Been reading 3-F-5 and find myself in need of a lighthouse From what I gather, the "practice stroke" is primarily to practice the pivot motion of the body, while not overly focusing on the arms or hands. Basically establish the plane line and your position relative to it.
"Forward press" sounds like fixating the clubhead/shaft relations at impact, i.e. flying wedges. Mostly hand and wrist positions
What I don't understand is what is the "start down" waggle and the "address" waggle. Is it like what Mike Weir does (start down) and what Ben Hogan explained (address)?
Most serious golfers are reasonably aware of the pre-Shot fundamentals of Grip,Stance and Posture. And even though these could almost always be improved, theyare at least familiar. Similarly, golfers are keenly aware of the Address(Station 1), the Start Up and the Backstroke. That is because they spend agreat deal of time on their 'move' to the Top (Station 2). Most practice thewrong things, of course -- "Start back with the Shoulder Turn and keep theClub low to the ground" comes immediately to mind -- but at least they areaware of what is going on. But, once they get to the Top, this studiedawareness fades to black: The mind flashes Code Red, all Hell breaks loose --AAOOOGA! AAOOOGA! DIVE! DIVE! -- and they find themselves suddenly at theFinish (Station 3), usually asking the proverbial question: "What have Idone?"
The problem here is that almost all golfers have at least some idea of what isgoing on in their Stroke from Address to the Top, but only a very few haveany idea what is going on from the Top to the Finish. In The GolfingMachine, this is called Downstroke Blackout, and its cure is the DownstrokeWaggle (3-F-5). Use it to practice your 'move' from the Top: Downplanethrough the Start-Down and Downstroke. Downplane through the Release andImpact. Downplane to the End of the Follow-Through (Both Arms Straightpostion) and even into the Finish. Move continuously -- up and back and downand out and up and back and down and out -- through these various sections ofthe Stroke, integrating and overlapping them as you do.
Through diligent practice, you will in time substitute precision motions andalignments for what is presently only a very fuzzy idea of what happensbetween Stations 2 and 3. Your Downstroke -- and remember, that includes theFollow-Through (only the Finish should be considered the Upstroke) -- willhave been correctly programmed.
Regarding the Address Waggle, the Golfing Machine Waggle is notthe 'Handsy' action you see when people attempt the 'Hogan' Waggle. Thistype of Waggle -- usually a fiery, Wristy move of the Clubhead away fromand back to the Ball -- is almost always accomplished by Bending and Flatteningthe Right Wrist, Cocking and Uncocking the Left Wrist, and holding the Arms relativelymotionless. In contrast, the Golfing Machine Waggle is an Arms Waggle-- the Right Arm Bending and Straightening and the Left Arm Swinging from aMotionless Left Shoulder -- with the Right Wrist Frozen in its Bent,Level and Vertical Impact Alignment and the Left Wrist Locked in itsFlat, Level and Vertical Impact Alignment. And always over thetop of the Ball.
Use the Golfing Machine Waggle to rehearse the Bending of your RightArm in the On Plane Right Forearm Flying Wedge Start Up. Feel the ExtensorAction of your Right Triceps and the accompanying Checkrein Action ofyour Left Arm as you move up, back and in On Plane and down, out andforward On Plane. Feel the Lag Load against the #3 PressurePoint at the Top of the Waggle. Feel its Drive through the ImpactInterval. Feel the Straightening of your Right Arm and watch itsactuation of the #3 Accumulator Roll. Watch the Clubhead Blurover the Inside-Aft Quadrant of the Ball as you execute the proper Left HandHinge Action and Rhythm. Make sure you take your Waggle to theend of the Follow-Through, the Both Arms Straight position, even for atwo-inch Putt. Through it all, maintain the Impact Alignments of yourLeft and Right Wrists and Trace the Straight Plane Line with your RightForearm and #3 Pressure Point.
If it sounds like there’s a whole lot going on in this Waggling business,you’re right. Quoting Homer:
“You’re a very busy guy!”
But don't worry, once you've consciously Translated the correct Mechanics intoreliable subconscious Feels (1-J and 3-B), simply go through your Routinebefore each Shot. It takes just seconds, and the only time you will beinterrupted is when it doesn't 'Feel' right. Something is mechanically not asit should be. Your Early Warning Waggle System has done its job, and you havebeen alerted in time to save the Shot.
Program your Impact Alignments at Impact Fix (8-2). Practice your Waggles atAddress (8-3). Use your entire Pre-shot Routine (3-F-5) to help you be asprepared as possible before Start Up, as precise as possible to theTop, and as smooth and complete as possible through Impact to the properpositon at the Finish. With a disciplined Pre-Shot Routine, you'll seldom needa 'do-over:'
Hybrid Mode
