Keeping the head still
 

How do you keep your head still during the swing? How still do you keep it? When you focus too much on keeping your head still do you find you do not transfer through to your front foot?
If you can't tell by now I think some of my inconsistent ball striking may be caused by head or upper body movement.
Any one else? How do you deal with it?

Steve

Re: Keeping the head still
 

I am pretty much a TGM rookie. But until you get better answers you might just as well try my current interpretation (based on reading here and there):

• Stationary is not the same as sitting in a vise. The idea is that it should not move all over the place.
• The head will swing slightly, but focus on keeping the upper part of the spine stationary (= the tab inside the collar of your shirt) through the swing.
• Do not let it bother you too much what the head does after impact. It has to go.

Still very still - as yoda once said (paraphrasing) - Homer used the word stationary for a reason.

Any head movement in the stroke would move the low point and impact point of your clubhead orbit. Your left arm and clubshaft and head form a radius., If you move your head, you will move your radius of that clubhead orbit

Yoda stated in an earlier post if your view of the ball changes during the swing you have moved your head.

At least my last point was probably ok. ;-)

Last night I hit a couple bags of balls. My first few hits with my gap wedge were pretty good, then I started hitting down on a steeper angle. The ground was dry and hard so it was quite noticeable in difference in feel. I think as happens too often my first few swings are easier and smoother with little or no head movement or sway. Then I start swinging harder to hit it further. I may be pushing off with my back leg too much. But at any rate I get sway and head movement causing various direction and trajectory changes.
As a side question, do you focus on a specific point on the ball or look at the ball as a whole and swing through that place?
Steve

After seeing Ben Doyles video & reading discussions about this I've applied observing a point at a point some "17 minutes past the full hour". Ben said "aft back quandrant of the ball" - the place where you want to hit it.

I believe Ben said: "My mind is always on my hands, my eyes are always on the back aft quadrant of the ball". I really like that "split vision" idea. Just rest or leave the eyes in a "blind stare" at the ball & keep your mind on what the hands are doing. NB: WITHOUT trying to control the hands.

I like it. Keeps the brain from having other ideas. Also I believe that with practive you can get to a point where your mind is basically blank.

Only really specific to me - I actually put my eyes very slightly out of focus (very light fuzz) because of phychological reasons. I find im more consistant in my execution maybe because of nothing else I just feel more comfortable this way, the ball looks far less intimidating...something I have done for a long while....IMO I don't think it really matters as long as you understand the thrust is down and out till both arms straight and the clubface is slightly open at impact (dependant on Hinge Action) and square at seperation....

lots of times i even lose sight of the ball in the backswing...

also a stationary head is optional. Very few touring pros employ it..

Precision Golf
 

In 2.0 Homer lists three Basic Essentials and Three Basic Imparatives.
2-0-A
1.) A stationary head
2.) Balance
3.) Rhythm

He also offers some good advice. "The Three Imperatives and Essentials operate to correct faulty procedures, so if they seem elusive it is invariably because you are trying to execute them while you hit the ball - in your accustomed manner. That must all be reversed. Learn to do those things even if you miss the ball - until you no longer miss it. There is no successful alternative".

1-L also lists the Stationary Post (players head), as #1 out of 21 items that are "characteristics of a Mechanically and Geometrically correct Golf Stroke from the Longest Drive to the Shortest Putt."

In 7-14 Homer discusses the Hip Turn -
"Weight Shift is strictly a HIP MOTION. Substituting a Head Motion and/or Knee Motion will make Swaying inevitable."

Glossary -

STATIONARY HEAD

Golf - Choosing the head - rather than Between the Shoulders as the Pivot Center.

PIVOT

Golf - A multiple universal-joint assembly between the Stationary Head and the Stationary Feet holding the Clubshaft "On Plane" by positioning and adjusting the Lever Assembly, through the #3 Accumulator, as directed by the Right Forearm.

