Question for you Guru's esp. Yoda

[v10king]

The left thumb position, I was playing around with a club and I noticed I could slide my left thumb further up the shaft and this would allow for more left wrist cock. What is the preferred location for the thumb? Short or long?

Thanks!

[Yoda]

The left thumb position, I was playing around with a club and I noticed I could slide my left thumb further up the shaft and this would allow for more left wrist cock. What is the preferred location for the thumb? Short or long?

Thanks!

Go with the Short Thumb, v10king. You'll get the Club back plenty far -- Hogan made the change in the mid-forties -- and Wristcock will be no problem. But...

You will have automatically corrected an Overswinging tendency.

[v10king]

Thanks Yoda for the quick reply. I have always used a short thumb, just thought it was intresting when I was playing around with my grip.

One last question, I just had a serious revelation. I really think I am a swinger but have never used a startup swivel since I found this whole TGM concept. I initially had a 10-2-d grip which I think allowed me to negate having to have the startup swivel. But last month or so I started drawing 50% of my shots a bit too much. I have since switched to a more 10-2-b type grip and have gotten comfortable with it. I was reading tonight and stumbled on some posts by Tongzilla discussing startup swivel and how its not mentioned in the TGM. Then like you said its like an incubator and the light just clicked on in there.

So my question is when I startup to perform the startup swivel, I just rotate the back of my left hand onto the inclined plane and continue back with my backswing? By doing this it pushes my right elbow closer to my right side and definately helps on the backswing, it feels better to me. On the downswing and into impact I can feel the unrolling of the left hand and everything feels great. Just wondering if everything I am doing sounds right to you.

I really need to take a trip out to see you but I am in California and expecting a baby in Nov ,so the wife prob wont have any of that. Who knows though. Thanks again for your help.

[Yoda]

... I was reading tonight and stumbled on some posts by Tongzilla discussing startup swivel and how its not mentioned in the TGM. Then like you said its like an incubator and the light just clicked on in there.

So my question is when I startup to perform the startup swivel, I just rotate the back of my left hand onto the inclined plane and continue back with my backswing? By doing this it pushes my right elbow closer to my right side and definately helps on the backswing, it feels better to me. On the downswing and into impact I can feel the unrolling of the left hand and everything feels great. Just wondering if everything I am doing sounds right to you.

I really need to take a trip out to see you but I am in California and expecting a baby in Nov ,so the wife prob wont have any of that. Who knows though. Thanks again for your help.

Sounds good to me, v10king, except that I would think of rotating the palm of the Left Hand to the Plane (and not the back of the Left Hand).

The Start Up Swivel is nothing more than the Swinger's Standard Wrist Action (10-18-A with Wristcock) or Half Wrist Action (10-18-D without Wristcock). Here the Left Wrist is Turned in the Backstroke (and subsequently Rolled, i.e., Swiveled, during the Release. It is a true Rotation of the Hand, not the Vertical Left Wrist of Hinge Action (which may be used as a substitute for Wrist Action per 10-18-C / Single Wrist Action).

Regarding personal instruction, where do you live in California? Ted and I are considering a return to the PGA of Southern California Golf Club in Beaumont later in the year. Maybe we can come to you!

[birdie_man]

I thought you always advocated to put your thumb where it naturally rests...?

...

I find an overly short thumb too restrictive (personally anyhow).

[strav]

The left thumb position, I was playing around with a club and I noticed I could slide my left thumb further up the shaft and this would allow for more left wrist cock. What is the preferred location for the thumb? Short or long?

Thanks!

John Daly uses the 'short' thumb and agrees with your observation.
In 'The Killer Swing' he says "I’d like to add here that when I place my left thumb on the shaft, I don’t extend it as far down as possible but rather inch the thumb up slightly in what is called the ‘short’ thumb position. This minor adjustment feels secure to me and also, I believe, allows me to make a fuller wrist cock at the top of my backswing.
Of course, as you assume this left-hand position, you should be aligning the leading edge of your clubface square to the target."

Doesn't seem to restrict his swing too much.