I have always been a tinkerer, hard to stop... I notice most TGMers prefer blades. I LOVE blades. Hitting the center of the clubface has never been the problem for me, so why not. Right?
Maybe not.
I'm proud to have studied lots of great methods. After trying EVERYTHING, I find that I am what another website refers to as one of those "DAMN TRIPODERS."
Watch YODA's swing sequences, at setup and throughout the swing his middle center (hips) never get behind the ball. He is ALWAYS on top of it. Same with my tour model Brian Gay. I watched players on the practice tee at the PGA Championship this year, NOBODY moves behind it on the backstroke, and Brian stays forward with the best of them, maybe THE best.
I am convinced this is the reason for the great success of both "Tripod" swings.
What can destroy this theory really quick? Trying to help the ball up in the air.
I want to try to trap and drive EVERY ball into the ground, driver through lob wedge. That's how I can keep my alignments and flat left wrist. Never trying to help it up in the air.
I'm going with loft in the driver, 10.5°. I'm going with irons that look like blades, but add loft and spin (AP2). 2010 resolution, I'm going to try to hit every ball low, and let the golf club help me spin and elevate it.
I know I'm goofy, but am I wrong with this thinking?
Kevin
__________________
I could be wrong. I have been before, and will be again.
Well Homer did recommend we hit every ball prior to low point accept for special circumstances right. So Id say he would agree with you Kev. Hit down and out through the ball. Add loft to the driver for trajectory if need be. Thats what I did, 10.5 degrees. Yoda has an 11 I believe. Jeff Hull a 12 or something crazy I think. I will occasionally hit a driver with the ball placed forward of low point, which would be my "special circumstances" for increased height.
It an interesting question given that everybody recommends you hit up on a driver these days. When I was fit for my driver at Titleist I made sure that they fit for me both the way they wanted me to hit it (high) and the way I like to tee it up. It sure looks like Tiger traps a lot of drivers when he needs to.
I wonder what the caddies on tour would say about this.
Oh and you can take my tripod away when you can steel my hula hula action , but it will be from my COLD, DEAD (but still clamp like) HANDS.
Well Homer did recommend we hit every ball prior to low point accept for special circumstances right. So Id say he would agree with you Kev. Hit down and out through the ball. Add loft to the driver for trajectory if need be. Thats what I did, 10.5 degrees. Yoda has an 11 I believe. Jeff Hull a 12 or something crazy I think. I will occasionally hit a driver with the ball placed forward of low point, which would be my "special circumstances" for increased height.
It an interesting question given that everybody recommends you hit up on a driver these days. When I was fit for my driver at Titleist I made sure that they fit for me both the way they wanted me to hit it (high) and the way I like to tee it up. It sure looks like Tiger traps a lot of drivers when he needs to.
I wonder what the caddies on tour would say about this.
Oh and you can take my tripod away when you can steel my hula hula action , but it will be from my COLD, DEAD (but still clamp like) HANDS.
11 degrees is the most I have used. It really depends on the driver, how it is constructed, position of the center of gravity, open or closed, etc. I am currently using about 9.5.
I would be careful of hitting "down" with a driver. Any downward attack angle will increase the spin which is bad for a driver. I have done much better since I have taken the driver down to low point and had the ball just slightly forward of that. Better launch and lower spin.
11 degrees is the most I have used. It really depends on the driver, how it is constructed, position of the center of gravity, open or closed, etc. I am currently using about 9.5.
I would be careful of hitting "down" with a driver. Any downward attack angle will increase the spin which is bad for a driver. I have done much better since I have taken the driver down to low point and had the ball just slightly forward of that. Better launch and lower spin.
Thanks golfgnome.
So you're not quite hitting up then? Right at Low Point under the left shoulder? Is that right? Cool.
