Shaft bend at the top of the swing

[jazzyshan]

What are good players doing that causes shaft bend at the top of the backswing?

 

[bts]

I believe it's called clubhead "lag" loading by pushing or pulling the shaft against the inertia of the clubhead.

 

[oztrainee]

Transition, changing of direction... this is what I heard from my coach
Think about your are wiping a thin stick, you will use your wrist to lag the stick towards the target, but moving it from one direction to an opposite direction, and that make the stick bend.

 

[jazzyshan]

So is it really just an optical illusion that it appears to be _paused_ at the top in a bent condition?

 

[wanole]

quote:Originally posted by jazzyshan

So is it really just an optical illusion that it appears to be _paused_ at the top in a bent condition?

no, it actually bends. Look at a Tom Watson photo in the early 80's. The bend happens when the grip starts away from the target.

 

[bts]

It does pause briefly at the top, which is the moment when a balance is reached between the FORWARD acceleration (pull or push of the grip) and the BACKWARD (or stationary) inertia (of the club, especially the clubhead), similar to pushing the clubhead against the base of a wall or something stationary.

The degree of shaft bend reflects the amount of clubhead "lag", also similar to adding weight to the clubhead while holding the club horizontally or the force applied to bend it against something (the wall or the inertia of the clubhead).

Ideally, you would like to keep "Bending That Shaft" throughout the action.