I just thought I'd share this "insight" I had today. I've been playing good golf of late but forgot this "basic" piece that Tom has been hammering and Andy Plummer hammered with me in the Spring when I took a lesson. I got so focused on tucking the trail elbow (and good at it), but I forgot to "almost" hyperextend the lead arm at setup (or as Tom calls "PITS OUT"). Tom sparked the thought when he mentioned Andy stuck a club through his trail and lead arm at setup (he did the same with me - was the whole lesson). The only way you can get a club through DTL is if lead arm is super (PITS OUT) extended and trail elbow is super tucked in. With that set up, it becomes VERY hard to screw things up. What Tom says about "PITS OUT" here is key (for me) and may be helpful to others: https://youtu.be/09OhWvggPhk
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#tomhayes188
Thanks so much for posting this. I watched the YouTube video and had a question for Tom S. on how keeping your arms straight melds with a tucked trail right arm. He let me know that it's all about the feel, and what it feels like is different for different folks (but not different strokes I presume).
Well I watched the video again and realized I have never really kept my pits out during the entire swing. So I tried it, and although it feels very odd to begin with, I can't argue with the results.
Using this method, I don't have to worry about coming over the top and employing one of my many anti-hack tricks at the top of the swing. For example I would try to feel that my hands stay up in the air at the start of the downswing or I would try to keep my trail arm folded for as long as I can. So far with pits out I have had to do none of that nonsense.
So here are my keys now:
Tom's grip with upper arms connected to side of the chest
Pits out, which keeps the lead arm straight and the tucked trail elbow from flopping around like a one-winged goose.
Weight on the lead foot
Begin backswing by pushing off of the heal of my lead foot and the inside of my trail foot to get a full knee bend and good tilt
Pits stay out during the entire backswing
I try to get my tailbone pointed to the target at the top of the backswing
At the start of the downswing I keep my head in place and push my trail knee toward the target and try to feel like it moves past my stationary head. This keeps my lower body moving to the target without turning the hips prematurely. By putting pressure on the inside of my trail foot at the start of my backswing I kind of preset the pushing off of the foot toward the target.
Finish the swing like a left handed pitcher in their wind up. I do not have this engrained yet and it is the hardest thing for me to accomplish. It is not necessary for a good result, but when I do it I finish in better balance and feel I am less likely to hit a slice or fade.
Bold text was added on July 27 based on my discussions in this thread.
Great stuff, @tomhayes188! Thanks for sharing this setup key for putting the swing on autopilot!!
Magic
Yes indeed!