Tension Is Your #1 Enemy - BY FAR

[Go Low]

Posts by Go Low in this thread have been deleted.

Go Low

[bdbl]

Re: Tension Is Your #1 Enemy - BY FAR

Have you ever hit a layup shot short of a hazard and swung easy-like and nailed a beautiful shot right into the hazard? ....Have you ever hit a shot and felt your wrists sort of snap through impact and had a nice follow-through with perfect balance? And the list goes on... You didn't know what in hell you did...even a split second after you did it! But you sure did like the feel, and you keep on searching to figure out what you did, so you can do it again ... Your search for the elusive answer should begin, and end, with one thing - TENSION. Get rid of it!

If you can learn to swing the golf club tension-free in your shoulders, arms, wrists and hands I can guarantee that you will hit solid shots, longer shots, more accurate shots, and play much better golf...a LOT BETTER GOLF!

Go to the range and focus on one thing - eliminating tension in your swing.

Get rid of the tension...it's your #1 ENEMY BY FAR!

The first of your posts that I've responded to as well as reading with interest. Why?

a) because, that first abbreviated paragraph above sums me up, had that experience on Saturday to the extent that my fellow players were commenting on my wrists and how I accelerated through the impact zone. But I didn't know what I was doing differently . If anything.

b) yes, I understand the second part I quoted but have real problems achieving it ["Zen and the Golf Swing" will be my first publication when i crack it ]

If you or others could follow up with some practice tips on how you eliminate tension I'd be so grateful.

[KrudlerAce]

Release The Tension

Excellent Thread 'Go Low'.

Yes, I can relate to this and have a great example of what happened recently to me on the golf course.

I hit a shot into a dry hazard on a par 5 for three. It was an average lie, side hill and required very careful balance and a smooth swing. I actually took less club because I just wanted to ensure I made solid contact and got it somewhere up near the green.

I made a nice smooth swing without any effort and absolutely flushed it. The ball flew first bounce over the back of green. I couldn't believe it, I was stunned. I should never have been able to reach the green or better yet over the back from where I was.

It is a hard concept to get yourself to do for every shot on the golf course, but most definately the right way to approach your golf shots.

[Neil18]

Re: Tension Is Your #1 Enemy - BY FAR

Bravo for that post Go Low!

Getting back into my golf now. Had a few range trips and yesterdays summed up your points perfectly.

I was totally chilled and didn't try to do anything other than start my swing right. Beyond that I was uber-relaxed and was thundering the ball away with all clubs.

Be relaxed and let the club do the work. They should be absolutely no feeling of exherted muscular effort anywhere in an attempt to force the club to do things. The body should move relatively slowly and smoothly. The middle of the wheel is slow, the outside (clubhead) is fast. The finish shouldn't be the well-quoted but misguided "wrap it round your neck". That's too much motion and a result of far too much effort in the body turn. If you can finish facing the target with your hands up level with your left ear, you're in good shape.

It's weird, but it's almost as though you can't "make" the clubhead move fast. You have to allow it to move fast by not interfering with the clubs motion.

A bizarre feeling, but one that ultimately coins the phrase "gain control by giving up control".

[LowPost42]

Re: Tension Is Your #1 Enemy - BY FAR

I just experienced this myself, this past weekend.

Played in a 3 man scramble tournament. I was brought in as the 'big hitter' so, like a big dummy, I tried muscling the ball off the tee to hit it 400 yards or so. With every club. Never mind that my stock "couples/els" motion produces 240 carry and often end up in the 270 range. No, this wouldn't do for a scramble.

I spent both days covering my driver in sky marks and hitting the occasional 200 yard block. With irons I had the directional control of aerosol. The only time I was of any use to the team was short pitches and chips and putting.

So after skraping it around for two days, I wasn't thrilled about heading into the matchplay finals at the club on Tuesday - a 3 man skins game.

First hole, I grab my now very ugly driver (I hadn't taken the time to buff out the crown ) and decide to baby one. Great tempo, no tension. Pounded down the middle. Tried to hammer the approach and topped it. Decided to just smooth out the new approach - stuck it to 6 feet.

