former flipper

[dannyc]

brian and crew:

in confessions of a former flipper, it seems that the beginning of the video is based more on working the pivot and keeping the left wrist flat, while the second half or so deals more with delivery path. is it wise, when practicing, to work on these seperately at the beginning? i.e., try to learn to keep left wrist flat, and then work on delivery line?

two other questions: i have had a difficult time hitting punch shots keeping the clubhead under my hands...it seems no matter how hard i try the clubhead keeps passing my hands...i can do it with no ball, but as soon as a ball appears...i can't help it. what could this mean?

however, i have been mashing it a little better, taking some nice divots. but i have zero clubface control...some high, some low, some pulls, some pushes...etc with the irons. with driver, i hit some hooks and some push slices...any tips on learing clubface control?

thanks for any input.
danny c

 

[Brian Manzella]

Great Questions, very important answers....!

in confessions of a former flipper, it seems that the beginning of the video is based more on working the pivot and keeping the left wrist flat, while the second half or so deals more with delivery path. is it wise, when practicing, to work on these seperately at the beginning? i.e., try to learn to keep left wrist flat, and then work on delivery line?

In my opinion, no.

Training the left wrist separately from the rest of the pattern, should occur AFTER you have a good grip & set-up, a good basic pivot, decent top and finish "stations," reasonable contact, and pretty good clubface control.

I have had a difficult time hitting punch shots keeping the clubhead under my hands...it seems no matter how hard i try the clubhead keeps passing my hands...i can do it with no ball, but as soon as a ball appears...i can't help it. what could this mean?

There are only FIVE ways to STOP the club below your hands:

1. The clubhead runs out of gas on its own.

2. The divot slowed the clubhead down enough for the clubhead run out of gas.

3. The LEFT WRIST "down-arches" itself through the ball.

4. The RIGHT WRIST "freezes" itself through the ball.

5. You apply FORCE ACROSS THE SHAFT.

None of them are required, and in some patterns, they would be DEATH.

So....

1. If the divot is in front of the back of the ball.

2. You head didn't move far forward to create #1.

3. And the clubhead is not arkwardly sailing past the hands after contact.​

You aren't a "flipper" any more.

any tips on learing clubface control?

Learn to hit straight shots—at any speed—using the following three "finish swivel" locations:

1. "Wedding ring up"/clubface at the target.

2. Face of the club TO the plane.

3. Face of the club 180° away from the target.
​

 

[dannyc]

So....
1. If the divot is in front of the back of the ball.

2. You head didn't move far forward to create #1.

3. And the clubhead is not arkwardly sailing past the hands after contact.
You aren't a "flipper" any more.

so if your doing these 3 things, your hooks are not leakage hooks?

Learn to hit straight shots—at any speed—using the following three "finish swivel" locations:
1. "Wedding ring up"/clubface at the target.

2. Face of the club TO the plane.

3. Face of the club 180° away from the target.

Brian,

1. i have nsa...i hook them with a wedding ring up finish...does that mean leakage, or just poor alignments?
2. is this a horizontal hinge/full roll?
3. where is the clubface looking here? at me?

thanks!

 

[Bigwill]

So....
1. If the divot is in front of the back of the ball.

2. You head didn't move far forward to create #1.

3. And the clubhead is not arkwardly sailing past the hands after contact.
You aren't a "flipper" any more.

so if your doing these 3 things, your hooks are not leakage hooks?

Learn to hit straight shots—at any speed—using the following three "finish swivel" locations:
1. "Wedding ring up"/clubface at the target.

2. Face of the club TO the plane.

3. Face of the club 180° away from the target.

Brian,

1. i have nsa...i hook them with a wedding ring up finish...does that mean leakage, or just poor alignments?
2. is this a horizontal hinge/full roll?
3. where is the clubface looking here? at me?

4. Does the left wrist need to be flat at this point?

 

[Brian Manzella]

Answers.

1. i have nsa...i hook them with a wedding ring up finish...does that mean leakage, or just poor alignments?

Could be either. But...with some golfers, hitting straight balls with a "wedding ring up" finish swivel, is just a DRILL.

2. is this a horizontal hinge/full roll?

The "wedding ring up" finish swivel is something that happening AFTER "hinge action."

What it is IS a full rotation of the left arm, winding up with an ARCHED left wrist.

3. where is the clubface looking here? at me?

In the "wedding ring up" finish swivel—the clubface looks at the TARGET, in an "orthodox" finish swivel—the face toward the plane, on a "gather up the marbles" finish swivel—away from the target,

Left wrist positions of the above:

1. In the "wedding ring up" finish swivel—the clubface looks at the TARGET.
Left Wrist Arched.

2. An "orthodox" finish swivel—the face toward the plane.
Left Wrist SLIGHTLY Bent.

3. On a "gather up the marbles" finish swivel—away from the target.
Left Wrist BENT.​

What happens when the LEFT WRIST IS FLAT?

Something like "1.5," in between 1 & 2.

 

[dannyc]

sorry about the miscommunication...i meant for the #s to correspond with the clubface positions you described in your first reply...but you answered them anyway. thanks.

just to be clear, is clubface to the plane (wrist position #2 in your first reply) what homer would call horizontal hinge and ben would call full roll? and in #3 in your reply, gathering the marbles is a way to describe a feeeling in the right hand?

also found this post in the archives. it a drill you gave bill miracle. is this good for everyone to practice?

Clubface Control - Not A Primer, a Hard-Arse Program
1. Hit 5 shots with a 5-iron—doing you normal stuff—you are relatively happy with.

2. Weaken your grip as much as you can and try to hit 3 straight balls.

3. Strengthen your grip as much as you can and try to hit 3 straight balls.

4. Weaken your grip BETWEEN "as weak as you can" and normal, try to hit 3 straight balls.

5. With a grip BETWEEN "as strong as you can" and normal, try to hit 3 fades.

6. With a grip BETWEEN "as weak as you can" and normal, try to hit 3 fades.

7. Hit 3 draws with your normal grip

8. With a grip BETWEEN "as strong as you can" and normal, try to hit 3 draws.

9. With a grip BETWEEN "as weak as you can" and normal, try to hit 3 draw.

10. Hit three fades with your normal grip

Report back and tell me what you learned.
__________________
The IMPERATIVES should dictate the components—not the other way around.

Brian Manzella is a PGA Teaching Professional and Authorized Doctor of Golf Stroke Engineering (Instructor) of The Golfing Machine who teaches in New Orleans, Louisiana and Louisville, Kentucky.
www.brianmanzella.com