| femoore wrote: |
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I'm not sure about the 4 barrel swing from the 3rd edition.
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As I read through the posts on this thread, I see a great deal of "thisfamous guy does -- or did -- it this way" and "that famous guy does-- or did -- it that way." Similarly, "this famous teacher teaches --or taught -- this Procedure" and "that famous teacher teaches -- ortaught -- that Procedure." This is all well and good and is certainly alot of fun to kick around. But...
At the end of the day, building a sound Golf Stroke is all aboutaccomplishing the correct Impact Geometry as detailed and supported in TheGolfing Machine. To that end, there are two Basic Motions available:Hitting and Swinging. Each has a Basic Stroke Pattern (12-0) that can belearned, modified as necessary, and repeated to produce the Shot at hand.
Homer's position was that you can do anything you want to in the Golf Stroke-- even Clubhead Throwaway (1-K) -- as long as the appropriate adjustments andcompensations are built into the Stroke. Of course, his position also wasthat the Stroke Patterns of Chapter 12 represent the UncompensatedStroke Patterns for Hitters (12-1-0) and Swingers (12-2-0). They are the TotalMotion (Full Pivot) Patterns from which all Short Shot Patterns should be drawn.
He felt it was "absolutely unnecessary to learn more than oneSwing." It is far better to simply modify one's Basic Pattern and tocustomize it only as necessary to meet the specialized needs of the shot athand, e.g., distance control and Ball Flight characteristics. The idea is tolearn the Uncompensated Pattern so well that it can be repeated with ZeroDeviation under all circumstances and conditions, including the pressure ofcompetitive play. Introducing extraneous and unnecessary Variations can resultin them, as Homer used to say, "taking up unintended Squatter's Rightson your Computer" and plaguing your Game even without your knowledge.
He felt it better to begin with Swinging because Centrifugal Force doesso much of the work:
"The thing is that Hitting is more difficult because everything has tobe controlled manually. With Swinging, all you have to do is get it started andeverything takes care of itself."
But he also believed that:
"Once you have mastered Swinging, then you should immediately tacklethe Hitting. Or vice versa. Once you have learned both, then use theminterchangeably. Like an artist with different paints and changingbrushes."
Now, I have no intention of getting the 4-Barrel debate started again. If thisnext quote does that, please know that I cannot participate at thistime! ![]()
That said, my first conversation with Homer Kelley was by telephone in June1980. There were three people on that call: Homer, Tom Tomasello and me. Two ofthose three are now dead, and listening to the stilled voices on the tape wemade has been a primary driver for my posts over the past six weeks. I feel atremendous responsibility and sense of mission to share with you what I havelearned.
On that call -- which I have transcribed for this post word-for-word -- is whatHomer Kelley emphatically said about the 4-barrel Swing:
"The idea of using a Four Accumulator Swing is extemely difficult, and Iwould say totally inadvisable. It can be done...maybe somebody candevelop a skill...enough skill to handle it...but I wouldn't teach it to anybody...theFour Accumulator Swing."
"I would teach a Four Accumulator Hitting because you can use theRight Shoulder Turn for Acceleration in Hitting, too. But...Hitting andSwinging do not mix. They simply to do not mix."
Three weeks or so ago -- time is rolling on here! -- I said I would post areply to DG's well-reasoned post on how he would transition a 3-Barrel Swingerto a 4-Barrel Swinger. The subject of my pending post is how to transitionto a 4-Barrel Hitter, which I feel, based on my work with Homer andmy understanding of TGM, is more advisable for those who would pursue thepinnacle of the Four Accumulator Stroke. I wrote the first draft of that postalmost immediately but time demands have prevented the final polish. At theconclusion of the Hinge and Magical Right Forearm Classes, I will revisit thisarea.
It is ripe for exploration -- "A ball of fun" said Homer --for all serious students of The Golfing Machine.