This became the M.O. for the day - smooth swings made me look infinitely better than my handicap - in fact, I shot a 4 over 40; outstanding for a nine hole 9 handicapper.

Smooth swings in tempo make for good golf. Gorilla swings and terrific rips at the ball produce sky marks.

[keiko]

Re: Tension Is Your #1 Enemy - BY FAR

I like the feet together drill starting out with half swings and working up to full swings while keeping the arms loose like spagetti(sp)
I also like the pump drill where you take the backswing and start the downswing by pumping down twice and then hitting on the third pump while keeping the arms loose.
Take practice swings and allow the club to just barely lie in your hands so you can feel the clubhead; if you can't feel the clubhead, you are gripping too tight. The driver is the lightest club in your bag yet you should still be able to feel the head when you swing; any less of a feel for driver means you are gripping too firm.
Loosey, goosey is what I want to feel. You will be amazed how far you will hit the ball and how nice of a draw your release will produce.

The first of your posts that I've responded to as well as reading with interest. Why?

a) because, that first abbreviated paragraph above sums me up, had that experience on Saturday to the extent that my fellow players were commenting on my wrists and how I accelerated through the impact zone. But I didn't know what I was doing differently . If anything.

b) yes, I understand the second part I quoted but have real problems achieving it ["Zen and the Golf Swing" will be my first publication when i crack it ]

If you or others could follow up with some practice tips on how you eliminate tension I'd be so grateful.

[BrianW]

Re: Tension Is Your #1 Enemy - BY FAR

Good stuff.

This guy David Blair knows about swinging without tension:

[keiko]

Re: Tension Is Your #1 Enemy - BY FAR

Very good indeed.
Many amateurs struggling don't understand the reason they are losing power, one of the greatest power leaks is chicken winging at impact where the left arm is severly bent.
Now Jack did this on backswing but his impact position like any good ball striker is the same for all-ie. straight left arm with right arm/wrist bent slightly back on itself.

There are two main components that go into the physics of a golf swing.
1. Good swinging speed of the arms and shoulders.
2. Uncocking the wrists at the right moment so that the club connects squarely with the ball. Uncocking the wrists means "letting" the wrists uncock "freely", while still holding on to the club.

The importance of the first point is fairly obvious. You must generate good swing speed to hit the ball hard enough, so that it goes far. The second point is not as obvious. To understand the physics of a golf swing one must consider the mechanics of rotational motion. When an object travels around in a circle it moves outward, if unconstrained. To visualize this, imagine yourself sitting in a car that makes a sharp left turn. If you're not wearing your seat belt you'll go sliding across the seat towards the right, due to the effects of centripetal acceleration.

Similarly, by uncocking your wrists during the golf swing, the club will move radially outward (since it's not restrained). This is unlike, say, baseball where the batter "drives" the bat through its arc using raw muscle power. A baseball player relies on strong wrists and forearms to get a solid hit. His hands are "active". This is unlike golf, where the players hands must be "passive" since they exert no twisting or uncocking force on the club. This probably gives you some idea why baseball players have such beefy forearms and wrists. They need the strength to power the bat through the swing.

Uncocking the wrists allows the golf club to "straighten out", and in the process gain additional speed which translates into a harder hit than if the golf club were held rigid (meaning the wrists are not allowed to uncock during the swing).

Part of the physics of a golf swing (from the point of view of the golfer), means finding the release (wrist uncocking) point so that at the bottom position, where the players hands are directly above the ball, the golf club is in the vertical position parallel to his arms. This will maximize the speed of the clubhead upon impact, and result in the most clubhead speed and the farthest hit.

Once the player knows the approximate point in the swing where his wrists uncock (release) he just has to practice it over and over until it becomes second nature. And prior to this release point he must learn to do nothing to keep his wrists cocked...and nothing to cause his wrists to uncock. Once his swing naturally uncocks (releases) his wrists the physics takes care of the rest, and the club will move radially outwards due to the effect of centripetal acceleration.

