Start-Up Swivel

I did a forum search for start-up swivel, but couldn't find anything that specifically addressed my problem.

I fight a tendency to roll the club to the inside, which gets the club very flat early in the backswing. As a result, I have to lift the club up to get it in the proper position. To fight this tendency, I sometimes fall into the habit of keeping the clubface looking at the ball as long as possible, which would seem to work against a start-up swivel.

My question is...how do I perform a start-up swivel without falling back into the habit of rolling to the inside?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by c21heel

I did a forum search for start-up swivel, but couldn't find anything that specifically addressed my problem. I fight a tendency to roll the club to the inside, which gets the club very flat early in the backswing. As a result, I have to lift the club up to get it in the proper position. To fight this tendency, I sometimes fall into the habit of keeping the clubface looking at the ball as long as possible, which would seem to work against a start-up swivel. My question is...how do I perform a start-up swivel without falling back into the habit of rolling to the inside? Thanks!

The Swinger's Start Up Swivel is the term I coined to describe Standard Wrist Action (10-18-A) in Start Up. It mirrors the Release Swivel (although not exactly in time) and is evident in the Strokes of many Swingers. Tom Weiskopf comes immediately to mind. The Hitter uses neither. Both Hitters and Swingers use the Finish Swivel.

Homer Kelley never used the term specifically. He said only that the Swinger typically Turns the Left Wrist to the Plane (Standard Wrist Action) independent of the Vertical Left Wrist required by the Hinge Action (typically Horizonal or Angled / 10-18-C #1/#2). And in the Snap Releases, the Left Hand and Right Hand 'karate chops' (palm down and palm up respectively to the Plane) bring the Turned Left Wrist into Release for a Maximum Trigger Delay of the #3 Accumulator. So, said he, you might as well get it done as soon as possible. Hence, the Start Up Swivel.

However...

For the reason you have mentioned, this 'early' Swivel -- Standard Wrist Action -- can be a dangerous business. You cannot allow the Wrist Action to occur Off-Plane. That is, regardless of Left Wrist Action (and Body Turn), you cannot allow the Clubshaft to point "inside" the Plane Line and thus, "under" the Inclined Plane itself. Nor can you allow the "Swivel Feel" for Start Up to become a "Swivel Feel" for Impact. Impact must always be a Hinge Action -- an Arm Motion with the Left Wrist held vertical to one of the three Associated Planes -- and never an independent Hand Motion .

If Standard Wrist Action in Start Up makes it difficult for you to Trace the Straight Plane Line, then simply maintain the Left Wrist vertical to the Ground (Swinger) or to the Plane (Hitter) as you Trace the Line going back with your Right Forearm. Either way, your Pivot and Arm Swing will bring both Wrists into their proper 'Turned On Plane' alignment at the Top.

And you will have accomplished this On Plane Backstroke without any undue manipulation of the Hands.