Tom,
I know you take an interest in your forum and your subscribers. Thank you for that.
I tend to babble as you will see and try to make light of things but, I hit balls today and it was such a satisfying day with consistency (except the driver) And lots of the Krispy satisfying feeling, it made me a little emotional too. I go from watching 100's of youtube guys Until you pop up. And of course, the first words out of my mouth were " who the hell is this guy" I ignored you.
Then you pop up again and I think that since I gave Ledbetter most of my time I thought that you were entertaining for sure, so what the hell. I watched a few videos and I felt that you were explaining things like no one ever has. since then I was absorbed in learning something I never knew. I joined your website and watched tons of your youtube videos. And today I had the Krispyiest day I have ever had. I must blame you Today's practice session of hitting about 150 balls off artificial turf was the best I have ever done. and I'm 65. I started my session today working on posture. I saw through my video I was in a poor position. As always I start with a quick warm-up with the 9er9er and it's the club I start with. I hit them well. not great but with a little more consistency. Move to the 7. didn't hit many but hit them well. went to the pitching wedge and aimed for the 100yd sign. Overall the day was an 80/20 to the good side. I usually hit my driver well. not today. lots of slicing and some high-flying birds. kept trying to hit it and had to finally give it a rest. upsetting but then something happened.
I grabbed my hybrid 5 iron. I really thought about everything. Posture, weight, tilt and turn, and keeping that head at the ball. I started hitting that club 200 yds and was able to do it in a row many times. a few bad ones but I was trying to smash it. Took out the 4 hybrid which usually collects dust and smacked it just as good as the 5. And that Krispy creamy KFC feeling is most satisfying. It really is!
As I was trying to analyze what I was doing I notice that I was really tilting and turning big time. I was trying to purposefully use it to help keep my left arm straight. as far back as I could, staying physically comfortable. I tried my best on the downswing but did not pay too close attention to it since I hitting well.
I am pretty sure my setup was consistent. I was not worried about my backswing as much but I could feel my wrists hinge and tried to see if I was doing it purposefully or if I was making it part of the swing. I was making it part of the swing is my answer to that. I then tried to make sure I kept it together going down. I still think I may be turning my wrists at the bottom but my timing must be right since it felt like Krispy KFC heaven and I had record-breaking distance with that 5 and 4 hybrids.
I really don't know if I am breaking or snapping or even doing anything with my wrists at the bottom of the swing but try this for how I am equating the feeling I think I have.
I'm a pretty good bowler. when I deliver the ball to the ally, At the end of my releese, I have that little snap of the wrist to put the ball in the strike zone. Am I crazy?
Either way, I started hitting balls better than ever. Now I think I can start making sure I continue to do the same and start to get better.
Time to fine-tune.
Thanks again tom.
Since your hand position remains constant, the clubface should open or close incrementally as you move the ball position backward or forwards. There is a chapter in the Stack and Tilt book titled "Circles and Cones" that gets into some nice detail on this. If you don't already have a copy, I highly recommend getting it as it will serve as an excellent reference guide to supplement the instruction in the online school.
That video seems fair to me. That has to be it. I will pay closer attention to it on my next outing. As of now I am getting only one chance a week to hit but I plan on adding another day. I have a question based on shaping shots. With my great outing I noticed that many of the balls were flying straight as opposed to a draw or fade. when i watch you videos on shaping and looking at the grid, as I move the ball back or forward in the stance, what does the head do.
That's some phenomenal progress, @Tom Holt - nicely done!!
With regard to you wrist action, if it mimics the move I'm talking about in this YT channel video then that's a good thing.
Keep up the great work!!
Tom