The Forgotten Pressure point
 

Ben Hogan, speaking of the Left hand grip in Five Lessons:
“In the completed grip, the main pressure points are the last three fingers, with the forefinger and the palm pad adding assisting pressure.
The three fingers press up, the pad presses down, and the shaft is locked in between.
Keeping pressure on the shaft with the palm pad does three things:
1. It strengthens the left arm throughout the swing;
2. At the top of the backswing, the pressure from this pad prevents the club from slipping from the player’s grasp; and
3. It acts as a firm reinforcement at impact.
This pressure we are speaking of should be “active,” the kind of pressure that makes your hand feel alive and ready for action.”

In his last sentence Ben appears to be differentiating between a “passive” pressure exerted on the palm pad by some other means. Is he suggesting the last three fingers of the Left Hand?
If this “active” palm pad pressure is as important as Ben Hogan believed why did Homer not recognize it as a valid Pressure Point?

'Points of Pressure' Versus Pressure Points
 

There are many 'points of pressure' in every Golfing Machine, but only those through which the Power Accumulators exert their force -- directly or indirectly -- are defined as Pressure Points.

In the Grip, for example, the left forefinger mentioned by Hogan certainly exerts a pressure (by the mere act of encircling the Clubshaft and applying its gripping pressure). The same could be said of the middle two fingers of the right hand. However, none of these 'points of pressure' drive the Left Wristcock (Power Accumulator #2), the Right Elbow Bend (Power Accumulator #1) or the Left Hand Turn and Roll (Power Accumulator #3). Therefore, they are not defined as Pressure Points for Power application.

In contrast, the last three fingers of the Left Hand constitute the Pressure Point application of the Left Wristcock Power. The pad of the hand cannot grip the Club by itself, nor can it actuate the Left Wristcock. Nevertheless, as Hogan noted, it is 'activated' by the gripping pressure of the fingers. Clench your fist, for example, and feel what happens.

The main point Hogan is making is that, in full Strokes, the Club Handle is best secured by gripping it under the heel pad. He lists three benefits, but misses perhaps the most important: namely, by placing the club under the heel of the Hand, you automatically create an angle between the Left Arm and Clubshaft. This Angle constitutes the #3 Power Accumulator with its Rotational Power and also, its three possible Hinge Actions (and their unique Rhythms).

For that reason, gripping the Club under the heel of the Hand is important for virtually all full-shot applications of Power. However, on short Shots, particularly Putts and Chips, the player may opt to place the Club Handle in the lifeline of the Left Hand (and therefore not under the pad), thereby eliminating the Left Arm / Clubshaft Angle (and its built-in Power). The last three fingers again provide the gripping security, but without the opposing assistance of the pad.

In any event, remember that the Hands serve as Clamps to secure the Club to the Machine. Once secured, the Grip (with its Pressure Point Pressures) serves to transmit On Plane Power -- Centrifugal (Swinging) or Muscular (Hitting) -- while controlling the Clubface alignment. All in compliance with the dictum of 1-L #3:

"There is no wobble in the Clubshaft Attachment (Grip)."

A few sentences down he warns of having a too tight grip on the club. This feel of being lively and active is to prevent a "loose pulling apart" type of grip many begineers have when they first start, As the club is taken back and to the top of the backswing- grips fall apart. Hogan wanted a firm hold. Those leather grips got slick in his day, too.

But more importantly:

Hogan's term 'pressure points' is not the same as Homer's. Ben is taking about the pressure the hand feels on the grip to secure (clamp).
Homer's Pressure Points are what Power Accumulators drive against. Never squeezed- they are Power Accumulator's passage to impact.

All of Homer's pressure points are on the back side of the shaft- even #4.

Hogans Right Thumb
 

Somewhere, Hogan mentioned that he felt pressure on the right thumb
from takeaway all the way to the top. Their was a question about the
turning of the right shoulder applying the pressure and the question came
up as to pivot controlled hands vs hand controlled pivot whereas Hogan
comment was, no matter the concept, the pressure had to be there.
If somebody has knowlege of the right thumb pressure could you
please comment.

On the backstroke the pressure points are reversed to the finger tips . . . so Hogan was on it.

You still hitting 100,000 balls a day? New irons yet???

Many thanks to all for those illuminating replies. :salut:
One never stops learning here.

Try hitting shots with the right thumb and forefinger off the shaft. HAvent felt better impact yet. Hogan was Hogan - the best, but I am quite happy shooting under par rounds without those two fingers actually not being pressurized at all. For me #3 is king. When I demonstrate this on the range while teaching sometimes, awe and open mouths is all i see.

Vik

Vik,
Bucket gets the same kind of reaction where ever he goes! ;)

or for those who do not recognise those hands....

My guess for Hogan wanting NOVICES to be remove the right forefinger and thumb off the shaft to practice was to teach them not to have an over active pp#3. PP#3 can cause big time serious throw-away if done wrong. No doubt Hogan rip many snap hooks in his day.

Peggy Kirk told us in Pine Needles that "Ben" told her that the right forfinger- pp#3 to us- was very important in ball striking. Let it be pushed- don't let it push.

6b can you elaborate please as I feel that this may be part of my current problems.

Thanks.

#3
 

I looked at a lot of pictures of the right finger off the shaft. Althought
the end and middle of the finger is off the shaft, I don't believe that
the #3 pressure point of off the shaft. I tried hitting lots of practice
balls with the right finger open but the #3 pressure point against the
shaft and it worked fine. Hogan mentioned in the Coleman Estates
video that the right finger had to go forward through impact and
not to the inside.

A passive king
 

Peggy Kirk's quote is simply saying that Ben recommended PP#3 should be passive rather than active.
And, although he uses a double negative, I think Vikram is saying the same thing when he says he is
“ ..quite happy shooting under par rounds without those two fingers actually not being pressurized at all.”
Vikram is this your understanding? Should we have a passive "King"?

Pressure Point Three is the King of all Pressure Points.

As Homer says and Lynn teaches, replace the clubhead with PP3. PP3 monitors the Acceleration rate and Direction of the clubhead – it senses clubhead Lag.
It is also part of the Right Forearm Flying Wedge and as such should never destroy it by pushing against the shaft and changing the flat left/bent right wrists of the FWs. It is not the job of PP3 to control the clubface, Hinge Motion or Rhythm. That is a Left Hand procedure. Acc#3 should whip PP3 around after impact by the Endless Belt. PP3 should not move the club in any rhythm fashion- just let it mash down hard on the ball as part of the right half of the FW. It should never go beyond the Flat Left Wrist.

When used wrong PP3 can cause a lot of throw-away.

Long-winded I know Burner - hope I answered 'something.' :)

Thanks, Mike. That clears the matter up nicely.

Keep pressure point #3 trailing PP #1 and you have it all in place. ALWAYS works !!! Then you have a Flat left wrist and bent right one too. BINGO.

Vik

Follow the leader
 

And are these pressure points preceded by what Hogan believed was the ‘active’ pressure on the heel pad of the Left Hand?

Absolutely! U got it.

V