Moving in "two directions"..Lets talk about that
 

Its commonly said that the golfer should "move in two directions", meaning that as the backswing is being completed, there is a lateral or cross lateral shift leftward at the same time....

Is that an effective way to swing a club? I guess the alternative is that once the backswing is complete, then the golfer makes a shift leftward to begin the downswing. Is that more effective?

Comments please.

That's what VJ Trolio teaches in his book on the Hogan Secret, and he does a wonderful job of explaining it. I also feel I see a little of it in Brian Gay's swing during his lesson with Yoda, especially when hitting the short irons. I really like it, and look forward to the opinions of others...

Watch VJ Trolio in the videos at the bottom of this page:

http://www.thefinalmissingpiece.com/index.html

Kevin

I'd call it a Master Move, a must. Especially for longer shots but I see it in all but the shortest of shots to some degree. Research Pivot Lag. Taking up the Slack. A putt having no Pivot, has no Pivot Lag. Although a putt at St Andrews on double green say, might have a pivot.....Bobby Locke did this I think. But you know what I mean.

It isnt really "the golfer going in two directions" actively at least. Its more like the golfer takes the club to top and the rest of the travel is inertia, the club settling as the golfers pivot moves left and "takes up the slack" in the left arm. That leash is tight now , real tight. There isnt an attempt to lift the club back while bumping left at the same time.

Here's a photo from the "nothings new" files. Abe Mitchel, winner of The Open, one of longest hitters of his day, noted teacher and possessor of one heck of a transition. Look at that Sit Down move and how taught his left arm is. This is more Downstroke than Transition I know but...

If he looks familiar to you, it is his likeness that is immortalized atop the Ryder Cup. Samuel Ryder being one his students.



http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/forum/a...d=123846810 4

http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/forum/a...d=123846859 7

Nice squat, Abe!
 

This is what hula-hula flexibility is all about, right? I personally think that the section of movement that gives the impression that the backswing is not yet complete before the hips move is residual.

That could very well be Okie. Perhaps the "feeling" is just a little insurance for making sure we get to the left side, something I constantly battle with in a traditional pattern...
:golf:
Kevin

Abe Mitchel looks to me to have a very wide stance there .. I think Moe Norman was the same. What do people think about width of stance?

Dont want to wander to far away from the topic but.......

Id say that as you draw the right foot further and further back you are also moving your centered head and left shoulder (low point) further back. Play the ball vis a vis the left shoulder (low point) not the left foot for more precision. A super wide stance with a driver may see the ball well inside the left foot but directly under low point for instance. The other consideration to a wide stance is restriction in range of motion, I guess. Just my 2 cents, Canadian. Moe it is said, used to widen out a little when a crowd was gathering. He played it up a bit.

To me, Hogan and VJ's hips appear to be moving left a fraction of a second after the backswing starts, and it feels exactly like it looks for me.

Put another way, I start leaning into the shot almost immediately and most definitely feel like I'm 'moving in two directions'.