I am not sure if the following is correct but see what you think...
Homer stresses the importance of the sweetspot plane. The plane between PP3 and clubhead sweetspot. The trouble is that it is invisble... except when the clubhead is turbed to the inclined plane - when shaft plane acts as a surrogate for sweet spot plane.
The crucial thing about sweet spot plane is that it is the plane that you feel rather than see... but if you want to "see" it then use shaft plane as an approximate.
The dowels "look" like a shaft and there is no distraction of clubhead so it is a good way to learn the concept of alignment rather than position... this alone is a leap of conceptual thinking that you have already made!
But in "swinging " a dowel... you won't really feel much because of the lack of clubhead mass... maybe if you added a point mass ( round lump of lead) at the tip of the dowel and swung it then you would feel and see the elusive "sweetspot plane".
typing "off the cuff" at the moment so see what others say ...
Yes - perhaps I just can't feel the lag pressure properly. Here's one other observation though. If the sweetspot plane and the shaft plane coincide when the club is turned to the inclined plane, then this would imply that the shaft should be pointing at the plane line on the ground that runs through ball center. However, when I try doing this with a half swing (like acquired motion), it feels very awkward to me.
Yes - perhaps I just can't feel the lag pressure properly. Here's one other observation though. If the sweetspot plane and the shaft plane coincide when the club is turned to the inclined plane, then this would imply that the shaft should be pointing at the plane line on the ground that runs through ball center. However, when I try doing this with a half swing (like acquired motion), it feels very awkward to me.
I think that the "sweetspot plane" and "shaft plane" only appear the same from down the line view once sweetspot rotated to plane.
Hitters, who tend towards single wrist action. do not turn their sweetspot to inclined shaft plane in acquired motion - clubhead "feels closed"...
Many pro swingers turn sweetspot, or sweetspot is turned, later in swing ...more into total motion... you may feel an early turn to plane as "unusual" for you....
lag pressure will be easier to feel with a "point mass" at end of dowel, i think...
Yes - perhaps I just can't feel the lag pressure properly. Here's one other observation though. If the sweetspot plane and the shaft plane coincide when the club is turned to the inclined plane, then this would imply that the shaft should be pointing at the plane line on the ground that runs through ball center. However, when I try doing this with a half swing (like acquired motion), it feels very awkward to me.
ejhong, Are you hitting or swinging ? I see them as manipulating the LCOG differently. I'm sure you are aware that a clubhead lag pressure point is imperative.
I have been working on making some pictures showing the LCOG....I will try and get something together for you sometime soon.
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"Golf is not a subject but a motor skill which can only be learned and not taught." - Michael Hebron
"The Body, Arms and Hands have specific assignments during the Golf Stroke, and they must be coordinated into one efficient motion." - Lynn Blake
The Dowel has a Sweetspot (located at its tip). The Golf Club has a Sweetspot (located on the Clubface). Both should be pointed at the Straight Plane Line.
And except during Start Up and Release, the Dowel/Clubshaft is the On Plane Visual Equivalent of the Clubface Sweetspot's invisible Centrifugal Line of Pull.
Shanking is (1) a total loss of Clubhead Lag Pressure Feel and (2) the ability to deliver that 'Feel' Down Plane into the inside-aft quadrant of the Ball. But the Good News is ...
The same Pressure Point Pressure that will deliver a Dowel's Sweetspot into Impact On Plane will deliver a Clubhead's Sweetspot into Impact On Plane.
Not an expert, but this might help.
For me dowel is best used for alignment to trace the plane line esp. Basic and Acquired Motion. To avoid shanking, dowel with impact bag will be more useful for Full or Acquired Motion. When placed at ball position, at impact I look at my hand and make sure it's verticle to the plane( ground). (So when using the club, the club face,not the hosel, will come into impact)
Thanks for the clarifications and suggestions. I obviously have some more figuring out to do with respect to feeling and directing my lag pressure. I'm trying to learn swinging - it seems to be progressing although somewhat slowly - I've had a lot of incredible AHA moments but I'm sure there are many more to go.
I've been thinking about the sweetspot plane versus the shaft plane some more and came up with the following thought experiment:
Perform your normal swing with a golf club.
Now imagine that the clubface is stretched out horizontally more such that it looks more like a hockey stick - let's say one foot long. The sweet spot remains centered in the club face and is now much further away from you. The shaft length and lie angle stay the same. Imagine swinging this club.
Now imagine that the clubface is stretched even more such that it is stretched out to something crazy like fifteen feet long. Imagine swinging this club.
In your imaginary swings, did the motion and/or plane of the club shaft during the swing differ between the three clubs or was it the same? If it differed, how did it differ? I'd be interested in people's opinions on this (or if somebody can build the clubs and video that would be even better!).
Hybrid Mode
