Staying on "the wall(s)"?

[Stretch]

This just came up in Ben's swing thread and I didn't want to crap there, but do feel like my understanding of these commonly used metaphors is really lacking. As in, I know what it means to say your butt (and/or head) is "coming off the wall" -- it is moving away from its address position during the swing when viewed down the line. But I don't know what it means -- what is physiologically taking place in the context of the swing as a whole. My guess is it's largely a rate issue, ie. to do with the particular ratios in which we are each performing the basic elements of the motion -- turning, tilting (toward the ground) and flexing/extending. Is that even anywhere in the ballpark?

For me personally it's the head that's the main issue and it seems to be a big deal for my ball striking. If I can "stay out there", I'm mostly middling it. Head pulls back into impact, weak contact and wipes out to the right all day long.

Any and all opinions welcome.

[mchepp]

In George Knudson's book he stated that the head went where the body told it to go. Meaning that the head movement is irrelevant because something is happening with the body to cause the head to move. This is of course only one point of view.

I tend to agree with Mr. Knudson as many different players do lots on different things with head movement. Gary Player had some wild head movement along with Seve.

[jamo]

I'm trying to think of how your head could go back without either your head going up of your butt going back. It looks like maybe you are squatting down a bit and your upper body is extending a little.

[saevel25]

Well you can concentrate on the head as a way to calm the body, it gives you a focal point. So if one is related to the other than the inverse is possible. Put your head againts the wall and try to keep the same pressure there, see how your body reacts, it wont be the same.

[uttexas]

Head pulls back=front shoulder goes back=swing circle goes back=shots to the right. I struggle with this also. If I try to feel that my head stays centered in the backswing, it actually goes forward a little, then I have to thrust it back to obtain secondary axis tilt at impact=inconsistency. Feel isn't real. I have to feel like my head and upper body move a little backward on my backswing in order to accomplish the centered pivot. I'm doing well with all the clubs doing this except the driver. In order for me to keep my head and upper body centered in the backswing with the driver, I have to feel like its moving backward considerably. Yes, it's a rate issue (early side tilting with the driver)

[uttexas]

In your case, your head is further back from the stance line at impact, I think because your knees appear more flexed at impact than at address. At impact, you have a squatting look on the video still on the right, with more weight on your heels relative to address. More flex in the knees=squatting=weight shifts to heels and head moves back relative to stance line. I've seen you working on the leg extension before. I think that if you continue to work on straightening and extending your legs, your head position will be more forward relative to stance line and more in line with address position.

[mchepp]

Been watching some Rickie Fowler swing videos lately and noticed a similar move. Not sure if he does this in all his shots but something I noticed since you mentioned it.

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