At impact the lead arm and clubshaft form a straight line or 180 degrees. When the lead arm is parallel with the ground, it is at 90 degrees. Physics tells us that the wrist starts uncocking (releasing) at about 60 degrees, or 30 degrees before the lead arm is parallel with the ground. Most golf instruction tells you to physically retain (hold back) the release until deep in the downswing. This is not correct for two reasons! First, you are not to hold back or retain the wrist cock. Secondly, if you were to physically hold back or retain the release deep into the downswing (when the lead arm was below parallel) the centripetal swing would be lost (upset) and a poor shot would result. I suspect many golfers have physically tried retaining or holding back the wrist cock release with poor results.

Physics tells us that when the wrist cock naturally releases without interference or influence it happens when the lead arm is at approximately 60 degrees, or 30 degrees above parallel, not at 100 degrees or 120 degrees, which is deep into the downswing. Further, physics tells us that when the wrist cock release "naturally" (with no help) begins opening the lag angle it does not rapidly or abruptly open-up. It is interesting that the most rapid increase of club angle opening-up begins when the lead arm is at around 120 degrees (even though uncocking of the wrist occurs much earlier in the swing). This is because the club angle increases slowly at first before reaching a rapid release rate deep into the downswing. However, looking at expert golfers in person, or even when viewing super slow-motion video, one might (mistakenly) conclude that the correct arm angle to release or uncock the wrist is deep into the swing at approximately 120°, simply because that is when the increase in angle becomes very noticeable.

It is interesting that, in analyzing the physics of a golf swing, that the arms and wrists play a passive role in not only releasing wrist cock lag angle but also not helping or interfering with the opening angle through impact, and yet a powerful hit results. So where does the swing energy come from? It comes from the torso and shoulders that swiftly, yet tension-free, rotate the golfer's arms and club through the swing. Uncocking or releasing the wrist cock lag angle at the optimal place in the downswing is "only" taken care of perfectly when there is no influence from the golfer. Only when there is no influence to release the wrist cock lag angle or to speed-up the golf club, as much energy as possible will be transferred to the clubhead (in the form of kinetic energy) just before it contacts the ball.

So, now you know that helping or aiding the wrist cock lag angle to release, or any attempt to help speed-up the club into impact with the golf ball, will upset centripetal force. Centripetal force is your friend - don't try to help it - don't upset it!

[BrianW]

Re: Tension Is Your #1 Enemy - BY FAR

Why attempting to use the right hand to hit, apply force, or to speed-up the golf club is NOT what you want to do. If there is a "secret" that mid and high handicapper golfers don't know - this is it.

Using the right hand to hit, apply force, or to speed-up the golf club will upset and destroy a centripetal force swing. Why would you want to destroy the most important element you have at your disposal that produces massive speed and pinpoint accuracy? You don't! But 99.999% of all golfers have never been told (or they refuse to accept) that applying any (ANY) force with the right hand is the reason they don't hit the ball almost every time like a scratch or tour player. That's a bold statement, but it's true!

When a golfer adds any wrist torque (hand force of any nature) to release the club, or to help speed-up the golf club at the bottom of the swing, they will invariably damage or destroy the centripetal force swing. And, of course, it is the trailing hand (right hand for right-handed golfers) that handicap golfers use to apply this damaging force. If the golfer will learn to accept that swinging a golf club to apply maximum energy into the golf ball, and to hit accurate shots, is accomplished completely by centripetal force...they will have learned the secret that defies almost all golfers.

Here's the physics on applying wrist torque (hand force of any nature) to add power. There is a critical time about 70-100 milliseconds before impact (where the arms are 60º back from vertical) where applying wrist torque changes from hurting clubhead speed to helping it. That is, any uncocking wrist torque before the critical time will reduce clubhead speed at impact. You can only increase clubhead speed a tiny bit by applying wrist torque, but only if you can do it for just the last 70 milliseconds before impact, and NOT before. It takes a very well-coordinated athlete to get away with this...and the chances they can do it only in the last .07 seconds on every swing before impact is next to impossible.

