Jim Blackwell
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What does "Flying Wedges" mean and how do I incorporate it into my swing?
Flying Wedges
- Thread starter Jim Blackwell
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rwh
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The "Flying Wedges" Assembly is the relationship of the left and right arm at the point in the swing when you achieve a Flat Left Wrist and Bent Right Wrist and the Right Forearm is positioned at right angles to the left arm plane.
You incorporate it by going to the Flat Left, Bent Right Wrist conditions during the backswing and maintaining that alignment until after the ball is gone, at which point you will transition to the both arms straight position.
If you have a copy of The Golfing Machine, look at the "Three Zones" photos on pages 124 - 127. You can easily see the Flying Wedges Assembly in a number of photos, including 9-2-5 #2, 9-2-9 and 9-2-10 #2.
Excellent post, rwh, and very helpful visual references as well.
For clarification, note that the Flying Wedge alignments are maintained at least to the end of the Follow-Through -- the Both Arms Straight position. In other words, even though the Right Arm has straightened, the Right Wrist remains Bent.
Ideally, the alignments are intact in ten of the Twelve Sections of the Stroke (Chapter 8), the only exceptions being Sections One and Three (Preliminary and Adjusted Address per 6-B-3-0-1).
The best way that i have found to execute the flying wedges is to use Brian's Twistaway on the backstroke and holding that twist on the downstroke.
Merely flattening the left wrist and bending back the right doesn't do it for me.It feels too mechanical and i just do not have a "sense" of the clubhead.
Merely flattening the left wrist and bending back the right doesn't do it for me.It feels too mechanical and i just do not have a "sense" of the clubhead.
Maintaining the Flying Wedge Assembly alignments throughout the Stroke is mandatory. However, the procedure used to accomplish this goal is optional.
The second procedure you have described -- Single Wrist Action (10-18-C-2) -- is typically the Hitter's choice. It is indeed quite structured, and it is not surprising that you Feel it as more "mechanical." Here, the Pivot brings the Left Wrist into its On Plane Condition at The Top. Hence, though the Left Wrist gradually Turns to the Top, there is no true Rotation (Swivel) of the Left Wrist on the Backstroke.
Similarly, this procedure has no true Rotation (Swivel) on the Downstroke. The Left Wrist simply reverses its Backstroke Motion and gradually Rolls into Impact. In other words, the Left Wrist Turns and Rolls (due to the Turning of the Body and the orbiting of the Arm) but it is not deliberately Turned and Rolled (by the player). During the Release Interval, this Action is Powered by the Thrust of the Hitter's Active Right Elbow. At all times during the Stroke, the right-angled relationship of the Left Arm and Right Forearm Flying Wedges are maintained.
In contrast, your preferred procedure is the Swinger's Standard Wrist Action (10-18-A) with its deliberate Start Up and Release Swivels -- True Rotation -- and, also, its Sequenced Release (4-D-0) of the Left Wrist (Uncock) and Left Hand (Roll). As the Flat Left Wrist Turns and Rolls On Plane, the Bent Right Wrist and Right Forearm likewise Turn and Roll, thereby maintaining the proper 90 degree support of the Left Arm Flying Wedge. Centrifugal Force does almost all the work, and the whole thing requires a lot less effort and concentration than Hitting. As Homer said, "You can practically sleep and swing."
No wonder you like it better!
drewitgolf
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For a true swinger, does it (C.F.) do all the work?
drewit - for me, I find that I need to 'start' the work - think of a ball at the top of a mountiain - it can roll one way, or the other. You need to make sure the ball (forearm) rolls down the correct side of the mountain and you can then let it go from there. You have to 'start' the gyroscope to make sure it goes in the right direction, or you will find yourself in the 'right' direction. 
Thanks for that explanation!I certainly do like swinging better.I don't need to focus on any part of my body which tends to make it feel contrived and mechanical.I just focus on twisting away and holding on to the twist for dear life on the downswing,all the time feeling the swinging of the clubhead rather than thinking about my right arm or shoulder or whatever.
I don't know about sleeping my way through the swing though!It's still an awfully tough game.
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