August 2008 Golf Digest

LESSON TEE—This article is a good lesson in the title saying one thing and the contents saying another. Lorena says “All the power in my golf swing comes from my hips and legs.” She then goes on to say, “I can keep all the energy I have in my upper body to release at the ball.” The speed in your arms is 99% of the speed of the club.
In the photos, you are seeing a swing that is very functional (produces good shots) but not optimal. The club swings outside and above the swing plane on the backswing and then looped so it can be returned on the swing plane on the forward swing. Additionally, at the top of the swing the club is pointing to the right of target. Lorena’s trademark head movement in frame 5 is not optimal either. The key to winning is to have a swing that can produce predictable ball flight and that is repeatable—her’s does.

MY CHIPPING BASICS—Maintaining the address-position wrist angles—critical. Playing the ball back in your stance—unnecessary. Keep the back swing short—then its not a swing. (P.S. Yes, Tiger is the best player in the world. Yes, this work’s terrific for him. Would this be the preferable direction for you to develop your chipping—not really.)

THE BASIC SPLASH OUT—Step 1-ok. Step 2-no. Never have the idea of swinging down. Step 3-ok.

MAKE MORE THREE-FOOTERS—First, if you ever are consider using a “straight back, straight through” idea for putting, tape a pencil to the end of the shaft and see how good you are at drawing a straight line to the target. You’ll be terrible. Second, no club swings inside on the backswing and inside after impact. Learn the difference between focusing on the path of the clubhead and focusing on the direction of the swing.

GET BACK TO SQUARE—In the photo Hank is setup with a driver. Presumably the target is over 200 yards away. During a full swing Hank can tell if the logo on his golf glove is pointing down the target line? I don’t think so. Look at the photo and ask yourself if the logo is pointing to the target line (target lines are down on the ground). Sorry Hank, what you may have meant is not what you said or are demonstrating.

HOW TO HIT ANY WEDGE SHOT—Do you think Butch has his students carry three different putters (one for short, one for medium and one for long putts)? Or, do you think he expects them to be able to simply vary the size of their swing to fit the shot? Why should it be any different with wedges?

GIVE YOUR PUTTS A BREAK—Ok.

USE THE 14 CLUB RULE—Ok.

ADD 42 YARDS NOW—Let’s begin with the question, “Could Tiger use this to get an extra 42 yards?” Of course not. The first point is that this will not be useful for everyone.
--The second point is that thinking of the swing as in-to-out can result it a very confused mind a misshapened swing. I would instead think of the swing as having a direction toward the target.
--Regarding Rick’s description of swaying, I can’t imagine anything that is more compatible with Manuel’s teachings.
--Regarding turning, it is the result of how far back you are comfortably able to swing the club. Think of the swing causing you to turn instead of the turn creating the swing.
--Regarding space, don’t try to keep the hands away from you. Instead, don’t try to unnecessarily bring them towards you.
--Regarding hanging back, allow the forward swing to shift your weight to your right foot.
--Regarding casting, the hands are for holding the club. The unhinge on the forward swing due solely to the centrifugal force of the swing.
--Regarding tapping, take a close look at the clubface in the photo marked with the “Y” (for Yes). Notice that the club face is out-of-square and looking far off to the right. No one would be in this position at impact.
--Regarding releasing—there is no release in the golf swing. The “N” photo is an example of a player using their hands (i.e. hand-action).

100/90/80

Breaking 100
HOLD THE BALLONS—looks good but guarantees little

POINT THE CLUB—you don’t need to extend the finger—just swing so the club winds up pointing at the target.

ROTATE—Ok.

FINISH—Good.

Breaking 80
CLIP THE TEES—don’t be mislead to think there is a “flat spot” at the bottom of your swing.

TRAJECTORY—Ok.