Hosel Rockets Red Glare

I had a rather distressing range session on Saturday, about which I think I have diagnosed a cure, but would like consensus. I probably hit close to 100 balls almost exactly 1 ball diameter toward the hosel from the sweetspot of the club face. This miracle of a modern repeating stroke occurred with both a 9I and 6I. I am trying to hit, but won't say I am doing a great job of it. I also am pretty good about setting up with the ball positioned toward the toe.

After thinking about it overnight I decided that my aiming point, given the changes I have been trying to employ, needs to be well inside (toward my feet) the back of the ball in order to make contact on the sweetspot of the face.

1) Does this sound like a reasonable solution?

2) Is it trial and error to determine exactly how far inside the back of the ball to aim in order to hit the club face sweetspot?

3) Are there other approaches to solving the problem?

As always your responses are appreciated. Thanks.

Originally Posted by ThinkingPlus I had a rather distressing range session on Saturday, about which I think I have diagnosed a cure, but would like consensus. I probably hit close to 100 balls almost exactly 1 ball diameter toward the hosel from the sweetspot of the club face. This miracle of a modern repeating stroke occurred with both a 9I and 6I. I am trying to hit, but won't say I am doing a great job of it. I also am pretty good about setting up with the ball positioned toward the toe.

After thinking about it overnight I decided that my aiming point, given the changes I have been trying to employ, needs to be well inside (toward my feet) the back of the ball in order to make contact on the sweetspot of the face.

1) Does this sound like a reasonable solution?

2) Is it trial and error to determine exactly how far inside the back of the ball to aim in order to hit the club face sweetspot?

3) Are there other approaches to solving the problem?

As always your responses are appreciated. Thanks.

Failure to clear the right hip is one (5-0). Read also, 2-F (middle of the page). Be sure the shaft rotates around the sweetspot and not vice-versa. Throw away any feelings of shaft plane.

Hosel Rockets Red Glare...
...gave proof through the flight, that the lag was not there.

"Be sure the shaft rotates around the sweetspot and not vice-versa."

I've never understood this...at all.

Or when ppl say "Hosel rotates around the sweetspot."

I look at my club and go "HUUUUU-what??"

Originally Posted by birdie_man "Be sure the shaft rotates around the sweetspot and not vice-versa."

I've never understood this...at all.

Or when ppl say "Hosel rotates around the sweetspot."

I look at my club and go "HUUUUU-what??"

The line of pull through the sweetspot is a line from the #3 pressure point through the sweetspot. Tape a piece of string on the sweetspot and take it up to the #3 pressure point. That line is the center of gravity, not the shaft. Imagine the toe and the shaft moving around the sweetspot. In fact, once you add the string, do some basic motions and watch the sweetspot. If there's any Turn and Roll, you'll see the shaft moving around. The clubhead doesn't flop around the shaft.

Originally Posted by YodasLuke Failure to clear the right hip is one (5-0). Read also, 2-F (middle of the page). Be sure the shaft rotates around the sweetspot and not vice-versa. Throw away any feelings of shaft plane.

Hosel Rockets Red Glare...
...gave proof through the flight, that the lag was not there.

If anything I probably clear and get my weight too far forward. The point about sweetspot and shaft rotation hits closer to home. It felt like I was firing my hands and the shaft right at the back of the ball. Down, out, and Ohmygod where did it go! It was also repeatable as deja vu. You should see the ball residual buildup between the club face center and the hosel.

Originally Posted by ThinkingPlus If anything I probably clear and get my weight too far forward. The point about sweetspot and shaft rotation hits closer to home. It felt like I was firing my hands and the shaft right at the back of the ball. Down, out, and Ohmygod where did it go! It was also repeatable as deja vu. You should see the ball residual buildup between the club face center and the hosel.

Did you like the lyrics? I worked very hard on them.

Originally Posted by YodasLuke Did you like the lyrics? I worked very hard on them.

Yes, but I wasn't up to the task of completing the verse. That range session was some kind of frustrating because I was getting enough club face on the ball to where it did not go straight right. It went mostly forward, but low spinning a bit right. Craziest thing! The worst was if felt awful, but I could not identify where I was hitting on the club. It didn't feel like a normal sha...sta root beer. Looks like I have some things to work on this next weekend.

Steph - be careful that in your cross line motion you are not too flat, too inside. I find that any time the 'ol 'rocket' finds its way into my swing, it is often the result of a 'lift and roll' to the inside on the takeaway. The cure - more UP - right forearm pick up exaggerated - drills with your back against a wall to prevent that 'inside' roll of the hands and/or a plane line too much out to the right and flat.

Hands stay inside the clubhead until hip high.

Originally Posted by EdZ Steph - be careful that in your cross line motion you are not too flat, too inside. I find that any time the 'ol 'rocket' finds its way into my swing, it is often the result of a 'lift and roll' to the inside on the takeaway. The cure - more UP - right forearm pick up exaggerated - drills with your back against a wall to prevent that 'inside' roll of the hands and/or a plane line too much out to the right and flat.

Hands stay inside the clubhead until hip high.

The crazy thing is that I have been working real hard not to get my hands too far inside (a fault identified at the SoCal school). If anything I am getting a little too vertical. In fact my hubby noticed that it looked like I was taking the club a little outside. Go figure. I can find ways to make commonplace what should be unusual. I will keep trying to stay on plane and keep my hands from going way, way inside.

Originally Posted by YodasLuke Hosel Rockets Red Glare...
...gave proof through the flight, that the lag was not there.

Thanks Ted - Now every arena event I attend I'll be remembering this while singing The National Anthem. That is, attempting to sing without busting up.

Oh well, I can't swing...uh...sing anyway!

Bagger

I went through a period of this when I was first concentrating on keeping a FLW. It seems that I was trying so it to keep it flat that I was not allowing the proper rotation to take place, resulting rocket after rocket. When I allow the proper rotation the rockets go away. Is this what you guys mean when you say that the shaft rotates around the sweetspot?

Originally Posted by Yoda You must have a 'bridge' from the end of the Follow-Through (Both Arms Straight) to the Finish. That bridge -- and its Endless Belt Effect -- is the Finish Swivel.

Make sure you've got one.

Monitor your mission-critical Finish Alignments:

1. Left Forearm Swivel;

2. Left Hand Location;

3. Left Wrist alignment;

4. Clubshaft position; and

5. Body Position and Balance.

Reduce each Mechanic to its subconscious Feel (Crash Component Translation).

Integrate that Feel into your Basic Stroke Pattern (Relative Component Translation).

Finally, use one or two 'swing thoughts' to blend them all into the One identifiable Feel of your Total Motion (Expanded Component Translation).

Along the way, you may suddenly discover you are playing by far...

The best golf of your life.

I still have loads of trouble here. I tend to lose down or out or both every time I try to "finish". When I maintain down, out, and forward I usually end up in some awkward positions with my arms as I go to finish.

Is a counter-clockwise rotation (forearm roll) of the bent right wrist at the both arms straight position the right thought for getting to finish? This would take my right thumbnail from an orientation facing straight up, at both arms straight, to facing down at finish. I apologize for the not so TGM lingo.