Post by imperfectgolfer on Feb 15, 2013 12:44:38 GMT -5
In the thread on Mike Bennett's swing, I was initially surprised that he used a punch elbow because I think of a S&T golfer as being a swinger, and not a TGM hitter. I therefore decided to examine the swings of multiple S&T golfers and what I have discovered is that they use a punch elbow position, but a pitch elbow motion.
I think that most golfers do not understand the difference between a punch elbow motion and a punch elbow position, and this thread should clarify that difference.
Let's start with Dan Carraher's swing action.
Image 1 at is P4, image 2 is at P5, image 3 is at P5.5 and image 4 is at P6.5.
Image 1 shows the typical end-backswing position of a S&T golfer - note that they do not get the clubshaft parallel to the ball-target because they do not perform an end-backswing finish swivel action. Their right forearm is not vertical to the ground at P4 as seen in a traditional swinger - like Tiger Woods and Adam Scott. The right forearm is angled forwards and it is nearly parallel to their bent-over spine and their right upper arm is inline with the shirt's right side-seam. They also charcteristically keep their right elbow closer to their upper torso during their backswing action when they adduct their left arm arm across their chest wall.
When a S&T golfer starts the downswing, he already has most of his weight on the front leg, and he can therefore rotate around the axis of the lead leg. I have noted that S&T golfers have very little torso-pelvic separation and they rotate their lower and upper torso simultaneously as they pivot-rotate over their lead leg. They also keep their intact power package close to their rotating torso during the power package slotting phase - note how the right elbow remains close to DC-shirt's right side-seam between P4 and P6.5. That explains why they are in a punch elbow position at P6.
The same situation can be seen in another S&T golfer - Alex Cejka
Note that his right upper arm is close to his right shirt seam at the end-backswing position - image 1 - and the clubshaft is not quite parallel to the ball-target line.
Note how the right elbow remains alongside his shirt's right side-seam between P4 and P6.5 (image 3) which means that it is in a punch elbow position.
However, S&T golfers use a pitch elbow motion, and not a punch elbow motion. Here is the proof.
Image 1 is Mike Bennett, image 2 is Troy Matteson, and image 3 is Dan Carraher.
Note that their right elbow is positioned alongside their shirt's right side-seam, and not in front of their right hip - and that represents a punch elbow position.
However, note that the ventral aspect of their right lower forearm is facing skywards, and that is characteristic of a pitch elbow motion, and not a TGM hitter's punch elbow motion (where the ventral aspect of the right lower forearm would face more targetwards because it would still be more neutral and and it would be far less supinated). Why does this pitch elbow motion happen?
Here is the explanation.
Image 1 shows Mike Bennett at the P2 position. Note that the toe of the club is pointing upwards, which means that he is using a takeaway swivel action. That is characteristic of a TGM swinger's action, and not a TGM hitter's action (because they use a twistaway maneuver).
Image 2 is at the P4 position. Note that the right forearm is intermediate in verticality between a TGM swinger (where the right forearm will be vertical) and a TGM hitter (where the right forearm is angled more forwards due to less right forearm fanning motion during the backswing action).
Image 3 is at P5. Note that the right forearm is nearly neutral at this stage of the power package slotting process - it is only slightly supinated. Note that he has a FLW/intact LAFW and that his LAFW is lying on the surface of the inclined plane.
Image 4 is at the P6 position. Note that the toe of the club is pointing upwards (which is characteristic of a TGM swinger, and not a TGM hitter). Note how the right forearm is more supinated thereby allowing the ventral aspect of the right forearm to face more skywards. That right forearm supinatory motion allows MB to get his right palm parallel to the inclined plane, and that allows the RFFW to support the LAFW which is lying on the surface of the inclined plane between P5 and P6. That right forearm supinatory motion is characteristic of a swinger's pitch elbow motion, and it would not occur to the same degree in a TGM hitter's punch elbow motion.
Addendum added later:
If you need a reminder of a TGM hitter's punch elbow motion, view this video.
Here are capture images.
Image 1 shows Scott demonstrating the punch elbow motion - where one uses the right arm/hand to drive the club towards impact.
Image 2 shows him at P6 - note that the clubface is more closed.
