Aren't players with really early double shift able to get their forearms on plane much early than release point?
Shifts relate to the Elbow Plane Angle. In a Single Shift, the Shift isaway from the Elbow Plane to the Turned Shoulder Plane, followed by aDownstroke on the Turned Shoulder Plane. In the Double Shift, the firstShift is again away from the Elbow Plane to the Turned Shoulder Plane, which isthen followed by the second ("double") Shift and a return to theElbow Plane.
Since your question stipulates a Double Shift, it also stipulates a movementaway from the Elbow Plane followed by a return to it. And anytime the RightElbow is on its Elbow Plane -- early or otherwise -- the Right Forearm isautomatically On-Plane.
mgjordan wrote:
If you take a still picture of a good player about half way down in the downswing (about when the right arm and clubshaft line up) and then draw a line down the clubshaft to the ground, the line will be a considerable distance outside the ball. This would indicate to me that they are swinging on a plane much flatter than they should be. Also, since the right forarm should trace the baseline of the plane, this would indicate that the right arm is tracing somewhere outside of that as well since it is in-line with the club. I know this is probably an optical illusion, but could you explain it to me.
MG,
Chapter 8 of the The Golfing Machine presents and defines "a chainof Basic Positions and Motions through which every Stroke must pass. Throughoutthe book, positions and motions are located according to the Section in whichthey occur."
The Downstroke has been awarded exclusive possession of Section 8-8 , thatSection defined as being located between the Start-Down (8-7) and Release(8-9). Since you have used the less definitive terminology "abouthalfway down in the downswing," I am going to assume that you mean"after the Start-Down (8-7), well into the Downstroke (8- but prior tothe Release (8-9)." This is not nit-picking, particularly given thenon-visual medium in which we must communicate, but in fact is necessary toassure optimum communication.
Two answers are in order because there are actually twodistinct alignments referenced in your question. The first relates tothe alignment of the Clubshaft and the second to the alignmentof the Right Forearm. So, here we go:
Let's tackle the Clubshaft part first. Depending on the exact moment captured, oneof these three conditions must exist in an On-Plane Stroke:
1. The butt end of the Clubshaft is pointing at the Line;or
2. The length of the Clubshaft is parallel to the Line; or
3. The head end of the Clubshaft is pointing at the line.
I have reviewed many pictures of "good players" that capture theposition you seem to be describing, and I have yet to find one that, to my eye,appear to be so radically Off-Plane as you describe. Presuming then, that yourdescription really does mean "a considerable distance outside theball," then we have a mystery on our hands because I can't find thatcondition in a "good player" executing an On-Plane Stroke.
Of course, the Base Line of the Plane directly in front of the player can andshould be extended to infinity (per 2-F) on both sides of the Ball. Perhaps itis that extension that is being pointed at and that you are terming"outside" the Ball. But given your description of a "flatterPlane," that doesn't seem to be the case. Possibly, it is the"optical illusion" you mentioned; one that could result from a cameraangle not properly aligned with the Plane of Motion. Since I cannot tell ifeither of these "explanations" apply, the action you describe remainsa mystery.
In my view, what you are describing simply is not happening. Ifit was, and if the player maintained that Plane through Impact, then hewould miss the Ball. And that, friends, ain't happenin.' So, we have amystery, one you probably can clear up in a reply post.
Now to the second part, the alignment of the Right Forearm. Remember, the RightForearm is part of that assembly we term the Right Forearm Flying Wedge (6-B-3-0-1).In addition to the Right Forearm itself, the assembly includes the Bent, Leveland Motionless Right Wrist (3-F-6) and the #3 Pressure Point of the RightForefinger (6-C-1-#3). This assembly, with its rigid angle (Bent Right Wrist),is positioned at right angles to the Left Arm/Left Wristcock Plane of Motion,along the plane of the Right Wrist Bend. Think of a strut (RightForearm) supporting an airplane's wing (Left Arm) and you get thepicture.
Now, per 7-3, the Right Forearm is always positioned precisely in-line with--and directly opposed to--the motion of the On Plane Loading Action of theLeft Arm Flying Wedge (6-B-3-0-1) and this alignment is maintained throughImpact. Accordingly, the Right Forearm must be On Plane (and therefore pointat the Plane Line) through Impact per the Impact Fix alignment established per2-J-1.
But remember, this On-Plane condition of the Right Forearm refers only tothe Impact Interval described. It most certainly is not On-Planeduring other Sections of the Stroke, e.g., the Downstroke you seem to havedescribed. So, while the #3 Pressure Point is always On-Plane theRight Forearm rarely is. Instead, it is positioned as describedabove as the Right Forearm Flying Wedge and the Left Arm Flying Wedge Loadingalignments dictate. In other words, the Right Forearm supports thePlane of Motion of the #3 Pressure Point, but except through Impact, it doesnot define it.
Bottom Line:
1. There is no answer to the first part of your question because the actionyou describe is not actually occurring; and
2. The answer to the second part of your question is that the Right Forearm appearsto be Off-Plane because it is Off-Plane (but not out of itscorrect alignment, i.e., in direct support of the On-Plane Loading Action ofthe Left Arm Flying Wedge and the #3 Pressure Point).
but prior tothe Release (8-9)." This is not nit-picking, particularly given thenon-visual medium in which we must communicate, but in fact is necessary toassure optimum communication. 
Hybrid Mode
