This is a question about the extension of the shoulder.
I'm not sure how to explain it. If I stand straight up, my shoulders feel very close and "attached" to my body. Seen from the side view, I guess I would say the shoulders are in line with my body. If I extend my left arm straight out, then I can still have a similar feeling with my shoulder. But, I can reach further than that by stretching my shoulder forward in front of my body.
I'm just wondering which position is correct? at address, do I keep the left shoulder in line with my body? Do I keep this feeling throughout the whole swing? Does anybody understand what I'm talking about? I'm not making sense, right?
I notice that when I'm chipping, I always have the left shoulder non-extended. But, when I do the full swing, I sometimes extend my left shoulder away from me on the backswing (instead of just rotating my shoulders). And I'm thinking that if I do this, and I don't bring my shoulder back, then the radius that I established at address will be incorrect and I will, presumably, hit it fat.
FP,
Your concerns are well-founded. The Throw-Out Action of Centrifugal Force(2-K) works to pull all your Power Package Components into a straight line. TheseComponents include your Arms, Hands, and Shoulders (which are a Pivot Componentbut also, being part of the Triangle Assembly of 6-A-1, are considered part ofthe Power Package as well).
This automatic 'stretching' by Centrifugal Force is the reason for theprecision routine of 2-J-1 wherein the proper Left Shoulder to Ball StrokeRadius is established and 'pre-stretched.' This routine includes the ExtensorAction (6-B-1-D) of the Right Triceps which stetches the Left Arm andalso the Bent Right Arm (6-A-4) as the Checkrein Action (6-B-4-0) permits.The Extensor Action is in operation from Impact Fix (8-2) to the end of theFollow-Through (8-11) at which time the folding of the Left Arm by definitionterminates the Action.
Also, as you have discovered, the Shoulder Girdle (or Pectoral Girdle)attaching and supporting the Arms is very flexible and also must be controlled.This is the reason for the directive in 2-M-3 to keep the Shoulders and Armsforward with Pectoral Muscle Contraction if necessary. Therefore, thispiece of the G.O.L.F. Engineering System must likewise be incorporated intoyour personal G.O.L.F. Feel System (1-J and 3-B).
And now to your question of Shoulder Position for Chipping versus Driving. TheGeometry of all Golf Strokes -- for any given Ball Flight Characteristicand from Drive to Putt -- stems from the Impact Geometry required by theShot at hand. These alignments should not be left to chance. Instead, theyshould be be systematically established in the precision Impact AlignmentsRoutine of 2-J-1 and then reinforced via the Three Checkout ProceduresAddress Routine of 3-F-5.
With the proper Radius established and 'pre-stretched,' and with ExtensorAction maintaining that Radius, it is up to Educated Hands (5-0) andtheir able assistants, The Magical Right Forearm and Elbow (7-3), totrace the proper Geometry throughout the Stroke. The Pivot Components willyield to the dominion of the Hands, and no matter what degree of Pivot Motionyou employ -- Zero, Partial or Full (7-12 and 10-12) -- there should be nodifference in the way your Shoulders operate. And once you haveincorporated The Golfing Machine Impact Fix (8-2) and Adjusted Address (8-3)routines into your Feel System...
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