Shaft Lean at address

[RussUK]

As im trying to understand some of the little intracacies i was wondering if someone could explain how, other than delofting the club, forward shat lean affects the swing?

IN the past i have read the S&T book which said that more shaft lean allows to swing more in to out?

Is there an optimum amount of forward shaft lean?

While im pretty happy with my swing, having more knowledge on why things happen is usually a good thing and understanding elements like the above may help me understand my swing a little more.

Thanks in advance guys.

[iacas]

22 minutes ago, RussUK said:

Is there an optimum amount of forward shaft lean?

At setup? No.

The only thing it really does is help your weight be a bit forward and to help you pre-set a little bending of the back of the right wrist so that, ideally, you can return with a little shaft lean at impact too.

Point the butt end of the club somewhere into your left leg and then work on things that actually matter.

[saevel25]

If you look face-on view (camera pointing at your belt buckle) at impact. Then at minimum you should be able to draw a straight line from the club head to your shoulder and the hands should not be behind that line. If they are then you are flipping at the ball a bit.

Of course this changes with the shot. A pitch shot doesn't need to have forward shaft lean because that would decrease the effective bounce on the wedge.

 

[Missouri Swede]

16 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

If you look face-on view (camera pointing at your belt buckle) at impact. Then at minimum you should be able to draw a straight line from the club head to your shoulder and the hands should not be behind that line. If they are then you are flipping at the ball a bit.

Of course this changes with the shot. A pitch shot doesn't need to have forward shaft lean because that would decrease the effective bounce on the wedge.

 

That's at impact.  OP was asking about address.

[RussUK]

28 minutes ago, iacas said:

At setup? No.

The only thing it really does is help your weight be a bit forward and to help you pre-set a little bending of the back of the right wrist so that, ideally, you can return with a little shaft lean at impact too.

Point the butt end of the club somewhere into your left leg and then work on things that actually matter.

Thanks Erik makes sense.

25 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

If you look face-on view (camera pointing at your belt buckle) at impact. Then at minimum you should be able to draw a straight line from the club head to your shoulder and the hands should not be behind that line. If they are then you are flipping at the ball a bit.

Of course this changes with the shot. A pitch shot doesn't need to have forward shaft lean because that would decrease the effective bounce on the wedge.

 

That would have been my next question. When im pitching i lean the shaft to much, think its a mental thing of being worried about skulling the ball..

 

[saevel25]

13 minutes ago, RussUK said:

Thanks Erik makes sense.

That would have been my next question. When im pitching i lean the shaft to much, think its a mental thing of being worried about skulling the ball..

 

You might be more inclined to skull the ball if you have a lot of shaft lean. The opposite is duffing the shot.

[RussUK]

Just now, saevel25 said:

You might be more inclined to skull the ball if you have a lot of shaft lean. The opposite is duffing the shot.

Right, so essentially i need to be doing the opposite of what i think in order to not skull the ball? Would this be down to the brain wanting to get the hands back into their normal position and as a result flipping the club into the ball?

[saevel25]

28 minutes ago, RussUK said:

Right, so essentially i need to be doing the opposite of what i think in order to not skull the ball?

It could be a technique issue as well, but set up helps. When I set up for a pitch I am not leaning the shaft forward. That doesn't mean I can't hit a good pitch with slight shaft lean at set up.

In terms of technique, it could be just how your pitching motion is as well. Maybe it is how your body pivots. It could be a timing issue. I wouldn't say that this one thing is causing all of your issues.

30 minutes ago, RussUK said:

Would this be down to the brain wanting to get the hands back into their normal position and as a result flipping the club into the ball?

Not necessarily.

[Groucho Valentine]

I'm sure "lean" is the right term for what i do. If you set up to the ball correctly and if the club isnt bent all out of wack, the butt end of the handle should be a little ahead of the ball at address just by design.