Many of the games greats have held the "one piece takeaway" in very high regard - Byron Nelson and Jack Nicklaus for example.
Okay, let's start with this:
Byron Nelson -- the original Mr. One Piece -- started his Stroke from the Swinger's Classic Adjusted Address Position. In other words, his Left Wrist was Bent and his Right Wrist was Flat. As he moved away from the Ball, both Wrists retained their respective alignments well into the Backstroke. That is the 'One Piece.' Add a little flexibility of 'lag and drag' and, on video, Byron Nelson clearly evidences the 'Lagging Clubhead Takeaway' of Homer Kelley's as yet unpublished seventh edition.
The One-Piece Takeaway of Jack Nicklaus is quite different. His 'static' Forward Press moves his Hands into their Impact Fix alignments -- Flat Left and Bent Right -- and his In Line Left Arm and Club appear frozen in stone as the Club moves away from the Ball. I have personally witnessed many times the underside of his Left Wrist firm, the Wrist harden and the blood vessels bulge just prior to Start Up.
And yet, in his tape Golf My Way, he describes his own Start Up sensations of "Soft Forearms" and the move as "with all your effort, just relax" and "sort of drag the club away from the ball." In other words, a totally different look -- but very 'One Piece' -- and yet still a "Lagging Clubhead Takeaway" Feel.
And what of the Hitter's Non-Lagging Clubhead Takeaway with its Carry Back look and Feel? Surely this is One Piece also.
I don't know if there is any to this, but Fat Jack and Mr. Nelson both advocates of "one piece" employed what looks like to me a Punch Basic Swinging Stroke. Is this just coincidence?
Also, who the heck would want to take away "ONE piece?" I take away at least FOUR pieces. Somehow I bet Mr. Nicklaus took away 5 or 6 pieces. And when I'm taking up my pieces I ALWAYS do it by bending the right elbow . . . sometimes both elbows.
I don't know if there is any to this, but Fat Jack and Mr. Nelson both advocates of "one piece" employed what looks like to me a Punch Basic Swinging Stroke. Is this just coincidence?
Also, who the heck would want to take away "ONE piece?" I take away at least FOUR pieces. Somehow I bet Mr. Nicklaus took away 5 or 6 pieces. And when I'm taking up my pieces I ALWAYS do it by bending the right elbow . . . sometimes both elbows.
Before Yoda got a hold of you, I saw you swing. And, I thought you had a 12 piece takeaway. (Is there a new handle in the future?)
Byron Nelson -- the original Mr. One Piece -- started his Stroke from the Swinger's Classic Adjusted Address Position. In other words, his Left Wrist was Bent and his Right Wrist was Flat. As he moved away from the Ball, both Wrists retained their respective alignments well into the Backstroke. That is the 'One Piece.' Add a little flexibility of 'lag and drag' and, on video, Byron Nelson clearly evidences the 'Lagging Clubhead Takeaway' of Homer Kelley's as yet unpublished seventh edition.
Wasn't Byron a Hitter? Or am I thinking of someone else...
IMHO, to properly answer this question, the phrase "one piece take-away" must be defined precisely. (1) Clearly, because of the complex nature of the joints etc of the human body, a "one piece take-away" is not possible! (2) The disparity in what the great swingers of golf have written about their take-away/swing is imbedded in the "feel vs reality" struggle. (3) After all is said and done, the one piece take-away is perhaps a blending of the arms/club motion & the body rotation during the initial part of the swing. (4) This blending can be accomplished & therefore felt many ways! [see (2) above] (5) I have worked with Ballard & he constantly states that the folding of the right arm in the take-away sets the left wrist/club. His folding of the right arm may just be later than in other methods, which is OK. (6) Ballard also imparts this feel statement, "right forearm & left knee takeaway". Perhaps the great teachers of the golf swing are not as far apart as one may think! (7) Perhaps it is stated best by saying the club should not be swung independent of body motion!! One follows the other, which is FELT differently by the great swingers! sky72
Wasn't Byron a Hitter? Or am I thinking of someone else...
Byron Nelson was definitely a Swinger. His Stroke is wonderfully captured in the video Byron Nelson's Timeless Golf Lessons produced by HPG Video. It features Byron in his prime with both irons and woods. This isn't a collection of grainy tournament clips; instead, it is footage recorded especially for a golf instruction series that played in movie theaters at the time. The slow motion sequences are wonderful studies, and Byron himself does voice-over analysis. The video deserves a place in every golfer's collection.
Byron Nelson was definitely a Swinger. His Stroke is wonderfully captured in the video Byron Nelson's Timeless Golf Lessons produced by HPG Video. It features Byron in his prime with both irons and woods. This isn't a collection of grainy tournament clips; instead, it is footage recorded especially for a golf instruction series that played in movie theaters at the time. The slow motion sequences are wonderful studies, and Byron himself does voice-over analysis. The video deserves a place in every golfer's collection.
Thanks for the reference. I will definately try to get a copy of that video.
Leo - you may also enjoy his book, which has a collection of very nice photos - nearly every other page is a full size photo.
That book is Winning Golf, 1946. It is not the much more recent (but still thirty years old!) Shape Your Swing the Modern Way, 1976. Although a worthwhile purchase, the latter does not have the photographs EdZ has referenced.
and "sort of drag the club away from the ball." In other words, a totally different look -- but very 'One Piece' -- and yet still a "Lagging Clubhead Takeaway" Feel.
Hybrid Mode
