Extensor Action Release->Followthrough Feel...
 

A big thank you to all you extensor action evangalists! I've been working hard on extensor action for the past week or two, and today I finally started seeing some results...best range session I've ever had.

My question has to do with the feeling of extensor action from release to follow through. I don't feel myself actively stretching with my right arm, but rather lag and CF (I'm a swinger) stretches my left arm all the way to followthrough. I know feel is different for everyone, but I'm curious if other swingers have a similar feel, or if I should be applying more of an active stretching action with my right arm?

Remember extensor action keeps the left arm straight because extensor action is the act of the right arm TRYING to STRAIGTHEN. It doesn't straighten because it is keeping the left arm from bending. So once impact --> follow through happens, the right arm is now straight, the left arm breaks down and extensor action is lost.

Make sense?

Thanks I understand that.

To word my question another way...

Hitters actively straighten/thrust their right arm through impact, but this disrupts CF for the swinger. So, as a swinger, do I continue to actively straighten my right arm (without applying force)?

It seems like the line between straightening/stretching and thrusting during the release/impact interval is very thin, and if I have applied extensor action correctly from fix to release, everything else feels automagic.[/b]

Bambam,

It does seem like a very thin line and I've always been concerned about it as well. One of the things that is helping me tremedously is learning how to hit. I'm far enough down the path with hitting that I'm very aware of the differences. Once you feel the difference in passive motion vs. active thrust the "seems as if" goes away.
There is a huge difference between the two procedures. The best way I can describe it is; The swinger is actively allowing the right arm to straighten as sensed in pp1 and pp3, but the straightening force never disrupts or overwhelms the main thrust for the swinger, which is pivot thrust sensed through pp#4 and pp#2.

Bagger

Am not sure....but once centrifugal force takes over you don't have to do anything or worry about extensor action *i think*.

Thanks, this helps; based on your description, I think I'm doing it right. The "seems-as-if" fog rolled in because I have worked on taking the hit out of my swing, and the lack of a hard, thrusting right arm feels like a drop in extensor action when in reality it's probably a sustained, constant stretch.

I've been devoting a little time each range session to hitting with the short irons, but am far from being able to use the procedure on the course. When I do it right, the feel/ball flight/etc.. is noticably different from swinging - distance is about the same. This probably belongs in another thread, but I've been meaning to ask you, from a swingers perspective, what are some of the areas you've really had to work on as you've learned to hit?

Even though you are not actively trying to straighten the right arm you need to be ABLE to straighten your right arm (keeping your bent right wrist). In other words, if you come 'over the top' you have no room to straighten your right arm, but if you are correctly hitting the inside corner of the ball, you will be ABLE to extend your right arm as the SWING pulls it straight at follow through.

Split grip drills are a great way to feel this difference. Trying the extremes of OTT and "right field", you'll quickely get a sense of what I mean.

Thanks, great post. This absolutely nails what I'm feeling - arm can and does straighten vs. me straightening it. I'll play around with the split grip drill - do you like to actually hit the ball when doing this drill?

My natural tendency is to get too far out to right field, and OTT has only crept into my swing when trying to fix that pre-TGM; it felt so crowded I knew I wasn't on the right track. To far to right field, and I don't get to both arms straight, either. It's amazing how many recurring problems have gone away and/or been exposed with the application of extensor action!

Losing extensor action may be the single factor why things are going wrong in one’s swing. Losing the taut left arm “short circuits” the master accumulator which nulls any rhythm.
The extensor action of the left arm is the “checks and balance” of the folding magic of the right forearm. The left arm may be a noodle but the noodle is key in its function in the machine.

Reverse Psychology
 

Really good question. I like the approach.

Specifically the reliance on pp#4 for leading all the accumulators deep into the swing, and getting used to the Angle of Approach procedure rather than focusing on the plane line. I also have to remember to start close to an impact fix position vs. mid-hands adjusted address.

I really like the swingers start down move, but I have to time it so I release #4 quickly and start driving with the right arm at the release point. It's hard to let #1 take over sometimes but I get all 4 barrels that way and some of the longest drives I've had yet.

How about you as you learn swinging after hitting?

