More Swing vs. Hit - Is one preferred?

[Jimmy A.]

I've always been under the impression that swinging was the preferred method. This is probably because Ben Doyle is the only AI that I've ever gone to see, and he teaches swinging. I've struggled and struggled trying to swing. I've had good results, at times, but I've also constantly fought the urge to hit at it with my hands and arms, flip because either I hit at it with the hands and arms, pivot stopped, left arm quit rotating - whatever. Today, just for the heck of it, I tinkered around with hitting. I have no AI here to talk to in person, but I believe I'm familiar with how to execute the procedure. So, I took my wedge and shag bag, and back to the school yard (they're really going to hate me if they ever take notice to the ever increasing divots that are popping up all over the place). To make a long story short, hitting seemed easy. I didn't feel like I was struggling in any way. All my pivot was really doing was moving my body into a position where I could drive PP#1 right through the aiming point. I had no problems keeping a flat left wrist. No problem trying to sequence everything just right, blah blah blah. Extensor action was much easier to feel as well since I'm driving the right arm anyway - something that I have always struggled with when trying to swing. If I applied any extensor action, I felt like my arms were overpowering the swinging procedure. I've always sort of suspected that I might have an easier time hitting but, for whatever reason, I had it in my mind that it was an inferior procedure. I finally let myself try it today and the results were more promising than I would have imagined for a first go at it. I might be a full time hitter real quick here if my practice sessions keep going like this. So, with all of that said, is there really a school of thought that says swinging is the superior procedure? If so, why? Brian, if you're reading this, do you typically teach hitting, or do you, like Ben, try to teach your students to swing? If so, why?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[oztrainee]

Zero Pivot motion could be a difficult things to do sometime. Our body parts are all connected, if we are moving one part, the rest will follow (counter balance). You might be thinking of using your hands on Hitting, but of that action we are triggering the body pivot to function too.
It is difficult to run two power source in a golf swing, Hands and pivot at the same time. Think about if we have to motors in a car (One wheel each), would it make it easier to go straight?

 

[Mathew]

I prefer swinging to hitting because it suits me... but it is not because hitting is a inferior procedure.

 

[6bee1dee]

quote:Originally posted by Mathew

I prefer swinging to hitting because it suits me... but it is not because hitting is a inferior procedure.

Before Yoda, nobody gave Hitting much thought. Few even knew how it worked and that made you an outsider- at least on the early TGM Forums.

Yoda has not only added a Stroke but also gave it its rightful place.

Which to do? Either or Both. Ya like to Pull or Push? Long clubs whirl easy and shorts can be pushed which is what I do.

 

[Mathew]

Hitting rocks - its just not my natural inclination.... It sure feels great but then so does swinging.... its just different - which is better bud or millar ?

 

[EdZ]

guinness

 

[EdZ]

quote:Originally posted by oztrainee

Zero Pivot motion could be a difficult things to do sometime. Our body parts are all connected, if we are moving one part, the rest will follow (counter balance). You might be thinking of using your hands on Hitting, but of that action we are triggering the body pivot to function too.
It is difficult to run two power source in a golf swing, Hands and pivot at the same time. Think about if we have to motors in a car (One wheel each), would it make it easier to go straight?

Great Post OZ....[8D]

"Hit the ball as hard as you can with BOTH hands" - Ben Hogan

 

[Jimmy A.]

quote:Originally posted by oztrainee

Zero Pivot motion could be a difficult things to do sometime. Our body parts are all connected, if we are moving one part, the rest will follow (counter balance). You might be thinking of using your hands on Hitting, but of that action we are triggering the body pivot to function too.
It is difficult to run two power source in a golf swing, Hands and pivot at the same time. Think about if we have to motors in a car (One wheel each), would it make it easier to go straight?

I apologize, but I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. I'm not striving for Zero Pivot. I feel like my pivot is working, just working in a different role. While the motion feels pretty much the same, I feel like my pivot is more passive. Instead of feeling like my pivot is providing power, it just feels like my pivot is doing what it needs to do in order for me to thrust PP1 down the line. Like I said, the basic motion feels pretty much the same. Am I executing the hitting procedure incorrectly doing it like this?

 

[Archie Swivel]

Not sure if this is advisable, but I switch between hitting and swinging based on distance and pin position. I can swing a 9-iron with draw spin about 145 maximum, but I hit a 9-iron with a high finish about 134 yards. I can swing my full swing sand wedge 95 yards, but I hit it 80 yards with a high finish with cut spin. Make sense?

Do any of you interchange based on distance/pin position?

 

[remontjr]

quote:Originally posted by EdZ

guinness

I'll drink to that! No lite sissy beer for me!

 

[dmadras]

I think the best swings are dynamic "swingers" or Syncronized "hitters"

 

[oztrainee]

quote:Originally posted by Jimmy A.

quote:Originally posted by oztrainee

Zero Pivot motion could be a difficult things to do sometime. Our body parts are all connected, if we are moving one part, the rest will follow (counter balance). You might be thinking of using your hands on Hitting, but of that action we are triggering the body pivot to function too.
It is difficult to run two power source in a golf swing, Hands and pivot at the same time. Think about if we have to motors in a car (One wheel each), would it make it easier to go straight?

I apologize, but I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. I'm not striving for Zero Pivot. I feel like my pivot is working, just working in a different role. While the motion feels pretty much the same, I feel like my pivot is more passive. Instead of feeling like my pivot is providing power, it just feels like my pivot is doing what it needs to do in order for me to thrust PP1 down the line. Like I said, the basic motion feels pretty much the same. Am I executing the hitting procedure incorrectly doing it like this?

I totally see your point Jim, and also I think I some getting some support from EDZ too. I had posted a thread a week ago, Jim and EDZ might understanding I am trying to ask.


http://www.manzellagolfforum.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2289

 

[bantamben1]

you might want to also look at your natural backswing if you have a natural longish backswing with a full turn swing. if you have a 3/4 turn like yoda who doesnt turn his back much mainly using his arms, hitting would probably be better. when a player goes to the end and starts back down it is extremely difficult to not start down swinging centrifical force wants to kick in. the shorter swing that only goes to the top easily adapts to the thrusting of the right arm.

 

[birdie_man]

Ya man...I think that's huge in deciding what you should do w/ your swing.

I think it's good to build on and work with as many natural tendancies as possible.

Like Moe Norman says "Everyoone has their own blueprint."

 

[Jimmy A.]

It's interesting, but I'm back to swinging for the time being. I'm glad I tried hitting though, because I actually feel like it helped my swinging. I think I have been "switting" this entire time, but now that I've made the distinction, it's a lot easier to do either. Unrelated to hitting or swinging, I realized that I had gotten too close to the ball. Instead of hanging straight down at address, my hands were well inside and close to my body. Between my recent tinkering with hitting and, consequently, feeling like I am actually swinging better, as well as freeing myself up now that my arms are in a better position at address, I felt like I hit the ball pretty well today. I'm playing tomorrow, so we'll see if that holds true.

 

[David Alford]

Went to a golf tournament here in Tasmania that featured Tassie's top players. I was surprised how many were hitters. How could I tell? I can tell...