My new Titleist D3 driver sets up a little bit different than previous ones Ive had. To my eye it looks a touch open or should I say it has more reverse shaft lean on it maybe? Like its designed for hitting a ball tee'd more forward of low point maybe? It doesnt bother me though, I love the thing. I am hitting more fades than before but I'm angled hinging more now too. I dunno.
Have you noticed some drivers having more reverse shaft lean these days?
11 degrees is the most I have used. It really depends on the driver, how it is constructed, position of the center of gravity, open or closed, etc. I am currently using about 9.5.
I would be careful of hitting "down" with a driver. Any downward attack angle will increase the spin which is bad for a driver. I have done much better since I have taken the driver down to low point and had the ball just slightly forward of that. Better launch and lower spin.
Thanks for the reply golfgnome!
I'm not sure I'm brave enough to step away from the yellow book and work on that yet. So far, the principles I'm learning are allowing me to keep it where I can find it, guess I'll just have to stick with playing shorter courses for awhile...
Kevin
__________________
I could be wrong. I have been before, and will be again.
Kev Im thinking it maybe isnt a step away from the yellow book if you consider the driver a specialty shot or special circumstance. You tee it at low point or in front of it to get the ball as far down there as you possibly can even it means sacrificing some measure of control, balance a 1-L or whatever. Heck even in regard to the steady head, I see a lot of pros hang back a touch with a driver. Maybe they wouldnt do it if they just teed it up more forward? A subconscious hang back that effectively moves their low point back dynamically for launch angle? Or as VJ Trolio would say moves their ball postion forward dynamically if you know what I mean.
Kev Im thinking it maybe isnt a step away from the yellow book if you consider the driver a specialty shot or special circumstance. You tee it at low point or in front of it to get the ball as far down there as you possibly can even it means sacrificing some measure of control, balance a 1-L or whatever. Heck even in regard to the steady head, I see a lot of pros hang back a touch with a driver. Maybe they wouldnt do it if they just teed it up more forward? A subconscious hang back that effectively moves their low point back dynamically for launch angle? Or as VJ Trolio would say moves their ball postion forward dynamically if you know what I mean.
I'm not saying it's wrong O.B. in fact most would agree. Remember, I've been saved from a nasty case of the driver yips, I just want to be sure I can find it, and the YELLOW book along with YODA and Jeff Evans got me playing again.
Once my back heals and I am able to play more and get my confidence back, I will for sure do some experimenting.
Not trying to step on anybody's toes, I have NOTHING but respect for golfgnome, and I would never disagree with his views on G.O.L.F.!
Kevin
__________________
I could be wrong. I have been before, and will be again.
ALIGNMENT G.O.L.F.
Last edited by KevCarter : 01-03-2010 at 02:12 PM.
I currently hit MP-62's with are a player's CB, but I'm getting more and more into hitting blades.
I started to think about it the other day and thought of the top 5 ballstrikers that I grew up playing with and each one of them grew up playing blades, usually some old Hogan blades. I bought some MacGregor Tourney 985's and the difference is quite noticeable. It's almost like having one of those PSP training aids, but being able to play a round of golf with one of them. I have no problems getting them airborne, but if you mis-hit the iron, I'll lose 2 clubs worth of distance.
Anyway, I agree in not trying to hit down with the driver. I'd at the very least try to get the attack angle at about -1* as that's where the average PGA Tour attack angle is at with the driver. If you want a piece of advice, I would try to work on being able to hit a 10.5* titanium driver off the deck. I know I can do it with mine and do it with relative ease.
No matter what Club used -- Driver or Putter or somewhere in-between -- the Stroke is always executed Down Plane to Low Point (1-L #13). When Left Wrist Velocity Power (6-B-2-0) is employed, that also means to Full Extension (Left Wrist Uncocked per 2-P).
The only variable, then, is Ball Position (12-3 #2 and Chapter 14 / Second Programming Routine).
All Strokes must comply with the essential geometry of the Stroke (Masters Execution / 3-F-6 per 5-0). Or, incorporate a Compensation.
Linear Mode
