[Daryl]

This thread has me particularly concerned about what I'm reading. Maybe I'm confused. (I just got a headache and took three Advil) It has always been and still is my understanding that one of the most important concepts in TGM, and it may be what everything boils down to, is a Pre-Stressed Clubshaft at impact for both Swingers and Hitters. The Bend is in the shape of a crescent, with the clubhead trailing the bent shaft, not leading it as the pictures above illustrate.

The purpose of a pre-bent clubshaft is to guard against impact deceleration. It's been my understanding that if you fail to pre-stress (bend) the shaft, the impact certainly will, with a loss of clubhead mass and speed at separation. Without pre-stressing the clubshaft then all the pre-impact work was for almost nothing.

Lag pressure, including swingers, is needed not only to trace the plane line but to maintain the pre-stressed clubshaft through impact and even till follow through. One should be able to feel the bend, at all times throughout the swing, and especially between release and impact. That's what the yellow book is all about (the other 241 pages are important too).

If centrifugal force stiffens the clubshaft and replaces the need for a pre-stressed clubshaft, then I'm going to stop swinging and become a Hitter. (as a Switter, I'm half way there anyway) Clear the lesson book Ted.