"... any Axis Tilt -- to the right (Backstroke) or left (Downstroke) -- is accomplished by the Hip Slide, a.k.a. the Weight Shift. This is the Hula-Hula Flexibility of 7-14." - yoda from the axis tilt primer.
Thank the polynesian gods that you will never see me in a grass skirt! This happy state is not due to my culturally mandated masculine fashion sense but rather due to my poor sense of (my own)hula-hula flexibity. The feel associated with me tilting the axis during startdown is moving my right shoulder down plane. I do not however achieve this (or at least it does not feel that way) with a lateral shift of the hips. In fact, Tom Tomasello describes what I feel in the "armless pivot drill" in Chapter 1 of his video series. My hips do slide, but the associated FEELING here is that my right shoulder causes the hip slide. The good news is that I achieve the coveted inside-out impact to the inside aft quadrant of the ball with gleeful regularity. These days however I am attempting to match the feel to the proper mechanics. Mechanics are primary, feelings are associative. The question: The hip bump that produces the neccessary axis tilt may just feel like the right shoulder moving down plane? When I focus on my hips I tend to overdo the slide. Any thoughts or comments?
Second Item:
If I were going to make a lower rent geometry mat, kinda like Ben Doyle's, to stand on all winter what manner of lines should I include? Has anyone attempted a home-spun version?
"... any Axis Tilt -- to the right (Backstroke) or left (Downstroke) -- is accomplished by the Hip Slide, a.k.a. the Weight Shift. This is the Hula-Hula Flexibility of 7-14." - yoda from the axis tilt primer.
Thank the polynesian gods that you will never see me in a grass skirt! This happy state is not due to my culturally mandated masculine fashion sense but rather due to my poor sense of (my own)hula-hula flexibity. The feel associated with me tilting the axis during startdown is moving my right shoulder down plane. I do not however achieve this (or at least it does not feel that way) with a lateral shift of the hips. In fact, Tom Tomasello describes what I feel in the "armless pivot drill" in Chapter 1 of his video series. My hips do slide, but the associated FEELING here is that my right shoulder causes the hip slide. The good news is that I achieve the coveted inside-out impact to the inside aft quadrant of the ball with gleeful regularity. These days however I am attempting to match the feel to the proper mechanics. Mechanics are primary, feelings are associative. The question: The hip bump that produces the neccessary axis tilt may just feel like the right shoulder moving down plane? When I focus on my hips I tend to overdo the slide. Any thoughts or comments?
Don't focus on the hips
The whole point is to make a physically, geometrically effective stroke. Since feel is subjective, you go with whatever feel is associated with the proper mechanics. For you, it sounds like focusing on the shoulder does the trick. For others, the opposite may be true. It sounds like you're onto something; stick with it.
If I were going to make a lower rent geometry mat, kinda like Ben Doyle's, to stand on all winter what manner of lines should I include? Has anyone attempted a home-spun version?
Okie Out
I have thought about this - but not done it yet....
I was going to get a sheet of transparent perspex - like a small plane board...and a very large sheet of paper or old bed linen...
set the perspex at correct angle for my arbitrary club ( eg 6 iron) and then move the club on plane before at and after impact...getting somebody to draw on the sheet where the clubhead and or shaft appeared to be...all the time i was concentrating on stationary head....
If I were going to make a lower rent geometry mat, kinda like Ben Doyle's, to stand on all winter what manner of lines should I include? Has anyone attempted a home-spun version?
Okie Out
Mats!!! We don't need no stinking mats!!
That is . . . when we have an On-Plane Right Forearm and the beauty that is 2-J-3.
Now you could for sure construct a mat . . . it all is about your On-Plane Right Forearm at Fix. It will show you EVERYTHING you need to know. You can do this with or without lines.
Head out to your driveway or somewhere's with a straight line that will serve as your Geometric Plane Line. Now get your body into TRUE fix alignments (hips forward & Turned, knees bent, left wrist flat level vertical, right wrist bent level vertical, hands visually covering left toe, RIGHT FOREARM ON PLANE WITH THE CLUBSHAFT, Right Shoulder Down Plane) . . .
Now it is time to LOOK LOOK LOOK . . . (feel feel feel too) Look at the described alignments above soak them up like biscuits in gravy.
Go read 2-J-3 . . . The Right Forearm in relation to the Geometric Plane Line will SHOW YOU THE approximations ARC AND ANGLE OF APPROACH . . . Imagine a line on the ground running PARALLEL to your On-Plane Right Forearm. That is a VISUAL APPROXIMATION of the Angle of Approach running "out to right field on the ground. Next imagine an Arc running between where your imaginary Angle of Approach and Plane Line (driveway line) . . . that is an Approximation of the ARC OF APPROACH.
Now again look at your On Plane Right Forearm . . . now in 3 dimensional space . . . that ANGLE extending up in the air and down to the ground . . . IS YOUR PLANE for that particular ball position and Fix. look Look LOOK . . . that's the plane angle that your club should travel on.
You could certainly could make you up a mat for sure . . . or you could get in a bunker and go to fix and draw lines in the sand . . . I Bagger actually does this in his cat's litter box . . . he said something about finding weird tasting little candies in there . . . not sure what that's all about.
Thanks for the in depth alternative, Bucketmeister. The sooner I can see these things in my minds eye the sooner I will hit shots pleasing to the same! I also appreciate the bonus humor.
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