Golf Tips and Articles
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three parts of the club
Controlling the Club
We need to understand that we must control the three parts of the golf club in order to strike quality golf shots. These three parts are: Clubshaft, Clubface and Clubhead.
1. Clubshaft - The Inclined Plane is Clubshaft Control
The Clubshaft controls the Plane. The Plane is the angle that the club moves back and down on. It can stay on the same inclined plane back and down, shift to another angle, or even have several shifts during the stroke.
The simplest is to not shift at all.
The next easiest is to only shift this plane angle once, then two shifts, then three shifts. There can be many variations in plane shift, but a zero shift (Bryson DeChambeau) is no-doubt the easiest of them all.
2. Clubface - The Left Wrist is Clubface Control
The Left Hand controls the clubface and its job is to impart "Hinge Action" to the face giving direction, trajectory, and curvature. These three "Hinge Actions" are known as (1) Vertical: a wall, (2) Horizontal: a floor, and (3) Angled: somewhere in between.
In a geometrically correct golf stroke (ideal application) the Horizontal Hinge Action is used. This action works just like a door that is opening and closing. While on a Horizontal Plane it is clear to see that there is no turning or rolling in either direction. But on an Inclined Plane of motion there is a turn to the right and a roll to the left.
3. Clubhead - The Right Hand (more specifically the first joint of the right index finger) controls the Clubhead
The Right Hand - more specifically the first joint of the right index finger - controls the clubhead, its job is to sense where the clubhead is at all times and to direct the action of the clubhead. Using what is known as the "Aiming Point Concept" the direction and point of location in the downstroke varies according to hand speed, and the club being used. The shorter the club the more in front of the golf ball the "Aiming Point" is.
For example, when hitting a greenside bunker shot the player should be looking at a spot behind the golf ball. This is because that's where we want the club to strike the sand.
The same principle applies here. A wedge for example would be in front of the ball. A 5 iron would be at the ball, and a driver may be behind the ball.
These three parts must be controlled through Three Stations - from Address, to the Top, and to the Finish.
You'll notice that Impact is not included in these locations. Impact does not have the rank of a station simply because it happens if you have controlled the club through the Three Stations.
aiming point concept
The Aiming Point Replaces the Ball
Basically, the Aiming Point is a point on the ground that you intend to direct your Lag Pressure Point (Pressure Point #3) to during the downstroke.
The first thing to do in your journey to great golf is to establish that Lag Pressure Feel in your swing.
Clubhead Lag is felt during the downstroke as a steady Pressure in the index finger of your right hand (Pressure Point #3).
Done properly the Hands and the Clubhead combine as Clubhead Lag feel that can be directed, or aimed at a target. The Aiming Point is a target on the Delivery Line where you aim the pressure in your right index finger (PP#3) towards (right handed golfer).
The Aiming Point Concept refers from the top of the backswing how we actively direct the hands to a point either Infront or before the ball along the ball to target line which is also called the plane line.
The Aiming Point is very rarely at the ball.
Therefore you must not consider the ball as your target. Instead, the Aiming Point replaces the ball as if it was the ball and becomes your new target.
Think about an explosion shot of the bunker in the sand. Because the clubhead strikes the sand approximately 2 inches before the ball so our Aiming Point would therefore be located before the ball.
What’s the exact location of that Aiming Point?
The Aiming Point location can vary with each club and depends a lot on Clubshaft length and hands speed. The Aiming Point can be pin-pointed by experience and experiment because "Normal" hand speed can vary amongst golfers.
For example, a wedge requires that you aim past the ball whereas the driver requires an Aiming Point located before the ball. The longer clubs take much more time to release that shorter clubs.
If we turn to Physics, it’s all about the Law of Conservation of Angular Momentum that says that it takes less time for shorter clubs to reach their in-line condition from a given release point than do the longer clubs.
Therefore, you must give the driver more time to release by aiming at a point well before the ball (refer to image). If you were to aim the hands past the ball with the Driver, the club won’t release in time.
The following are a list of general rules:
1. With the longer clubs you need to aim further before the ball (right for a right handed player). Refer to image.
2. With the shorter clubs you need to aim further past the ball (left for a right handed player). Refer to image.
3. A mid iron may require an Aiming Point close to or even at the ball.
4. If you have fast hands, that is your hands are traveling very fast, you need to aim farther before/after the ball depending if you are using either a driver or wedge.
If you have slow hands, the Aiming Point must be closer to (before/after) the ball depending if you are using a driver or wedge).
For those having the Golfing Machine Book, they can refer to Chapter 6-E-2 which provides a very detailed explanation of the Aiming Point Concept.
Aiming Point Concept