The Release of the Left Arm Across the Chest

[Todd Dugan]

I've suggested on this thread that the horizontal positions vary between clubs... between the driver, long irons and short irons.... and if its a fully sequenced swing or a quiet lower body swing as with short clubs. Also body anatomy largely influences the relationship between the lead arm and should span length.

What is so significant about Nicklaus' driver swing and the position of his left arm?

Good point about different clubs. Shoulders are typically more open at impact with driver. I see that with Tour pros and its very obvious in my own swing.

Regarding Nicklaus, the more the left arm swings back to the left across the chest before impact, the earlier the right arm straightens.....the earlier the right arm straightens, the earlier the shaft is released past the left arm. Nicklaus had thos elements in his swing. Slightly unusual for a Tour pro, but it certainly didn't hinder his typically long and straight ball flight.

 

[Brian Manzella]

Slightly unusual for a Tour pro...

No.

 

[grahler]

I remember somewhere Nicklaus said as long as his left hand grip didn't slip he would hit the ball pretty much where he wanted(driver) I always thought that was cool.

 

[ej20]

I remember somewhere Nicklaus said as long as his left hand grip didn't slip he would hit the ball pretty much where he wanted(driver) I always thought that was cool.

He also said he never missed a three foot putt and you believe him?

With Jack,you gotta learn to read between the lines.

 

[grahler]

LOL okay bud. The comment shows what kind of force he used...Thats why I thought it was cool.

 

[Brian Manzella]

The internet terrible ball-strikers:

Luke Donald - Finished #1 on US and Euro tour, never done in history.

Phil Mickelson - Wins 40th PGA Tour Event today - Top 10 all-time

Jack Nicklaus - Best player of all-time


Common sense.


That's why this site is #1 and all the folks who think those three guys are "sub par" will never catch me.

 

[OLIVER1]

The internet terrible ball-strikers:

Luke Donald - Finished #1 on US and Euro tour, never done in history.

Phil Mickelson - Wins 40th PGA Tour Event today - Top 10 all-time

Jack Nicklaus - Best player of all-time


Common sense.


That's why this site is #1 and all the folks who think those three guys are "sub par" will never catch me.

There are actually people who think that Nicklaus and Mickelson are "sub-par?"

And these guys are actualyy making a name for themselves teaching? Oh my...

 

[natep]

I got to go to Pebble for the practice round on wednesday and went to Spyglass for thursdays round. Spent a lot of time watching Ricky Fowler on wednesday, and followed Phil and Kevin Na on thursday. All three of them straighten the right arm quickly, and supposedly have "high rates of closure". Getting to watch these guys gave me a renewed perspective on just how ridiculous some of this stuff in internet golf land is. These guys are so pure, there's not even a hint of clubface issues with these guys. I'm never going to give this "rate of closure" BS another second of thought.

 

[gmbtempe]

There are actually people who think that Nicklaus and Mickelson are "sub-par?"

And these guys are actualyy making a name for themselves teaching? Oh my...

I think that's a distortion of what is being said. We are talking about optimal mechanics in the golf swing and not just playing golf. I have not seen much talk of Nicklaus but what Mickelson does can be erratic.......not that anyone has ever said that Phil's erratic. Donald is crooked with a world class short game, last year he was just less crooked.

 

[Socalesq]

Notice how Nicklaus's neck from the top of the swing through the next pics starts appearing -- like a turtle coming out of its shell. I can't figure out why? Can anyone enlighten me?

Thanks.

 

[Kevin Shields]

I think that's a distortion of what is being said. We are talking about optimal mechanics in the golf swing and not just playing golf. I have not seen much talk of Nicklaus but what Mickelson does can be erratic.......not that anyone has ever said that Phil's erratic. Donald is crooked with a world class short game, last year he was just less crooked.

Not a distortion at all IMO

 

[Kevin Shields]

There are actually people who think that Nicklaus and Mickelson are "sub-par?"

And these guys are actualyy making a name for themselves teaching? Oh my...

No, don't worry, they aren't at all.

