I am trying to understand the natural release action of the PingMan machine.
Please correct any errors in my understanding.
I have been studying the PingMan's release action using my V1 Home swing analyser tool.
See - http://perfectgolfswingreview.net/PingMan.jpg
I have made the following presumptions. I presume that the downswing action is due to a central force acting at the central hinge point that causes the central arm to move at a "fixed" and CONSTANT rate of speed during the downswing, and that this speed is user-controllable. I presume that the peripheral hinge joint (where the club is attached to the far end of the central arm) is a totally passive joint, and that there are NO active movements at that peripheral hinge point. I presume that the peripheral hinge point joint has a certain amount of frictional resistance to movement, that is equivalent to the friction inherent in a golfer's wrists if the wrists are very relaxed.
The camera angle is from the right side, and slightly from the front, and I think that it is fair to state that the angle between the clubshaft and the central arm is approximately 90 degrees at the end-backswing position (image 1). It also seems that this 90 degree angle is retained throughout the first part of the downswing (images 1-4). I presume that the reason is due to the fact that the clubhead is gaining momentum during the start of the downswing, but that it cannot move faster than the central arm and hands (peripheral hinge joint) which are pulling the club around in a circle at a CONSTANT rate of speed. Although I advanced the PingMan swing video one frame at a time, I could not capture any additional images between image 4 and image 5 (impact image). It can be seen that a natural/automatic release occurs after the club reaches the delivery position (just after image 4) and I presume that it is due to the fact that the clubhead has gained sufficient momentum to allow the clubhead to move faster than the hands (peripheral hinge joint). Interestingly, the clubshaft has a slight forward lean at impact, presumably due to the fact that the clubhead has not quite caught up to the hands (peripheral hinge point) by impact.
If you agree with my reasoning regarding the PingMan machine's actions, then it seems to have significant implications for understanding the natural release action in the full golf swing. First of all, one doesn't need to actively "hold lag" to maintain a 90 degree angle between the clubshaft and the left arm in the first part of the downswing (until the club reaches the delivery position - where the clubshaft is parallel to the ground and parallel to the ball-target line and along the toe line). It will happen naturally/automatically if one moves the hands at a reasonably fast and CONSTANT rate of speed during the downswing AND if one has very relaxed wrists that do not impede/resist the automatic uncocking of the wrists that will occur after the club reaches the delivery position. Secondly, one will automatically have forward shaft lean at impact if the hands move sufficiently fast THROUGHOUT the ENTIRE downswing. If the hands slow down prior to impact, then there is an increased chance of flipping (having a cupped left wrist at impact and a clubhead that is ahead of the hands at impact). In other words, one must maintain a CONSTANTLY fast forward movement of the hands through impact and into the followthrough. I think that Tiger Woods swings like that (like the PingMan machine), and that there is NO slowing of his hands at impact (or his having near-stationary hands at impact like Mandrin has claimed). What do you think?
Jeff.
Please correct any errors in my understanding.
I have been studying the PingMan's release action using my V1 Home swing analyser tool.
See - http://perfectgolfswingreview.net/PingMan.jpg
I have made the following presumptions. I presume that the downswing action is due to a central force acting at the central hinge point that causes the central arm to move at a "fixed" and CONSTANT rate of speed during the downswing, and that this speed is user-controllable. I presume that the peripheral hinge joint (where the club is attached to the far end of the central arm) is a totally passive joint, and that there are NO active movements at that peripheral hinge point. I presume that the peripheral hinge point joint has a certain amount of frictional resistance to movement, that is equivalent to the friction inherent in a golfer's wrists if the wrists are very relaxed.
The camera angle is from the right side, and slightly from the front, and I think that it is fair to state that the angle between the clubshaft and the central arm is approximately 90 degrees at the end-backswing position (image 1). It also seems that this 90 degree angle is retained throughout the first part of the downswing (images 1-4). I presume that the reason is due to the fact that the clubhead is gaining momentum during the start of the downswing, but that it cannot move faster than the central arm and hands (peripheral hinge joint) which are pulling the club around in a circle at a CONSTANT rate of speed. Although I advanced the PingMan swing video one frame at a time, I could not capture any additional images between image 4 and image 5 (impact image). It can be seen that a natural/automatic release occurs after the club reaches the delivery position (just after image 4) and I presume that it is due to the fact that the clubhead has gained sufficient momentum to allow the clubhead to move faster than the hands (peripheral hinge joint). Interestingly, the clubshaft has a slight forward lean at impact, presumably due to the fact that the clubhead has not quite caught up to the hands (peripheral hinge point) by impact.
If you agree with my reasoning regarding the PingMan machine's actions, then it seems to have significant implications for understanding the natural release action in the full golf swing. First of all, one doesn't need to actively "hold lag" to maintain a 90 degree angle between the clubshaft and the left arm in the first part of the downswing (until the club reaches the delivery position - where the clubshaft is parallel to the ground and parallel to the ball-target line and along the toe line). It will happen naturally/automatically if one moves the hands at a reasonably fast and CONSTANT rate of speed during the downswing AND if one has very relaxed wrists that do not impede/resist the automatic uncocking of the wrists that will occur after the club reaches the delivery position. Secondly, one will automatically have forward shaft lean at impact if the hands move sufficiently fast THROUGHOUT the ENTIRE downswing. If the hands slow down prior to impact, then there is an increased chance of flipping (having a cupped left wrist at impact and a clubhead that is ahead of the hands at impact). In other words, one must maintain a CONSTANTLY fast forward movement of the hands through impact and into the followthrough. I think that Tiger Woods swings like that (like the PingMan machine), and that there is NO slowing of his hands at impact (or his having near-stationary hands at impact like Mandrin has claimed). What do you think?
Jeff.