These are Homers words, not mine and since this is a TGM focused site, forum, and chapter thread I felt it was important to provide these tidbits. There is more of course, not only in the book but also from Lynn's posts. I recall one post, (or maybe it was a lesson) where Lynn described setting the head position at Impact Fix and not moving it from that location as you go into adjusted address, backswing, downswing, and follow through.

Bagger

When I am playing a round of golf, the stationary head is now my only swing thought.

Sometimes I have the habit of tracking my backswing which leads to a takeway that is too inside and causes other problems.

I think the stationary head when implemented as part of the swing, can fix multiple swing issues at the same time.

The Stationary Head -- Three Questions To Consider
 

Ed,

The Stationary Head is extremely important and duly worth the attention you are now giving it. Three questions:

1. Do you establish your Head Position in your Impact Fix position?

2. Is that Head Position precisely between your Feet, i.e., the top of a Pivot Stroke Center Tripod?

3. While your Ball Location with the longer and shorter Clubs may remain constant with respect to your Left Foot, do you sense that it changes markedly with respect to your Left Shoulder as your Right Foot is drawn toward your Left and your Head Position remains Centered?

Give careful consideration to these questions and reply post. Thanks!

This was quoted from Mathew. I must have edited out the quote part!

Only really specific to me - I actually put my eyes very slightly out of focus (very light fuzz) because of phychological reasons. I find im more consistant in my execution maybe because of nothing else I just feel more comfortable this way, the ball looks far less intimidating...something I have done for a long while....IMO I don't think it really matters as long as you understand the thrust is down and out till both arms straight and the clubface is slightly open at impact (dependant on Hinge Action) and square at seperation....[/quote]

I have had some success when I focus less on a tiny spot and more on the path I want the club head to pass through the ball. I have had more success doing this with the driver than with the shorter clubs. I am not sure why! Any insite would be appreciated.

Back to the keeping the head still question.
1) Do you find it easier to keep a steady head with a narrower stance?
2) In order to keep the head centered between the feet on the backswing do you find that your right hip turns behind you a little and your left knee bends a little towards the ball? Then on the forward swing the opposite happens and the left hip turns behind you and the right knee bends toward the ball a bit?
Is this the Hula Hula action needed or do I have it wrong? :?

Steve

Hawaiian Punch
 

Steve,

I personally use a wider, not narrower, Stance. But there are no absolutes here: Just not so wide as to unduly restrict the Hip and Shoulder Turns or so narrow as to promote instability.

The Hula Hula Action refers to the ability to shift your Weight (Hip Slide from left to right and back again) while keeping your Head Stationary. This Motion -- followed by a Turn -- causes the Spine to Tilt in the opposite direction of the Slide (in both directions). Don't confuse proper Extensor Action at the Top (stretching out the Left Arm and the Left Shoulder Wobble) for a Spine tilting away from the target. Check out Jones and Hogan for the correct configuration and gain relief from this major misconception.

Re: The Stationary Head -- Three Questions To Consider
 

Below are my responses to your questions:

1. I do establish my head position for the Impact Fix position. Also I establish that my left wrist is flat and the left shoulder is higher at impact fix than at address.

2. My head position is precisely between my feet. The relationship of my head to my feet forms an isoceles triangle. Prior to reading TGM and the TGM related forums, my head position was closer to the right foot.

3. I never thought of this, but I do sense that the ball position changes relative to my shoulder when my head position remains centered. As my right foot moves away from the left foot, the ball position seems closer to the left shoulder. As I move my right foot towards the left foot, the ball positions seems to be more towards the middle of the stance, eventhough it is in the same position relative to my left foot.

I look forward to your response, I hope this info can help some of the forum members and I know it will help me determine what I am doing right and any misinterpretations of TGM I may be applying to my swing.

Three-Time Winner
 

You're a Three-Time Winner, Ed. Keep on truckin'!

Re: The Stationary Head -- Three Questions To Consider
 

At address, in order to have the head positioned precisely between the feet, I feel I have to have my shoulders open , or else my upper body is tilted too much to the right

check out jones and .......

http://www.megspace.com/sports/moeto...ick_clip3.html