 

[golfie]

Notice how Nicklaus's neck from the top of the swing through the next pics starts appearing -- like a turtle coming out of its shell. I can't figure out why? Can anyone enlighten me?

Thanks.

It's because the point at the base of his neck has moved away from the taregt line. Check out Tiger if you want to see a real turtle neck.

 

[magicmarker]

He also said he never missed a three foot putt and you believe him?

With Jack,you gotta learn to read between the lines.

You realize he only saw it as a miss if he didn't hit it the way he wanted, regardless of whether it went in the hole or not. He has said many times he "didn't miss that putt, he hit it exactly the way he wanted to but it just didn't go in"

The great ones always externalize the blame, it's part of WHY they became so great. They shielded themselves from any responsibility for failures. Nobody will convince him he missed one, so we might as well accept it to be true.

 

[Matt 4-L]

You realize he only saw it as a miss if he didn't hit it the way he wanted, regardless of whether it went in the hole or not. He has said many times he "didn't miss that putt, he hit it exactly the way he wanted to but it just didn't go in"

The great ones always externalize the blame, it's part of WHY they became so great. They shielded themselves from any responsibility for failures. Nobody will convince him he missed one, so we might as well accept it to be true.

As one of the great philosophers of our time said: Jerry, just remember. It's not a lie... if you believe it... - YouTube

 

[BrendanC]

Nicklaus could be erratic - John Jacobs says as much in one of his books, and also that to fix it on this occasion Jacobs fixed his posture. Apparently, JN had his chin in his chest and was driving it miles left on one swing, miles right on the next.

But aside from being a calm guy, one of Nicklaus great strengths is that he was not interested in 'golf swing', golf for its own sake, or pursuing perfection: only in winning golf tournaments and/or shooting the lowest score (he has said as much).

@Brian: Can you talk about the differences in 'look' and/or real body motion, using this top down view for upright swingers vs flat swingers*

*Let's not do 'what's upright/flat' again - we ALL know what upright/flat basically means! Though I consider Furyk to be 'flat' at the bottom of his swing.....

 

[jimmyt]

As one of the great philosophers of our time said: Jerry, just remember. It's not a lie... if you believe it... - YouTube


LOL

 

[cwdlaw223]

The internet terrible ball-strikers:

Luke Donald - Finished #1 on US and Euro tour, never done in history.

Phil Mickelson - Wins 40th PGA Tour Event today - Top 10 all-time

Jack Nicklaus - Best player of all-time


Common sense.


That's why this site is #1 and all the folks who think those three guys are "sub par" will never catch me.

Brian -

You can never win with those guys. Next they'll claim that Phil could have been an even better player than his hall of fame carerr if he just released the club differently. I'm quite certain that Phil knows what works for him even if it isn't optimal with their 20 handicap eyes, crayons and picture pages. Where are the stats for a long driver hitter on tour? I don't see any long driver hitters on the PGA tour. 125 mph clubhead speed is not a long driver hitter by at least 10-15 mphs. There's more than just a driver in the bag but you wouldn't know that with some guys.

 

[gmbtempe]

Brian -

You can never win with those guys. Next they'll claim that Phil could have been an even better player than his hall of fame carerr if he just released the club differently. I'm quite certain that Phil knows what works for him even if it isn't optimal with their 20 handicap eyes, crayons and picture pages. Where are the stats for a long driver hitter on tour? I don't see any long driver hitters on the PGA tour. 125 mph clubhead speed is not a long driver hitter by at least 10-15 mphs. There's more than just a driver in the bag but you wouldn't know that with some guys.

If Phil was less erratic with the driver and controlled his trajectories and distances better I think he would have won more. You can call me names for my opinion, its cool.

 

[Dariusz J.]

If Phil was less erratic with the driver and controlled his trajectories and distances better I think he would have won more. You can call me names for my opinion, its cool.

Of course, however, tee shot accuracy means less and less, alas. And imagine how much less he (and similar to him players) would have won if the conditions were not that pampered.

Cheers