Is it ok to swing and to hit???

[Tball88]

Typically when I'm playing my best golf, I feel like I have more of left side cetrifugal force swing when using my woods and long irons. How ever,I feel that I must use more of a "hitting" motion/more right hand to strike my short irons well.

Is this normal? Or do most golfers alway "hit" or always "swing"?

 

[EdStraker]

It isn't unusual to find players who "swing" the woods and long irons and use a "hitting" procedure for the short irons.

 

[McDuff]

but... components of the swing we need to be different for each. Pressure points, takeaway, hinging, etc.

 

[Brian Manzella]

...here we go again...

 

[Tball88]

McDuff, care to go into the differences a bit. Brian, based on your comment, is there another thread I should refer to?

 

[McDuff]

okay... I guess this is the age old question.. Nobody likes to critize Homer but the book IS inconsistent. He clearly breaks out swinging and hitting as separate motions but also says "or do both" in the book. He talks about a 4 barrel motion being better but harder to execute. I'm just seeing the Ben Doyle tape now so I'm getting a better sense of it.

Here are a couple of key differences that I see:

1) you need a #4 pressure point to swing. Otherwise you won't "blast" the left arm off the chest with centrifigal force.
2) you need a #1 pressure point to hit because its a straighening of the right arm action.
3) "drive" load for hitting vs. "drag" or float loading for swinging. Think of the difference between pushing a wet mop vs. cracking a whip.
4) "Angled" hinging for hitting vs. "dual horizontal" for swinging. This is one of the reason why hitting is generally considered more accurate than swinging. There is less rotation of the face through impact.
5) You would like want a more forward ball position for swinging as well.

While there are variations, those are some of the differences you would expect to see.

 

[6bee1dee]

To swing or to hit has always been a sore stop with me. I have read that to do both, Homer meant with different clubs, long=swing, short=hit. Others say the 4 barrel is both. I really don't know.

Here is something I recently posted on a question about Toms'swing.
It comes from Homers "notes" that will be part of the new edition of the "Book."



“...Left Arm or Right Arm - If the Right Arm Drive propels the Left Arm Lever Assemblies, it is still a Left Arm Stroke because the center of the Clubhead Arc is the Left Shoulder. It is merely Right Arm Powered. But - if the center of the Clubhead Arc is at the Right Elbow, then it is a true Right Arm Stroke, the Bat. Right Arm thrust can add considerable yardage for an out and out Swinger, provided its tendency toward Angled Hinging is recognized. Pivot Thrust can add about half as much increase in yardage for an out and out Hitter provided its tendency toward Horizontal Hinging is recognized.”

my other two cents then:

Then Swing is determined by shoulder position and Hit by right elbow. Too many swingers, on our hack level, are afraid to use the right forearm, thinking they are now hitters (god forbid) and Hitters are afraid of pivot. The pros use both correctly and this is how we see both Swing and Hit in our favorite swings. Don’t be afraid to use both halves of your body.

 

[Tball88]

I have a natural tendency to work the ball right to left(draw bias), when using a hitting motion, I sometimes get too much of a horizontal hinge and start hook badly with the longer clubs. However, I use more of swinging motion, it seems to lesson the amount of horizontal hinge I get, and shots straighten out a little.

My natural tendency though is to be a hitter.

 

[dude]

quote:“...Left Arm or Right Arm - If the Right Arm Drive propels the Left Arm Lever Assemblies, it is still a Left Arm Stroke because the center of the Clubhead Arc is the Left Shoulder. It is merely Right Arm Powered. But - if the center of the Clubhead Arc is at the Right Elbow, then it is a true Right Arm Stroke, the Bat. Right Arm thrust can add considerable yardage for an out and out Swinger, provided its tendency toward Angled Hinging is recognized. Pivot Thrust can add about half as much increase in yardage for an out and out Hitter provided its tendency toward Horizontal Hinging is recognized.”

This quote was actually taken from an audio. For those with the book, the quoted text can be found in 1-F and 10-19-0. So in conclusion, since the text is already in the 6th Edition, no changes are necessary for the 7th Edition.

golfingrandy

 

[dude]

quote:Originally posted by Tball88

I have a natural tendency to work the ball right to left(draw bias), when using a hitting motion, I sometimes get too much of a horizontal hinge and start hook badly with the longer clubs. However, I use more of swinging motion, it seems to lesson the amount of horizontal hinge I get, and shots straighten out a little.

My natural tendency though is to be a hitter.

If Brian had two available hands I am sure he would have already responded to this post but......In Hitting using Horizontal Hinge action, one would just need to rotate their plane line to the right, per 10-5.

Brian, hope you are improving daily.

golfingrandy

 

[Tball88]

If I moved the plane line to the right, would this not start the ball more right, which would lead to a greater hook. I guess the way I vision it, I would be adjusting the plane to compensate for the ball flight, rather than correcting the ball flight??? Maybe I'm not understanding you correctly.

 

[dude]

quote:Originally posted by Tball88

If I moved the plane line to the right, would this not start the ball more right, which would lead to a greater hook. I guess the way I vision it, I would be adjusting the plane to compensate for the ball flight, rather than correcting the ball flight???

Yes, you got it as far as the comp. for ball flight instead of changing Hinge Action.

Why do you think the rotation of plane line would create more hook?

 

[Tball88]

Well, my initial thought was that I could actually come more from the inside, but since I would be altering the entire plane, that would not be the case. Worked with a GSEB some tonight and I think I came a long way. He pointed out that I am still utilizing some left arm swivel, with a hitting motion, that is creating the hook. I started working on completing my swing with a completely inactive left side and the hook quickly left. I may actually be making some progress.