is the down/out direction the force travels. So it becomes, physically, mentally and visually a deliberate hit of the ball.

I have to say that the horizontal hinge action is the natural move in this swing type, which like you said, takes educated hands. If I need to use another hinge type I have to pre-program it before I start the swing. I don't feel like I'm using wrist muscles, just pressure points in an attempt to throw the clubhead down, out and through the ball.

Yes, I see what you mean about the high ball flight. If all I did was uncock, without full roll, the natural tendency is it will create an angled hinge. Good for some shots out there, tho.

The left thumb, if, labeled as Left Hand pp#3 (not to be confused with RH pp#3) then the full roll swing sequence would be 3 2 1 2 . RH pp#3 is felt but not active, for me.

Anyway, just thought I'd ask 'cause it sure feels like i'm hitting but in a more subtle way (due to pushing with the pp) than a full on right arm push.

'preciate the replys, very much, thanks!

[Bagger Lance]

Spike,

Instead of focusing on the left thumb, try shifting your focus to the last three fingers of the left hand; the #2 pressure point.

Feel those last two or three fingers load at the top of your swing or alternatively during your start down.

Sustain the lag on pressure point 2 with your pivot motion until you get an automatic release. If you nurse this feel enough, you will feel a dramatic loading and unloading sensation and your awareness of your left thumb will slowly fade into the background.

If you want to manually uncock early, then use those last three fingers to accuate the uncocking motion. Pressure point 2 unloading is very sensitive to an early throw. It doesn't take much action to make it happen. In my opinion, its much harder to sustain PP2 lag load into an automatic release.

The role of the left thumb is primarily structural support. It should be inline with the #3 pressure point.

[alk3]

Instead of focusing on the left thumb, try shifting your focus to the last three fingers of the left hand; the #2 pressure point.

Can I butt in and ask a question very related to this? Whenever I practice my full swinging swing, particularly with driver, #2PP hurts, especially at the base of the fingers on the knuckle, palm side. I feel like theyve been squashed by a particularly heavy object.

What does this tell me?

[Bagger Lance]

Can I butt in and ask a question very related to this? Whenever I practice my full swinging swing, particularly with driver, #2PP hurts, especially at the base of the fingers on the knuckle, palm side. I feel like theyve been squashed by a particularly heavy object.

What does this tell me?

My 2 cents...
Really hard to tell whats going on unless you have a faulty grip and the club is twisting in your hand from an off plane motion. Pressure point 2 is in the fingers, not the base finger knuckles.

Any previous injuries there? Any AI's ever looked at your motion?
Sounds like something to chat with Vickie about in the Fitness forum for a more detailed analysis.

[alk3]

My 2 cents...
Really hard to tell whats going on unless you have a faulty grip and the club is twisting in your hand from an off plane motion. Pressure point 2 is in the fingers, not the base finger knuckles.

Any previous injuries there? Any AI's ever looked at your motion?
Sounds like something to chat with Vickie about in the Fitness forum for a more detailed analysis.

Thanks for the advice. Is there an exact spot for the pressure point #2 or is it the entire finger, or would it be differant for differant swings/grips? I said knuckle to illustrate how far down my finger it was and that it was a small area, not just general finger pain. Where PP3 is on the right index, is where the pain is on my last 3 on my left.

No AI looked at my swing, but I think i will try get some video tomorrow so I can have a look at it myself incase anything obvious pops out.

Thanks again.

[spike]

Spike,

Instead of focusing on the left thumb, try shifting your focus to the last three fingers of the left hand; the #2 pressure point.

Feel those last two or three fingers load at the top of your swing or alternatively during your start down.

Sustain the lag on pressure point 2 with your pivot motion until you get an automatic release. If you nurse this feel enough, you will feel a dramatic loading and unloading sensation and your awareness of your left thumb will slowly fade into the background.

If you want to manually uncock early, then use those last three fingers to accuate the uncocking motion. Pressure point 2 unloading is very sensitive to an early throw. It doesn't take much action to make it happen. In my opinion, its much harder to sustain PP2 lag load into an automatic release.

The role of the left thumb is primarily structural support. It should be inline with the #3 pressure point.

To be fair, I have to say that I do feel PP2 very much so. I see your point very clearly now that the left thumb is primarily for structural support. This makes a lot of sense to me. I now understand better the relationship of the left thumb to PP2. Wow! Very, very cool! This, I believe was the answer I was looking for all this time!!! Golfing Now!!!

Bagger, Dude, thanks so much!!!

Blinded by the Light! Thanks to you all!!!