Bagger

Well, I was a switter with a tendency towards swinging (from playing baseball and hockey), but I had a lot of hit in my swing. Between my natural tendency towards a crossline hip slide and a problem with losing pp#4 too early, I was compensating with a simultaneous release and some hitter's, right-arm thrust through impact to make decent contact.

My main work has been focused on the 3 imparitives and 3 essentials, but I've been swinging while doing this. I mix in some hitting work because a) I want to learn to hit, b) working on both helps me identify and seperate the two distinct feels, and c) most importantly it forces me to really think about what I'm doing as I practice.

Swinging is coming around nicely; currently focusing on extensor action and tracing the plane line. The hardest things for me have been quieting my lower body, keeping #4 loaded deeper into the swing, and trusting CF and the later swinger's sequenced release.

As far as hitting, the areas I've had the most problems with are:

1) Ironically the crossline hip slide. It's natural for me, but I worked hard to get rid of it for swinging. My balance is improving though, and I was able to switch back and forth today.

2) Hitting the ball with pp#1 and the same issues you mentioned w/ reliance on pp#4.

couldn't hit at all until I experimented with starting from fix.

I've only tried the swingers start down move a few times, and while it can generate some serious power, I need to get a handle on the 3 barrel stroke first :)

Swinger's start down move? What exactly are you referring to?

I'll let the experts respond with better detail to that one, but I'm referring to the 4 barrel hit = 3 barrel hit + pivot thrust. More here: http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/forum/v...b5cdf05 827e0

For the most part not full swings, although it is a great drill for 'hitting' low puch shots that 'sizzle' - smaller swings keeping the clubhead below your hands, not thinking of distance but only of compression - downplane - stopping at both arms straight - a high 'thrust' motion

I was going to post a question about this in a new thread, but since you mentioned the low punch shot...

My typical ball flight is high - long, boring shots, but high. It can be quite windy here and I really need to develop a good "punch" shot for those days and for the controlled scoring shots into the green. Do you drive or drag the lag on your punch shots? What other adjustments do you make? I've been planning to develop my low punch shot further once I start focusing on hitting - does this sound reasonable?

Yes, the punch shot is best done as a 'hit'. Ball back a touch, weight very much on your left side, driving PP#1 downplane to both arms straight. Get those hands ahead of the ball through impact.

As for the higher flight, you may also want to try different shafts. A softer/lighter shaft will often produce a higher flight, and vice versa for a heavier/firmer shaft. That said, well struck shots can hold up to quite a lot of wind. The better the impact, the less the wind will influence the ball. If the ball is being blown around a lot and/or you can't hear the 'sizzle', practice that punch shot and you'll gain a lot of control. The ball you play can have a very large influence as well. Hard to say for sure without seeing it in person.

I'll keep working on "hitting" the punch.

The wind doesn't do a whole lot to my shots and there's lots of 'sizzle' with most of my irons (love the high ball flight with most of my clubs, especially the long irons). My wedges and short irons are flying higher than I like, though - when they go real high I don't hear the sizzle as much. I suppose I need to work on really getting my hands ahead of the ball with those short clubs.

Other than trying clubs out and seeing what I liked, I really didn't get fitted. I found a good deal on some clubs that had rifle 6.0 shafts (which I understand to be in-between stiff and x-stiff) and wedges are stiff.

Haven't gotten to play much yet because of weather and schedule but plan on testing diffrent ball suggestions this summer.

Rifles lend themselves to higher ball flights.....So if you are looking for a lower ballflight and to stay in the rifle family, go to a certified rilfe dealer and tell him your problem. He can take a rifle blank and trim it so that its pretty tip stiff to keep the flight down.

I'm not married to them or anything; they felt good when I hit them and I got a good deal. I had S300's on my last set and liked them fine, however my swing is a lot different now and I hit the ball longer. When I can afford a change I will get fitted. How reliable are the online fitting charts that prescribe shaft stiffness based on distance?

i'd say 75-80%....because they don't take into factors like:

tempo
swinging or hitting (literally, the procedure you use will affect your fitting)
how good you "mash" the ball (ie smash factor)
release point
load

HOWEVER

If you get in with a GOOD FITTER, even on the phone, and be really honest with them they'll get 95% of the way.

PM me and i'll give you a good fitter to contact, don't want to post it here and step on anyone's toes.