A hitter's alignments with the Rhythm of a swinger
A truly 'solid' combination. Some of the absolute best motions are those which it is hard to tell if they are swingers or hitters.
He appears to me to be a hitter with a wonderful sense of 'smooth and heavy motion'.
To be a swinger, he would need a 'longer gear train' to get CF flowing. If he were to have the pivot motion of someone like VJ, he'd hook it every time, or have to hold off the clubface, because CF would take over.
The fact that his right foot is still fairly flat through impact is a good sign that CF is not the primary force at play, because to use CF you need more rotation than seen here IMO.
Thanks for such wonderful photos Annikan, this is one of the best 'models' for folks to study IMO. The smooth tempo of the swinger, and the alignments of the hitter.
Does anyone know if he is able to use a more square clubface at address? I would think the tempo he uses would be a good compensation for the fade tendency of the angled hinge which might allow a more square clubface at address.
I totally agree - this is what my untrained eye sees also. A powerful hitter with that sweet, swinger's tempo. In an earlier post, I mentioned that I thought that right foot had a lot to do with it. Also, like EdZ says - the backswing isn't complete enough for CF to really load like it should. He also appears to be square-square in the classic hitter's guide lines.
Very Nice post!!
I really enjoyed this one. So am I correct in assuming that a hitter should still have wristcock and forearm rotation but it's just not as much as a swinger?
It seems to me that most pics I've seen of pure hitters like this also may indicate that hitters keep the right foot down after impact a slight bit longer?
Sorry for all the questions but I'm so confused about TGM right now.
First Question:
Should a hitter have wristcock?
No, a hitter can have wrist cock, but that could destroy some of the radial motion of hitting. It is better to think of the right wrist as level throughout the backswing and into impact.
Should a hitter have right forearm rotation?
Yes, the difference from a swinger is that a hitter gradually rotates from address all the way to the top. The right forearm than gradualy squares up from top to impact.
You could say Appleby looks so good because his rate of rotation is so good as a hitter the forearm gradually rotates all the way through the stroke.
I have learned the above from my time spent with Yodasluke and Annikan Skywalker. As for your second question I will leave that for them to answer.
I had to call Yodasluke to clear myself up on your reply.
A hitter does have left wrist cock, however the focus is not on cocking the left wrist. The focus is on maintaining the right forearm flying wedge to Top. The left wrist cock occurs at Top because of the load of the shaft and the folding of the right elbow.
So....The hitter that needs a swing thought, may want to think of the stroke in more of a double barrel manner. Focusing on the right arm flying wedge and proper use of the right elbow, folding and unfolding.
So a hitter should strive for only a double barrel accumlator 1st & 3rd?
I thought it was triple barrel including wristcock per 12-1-0
In the Hitter's Basic Stroke Pattern (12-1-0), three Accumulators -- #1 (Right Elbow), #2 (Left Wrist) and #3 (Left Hand) -- are driven through only two Pressure Points -- #1 (the heel of the Right Hand against the Left Hand thumb) and #3 (the meaty part of the right forefinger where it contacts the back of the Clubshaft).
During the Start Down, Hitters use the Pivot in conjunction with the Hands resisting the change of direction at the Top to Drive Load (10-19-A) the entire Primary Lever Assembly (the Left Arm and Club) against Pressure Points #1 and #3. Since the Right Elbow is directly behind and supporting this Assembly (6-B-3-0-1), it is likewise Loaded (6-H-0-E #5). This Loaded Lag Pressure with the full support of the Right Forearm and Elbow is then Delivered Down Plane with absolutely no change whatever in the Pressure.
During the Downstroke and Release, the Right Arm drives the Left Arm through Pressure Point #1 (10-11-0-1). Simultaneously, the Right Arm also drives the Clubshaft through Pressure Point #3 (6-C-2-C). Thus, the active drive of the Uncocking Right Elbow (7-1 and 6-B-3-A) against the #3 Pressure Point (10-11-0-3) both Uncocks the Left Wrist (7-3) and Rolls the Left Hand (6-B-3-0). Because Pressure Point #2 (the last three fingers of the Left Hand) is not used to actuate the Left Wrist, its function is reduced to merely holding the Club.
Swingers, however, utilize three Pressure Points when using a Three Accumulator Stroke. Power Accumulator #4 (the Left Arm) is Loaded by the Pivot against Pressure Point #4 (where the Left Arm contacts the side), and this Drag Loading Action (10-19-C) Loads the Secondary Lever Assembly (the Clubshaft only) via the Left Wrist (6-H-0-F #5) through Pressure Point #2. However, this does not result in an active drive of the Clubshaft because Centrifugal Force alone powers the Club (10-11-0). This 'Passive Clubhead Lag' (10-11-0-2) -- the Clubshaft being Pulled lengthwise directly toward the Plane Line (6-C-2-A) -- sets up the Centrifugal chain reaction (6-M-1) that ultimately pulls the Clubhead into its In Line condition (6-C-0-4) of Full Extension (2-P).