So why is it when you hit a solid shot does it "feel like" your right hand applied helping force? Why did Hogan say he wished he had three right hands? Why do the pros have blisters or calluses on the fingers of their right hand...just like handicap golfers do? The reason it "feels like" the right hand applied force to hit or speed-up the swing is because the forces from the centripetal force swing only gave them that false impression as the clubhead approaches maximum speed near the ball where the wrists (hands) come to almost a complete stop. The reason why all golfers have blisters or calluses on the forefinger (index finger) of the right-hand is because when the clubhead hits the ball and turf the grip impacts that finger repeatably...whether the golf swing was good or bad. The reason why all golfers have blisters or calluses on the middle two fingers of the right hand is quite different between the expert golfer and high handicap golfer however. For the expert golfer it is the centripetal force swing along with his tension-free (unforced) forearm rotation that applies some twisting forces to those two fingers. For the high handicap golfer it is just the opposite from the expert golfer as he uses muscular twisting forces using his forearm/hands.

Let's get back to applying wrist torque (hand force of any nature). The same critical time works the other way as well. If you use negative torque (that is, use strength in the wrist to prevent uncocking) early in the swing and then release it 100 milliseconds before impact, you will increase the clubhead speed...a tiny bit. In fact, you'll get as much increase in clubhead speed as that well-coordinated athlete would have gotten by a late application of positive torque at 70 milliseconds before impact. And it's much easier to hold-off release than it is to apply a release-aiding torque at exactly the right time.

Physics confirms the notion that power in a golf swing (clubhead speed) is a product of centripetal force and not wrist torque (hand force of any nature). Nothing denies this basic fact. Expert golfers have learned this fact through either instruction, or by trial-and-error, or by their innate abilities - regardless, they've learned it! Ever wonder why so many expert golfers began playing golf when they were small children before their muscles started growing? They "had to" learn a centripetal force swing because they didn't have the muscles to apply wrist torque. Ever wondered why the LPGA women golfers, many of them with tiny frames and very little muscle, are so good? The "had to" learn a centripetal force swing because they [too] don't have the muscles to apply wrist torque.

Coming into impact, a golf club's kinetic energy is based on its mass and speed. It gets there from zero kinetic energy during the time of the downswing, less than half a second. This implies that muscles have to put out a certain amount of power for half a second. Physiologists know how much power a muscle can provide for a short burst (say, half a second). The answer is over 30 pounds of muscle mass is needed to impart that energy to the golf club. This is muscle that is engaged in generating motion, and does not include muscle used to stabilize the body in the golf swing posture. There isn't anywhere near that much muscle in the forearms, hands, and wrists, so they cannot be the major driving force of the swing. You need the big muscles - the legs, thighs, torso, and shoulders - to create that much power. That verifies that the clubhead's energy comes from body rotation, not hand torque.

Computing the clubhead speed that would result if we only used body rotation and not centripetal force we find that without any velocity at impact from uncocking the wrist, just from body rotation, we get only about two thirds the clubhead speed that a good swing actually accomplishes. So we need centripetal force because:

* We know the bulk of the power comes from body rotation.
* We know that body rotation without wrist-uncock velocity gives a third less clubhead speed.
* In order for body rotation to generate wrist-uncock velocity, we need centripetal force - because the small muscles in the hands and forearms can't generate that much power.


Do you still think that applying muscle force with the right hand helps? How can it when the club's shaft is like a string? This is not a myth at all, but a very reasonable metaphor. What it means is; if you think you can affect the golf ball by force you are exerting on the handle at impact, think again. You have no more control on the clubhead during impact than if the club's shaft were a string.

This string thing is seriously counter-intuitive. So, let's take a look at the forces involved:

* Clamp a shaft horizontally by its butt, and hang a one-pound weight from the tip. How much did the tip deflect when you added the weight? Even if you used a stiff shaft, the deflection was close to half an inch. So the shaft deflects at least 1" for every 2 pounds of weight.
* Now, how much force does the head exert on the ball during impact? The answer is about 2,000 pounds of force.
*So how much would the shaft have to deflect for the force it exerts to make a significant difference in what happens to the ball. Well, a 1% change in force is just about at the threshold of any detectable change in performance. That is, if the force change is less than 1%, any difference in the result is going to be too small to notice and very difficult to even measure. 1% of 2000 pounds is 20 pounds.
* How much would the shaft have to bend for you to apply at least 20 pounds to the clubhead by something you do at the grip? If 1 pound bends the shaft a half inch, it will take ten inches of shaft bend to exert a force of 20 pounds. So the shaft would have to bend at least 10" during impact to make a detectable difference in the ball flight. You know that's not going to happen!

