The Flying Wedges
 

One implication of The Flying Wedges is that the Left Wrist is Cocked by the Bending of the Right Elbow, not by the Cocking of the Right Wrist. But so many people fail to understand this.

Every week, someone asks how you can Cock your Left Wrist without doing the same with the Right Wrist.

Yesterday, stags14 asked:
I hope these pictures will shed some light.




The blue triangle shows one possible visual representation of the Left Arm Flying Wedge.

Well, yes and no tonzilla. Your completely correct that the elbow bending and moving the entire right forearm is what causes the wristcock, but with the second picture your showing an angle formed with the right forearm and shaft... if the left wrist was cocked in the manner shown and the right forearm was a true angled extension of the clubshaft (right flying wedge) by maintaining its level condition with the grip in the cup of the right hand, that forearm would actually point directly towards the floor just like the clubshaft...

Leo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you know you had some sort of alien embro on your love seat? You better get out of there man!!!! The spawn of red skrull aliens have entered your sphere!!!

Run for your life!!!!!

What people fail to understand about how the right wrist does not cock (vertical motion) is because of FOREARM ROTATION.

Chapter #3 The Hands from the Tom Tomasello video series in The Gallery answers ALL the questions on this topic.

You are right Mathew, but why do you think this is so?
Hint: it's all in the fingers.

I always knew there was something there, but wasn't aware it was that big! The Magicof the Right Forearm has somehow stimulated the embryo!

All in the fingers,,
 

I tend to agree with Mathew here. What are you suggesting with you're hint?, that the dowell in this case changes its position from the right hand's cup to more perpendicular to the middle fingers? Under close observation of pic #1 the right forearm appears arched vs. level in pic #2, I would like to see these angles from your couch side.

Never mind, I just watched TT hands video, he suggests that the left forearm rotation allows this to happen tho I don't see that in the pic #2. Is this what you are feeling?

I like how picture one captures the right forearm on plane with the dowell, I could visualize you simply bending over and being at impact position. Could I get some drills to use with the dowells?

CW

Left Wrist Hinge Pin
 

In 1-L Homer stated his concept, the machine concept. The left wrist is merely a hinge pin allowing wristcock but no wristbend.

A hinge pin by definition is a pivot point which allows a circular movement in a particular plane of motion - this being the plane of the left flying wedge. When the left wrist cocks the entire forearm also rotates that pivot point in a circular manner. The entire left wrist is a hinge pin that the right forearm rotates around!

If you want a simple statement to understand the wedges - the left wrist cock, the right forearm and the club all 'cock' upwards as one unit 'together' 'at the same rate' against the plane of the flat left wrist motion....without cocking the right wrist....

I hope this may help.

Ps... when you maintain the wedges, the feel is like your holding a sheild on your left forearm and you have suction cups on your right hand stuck to that sheild and your ready to soooooochh it back by tracing along the plane line.....lol...keep the bend and levelness of the wrist so the forearm rotates around that hinge pin(left wrist)as an angled extension as you do.... man im tired but its bit abstract but true and funny so ill leave it:)

That's actually a damn good image. Very nice!

Now...
 

via embrionic transfer.........add another set of pics depicting the forearm roll and correct setting and formation of the right and left wedges at the top

Arghh! In some ways I regret putting those pics up as they have led to more debate, conflict and confusion -- exactly the opposite of my initial intent. For good pics of how The Flying Wedges should look like normally at the Top, look at Yoda or Ted Fort or Ernie Els or Tiger Woods, etc. Good pics can be found all over the place. My pictures tried to illustrate only Cocking of the Left Wrist via the Right Elbow. I think it's a good exercise to go back and forth from a straight to bent Right Arm whilst keeping a Level Right Wrist to learn the Magic of the Right Forearm, like I've demonstrated here. Yes, people are saying that this isn't exactly what happens in a real swing, but it's just an exercise.

Livin' on the Wedge
 

For you Wedge Experts:

I don't teach this, but, can a Swinger get the club to an on Plane parallel to the Plane Line position at the End without destroying the integrity of the Right Forearm Flying Wedge (cocked right wrist 4-B-2)?

Given the following:

1. Grips the club with a Strong Single Action, in the cup of the right hand.
2. Applies Extensor Action throughout.
3. Support the Plane with the palm of the Right Hand at the End.