In a Maximum Power Pivot Stroke, the Hitter also will use the Pivot to load Pressure Point #4 (as opposed to a Three Accumulator Stroke wherein the Right Shoulder simply provides motion in the Start Down and then acts as the backstop for the driving Right Arm in Release). In which case, there will be a Four Accumulator Stroke. However, the Swinger is best advised to use a Three Accumulator maximum because any attempt to use the Right Arm -- other than to Trace with the Clubhead Lag Pressure and for Extensor Action and its support (through Pressure Point #1) of the Left Arm's Pull of the Clubshaft (not a Powering of the Clubshaft itself) -- will conflict with the Stroke's Centrifugal drive and actually result in a Power Loss, not a Power Gain.
During the Start Down, Hitters use the Pivot in conjunction with the Hands resisting the change of direction at the Top to Drive Load (10-19-A) the entire Primary Lever Assembly (the Left Arm and Club) against Pressure Points #1 and #3. Since the Right Elbow is directly behind and supporting this Assembly (6-B-3-0-1), it is likewise Loaded (6-H-0-E #5). This Loaded Lag Pressure with the full support of the Right Forearm and Elbow is then Delivered Down Plane with absolutely no change whatever in the Pressure.
Collards,
The Hands resisting the change of direction at the Top . . . is this "leaving the hands at the Top?" And the Pivot thus supplies the initial Load to #1, #3 and the Right Elbow?
The Hands resisting the change of direction at the Top . . . is this "leaving the hands at the Top?" And the Pivot thus supplies the initial Load to #1, #3 and the Right Elbow?
Thanks!
B
I think it means that you need to push against the lag pressure that's accumulated on PP3. The hands want to continue moving up the plane, but you instead start pushing them back downplane - which is drive loading. It's when I'm Swinging that I feel more of a "leaving the hands at the top" sensation. I let PP3 load and then start rotating downplane while letting the clubhead almost feel like it's staying put up there.
Another line from Yoda - "This Loaded Lag Pressure with the full support of the Right Forearm and Elbow is then Delivered Down Plane with absolutely no change whatever in the Pressure" - also stands out at me. I remember him telling me exactly this when I was working on my Hitting stroke. It had never really occurred to me before, but it makes sense. When you reach the Top, don't try to exert more load onto PP3. Whatever you reach the Top with is what you're going to start downplane with. I was always trying to load it some more at the Top and all sorts of problems come from that.
I think it means that you need to push against the lag pressure that's accumulated on PP3. The hands want to continue moving up the plane, but you instead start pushing them back downplane - which is drive loading. It's when I'm Swinging that I feel more of a "leaving the hands at the top" sensation. I let PP3 load and then start rotating downplane while letting the clubhead almost feel like it's staying put up there.
Another line from Yoda - "This Loaded Lag Pressure with the full support of the Right Forearm and Elbow is then Delivered Down Plane with absolutely no change whatever in the Pressure" - also stands out at me. I remember him telling me exactly this when I was working on my Hitting stroke. It had never really occurred to me before, but it makes sense. When you reach the Top, don't try to exert more load onto PP3. Whatever you reach the Top with is what you're going to start downplane with. I was always trying to load it some more at the Top and all sorts of problems come from that.
Ahh! So with Swinging it is the Spinning of the Flywheel that loads #3. The rotation throws the Load on #3. Where as with Hitting #3 is already loaded at the Top and not loaded or further loaded at Start Down via Pivot?
The Hands resisting the change of direction at the Top . . . is this "leaving the hands at the Top?" And the Pivot thus supplies the initial Load to #1, #3 and the Right Elbow?
1. No, "leaving the hands at the Top" refers to the Lower Body leading the Start Down from the Top. "Resisting the change of direction" refers to the Hands deliberately stopping their travel during the last stage of the Backstroke, thus causing the momentum of the Club to load the Pressure Points.
2. Unless the Pivot itself -- specifically the Right Shoulder Turn Thrust -- is actively used to take up the Clubhead's Angular Inertia (the Clubhead Lag / 10-19-A), it supplies only leading motion and thus cannot be considered a Power Source.
"Resisting the change of direction" refers to the Hands deliberately stopping their travel during the last stage of the Backstroke, thus causing the momentum of the Club to load the Pressure Points.
Learning . . .
Cool! You can see this in your motion very definitely!
Is the "Resisting the change of direction" stopping the hands travel limited to Hitters? Or is this used by Swingers not going to End as well?
Linear Mode