The shaft won't exert any usable force on the head during impact. If you don't get the job done while the clubhead is accelerating toward the ball, anything you do at impact (e.g. trying to use your right hand to hit the ball) won't have any more effect than if the shaft were a taut string supporting over 100 pounds of outward pulling weight.


Thus, sticking with the topic of this thread:

* DO have tension-free shoulders, arms, wrists and hands.
* DO "allow" ("let") the wrist cock to begin releasing without any interference.
* DO "allow" ("let") the wrist cock (lag angle) to open-up without any hand force whatsoever.
* DO hold the club's grip with only enough finger pressure to prevent it from twisting due to centripetal force.
* Do NOT restrict or hold the wrist cock from releasing in the downswing.
* Do NOT try to time the uncocking or release of the wrist cock (lag angle).
* Do NOT try to help speed-up the golf club or clubhead with the hands.
* Do NOT try to apply any hit force with the right hand at impact.
* Do NOT use ANY hand/wrist force...

With the above DO's and Do NOT's:

* You do not need a quick transition into the downswing.
* You no longer should have an anxious "hit" impulse mindthought.
* You no longer should have tension-filled shoulders, arms and hands.
* You will have a slower feeling shoulder rotation in the downswing.
* You will have a slower feeling arm swing in the downswing.

You really should consider either writing a book or creating your own golf web site. You have so much to tell golfers.

[keiko]

Re: Tension Is Your #1 Enemy - BY FAR

Take it from me as an author, writing a book sounds like fun but it only starts that way, soon it becomes an obsession into 12 hour days, then the editing, book signings, etc.
Not that you cannot do it, you can and should but only if you really, really want to.
regarding your explanations on the site, I too became frustrated for many who spend hours upon hours at a range hammering out the same old mistakes until some become habit.
I taught for years and although my students would always push me to give them "the secret", I focused on the fundamentals; when they had those down to second nature, only then would I give them "my secrets" to ball striking. Many times I taught without taking money if I found someone worth investing my time in; several went on to become PGA pro's.
My biggest frustration lately is seeing all the gimmicks, gadgets, swing theories and other stuff that completely ignore fundamentals and offer quick fixes. Unfortunately, many folks fall for those promises of scratch golf only to be disappointed and some quitting the game in desperation.
On this site, my goal is to offer simple swing techniques.
I am very glad you are contributing to this site; you seem like a quality person.
Regards,

That sounds too much like work!

Thanks for the kind words Brian.

I just enjoy spending a little of my free time to share information that I absolutely know will help almost every golfer.

I see golfers struggling almost every day with their swing. They work on all the wrong things first...before they have any idea how to "swing" a golf club. Most everything else that is bad in their golf swing will take care of itself once they learn how to "swing" the golf club.

[bdbl]

Re: Tension Is Your #1 Enemy - BY FAR

Still following this thread with interest and trying to implement some of the ideas. However watching the vivendi today it seemed to me that Edfors tried to hit the **** out of the ball with every one of his many muscles. Any comments on his swing?

[bdbl]

Re: Tension Is Your #1 Enemy - BY FAR

Thanks for sharing and explaining. Makes sense.

[roksob]

Re: Tension Is Your #1 Enemy - BY FAR

Having tried virtually every "method" ever devised for hitting a golf ball, I now face the refreshing prospect of yet another method that requires me to do ... nothing. Go Low, I suspect that your reasoning is absolutely correct and once learned, should continue to provide its benefits for much longer that any of the "do this, do that" type of instruction. After fifty years of looking for that perfect swing, I recently ended my search when I became convinced that I had been spending my time looking for someone else's swing. I have now stopped thinking mechanical thoughts and just swing without a care about where the arms or club goes at the top, or trying to manipulate it in any way. In other words I am for the first time using my own swing. It's a lot easier to do on the course, as I no longer have to remember the latest swing tip. My game has improved, and although those sweet feeling shots are still few and far between, they are happening more often. Your article has given me encouragement that I am finally on the right track and that by consciously practicing non-interference, my own swing will work even better. Thanks.

