Extensor action

[Millrat]

Having a tough time employing extensor action as described in the book and elsewhere. I swing left handed but I'm a right handed person and I feel this contirbutes to the problem. When I try to extend with my left hand I lose all control of the clubhead, much like throwing a rock with your 'other' hand. I think I remember hearing that Phil Mickelson is a right handed person also.

Should I just keep working with it?

CW

 

[Leozevo]

Extensor Action

Your left tricep is what is constantly pushing out from start up to follow through. Not your left hand. Keep working on it as it will take time to get the feel but it will develop structure to the power package. Use a mirror and look, look, look and when the left wrist can stay bent and you can feel the tricep pushing out you are getting closer. Hope that helps you

 

[Millrat]

I realize the arm does the pushing but I sense it in the hand casue its on the grip.

 

[tourdeep]

Having a tough time employing extensor action as described in the book and elsewhere. I swing left handed but I'm a right handed person and I feel this contirbutes to the problem. When I try to extend with my left hand I lose all control of the clubhead, much like throwing a rock with your 'other' hand. I think I remember hearing that Phil Mickelson is a right handed person also.

Should I just keep working with it?

CW

Having my lead arm being the noodle while the trail hand hand/tricep applies just enuf stretch in its attempt to straighten, keeps the lead arm straight. A downside is exaggerating it, tension created, too much pressure in the hands, grip slipping apart to a death grip,,, leading to fat shots, etc., is the result (at times, I think the straight lead arm is overrated). Maybe just thinking the trail arm straightening on the downswing may work.

Even better was fixing the pivot. If I complete my backswing, meaning turning my shoulders as much as physically possible around a centered location, a firm trail leg, gets my hands in a more comfortable position at the top.

 

[Burner]

I realize the arm does the pushing but I sense it in the hand casue its on the grip.

If pp#1 is exerting a constant stretching pressure on your leading side thumb - i.e feels like it is trying to push it down the clubshaft - throughout the back and down swing, then the maintenance of extensor action should not be an issue.

 

[Millrat]

If pp#1 is exerting a constant stretching pressure on your leading side thumb - i.e feels like it is trying to push it down the clubshaft - throughout the back and down swing, then the maintenance of extensor action should not be an issue.

Interesting angle, I'll give it a try. Whenever I tried to straighten the lead arm my focus was always on the trail thumb and forefinger pushing downward.

Any thoughts on the left vs right scenario?

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Interesting angle, I'll give it a try. Whenever I tried to straighten the lead arm my focus was always on the trail thumb and forefinger pushing downward.

Any thoughts on the left vs right scenario?

Here is all you need to know about extensor action:

(you're a lefty so i'll give the below advice for a lefty for all you righties reading need to reverse it)

-Take your stance as you would with any normal club except with no club.
-Stick your right thubm in the hitchhiker position
-Using your left thumb and forefinger grab your "hitchiking thumb" and while keeping a dead "inert" right arm, simply use your left arm to pull the right arm to the top of the swing and to keep it straight.

At any point you should be able to let go of your hitchhiking thumb and that right arm fall right down. If it doesn't, you have too much tension in that arm.

 

[cdog]

feel

As far as feel goes and learning to properly use Ext. action, I like to think of the pushing action comming from the wrist, almost like my rear is hand missing, so i would be pushing with the end of my fore arm bone.

Then to take that to striking the ball hit extremely small shots, little chips and pitches concentrating the feel of E.A.

 

[birdie_man]

It's a pretty light pressure...

You can still (and definitely should) have loose wrists....(and set the club whenever you want)....I think you can overdo it and end up with tension in there.....and an overly late set (esp. a big problem if you don't Float in the downswing).

Greg McHatton is a great example I think.....Extensor Action....and a late set....but obviously no tension.

But....he Float loads a lot....so does Sergio.....everyone's different....

 

[Brian Manzella]

So easy....

Way too easy to OVERDO extensor action.

I do it pretty well, but I HAVE oevrdone it.

I rarely have to teach it much because, if you do OTHER THINGS well, it sorta just "happens."

That's way I don't teach Right Forearm Takeaway very much. I get it done using other methods.

IMO, BETTER methods.

 

[Millrat]

I think a part of my original question got lost along the way so I'll try it another way:

Should a person who is right handed (throws, writes, mouse, darts) swing left or right or does it make much difference. My left hand/arm is nowhere near as co-ordinated as my right hence my trouble with EA and other TGM concepts that tend to focus on this arm.

CW

 

[Mike O]

extensor action

I think a part of my original question got lost along the way so I'll try it another way:

Should a person who is right handed (throws, writes, mouse, darts) swing left or right or does it make much difference. My left hand/arm is nowhere near as co-ordinated as my right hence my trouble with EA and other TGM concepts that tend to focus on this arm.

CW

Someone asked Homer that exact question- he thought that NO it really would not make a difference.

 

[Brian Manzella]

Mike Oh!

Someone asked Homer that exact question- he thought that NO it really would not make a difference.

Dead on Mike (and Homer).

So Millrat, it is the ALIGNMENT and THE PHYSICS not the how.

The essence of The Golfing Machine.

 

[Mike O]

Way too easy to OVERDO extensor action.

I do it pretty well, but I HAVE oevrdone it.

I rarely have to teach it much because, if you do OTHER THINGS well, it sorta just "happens."

That's way I don't teach Right Forearm Takeaway very much. I get it done using other methods.

IMO, BETTER methods.

Absolutely - extensor action can easily be "overdone". What's the primary purpose of extensor action? To keep the left arm straight (for us righties). So, you've first got to ask yourself - is my lead arm straight? If it is- then I really wouldn't worry about extensor action. How many man hours have been waisted on extensor action when - as Brian says " it just sort of happens".

Before Extensor Action- if you were bending or collapsing your lead arm on the backswing- golf instructors would say "keep your left arm straight"- and you'd probably or might, still bend it. So just consider the thought "keep your left arm straight" as the aspirin and if you really need it- "Extensor Action" as the Tylenol.

Great Post Brian- "Digging it out of the dirt"- Golden stuff.

 

[birdie_man]

I think a part of my original question got lost along the way so I'll try it another way:

Should a person who is right handed (throws, writes, mouse, darts) swing left or right or does it make much difference. My left hand/arm is nowhere near as co-ordinated as my right hence my trouble with EA and other TGM concepts that tend to focus on this arm.

CW

Ya man I think all that stuff is bunk....

Just do w/e is most comfy for you starting out.

 

[Millrat]

Right on,

Dead on Mike (and Homer).

So Millrat, it is the ALIGNMENT and THE PHYSICS not the how.

The essence of The Golfing Machine.

Glad to hear this, really.

CW

 

[Millrat]

Root cause,

Absolutely - extensor action can easily be "overdone". What's the primary purpose of extensor action? To keep the left arm straight (for us righties). So, you've first got to ask yourself - is my lead arm straight? If it is- then I really wouldn't worry about extensor action. How many man hours have been waisted on extensor action when - as Brian says " it just sort of happens".

Before Extensor Action- if you we're bending or collapsing your lead arm on the backswing- golf instructors would say "keep your left arm straight"- and you'd probably or might, still bend it. So just consider the thought "keep your left arm straight" as the aspirin and if you really need it- "Extensor Action" as the Tylenol.

Great Post Brian- "Digging it out of the dirt"- Golden stuff.

This is really where it all started for me. Video revealed my right arm collapsing in backswing-not alot though-and I've tried to use the Tylenol solution to straighten it out.

Again, this is not hurting my game so much, its just one of those visual things you pick up on with video. Only a couple professionals let the arm collapse (I hate that term BTW).


CW