Image 3 is at the P6.3 position.
Note that there is less right forearm supination in images 1 & 2 & 3 - compared to a swinger's pitch elbow motion.
Jeff.
I think that most golfers do not understand the difference between a punch elbow motion and a punch elbow position, and this thread should clarify that difference.
Let's start with Dan Carraher's swing action.
Image 1 at is P4, image 2 is at P5, image 3 is at P5.5 and image 4 is at P6.5.
Image 1 shows the typical end-backswing position of a S&T golfer - note that they do not get the clubshaft parallel to the ball-target because they do not perform an end-backswing finish swivel action. Their right forearm is not vertical to the ground at P4 as seen in a traditional swinger - like Tiger Woods and Adam Scott. The right forearm is angled forwards and it is nearly parallel to their bent-over spine and their right upper arm is inline with the shirt's right side-seam. They also charcteristically keep their right elbow closer to their upper torso during their backswing action when they adduct their left arm arm across their chest wall.
When a S&T golfer starts the downswing, he already has most of his weight on the front leg, and he can therefore rotate around the axis of the lead leg. I have noted that S&T golfers have very little torso-pelvic separation and they rotate their lower and upper torso simultaneously as they pivot-rotate over their lead leg. They also keep their intact power package close to their rotating torso during the power package slotting phase - note how the right elbow remains close to DC-shirt's right side-seam between P4 and P6.5. That explains why they are in a punch elbow position at P6.
The same situation can be seen in another S&T golfer - Alex Cejka
Note that his right upper arm is close to his right shirt seam at the end-backswing position - image 1 - and the clubshaft is not quite parallel to the ball-target line.
Note how the right elbow remains alongside his shirt's right side-seam between P4 and P6.5 (image 3) which means that it is in a punch elbow position.
However, S&T golfers use a pitch elbow motion, and not a punch elbow motion. Here is the proof.
Image 1 is Mike Bennett, image 2 is Troy Matteson, and image 3 is Dan Carraher.
Note that their right elbow is positioned alongside their shirt's right side-seam, and not in front of their right hip - and that represents a punch elbow position.
However, note that the ventral aspect of their right lower forearm is facing skywards, and that is characteristic of a pitch elbow motion, and not a TGM hitter's punch elbow motion (where the ventral aspect of the right lower forearm would face more targetwards because it would still be more neutral and and it would be far less supinated). Why does this pitch elbow motion happen?
Here is the explanation.
Image 1 shows Mike Bennett at the P2 position. Note that the toe of the club is pointing upwards, which means that he is using a takeaway swivel action. That is characteristic of a TGM swinger's action, and not a TGM hitter's action (because they use a twistaway maneuver).
Image 2 is at the P4 position. Note that the right forearm is intermediate in verticality between a TGM swinger (where the right forearm will be vertical) and a TGM hitter (where the right forearm is angled more forwards due to less right forearm fanning motion during the backswing action).
Image 3 is at P5. Note that the right forearm is nearly neutral at this stage of the power package slotting process - it is only slightly supinated. Note that he has a FLW/intact LAFW and that his LAFW is lying on the surface of the inclined plane.
Image 4 is at the P6 position. Note that the toe of the club is pointing upwards (which is characteristic of a TGM swinger, and not a TGM hitter). Note how the right forearm is more supinated thereby allowing the ventral aspect of the right forearm to face more skywards. That right forearm supinatory motion allows MB to get his right palm parallel to the inclined plane, and that allows the RFFW to support the LAFW which is lying on the surface of the inclined plane between P5 and P6. That right forearm supinatory motion is characteristic of a swinger's pitch elbow motion, and it would not occur to the same degree in a TGM hitter's punch elbow motion.
Addendum added later:
If you need a reminder of a TGM hitter's punch elbow motion, view this video.
Here are capture images.
Image 1 shows Scott demonstrating the punch elbow motion - where one uses the right arm/hand to drive the club towards impact.
Image 2 shows him at P6 - note that the clubface is more closed.
Image 3 is at the P6.3 position.
Note that there is less right forearm supination in images 1 & 2 & 3 - compared to a swinger's pitch elbow motion.
Jeff.