[keiko]

Re: Tension Is Your #1 Enemy - BY FAR

If one doesn't allow the dominant arm to control the downswing, it results in a mere dropping of the right elbow(for right handers). This dropping action produces lag automatically because it leaves the clubhead behind. The more one drops to the target side of the right hip the more one achieves lag. Now there is a diminishing return on this action; get too far in front of the right hip with the right elbow and the clubhead bottoms out behind the ball.
So one has to experiment to see for their particular posture and ball position, where the right elbow dropping produces the optimal contact with the ball.
With irons of course it is always ball first then turf contact that we seek; some feel like it is a pinching of the ball against the turf but this is only a feel and has no reality. The ball is long gone by the time the clubhead contacts the turf so it is impossible to pinch the ball; the perception though is a good one.
Once again, tension or lack thereof is the key to good ball striking.

There is something that I have not mentioned previously, mainly because it's a "body movement" that the golfer must make sure they incorporate into their downswing. Previously, what I have been talking about thus far is centripetal force and how the shoulders, arms and hands/wrist must be tension-free and no manipulation must take place. What I have not mentioned is this...

At the beginning of the downswing the golfer needs to keep the 90 degree wrist cock (lag) angle from opening-up. In order to do this the golfer must drop or lower his arms/hands into the [so-called] "slot" without affecting (opening-up) the 90 degree angle. This is done in different ways by golfers, but is what creates a dynamic body move and weight transfer while keeping the lag angle intact. Some golfers simply move their right shoulder tip downward, which moves the upper right arm against their pec. Some golfers simply move their upper right arm against their pec, which moves their right shoulder downward. Some golfers simply move their right elbow to in front of their right hip, which moves the right shoulder downward and their upper right arm against their pec. Some golfers bump their left hip laterally slightly toward the target, which [hopefully] lowers the right shoulder and upper arm. Some golfers return their left heel back to the ground, which [hopefully] lowers ... you get the idea!

The message here is that the lead arm's 90 degree angle with the clubshaft needs to be retained as the downswing progresses - because the RELEASE to start the centripetal force "swing" does not actually begin until the golfer has lowered his right shoulder and his upper arm has moved to his pec. This is where the "release" of the angle begins! This is the "LATE RELEASE". This is how you "RETAIN THE ANGLE" (without using manipulative hand forces). This is how you get into the "SLOT". This is what produces TREMENDOUS CLUBHEAD SPEED at impact without the golfer using shoulder/arm/hand muscles. This is what prevents the over-the-top moves that troubles most golfers.

When you lower the right shoulder and the upper right arm comes against the pec your left hip will move upward (positive hip level) as the hips rotate through impact. At the same time your spine will tilt further away from the target as your weight naturally shifts to the left side to support this dynamic body movement. Does it make any difference which method (lower the right shoulder tip, move the upper right arm to pec, replace the left heel, etc.) the golfer uses to move into this dynamic position? No, it does not. That is why expert golfers have so many different views of what starts their swings when asked.

