Pressure Point Primer by Brian Manzella
Brian, Gents:
I have a question. Sorry if it is naive for most of you, but I want it clear.
#1 PP is using the heel of the right hand where it touches either the left hand thumb;
#2 PP is using the last three fingers of the left hand;
#3 PP is the first joint of the right hand trigger index finger where it touches the clubshaft;
#4 PP is the straight left arm when in contact with the left side of the body.
Assuming it's a correct description I'd like to ask what are all 4 PPs responsible for in the swing. What I have already noticed is:
- when using #1 it's easier to bring an open face to impact;
- when using #2 it's easier to create bigger shaft angle during downswing;
- when using #3 it's easier to lag the sweetspot instead lagging the hosel.
I'd also be grateful what are the best drills to train them. I have sort of problem with feeling them without gripping the club tightly, what I dislike.
Cheers
PRESSURE POINT PRIMER BY Brian Manzella, PGA, G.S.E.D.
You can't move anything without pressure.
And, to create that pressure—usually—an angle that has been created is either: "un-angling," i.e. trying to straighten, or trying to create movement STILL "angled."
So....(with apologies and attribution)
You are in a grocery store with a shopping cart. You put you hands on the handle of the cart ready to start "walking the aisles." Your hands may have some INCIDENTAL PRESSURE, but no "real" pressure on your hands.
You then start walking. There NOW is pressure on your hands!
What put it there?
Not the hands.
The FEET.
The walking created pressure, because the cart has inertia, and doesn't want to move, and although it is designed to roll, is not self-propelled.
So....
You can increase the pressure by running, and if you slow down very gradually, you can maintain the pressure. If you stop running quickly, you'll have a runaway cart.
But....
What are you trying to
DO with the cart in a golf swing analogy?
You are trying to use the front of the cart, to hit a light, large round rubber ball—about 5 foot around—as far as possible with the cart.
How do you do it? Do you?...
1. Do you run fast (creating lots of pressure on the hands) and keep running "through" the ball?
2. Do you run fast and right before you hit the ball STOP running and let the cart hit the ball with its own momentum?
3. Or, do you run fast and right before you hit the ball, you straighten you arms really hard and throw the cart into the ball?
If you take "cart ball" lessons from Brian Manzella, you do #3.
So....
We have raised a lot of questions in this little treatise. Let's start by answering them.
When we starting walking, the pressure was created in the hands, although the force was the feet.
First of all, there was pressure in the feet FIRST. They had to push into the ground. Second, as far as relating all of this to golf, the hands on the shopping cart would be the FOUR TGM pressure points. The feet waling would be the pivot.
There is a bunch of folks in golf instruction-land that say you move the hands first and then the feet (pivot) would respond.
Baloney!
The cart would get away from you right from the start.
Ok...
What about the cart-hitting-ball analogy. Relate that one to the golf swing.
If you kept running and "ran through" impact, you'd have a good strike, but not near your maximum.
If you just stopped, you would probably get the same result if the ball were close to the stoppage, but lose speed if it were further away.
So, the extra push from the straightening arms—at the last second, so to speak—that would create a runaway cart if done to soon (throwaway), if timed just right, and assisted by the "push off" of the body itself, would create the most speed in our example.
Too early, the speed increase would be negated. Too late, would not give time enough for the "speed-up." Just right and BAM!
I am pretty sure you wouldn't—or couldn't—get that answer anywhere but here.
