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.