Here's what you really need to know about what is happening to your arms, hands and golf club when your body moves into this dynamic position...using whatever method best suits you. The move lowers the arms, hands and golf club while retaining or maintaining the 90 degree lag angle (between the lead arm and the clubshaft) without any hand force or manipulation. The club head remains the same distance from your body center (upper spine) as the right shoulder/arms/hands/club head lowers. This is key! Think about this and understand it. When the clubhead remains the same distance from the upper spine the clubhead's circular motion remains in a compact circle. When this happens it is easier to get the swing started because the weight being swung is closer to your swing center. It's no different from the ice skater bringing her arms in tight against the body to make herself more compact, this she can spin easier...and faster. Just be aware that your goal (before releasing the wrist cock lag angle) is to have the clubhead remain the same distance from your upper spine. Give this a try - swing to the top with a 90 degree wrist cock and rock your right shoulder tip downward, then back up and then downward again. If you have access to a mirror you will notice that the club head remains the same distance from your upper spine. You did not release the angle! The release only happens (and does it naturally) when the right shoulder drops down as far as it can before it must start rotating or moving outward. On the other hand, if you do not move the right shoulder downward you will release the angle immediately...and if you move the right shoulder outward instead of downward you [also] release the angle immediately - both bad! Give it a try - swing to the top and keep your right shoulder high. There's no way you can get the clubhead moving to the ball without releasing the angle early. Right? It doesn't make any difference whether you try to use just arm and hand force or not...the wrist angle still releases immediately and what little bit of clubhead energy is released it happens way before impact. When this happens you cannot help but try to power the club with your shoulders and arms/hands. And if you decide to use your shoulders at the very beginning of the downswing the wrist angle releases immediately and the club is thrown outside the ideal swing path. What's the answer? The right shoulder tip must drop down and the upper right arm must come in contact with the pec, which brings the arm/hand/club structure down without releasing the wrist cock (lag) angle...and the clubhead remains the same distance from your swing center.

To repeat - being able to retain or maintain the wrist cock (lag) angle keeps the club head the same distance from your upper spine, which is your swing center. (For whatever it's worth your engine (torso) center is your lower back spine, which is why your weight shift originates in your lower...but that's another topic.) Retaining or maintaining the wrist cock angle in a circular arc is called "conservation of angular momentum" or COAM is physics terms. When you are able to retain the wrist cock angle by bringing the arm/hand/club structure downward (by lowering your right shoulder tip) you automatically have a desirable "late release". And by bringing this unmanipulated structure downward (instead of outward) you also drop the arms/hands/club into the "slot".

Do you have to use any arm or hand muscle to retain the angle? No! The right shoulder/upper right arm/right elbow moving downward retains the structure and the angle.

Do you have to use any arm or hand muscle to release the angle" No! When the arm/hand/club structure moves down with the right shoulder as far as the shoulder will go (before it starts rotating) the "release" happens automatically opening-up the wrist cock angle.

Do you need to use any shoulder, arm or hand muscle to hit the ball? No! Centripetal force does it all. Any interference by using shoulder, arm or hand forces will damage the centripetal force swing. Likewise, tense or tension-filled shoulders, arms or hands will damage or drastically impede the centripetal force swing. Allowing or letting centripetal force to do it's work without manipulation, interference, or restriction is what you're after.

The clubhead remains the same distance from the upper spine (in a compact circle) as the right shoulder tip moves downward and the upper right arm moves to the pec. The 90 degree wrist cock angle remains as it was at the top as the arm/club structure moves into the slot. The left hip moves from being slightly negative to a positive or upward position as the spine tilts slightly away from target.

[dant]

Re: Tension Is Your #1 Enemy - BY FAR

I happen to look up the word "Centripetal Force" and came up with a Gentleman by th name of Steven Wozeniak. He is an instructor in Bellvue, Washington. Pretty interesting.
This would be a good time to talk a little about centripetal force and how it relates to the golf swing. Now I will talk about quite a few things here that may seem complicated to do, but always remember I can make you do all of this with one or two simple swing thoughts. First of all you must swing the club on plane. It will become clear that you cannot have centripetal force and swing off the correct plane and by swinging on plane you automatically create this force in other words you can not do one without the other. Let me first talk about a quick definition. If I took a string with a rock attached to its end, held it between my thumb and forefinger and twirled my fingers around that rock would spin around on the end of the string as well. The faster I twirled the faster the rock would fly through the air. My hand would represent an inner moving force (centripetal force) the rock would represent the resulting outer moving force (centrifugal force) and the two forces would be equal. In short, the inner force controls and determines the outer force that is centripetal force. Translated to golf, centripetal force allows you to swing the club powerfully and repetitively.