Yes, that's what Yoda does when he's Swinging with his driver.

Tong,

Try to get it in those alignments (club parallel to the Plane Line). Check your Right Forearm Flying Wedge. Remember it must stay on Plane in a Bent, Level condition.

Let me further say that I don't believe that anyone need to get to that position. My experience tells me that the Right Wrist will Cock if it does, thus destroying your Right Forearm Flying Wedge.

In the above shot, the Clubshaft is parallel to the ground, and therefore must also be parallel to the Plane Line for an On Plane Stroke (assuming Square Plane Line).

1. Yes, Strong Single Action grip by Yoda here.
2. Yup, there certainly is Extensor Action.
3. Right palm giving support to the Wedges and Secondary Lever Assembly.

Is the Right Wrist Cocked in this picture?

Going off half cocked on a level playing field
 

Is the Right Wrist Level?

Per 4-B-1 Level, The Wrist is Level when the wrist bone and the edge of the hand (to the first knuckle of the first finger) form a straight line.

Difficult for me to see from this angle. Is the Right Wrist still Level, is the grip still in the cup of the Right Hand? Maybe Yoda can fill us in when he gets back.

I doubt the grip is still in the cup of the right hand in the same way as it was at Address. I'd love to hear what Yoda says too!

Yoda, please tell us!
 

Yoda, would you say your Right Wrist is Level in this picture?



Some say that it's very hard if not impossible to maintain a Level Right Wrist at the Top when the Clubshaft is parallel to the ground like in the above photo. I for one think there are other factors involved. We'd love to hear your views!

It is probably not precisely Level, but it is close. Certainly, the Wrist is not Cocked beyond 'anatomically neutral', i.e., a 'karate chop' degree of Wristcock (which is virtually nil). Or maybe the karate chop alignment is Level (despite Photo 4-B-1). I have a photo of Homer Kelley demonstrating the Flying Wedges with Open Hands, and he is in the karate chop alignment.

Wedge Fog
 

Yoda,

This has been in the Incubator too long (the spring-time planting that never harvests). Is it possible to get the club to an on Plane parallel to the Plane Line position at the End without destroying the integrity of the Right Forearm Flying Wedge?

Yes - but most people are not flexible enough to do so.

Given the following:

1. Grips the club with a Strong Single Action, in the cup of the right hand with LEVEL right wrist.
2. Applies Extensor Action throughout.
3. Support the Plane with the palm of the Right Hand at the End.

I just don't see how it is possible. Again, this is not what I teach (going to parallel), just being inquisitive.

Tools of the Trade
 

I picked up one of these at the PGA Superstore. Next time you are at the swamp, try it on and take some full swings.

http://www.golfaroundtheworld.com/key.htm

Bagger

Things to consider
 

Here are some of the things we may want to consider.

Put your right hand in front of you in a Flat, Level and Vertical position, with your right forearm parallel to the ground. Have your fingers relaxed, so they are neither fully straight nor clenched in a fist. If you just let your wrist "hang" you should find it reaches the Level condition naturally.
Now simply Bend your right wrist, keeping everything else the same and remaining relaxed. Notice how, amazingly, your right wrist is no longer "Homer Kelly Level". Now is this acceptable in a full swing? Should we still call this 'Level' for practical purposes? Interesting questions, and certainly debatable, but my answer is yes to both.

Another point. Grab a club, set up as usual. The cup of your right hand should fit snugly into your left thumb and the grip of the club (if the grip was in the heel pad instead, it would not be possible to have the Clubshaft and Right Forearm in-line with a Level Right Wrist). Now take the club to the Top. Notice how the grip is no longer snug in the cup of your right hand in the same way as it was at Address. If it was the Clubshaft would be pointing way up towards the sky. Can this be a violation of 1-L-3 (there is no wobble in the Clubshaft attachment (Grip))? Is this acceptable for a human being? I’d say it is acceptable.

Bending my right wrist that way...it stays level. Am I deformed or you? :) In your case, you have to settle what right wrist positions you will deal with.

Mine don't change.

I can also Bend my Right Wrist back whilst keeping it Level! However, I need to apply the very slightest downward pressure so that it is Level, rather than a little Cocked. I've done this with quite a few people, and all of them Cock their Right Wrist slightly when they Bend it. The key part is to stay relaxed, so you are not trying to make it stay Level (or not Level).