Just a little confused with Bobby Clampett's description of Aiming Point in his new book The Impact Zone. He states that when growing up Ben Doyle taught him to "aim his hands on a point on the plane line in front of the ball". Is Bobby getting aiming point and impact hand location mixed up or what? Surely if he his referring to aiming point alone he should also mention that the forefinger should be directing thrust to that location not just a generalisation of the hands moving to it.
Aiming Point as Ben Doyle taught me
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Brian Manzella
Administrator
This one comes up pretty often...
Do a search with the terms:
and you'll come up with several good posts.
But, here it is again, just to see if I can improve on the explanation:
"Aiming Point" is where you direct the THRUST of the #3 Pressure Point (triggered right forefinger) on the "appropriate" Delivery Line (The 'true' plane line, or the "visual equivelent," which may be the curved blur of the clubhead—which I use often—or the straight line through the Impact and Low Points).
So—in English—"Aiming Point" is where you "make the force in your hands go" on the ground.
Now, there is also an "equivalent." This is called the "Impact Hand Location."
That "Location" is simply WHERE your hands ACTUALLY ARE in space at impact. Some folks find it easier to just "get there hands to this spot"—which for almost everyone—LOOKS LIKE and FEELS LIKE is left of your left foot.
There are proponents of each, with Ben Doyle favoring the Imapct Hand Location style "Aiming Point," and many others using the "on the delivery line" version.
Myself?
I could teach all day and not use either, or use it in every lesson. I say I use it in 1 of every 20 lessons.
Why that rarely?
Because I found ways to "get the club to work like a club" that work better for me and my students.
Do a search with the terms:
impact hand location aiming point
and you'll come up with several good posts.
But, here it is again, just to see if I can improve on the explanation:
"Aiming Point" is where you direct the THRUST of the #3 Pressure Point (triggered right forefinger) on the "appropriate" Delivery Line (The 'true' plane line, or the "visual equivelent," which may be the curved blur of the clubhead—which I use often—or the straight line through the Impact and Low Points).
So—in English—"Aiming Point" is where you "make the force in your hands go" on the ground.
Now, there is also an "equivalent." This is called the "Impact Hand Location."
That "Location" is simply WHERE your hands ACTUALLY ARE in space at impact. Some folks find it easier to just "get there hands to this spot"—which for almost everyone—LOOKS LIKE and FEELS LIKE is left of your left foot.
There are proponents of each, with Ben Doyle favoring the Imapct Hand Location style "Aiming Point," and many others using the "on the delivery line" version.
Myself?
I could teach all day and not use either, or use it in every lesson. I say I use it in 1 of every 20 lessons.
Why that rarely?
Because I found ways to "get the club to work like a club" that work better for me and my students.
self-mastery
New
I've been doing it wrong! I have been using the spot in front of the ball where the club bottoms out. I also use the drill that a member posted a few days ago.
Brian Manzella
Administrator
Not really.
I just don't need to use the concepts much anymore. I can manipulate low point, and plane line much better—and easier—using the Manzella Matrix.
self-mastery
New
Brian, can low point be used as a place to aim the leading edge of the clubhead?
I've been mistaken that for aiming point for the last 3 years, and that is how I approach every iron shot.
I've been mistaken that for aiming point for the last 3 years, and that is how I approach every iron shot.
Jim Kobylinski
Super Moderator
then you probably hit a lot of shots THIN.
here's the deal folks and this is something i get right out of the way in the first lesson and i'm sure everyone i've given lessons to, this will sound familiar.
Where you get your hands (in relation to how far in front/behind the ball) will directly effect where low point ends up IF you don't manipulate your hands. The farther foward you get your hands, without swaying or manipulating anything the more likely you'll hit ball then turf. If you over do it you can move low point too far foward and thin shots as well.
The relationship holds true to that if you don't get your hands foward enough and again, don't manipulate your hands, you will hit turf then ball. This is something i go over right away and make sure you get it in your coconut before we continue because it's the main illusion (thanks Ben) that you need to know before your ballstriking can really get anywhere you want it to be.
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