Partly to stop tinkering, and partly because I need focus when I'm not playing very frequently, and partly because my tedency is to get TOO OUTSIDE on my backswing and (relatedly) TOO STEEP on my downswing, I decided recently to just focus on the soft draw pattern completely (i.e. not a modified version, but all the components as they fit together). The big change (and improvement) from my normal pattern is to get me much more inside on the backswing and (with the javelin throw) to shallow me out on the downswing - all good stuff. I also realized this time around (after working with SD 1.0 when it was first released) that I really needed to strengthen my grip just a bit to make the components all fit together. I'm hitting my long clubs incredibly well - straight and longer than usual. But I've been less consistent with mid and short irons.
The problem, I think, is the toss. You see, in my heart I'll always be a flipper, not a TGM drag-the-handle sort of guy. And I feel like the toss is a really good aid for those who with the tendency for too much FATS. But for me, the idea of an "underhand toss" is just too closely related to the idea of moving the hand path in the direction of the ball flight. That is, of tossing the clubhead UPward and down the target path line. In other words, FLIPPING. I have a tendency to toss the clubhead UP, putting me in a position just after impact in which the club is not nearly low and left enough.
It seems to me, that in my head at least, a much better concept is skipping rocks. Once I get into my "javelin throw" position I need to think about adding right hand in such a way as to turn the back of my left hand from facing at the camera to facing away from the camera, and keeping the hands and clubhead moving lower and left. Like skipping rocks.
When I toss a softball (and I was a softball pitcher for many years) the back of my right hand points to the ground, and the palm points skyward - not very golf like. When I skip a rock, my right hand turns over, with the palm toward the ground and the back of my hand facing toward the camera. Much more golf like. I think.
I know Brian has mentioned rock skipping in previous posts and videos. Is there anything I am screwing up by conceptualizing what SD 1.0 calls "the toss" as instead, for me, "the skip."???
The problem, I think, is the toss. You see, in my heart I'll always be a flipper, not a TGM drag-the-handle sort of guy. And I feel like the toss is a really good aid for those who with the tendency for too much FATS. But for me, the idea of an "underhand toss" is just too closely related to the idea of moving the hand path in the direction of the ball flight. That is, of tossing the clubhead UPward and down the target path line. In other words, FLIPPING. I have a tendency to toss the clubhead UP, putting me in a position just after impact in which the club is not nearly low and left enough.
It seems to me, that in my head at least, a much better concept is skipping rocks. Once I get into my "javelin throw" position I need to think about adding right hand in such a way as to turn the back of my left hand from facing at the camera to facing away from the camera, and keeping the hands and clubhead moving lower and left. Like skipping rocks.
When I toss a softball (and I was a softball pitcher for many years) the back of my right hand points to the ground, and the palm points skyward - not very golf like. When I skip a rock, my right hand turns over, with the palm toward the ground and the back of my hand facing toward the camera. Much more golf like. I think.
I know Brian has mentioned rock skipping in previous posts and videos. Is there anything I am screwing up by conceptualizing what SD 1.0 calls "the toss" as instead, for me, "the skip."???
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