Pivot
 

You hear less about 'leg drive' today than you did in the '70s and '80s. But when these pictures were taken, leg drive was The Way to create Power -- on the PGA Tour and on the public links.

Despite The Way's popularity, The Truth was -- and is -- as Homer's analysis suggests: Most 'leg drivers' begin their Start Down by shuttling their knees forward in an exaggerated fashion. This causes the Knees to Bend beyond their Impact Fix degree of Bend, lowering the Head and with it, the Left Shoulder Center of the Stroke. This faulty move is Bobbing, the Third Snare (3-F-7-C), and unless there is a compensation by Impact, the disruption in the Left Shoulder-to-Ball Radius will produce disastrous results.

In my schools at that time, I illustrated these concepts using swing sequences of Jerry Pate , the Poster Child for the exaggerated Downstroke Knee Bend and its resultant lowered Head position. The necessary compensations (2-J-1) to shorten the suddenly too-long Radius (Left Arm and Club) -- namely, the bending of the Left Arm and the pulling back of the Left Shoulder at Impact -- were in full flower. I don't believe it coincidental that Jerry's career was cut much too short by injury -- specifically, Left Shoulder injury.

In a Pivot Stroke, the geometrically correct Start Down is led by the Left Hip Slide. This tilts the Axis of the Stroke (the Spine), and allows the Right Shoulder to deliver the Loaded Power Package correctly Downplane into Impact. The Knees serve as Anchors (7-16) during this process, stabilizing The Machine by maintaing its Pivot Center, the Stationary Head.

What I wouldn't give to have known then what I know now...

Pivot GM#6
 

RR,

The correctly programmed (1-J and 3-B) Pivot will react instantly to the demands of Educated Hands (9-1 and 5-0) and their sense of Clubhead Lag Pressure (both its Aiming and Thrust). Hence, there are no Pivot Components listed in the Mechanical Checklist For All Strokes (12-3-0).

Pivot GM#15
 

The Hula Hula flexibility (7-14) refers to the independent yet coordinate movement of the Hips and Shoulders while maintaining the Fixed Pivot Center (the recommended Stationary Head or its alternate, the "Between the Shoulders" Center). The Line Delivery Paths and the On Plane Downstroke Shoulder Turn (10-13-D) require that the Axis of the Stroke (the Spine) be tilted, and this, in turn, requires the Downstroke Hip Slide (Weight Shift) of 10-14-A or 10-14-B. This is a move that is very easy to exaggerate (7-14) and thus produce the distorted alignments that makes it impossible for the Hands to do their job (7-12).

Ideally, you would work with a competent instructor to program the correct Pivot. Whether this is possible or not, I recommend imitating the pictures in 9-1. Be sure to look, Look LOOK as you go through the 'Body Only' Twelve Sections of the Stroke to make sure that you are doing it right.

Concentrate especially on clearing the Right Hip in Start Up (9-4) and maintaining the On Plane Right Shoulder in Start Down (9-7). These two Sections are especially crucial because players who have Pivot problems almost always lack the Educated Hands necessary to get them through an On Line Start Down (3-B, 5-0, 6-G-0 and 12-3-0). I would also practice diligently the Downstroke Waggle (3-F-5). Monitor each of the Pivot Components (especially the Hips and Shoulders) in each of the Downstroke Sections (Start Down through the Follow-Through) as you simultaneously monitor The Hands to insure that they maintain their On Plane alignments per the Mechanical Checklist of 12-3-0. This will train the Pivot to accomplish its necessary functions and, at the same time, to "get out of the way of the Hands."

At the end of the day, you must return your attention to your Hands and their Flat Left Wrist, Clubhead Lag and Plane Line Tracing. Only in his way can you maintain the essential geometry of the Stroke (2-N-0 and 2-F) and achieve the Hand-Controlled Pivot of The Golfing Machine.