Because human beings have two shoulders, arms, hands, hips and legs things get a little more complicated in the golf swing than the example of the rock on a string. We have to find the post point, or the thumb and forefinger which moves the string representing the inner force propelling the outer rock. Because golfers have all of these body parts we have to learn to identify the center of our swing and recognize this as the source of centripetal force and that center is our spine. The spine must move throughout the swing, and this inner central constantly moving force transmits energy through arms, hands and club to the club head itself swinging through the ball to the target. The club head just like the rock represents the outer force in the centripetal force formula. The faster you move your inner force, or spine, with the club swung on plane, the faster and more powerfully the club head will move. In order to do this you must first connect your left arm to your left shoulder girdle great players feel a pinch under the left armpit through the golf swing this keeps it in the exact same position relative to the spine and shoulders from the start to the end of the golf swing and represents an essential fundamental of connection and centripetal force. There are a couple ways of visualizing this. First the distance between the butt end of the club at address and your spine stays exactly the same from address to finish in your swing which means your radius remains constant. Second the triangle formed by your arms and the club at address also stays intact through the swing.
Of course at about halfway in your back swing your right arms begins to fold naturally as the left does after you hit the ball but the triangular shape you established at address will remain intact throughout the entire swing. Let us return to the address position and see what happens when you assume your grip. Because your right hand extends a bit farther down the club handle than your left, the right hand and arm is longer on the club than the left. And with the left hand in place we accurately describe the left hand and arm as being shorter on the club. The right hand and arm is on the outer force while the left hand and arm is on the inner force of the swing. Make sure your right stays on top of the left from start to finish and you create and maintain centripetal force. If you let your left grow longer than the right the relationship reverses itself. The right arm becomes the shorter of the two and you lose the centripetal swinging action you want. In other words the inner left arm incorrectly becomes the outer force and the right arm incorrectly becomes the inner force. In essence you have swapped circles and lost centripetal force. With the left arm longer than the right you can do nothing more than pull the club in a inefficient and inaccurate manner back to the ball swinging only with your hands and arms. What keeps these essential relationships intact from start to finish in the golf swing? As mentioned earlier, the first part of the answer is the spine. Your spine represents true center, and it must keep moving through the entire swing. Since your spine falls between your shoulders and symmetrically divides your body into right and left halves, move it and your torso, legs shoulders, arms and club will move as well. You will have a rhythmic athletic and coordinated motion throughout. When you do not move your spine, your arms will separate or disconnect from your body and you are lost. Remember as with the rock twirling around the string, you want both the inner force and outer force to remain equal in the golf swing, no pulling excessively or exclusively with the left and no pushing only with the right. Great players hit it is as hard with their left as well as the right which means they have harnessed centripetal force.
There is a natural lateral movement in all great golf swings. The spine moves 1 to 4 inches to the right into the braced leg (more if you have very wide hips) and then as much as 6 to 12 inches from their on the forward swing to its place over the left leg to a straight and balanced finish. Allow the head to flow naturally in both directions with the spine do not try to keep it still this only restricts motion and makes swinging with centripetal force impossible, also do not try to REACH away from your body with your hands or arms for the same reason. Getting back to swing plane, since the ball is on the ground you need to swing the club up on the correct plane so that you can deliver it back to the ball squarely with a descending blow. From your address position your triangle swings back to hip height all in one piece and motion. Form this point your right arm simply folds up which places the club on the correct plane. At the top you can determine if you have swung on plane by checking to see that your left elbow is pointing down and that the butt end of the club points to or just inside the ball to target line. Roll your left arm over the right in the manner described above and you can see that the club has become too flat with the plane actually positioned well outside the ball. Let your right arm fold up correctly and the club will fall into a strong and cocked position at the top of your swing. As you swing down you immediately want the feeling of folding your left arm at the elbow to get in the same position you just did on the slower back swing. This is the way you have to swing the club to maintain centripetal force. Maintain these correct relationships and you harness power for a great swing. Let them break down and you create out of plane angles that force you to haphazardly slap at the ball. Now if you set up correctly keep both elbows down and together back and through, you simply do all of the above!!

Dant