Pivot - couple of very interesting studies

I had a couple of very good reads yesterday. They were basically related to the pivot. A lot of what I read is complimentary to 7-12 Pivot. AFAIK Homer is on the money when he talks about the pivot (what a surprise ). But there's more to say about it than you find in the yellow book.

First out is Allison Thietje & Co. Very fundamental, very basic, very clear and also very practical. This is low hanging fruit for teaching pros. She and her colleges have developed a few anatomical fundamentals for correct movement patterns in the golf stroke. It relates to damage prevension but those who need them will likely strike the ball much better too. Go here and pick from the menu About Us-> Motion Memory Golf Live Seminar. The first 2-3 chapters of the seminar is absolutely worth the time.

Equally interesting, but with a different approach and a very entertaining style of writing is Kelvin Miyahira. He is a speed trainer and very much into golf and tennis. In his recent monthly column he makes case for the not so pretty pivots that we can see on the tour. There's a lot of food for thought in several of his monthly columns and his Tiger analysis is a great read for anyone that doesn't go by the name Hank Haney
You can find Kelvin's columns here.

Thanks Bernt for posting these.

I was in Phonenix couple months ago and took two lessions from Greg Smith. He looked at my swing and suggested trying right forearm takeaway. All I did was to pull to the top and let go from there and change was dramatic to the better. That and some other things Greg gave me to work on helped a lot.

Once I saw Allison's presentation, I knew why that RFT worked so well - I was pulling myself around, not trying to push (I really had a dysfunctional pivot).

I've now also worked on pulling myself around on downswing as well and things keep getting better.

I found also this Kelvin's column very interesting

All Golf Instruction follows one of two major Schools of Theory. Actions Based or Alignment Based.

Alison is hot

Originally Posted by Daryl

All Golf Instruction follows one of two major Schools of Theory. Actions Based or Alignment Based.

As far as I have seen, the usual distinction seem to be between action / alignment on one side and position on the other.

Anyway, there are a lot of alignment cues in the material that Kelvin produces. He has very clear ideas about how to align the spine, the right shoulder blade etc to get the action you're capable of.

I was meaning to imply page 61. I did a really poor job of it. Sorry for the previous misleading post.

Two major schools of theory: (TGM accounts for both)

1. Pivot Controlled Hands
2. Hands Controlled Pivot

Quote:

The alternative to Hands Controlled Pivot is, of course, Pivot Controlled hands per 10-24-F. That does not alter the Basic Geometry or Physics requirements but assigns to Physics precedence over Geometry – Force dictating alignments. Which obviously reduces precision.

I am still struggling to understand what this distinction REALLY means.

Pivot controlled hands are often associated with geometry above physics, or perhaps precision above "blind" power. Which I totally buy into.

Then the hands are sometimes ascribed the role as the principal monitors - something that also makes a lot of sense.

You can monitor your hands when you need to, and they will give you a lot of info. But you can also use your hands to monitor the club head and the club face. But I believe you use your eyes as well. And for a full stroke your mind - not your hands - will monitor a lot of separate motions throughout the body that adds upp to a full stroke. And balance, timing and rhythm. Some of it will be in the concious and some of it will be small brain motoric subconcious stuff.

There is also such a thing as eye - hand coordination in golf. I can adjust the swing on the fly and hit the ball even if it moves between address and impact. I think that sort of monitoring and corrective actions are an important part of good ball striking. But while the hands may play first violin in the orchestra, the conductor sits between the ears.

But can the pivot literally be controlled by the hands? I don't think so. I believe the control center sits between the two ears. Can the pivot ruin the hands' chance of moving the club properly? Absolutely.

Then of course there are some people who associates this hands vs pivot control to stroke patterns: Forearm pickup is hands controlled while shoulder turn start is pivot controled. But then control is confuced with execution. And who wants to hit the ball strictly with the hands anyway?

I think it is safe to say that most golfers with a few years of experience - who have unlocked the most basic "mysteries" of the game - know what they want the club to do and also know what their hands need to do to accomplish that. I sometimes forget to use my feet properly. I can sense it in my hands, but I have to think of the feet before I am able to do something about it. If the hands could run the show I should only have to think about the hands to make it happen. But it isn't so.

Also - when I play well - there is no such reductionistic approach in place as hands or pivot or shoulder turn or whatever. It's just the club, the ball, what I want to do and a very holistic image and anticipation of the motion required to make the stroke. No hands. No pivot. Just a stroke.