Left wrist

[Archie Swivel]

For weeks I've been working on not bending my left wrist on the backswing and was able to easily accomplish it once I got my right elbow in place. However, I filmed my swing today and my left wrist was too arched. I tinkered around with it a bit and tried to get my left wrist to cock, too. See 10-2-C. (Hope I'm not jumping 10 lessons ahead, Brian!) This gave me a feeling of pressure on my left thumb at the top of the backswing. I filmed it again and my left wrist was absolutely flat and my club shaft was parallel at the top. My question is whether this is a proper sensation and whether it is recommended. Also, I specifically ask Brian if this is something I should stick with or abandon for our lessons.

ArchMan

 

[matt]

quote:I tinkered around with it a bit and tried to get my left wrist to cock, too.

The bending of the right elbow will automatically cock the left wrist. The left wristcock is NOT a left wrist motion - it's a right arm motion (2-M-3).

 

[Archie Swivel]

Yeah Matt, makes sense, but I've been doing the twist away on the backswing and I think that caused my left wrist to arch instead of just flatten. It is possible to have proper right arm motion, but have an arched left wrist, is it not? Or does the former automatically guarantee the latter will not happen?

 

[Brian Manzella]

The left thumb thingy is very correct.

 

[matt]

Remember, we want a flat left wrist, not a bent or arched one.

Arching your left wrist will automatically increase the amount of right wrist bend you established at Impact Fix. This is not desirable because you want to maintain the exact amount of right wrist bend you established at Impact Fix by having a "frozen" right wrist throughout the stroke.

However, Homer does state that "a small amount [of arching] is advisable and very useful (as insurance against 4-A-2 above [bent left wrist] and as amplification of Clubhead Lag) if its Push Shot tendency is properly compensated." (4-A-3)

So the answer is yes, you can have an arched left wrist condition. But you must note that it is NOT a flat left wrist as the #1 Imperative states. You also need a compensation against Push Shot tendencies - but our goal is an uncompensated stroke.

Is it possible to have a correct right arm motion with an arched left wrist? Sure. But can you have proper right wrist motion - might be a little more difficult than if you had a flat left wrist.

 

[Archie Swivel]

Matt, or anyone,

Is it not acceptable to have a slightly bent left wrist and slightly arched right wrist at address? 7-8. Does that conflict with the requirement of having a 'frozen right wrist bend' throughout the entire stroke? Is the twist away a "compensation" against slicing and not something I should rely on now that it has served its purpose?

ArchMan

 

[lagster]

I have also heard this called the CLASSIC ADDRESS, with the hands at Mid-body. One is less likely to take the club too inside from here, than from starting at FIX.

I'm pretty sure the book says it's easier to move into a position, than to hold a position. So, this may be an advantage also.

When starting from Address(mid-body), the ball will be more towards the toe of the club, and be slightly CLOSED. At Fix, the club will be very slightly OPEN.

 

[matt]

quote:Originally posted by Archie Swivel

Matt, or anyone,

Is it not acceptable to have a slightly bent left wrist and slightly arched right wrist at address? 7-8. Does that conflict with the requirement of having a 'frozen right wrist bend' throughout the entire stroke? Is the twist away a "compensation" against slicing and not something I should rely on now that it has served its purpose?

ArchMan

You can absolutely have a bent left wrist and a flat right wrist at address - you'd be assuming Adjusted Address position with mid-body hands. The clubface will be slightly closed to the target line (as opposed to slightly at Fix) and the left wrist will indeed be bent.

If you start from this position, you must make sure to get your alignments correct as soon as possible after startup. Get that left wrist flat and that right wrist bent as soon as you take the club up. Then keep those alignments intact until after you swivel out of followthrough and into the finish - only then will the left wrist bend.

As far as the twist-away goes, I'm sure you know that any drill can be overdone. Do it until you're fixed, then stop.

 

[Archie Swivel]

quote:Originally posted by matt

quote:I tinkered around with it a bit and tried to get my left wrist to cock, too.

The bending of the right elbow will automatically cock the left wrist. The left wristcock is NOT a left wrist motion - it's a right arm motion (2-M-3).

Matt, if this is true then how does Pressure Point #2, 6-C-1, work with Accumulator #2, 6-B-2-0. See 10-11-0-2. I know what the 4 accumulators are and what the 4 pressure points are, but I guess I don't understand how they work in conjunction with each other. For instance, PP#1 is supposed to actuate the primary lever assembly for Extensor Action. 10-11-0-1. Does that mean you use your right hand heel pad to sense pushing your right arm straight? Somebody please educate me on the proper application of these words of science. Part of my goal behind this question is that I want to be able to trust that my left wrist is flat AND cocked at the top (and not cupped, arched or just flat), so do I KNOW this through knowing that my right arm has extensor action, or should I FEEL this through, say, the last 3 fingers of my left hand, pp#2, or through my right hand heel pad, pp#1.

I apologize for my ignorance of TGM if my questions are stupid. By the way, who's that chick in the pictures in the yellow book. Was that Homer's wife or something-- just curious.

 

[EdStraker]

If what I read in a TGM forum a year ago is true, the woman's photos who appears in TGM was one of Homer's students. I believe she was his neighbor and her name was Diane.