[innercityteacher]

O.B. Left, one of the great seekers, thinkers, and writers on LBG, has made an important point. One I fear is lost on most of us (as it was on me until I carefully re-read his post).

He states, "...as you take the BALL [emphasis mine] back along the Arc of Approach...". He did not say the CLUB!

To think that the golfer 'manipulates' the Hands during the Stoke is one of the Great Misconceptions of TGM. (There are many.) O.B.'s post assumes you know this, but long experience tells me you do not.

ALL 'Hand Manipulation' -- Hands to Handle/Clubface -- occurs when the Grip is taken in Fix (7-8; 8-2; 2-J-1) with the BALL in the desired location (Up Plane [back in Stance] or Down Plane [forward] for the Stoke intended. It does not take place dynamically during the Stroke.

Pre-empting the next question, Hinge Actions -- there are three, each the direct responsibility of the Hands -- are not 'Manipulations'. Instead, they are 10th Component Variations that maintain their respective identities despite any Left Wrist-to-Clubface alterations assumed at Fix.

While shooting a 46 and Hitting on a front 9, yesterday, I was concentrating on driving my right elbow from 7 to 1 through the ball cross-line. Despite going 5/3/5 on the first three holes, I realized I wasn't in control of the ball (Lynn's sand/putting/chipping lessons let me hit a pin from the sand and drain two long putts).

There is so much power in the hitting motion! I use it for my sand, chips and pitches. But it is terrifying, as you all know, not knowing where the ball is going with a driver, hybrid or even a 9 iron. And on the front 9 yesterday, I kept searching for the correct ball position but fighting my hands, my right wrist was not staying bent! Sometimes I'd shape a hybrid with a little draw right on line to a pin. Sometimes, I'd bomb a drive (280 yards down a slot in the fairway) but then hook a 9 iron (1.5 club elevation), it just never occurred to me that the ball position and hand position are directly related!

So I sort of wimped out and opened my club face and kept swinging to keep the ball fading back to the middle (and gave up at least 30 yards). And I shot a 40.

I feel like I can shoot par swinging but I can shoot lower than par with a hitting stroke. This tip will help me be a better swinger and hitter.

ICT