Mac O'Grady GM#200
 

Sonny,

Have you read my posts on the differences between Swingers and Hitters, especially in their use of the Right Shoulder during the Start Down? Swingers use the Right Shoulder Turn Thrust to 'Crank the Gyroscope' -- of the essentially inert Left Arm and its trailing Club -- and begin the On Plane acceleration toward Impact. Hitters, on the other hand, use it as the 'backstop' from which to Launch the Driving Right Arm and its Active Pushing -- of the entire Left Arm / Clubshaft unit -- toward Impact.

What Mac and his followers have 'discovered' is 12-1-0 -- Hitting and its Muscularly-Driven (Active) Clubhead Lag -- not a 'fatal flaw' in 12-2-0 -- Swinging and its Centrifugally-driven (Passive) Clubhead Lag.

Pivot Lag BM#53
 

The very first thing that should happen immediately after the backstroke
is completed is thrusting the right shoulder? I assume that while this is
going on, the body should be responding. But it feels like an over the top
move. Right shoulder thrust sounds like a very quick and forceful , and
even violent move. SHould the Thrust be slow and gradual?


[Bold by Yoda.]





The Gear Train of the Pivot Lag -- Feet, Knees, Hips and Shoulders in
that order -- Loads and Accelerates the Power Package. Study this correct
Sequencing in 6-M-1.

The Right Shoulder does not Turn 'over the Top.' It Turns On Plane directly
toward the Ball. However, if your present procedure does not incorporate the
required Outward Dimension of the Shoulder Turn Motion per 2-N-1-A, then the
correct Action may well feel that way.


All quick and jerky motions are improper execution (3-F-6). That includes the
Right Shoulder Turn in the Start Down. The idea is to make a properly
Sequenced, positive move from the Top that Loads the Lag and begins
the initial Acceleration of the Power Package Down Plane. The Hands quickly
pick up this Acceleration in the Downstroke and deliver the Club into Release
at its maximum speed.

Pivot Loads Right Elbow or Left Wrist BM#151
 

A very astute observation, MizunoJoe.

Jim will attempt to do as I've instructed, i.e., Drag the Butt End of the
Club Down Plane. Hopefully, this will get him Loading properly. For sure,
it's a 'light years' improvement over his current Hand Throw from the Top.

But the best Loading -- whether the Swinger Loading the Left Wrist or the
Hitter Loading the Right Elbow -- is always done by the Pivot. In other
words, the Hands are 'left at the Top,' as the Pivot begins its forward
motion. This is the only real assurance the player has that his Pivot will
remain properly ahead of the Hands throughout the Downstroke.

Will Jim be able to do that on his own?


Probably not, but at least now he knows what to do.

Tilt BM#244
 

Corky,

I would need to see your actual Address Position. In general, the further
Down Plane the Ball is Located, i.e., toward Low Point, the further Down
Plane the Right Shoulder must Located at Fix (in order to enable and support
the On Plane Right Forearm). However, this whole business of Axis Tilt is
almost always way overdone. Study the Centered Head Position and minimal
Axis Tilt in Photos 9-2-1 #1, 9-2-2 #1 and 9-2-10 #1.


This is something to really get right, so get in front of a mirror with a
Club and look, Look LOOK! per 3-B.

Tilt BM#245
 

Regarding Axis Tilt, see my reply to Corky above.


Regarding "going around in another circle," thanks, but no thanks.
My mission is to help readers better understand The Golfing Machine. I
will leave the interpretation of alternative systems (including yours) to
those so inclined. :oops:

Faulty Pivot BM#269
 

First, train your Pivot -- particularly the Right Hip -- to 'get out
of the way of the Hands.'





One point of clarification on the above statement regarding training the
Pivot. Such training is necessary to enable the Hands to remain On Plane
throughout the Stroke. And while it is helpful in avoiding Body/Hands
collisions, it is not mandatory. That's because if the Body is in
the way, the Hands will simply go around!


So, no collisions, but no good Shots, either