On the fence . . .

I strictly hit after my swamp session. And then went back to Swinging because my elbow wants to work to Pitch (Annikan says I have "sick" Pitch, not quite "perverted" pitch) naturally. But the ball is going everywhere right now. So I'm trying to figure out what pattern is going to work best for me. My grip is also pretty Turned (10-2-D style).

So I guess I need to "un-Pitch" a bit and also increase my Axis Tilt. I tend to lean into it with my upper body.

On Execution
 

Colonel,

The ball going "everywhere" indicates erratic Execution (3-F-6). And erratic Execution almost always means Throwaway and its loss of Rhythm. Other than the compliant Ball behavior, the visual clues are Over-Acceleration, Quitting and the trademark Bent Left Wrist (6-D-0). In short, your Mind has left your Hands and has localized in the Club and Ball. All this must be reversed.

Time to break out the ol' wet mop and s-l-o-w-l-y drag it through a simulated Impact...over and over. As you do, repeat Execution's mantra:

Deliberate.

Positive.

And...

Heavy.

In real time, during your Address Routine and especially from the Top, use your imagination to capture the correct Feel of Clubhead Lag Pressure:

Deliberate.

Unvarying.

Steady as she goes.

Thanks for the response, Ted. Sounds like a good exercise. And I think I'm all clear on left wrist cock for hitters.

I have one follow up question, what changes should I make to my lower body/hip movement at transition and the beginning of the downswing now that I am trying to hit rather than swing? In other words, what are the key features of the hitters' lower body motion at transition? I realize this is an open-ended question, but any advice would be appreciated. Thanks again.

I love this place.

slide/delayed turn
 

Read 10-14-B and 10-15-B. 10-14-B will be the change in the 7th edition. It's a very important change. And I've heard it in some audios of the Master classes that Homer did. In a nutshell, if you're going to trace a straight line, you must slide in startdown.

Change to 12-1-0????
 

So you are saying that the recommended Basic Pattern for Hitting, 12-1-0, has been changed and now has a Slide Hip Turn for component #14, the Hip Turn. This is the Hula, Hula, eh? Since I try(I know, there is no Trying-there is just Doing) to trace a Straight Line, better get hot on this. 10-14-B #1 sure looks like a reverse pivot. Do you consciously start back with a Slide and start down with a Slide? Thanks for your expert care.....pshr

Slide Hip Turn Notes
 

Remember, the Slide Hip Turn (10-14-B) is a Slide with a Delayed Turn and, as such, facilitates Motion parallel to the Delivery Line (Plane Line). For emphasis and differentiation from the Standard Action (10-14-A), the photos do not illustrate the Turn component.

Also, take care not to exaggerate this action. The only lateral motion required is enough to Shift the Weight (in both directions).

Backswing Differences
 

Can anyone clarify what Homer meant when he wrote that Hitters "carry it back" and Swingers "swing it back?":???:

John,

To see the takeaway differences, you have to look at the differences that separate the two strokes (Hitting and Swinging) as a whole. The Hitting motion, as you know, is a driving stroke that's powered by right arm thrust. The Swinging stroke is a pulling stroke powering by rotation and the clubhead whips downplane.

In order to set up the proper startdowns, Hitters and Swingers should ideally have different feels to their takeaways. The Hitter "carries the club back" from an optional, and almost rigid, Impact Fix address. There is no attempt to acquire momentum, no attempt to whirl it back. You passively carry it back to set up a straight-line driving motion from the top. This is more or less the essence of drive loading.

On the flip side, the Swinger wants to make it as easy as possible to drag load and pull that club downplane at startdown. To facilitate this goal, ideally he will employ more of a "lagging clubhead takeaway" where he lets the clubhead lag behind his hands at startup (yes, this takeaway is still an option for the Hitter). You want to start acquiring the Swinger's momentum right at startup, in essence "swinging" the clubhead back from the ball. Then, from the top, you have some momentum in the clubhead with which to load PP3 and easily drag load. Thus the statements...

- Hitters carry back and drive through.
- Swingers whirl back and whirl through.

Again, I think it's easier to understand the takeaway differences when you look at the strokes' overall motions. One employs muscular thrust, the other centrifugal force. Now simply apply those ideas to your takeaway and you should see the differences between the two. Hope this helps.

Hitting Vs. Swinging -- Feeling The Difference
 

Wonderful post, Matt. Thanks!