Club Release

[ebough]

Hand position in releasing the club is very important in determining whether the club face is closed, square, or open. Unfortunately, thinking about hand position while swinging a club fast was hard for me to do until I came up with the following scheme. I envision myself throwing a baseball under-handed with my right hand around the infield as I complete my swing. If I am trying to keep the club face relatively closed, I think about a throw to the shortstop or even the third baseman. A more neutral position would be a throw back to the pitcher. To fade or block a shot, I think about throwing to the second baseman or to the pitcher's left side. And I vary this depending on how my shots are moving on any given day.

This has been useful to me. Anybody else do anything similar?

[hrossroth]

Thanks for your insight. Maybe I missed it, but, what position are you playing in this imagery? Maybe the catcher, or you are hitting...

[hrossroth]

this was my edit too late:

I see your key here being the underhand throwing feel as you extend after impact. I can see how getting the club into the slot position with correct wrist action, involves more than just the backswing.

According to Hogan and the glass pane idea, I have been working with the idea that the plane extends behind the head. To complete the backswing and correspond with the extended plane when setting the club at the top I had to get the club behind me more and get my back facing the target more. How do you envision, if you are familiar with Hogan's fundamentals, the path going back with the path coming down, as in correct arc? He has a simliar section about throwing, like you do, but rather half sidearm and half underhand (pg 97). Its the idea about correct arc that I cannot visualize.

[ebough]

I envision myself as the batter.

I didn't see this scheme as addressing backswing or initial downswing. For a long time, I had trouble with proper follow through of my right hand and arm. Now I use a weak right hand grip and this scheme for thinking about my follow through and release, irrespective of what actually happens biomechanically. The result is much more consistency, especially with driving. Shots now range from slight draw or slight pull to mild fade. I can now aim drives slightly to the right of center and be reasonably certain that I will finish on the short grass.

[wackfudge]

i was told the hips square the clubface and you only have to uncock your hands