[Yoda]

No way the vertical hinge score lines point at the left shoulder socket.

What we are dealing with here is a great big 'Seems as if' -- an optical illusion -- regarding the Clubface Scoring Lines and their alignment with the Left Shoulder. This post will demonstrate that the Scoring Lines-Left Shoulder alignment is identical for each of the Three Hinge Actions. I will substitute the term 'Leading Edge' (of the Clubface) for its parallel 'Scoring Lines' since they are interchangeable.

The 'Seems as if' is that at the end of the Follow-Through (Both Arms Straight Position), the Full Roll of Horizontal Hinging causes the Leading Edge to point along the Target Line and point 'at' the Left Shoulder. Conversely, the Reverse Roll of Vertical Hinging causes the Leading Edge to be Square to the Target Line and point 'outside' the Left Shoulder. Visually, that appears to be the case, and yet, as will be shown, the Leading Edge and the Left Shoulder are identically 'In Line' for both (and for Angled Hinging as well) .

The illusion begins with the words 'point at.' First of all, let's agree that when the Clubface is lower than the Left Shoulder, the Leading Edge can never point 'at' it. Instead, it can only point 'below' it. Given that fact, we can define 'pointing at' to mean that the Leading Edge is in the same plane as the Left Shoulder. As your original post stated, that is exactly the case with Horizontal Hinging. And despite the illusion to the contrary, it is also exactly the case with Vertical and Angled Hinging! Here's why:

For simplicity, let's assume a Flat Left Wrist Vertical to the ground (the Horizontal Plane) at Low Point and the Clubface Square to the Target Line. Per 7-10, this is the precision alignment for all three Hinge Actions. [I could have used the alternative 'Vertical to the ground at Impact' but its necessary compensating Clubface adjustment adds complexity to the discussion and does not change the result.]

In this alignment, the outside of the Left Shoulder, the Back of the Left Arm, the Flat and Vertical Left Wrist and the Square Clubface will all be positioned against the same flat plane -- the Plane of the Left Wristcock Motion. In fact, this alignment establishes the Left Arm Flying Wedge (6-B-3-0-1), and it is maintained not only during the Hinge Action, but also throughout the Stroke (from Start Up to the end of the Follow Through). This is the key alignment, not where the Leading Edge appears to point -- but does not actually point.

From the Low Point, Horizontal Hinging causes the Leading Edge to move in a circle (1-L #9) around the Left Shoulder and Close Only (in relation to the Target Line), just as if it were a swinging door. In fact, Horizontal Hinging causes the entire Left Arm Flying Wedge -- the back of the left Arm, the Flat and Vertical Left Wrist and the Leading Edge -- to Close Only. Accordingly, at the end of our short Chip Shot, we can see that the Leading Edge has maintained its original alignment: It points below the Left Shoulder and lies in the plane of the Left Arm Flying Wedge.

Similarly, Vertical Hinging also causes the Leading Edge to move in a circle around the Left Shoulder. However, instead of Closing Only, it Lays Back only, just as if it were a swinging door attached to the ceiling. In fact, in the same manner as Horizontal Hinging, Vertical Hinging causes the entire Left Arm Flying Wedge -- the back of the left Arm, the Flat and Vertical Left Wrist and the Leading Edge -- to Lay Back Only. Accordingly, at the end of our short Chip Shot, we can see that the Leading Edge has maintained its original alignment: It points below the Left Shoulder and lies in the plane of the Left Arm Flying Wedge.

So there you have it. The Clubface Leading Edge (or its parallel substitute, the Score Lines) never points at the Left Shoulder with any of the Three Hinge Actions. Instead, it always points below it, and it always lies in the same plane -- the plane of the Left Arm Flying Wedge -- regardless of the Hinge Action employed.
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