My response......... 
Well, first of all let me say that I have great respect for Brian as a teacher and the quality of information/participation/participants on this site. I also would never involve myself in a thread on this site out of respect to Brian and his opinions/teachings. However, one of my students linked me to this thread and as footage of MY swing is used in this thread and MY opinions on the golf swing are posted within it (although INcorrectly) I do feel the need to at least reply in some form. I hope all who read this will understand the motivation for this post and respect that I'm not trying to cause any problems within this thread. In fact, I've stated over and over again the following......
"IMOP there are 3 really good teachers that I know of in LA, Rob Noel, Chuck Winstead, and Brian Manzellla"
In FACT I've recommended Brian to several people from the New Orleans/Baton Rouge areas. This was based on what Jimmy K told me in regards to Brian's teachings/thoughts/methods during his 4 day visit here a couple of years ago.....btw, ALL of which I agreed with 100%. I might not teach in the exact same manner as Brian nor would I most probably believe 100% in Brian's opinion of the most efficient way of swinging a golf club (in theory) to produce BOTH power AND accuracy, but, I certainly very much respect his opinions. (however, it sure wouldn't surprise me, once we had a face to face opportunity to "visit," if we didn't see eye to eye for the most part) Anyway, this will be my first and most probably only post as it's not my site and I respect Brian's opinions, etc.
First of all, I've NEVER said that I DISagree with the theory of a "kinetic chain." In fact I KNOW that certain components of a human body WILL slow while others will speed up. They MUST as certain parts have a limited range of motion while others are not limited nearly as much. (for example, the range of motion of the hips is roughly 1/2 that of the shoulders) There are also WILDY differing abilities/flexibility between INDIVIDUALS as well as certain swing "styles" that lend themselves to identical components working in varying manners, to varying degrees, and sometimes in VERY different manners/sequencing. IMOP most of this variation is due to differences in individuals and what IS required for the clubface to have the opportunity to attack from reasonable angles and to impact the ball in a position so as to promote both a powerful and accurate ball flight. (IMOP, the DOWNswing sequencing is nothing more than a REACTION to the SET UP and backswing........."a player does certain things in their set up/backswing and certain things MUST occur in their downswings to create a fundamentally sound impact zone/angles".......I also feel VERY strongly that in the best swings the DOWNswing is a REACTION and involves lil' or no conscious thought beyond, at most, a simple PRE-shot swing key/thought)
What I have said is that I think it is a mistake to CONSCIOUSLY attempt to slow one part of the body and then CONSCIOUSLY attempt to speed up another. A "mistake" in that ANYtime a player TRY'S to CONSCIOUSLY "slow" anything and CONSCIOUSLY "speed up" something in the DOWNSWING an element of UNnecessary "timing" WILL be involved. UNnecessary in that the swing could be improved so that NO CONSCIOUS "slowing and speeding up" would be necessary to strike the ball in a compressed manner resulting in a powerful and ACCURATE golf shots and in a RELIABLE manner. Something which, again IMOP, IS a NECESSITY if a person desires to COMPETE under pressure. A downswing, in ALL good golf swings, takes less than ONE second and, IMOP, better involve as lil' CONSCIOUS thought as is humanly possible. A SINGLE downswing swing key that was focused upon BEFORE the club is taken back is fantastic, but, to try and focus on TWO things at once when both are in motion and occurring in a microflash is UNrealistic at best, and folly at worst........again, IMOP. I believe that the most efficient golf swings involve a downswing sequence that is nothing more than an UNconscious REACTION to what occurred in the backswing. The most important thing is for the player to get the SET UP and BACKswing correct........then the rest is more or less a reaction.......AGAIN, IMOP........
I've also stated that I disagree with the term "snapping the kinetic chain." To the AVERAGE golfer this implys that he/she needs to "slam on the brakes" and "snap/crack" the golf club/shaft like some sort of horse whip and do all this from well inside the intended line of flight. Do certain players do this? I have NO doubt that some do and the ball might well go a LOOOOONG way. However, will it go a long way in a CONSISTENTLY ACCURATE manner? Not IMOP as there is too much face rotation IN the impact zone. It's a recipe for BIG blocks and BIG hooks with a few GREAT shots mixed in there somewhere. If a person wants to be the guy who everyone talks about their "350 yard drive on 14" then this "type" of swing might well work. However, if a person wishes to have em' all talkin' about the 65 they just shot, I have my doubts......
In my experience/opinion the GREATEST ballstrikers, those that could, do, and did strike the golf ball with great accuracy and adequate distance under extreme pressure, certainly didn't TRY and "snap" anything. Now, did/do great ballstrikers have certain parts of their anatomy slowing down as that particular parts range of motion or muscular reaction dissipated while another part continued to accelerate, without question this certainly does occur and I've known it for probably 20 years and it's in ALL the truly good golf swings that I've helped develop.........the player just doesn't know it. (but I do
) However, IMOP, in the great swingers it was a REACTION and not something done consciously. THAT is what I have to say about "snapping kinetic chains." (at least in this venue)
I've also seen it written in this thread (and insinuated by people who know NOT of what they speak) that I teach a golf swing type that involves nothing but a continuous spin of the body with all parts moving at the same rate and at the same time with the arms/club "going left" as if to say I teach some type of "spin out/over" move with the arms/club being "drug" by the body. Nothing could be FURTHER from the truth. However, this is NOT the venue to explain what I do believe as this is Brian's site and not mine. I will do so at the appropriate time and in the appropriate environment. I will say this, I have had 4 people with graduate level/doctorate level degrees in physics/mechanical engineering visit here in the past year ALL of whom also know a bit about BOTH the laws of physics AND the golf swing. They have upon viewing the footage and hearing from MY mouth what I believe, to a man, agreed 100% with my explanations as to the physics involved. As a result I'm VERY comfortable with whatever "my PREFERRED method" of swinging a golf club "is" and that it will/does pass muster when it comes to "the physics."
In conclusion and most importantly, I KNOW whatever it is that I do works and produces VERY good golf swings that consistently produce quality golf shots and under extreme pressure. "RESULTS don't lie, people do"......
Again, I'm submitting this post with the greatest of respect for Brian and this site simply in hopes of clarifying a bit MY position in regards to the subject matter involved. Please also remember I was brought into this thread without my knowledge, etc.
I hope one and all enjoy a Merry Christmas/Hannakuh/"Holiday Season"
Geoff Jones........aka "slicefixer"
