6-B-3-0 Accumlator #3
 

As part of the Alignment Routine of 2-J-1, the Grip should be taken at Impact Fix with the Left Wrist Flat, Level and Vertical. This also establishes the height of the Hands for Impact. Within the constraint of the Flat, Level and Vertical Left Wrist at its Impact Fix height, the #3 Accumulator Angle is established. If a greater #3 Angle is desired, the Club is positioned more under the Heel of the Hand. If less is desired, it is positioned more toward the Cup (but still under the Heel). If Zero #3 is desired, the Club is actually positioned in the Cup.

For simplicity and greater Power Control, most Short Strokes, especially Putts and Chips, should employ Zero #3. This is ideally accomplished as described above, i.e., Gripping the Club in the Cup of the Left Hand. However, at the player's option, it can also be done by Gripping the Club under the Heel of the Left Hand but with the Wrist in a Flat, Uncocked and Vertical condition at Fix.

Full Strokes, on the other hand, require the greater Power afforded by the #3 Accumulator. Interestingly, in this case -- as in so much of life -- more is not better. Absent special circumstances or psychological needs (which must be accomodated!), only a minimal amount of #3 Accumulator Angle should be used. That is because the more acute the #3 Angle, the sooner it must be Released. This creates a longer Release Interval and less than Full Power. Maximum yardage requires the use of the Snap Release and minimal #3 Accumulator. You still get the same Clubhead Travel and Rhythm (6-B-3-0) of the #3 Accumulator through Impact to the end of the Follow-Through (Both Arms Straight Position), but the minimal Release Interval (2-M-2) produces a smaller Clubhead Travel Time. Hence, more yardage.

And here is one final, very important point. The #3 Accumulator is called Transfer Power for a reason: Especially in the Sequenced Release (4-D-0) of Swingers, it transfers the Power of the Released #2 Accumulator (Left Wrist Cock) into the Rolling Left Forearm and Hand. You should deliberately attempt to Feel this happening and do everything you can to encourage its Action.

Here's how to do it: From the Top, Drag Load (7-19) by Pulling the Butt End of the Club toward the Plane Line. Immediately thereafter, begin a Non-Automatic Random Sweep Release (10-24-B) -- later you can 'kick it up a notch' with the Automatic Snap Release of 10-24-E -- by Uncocking your Left Wrist strongly Downward, also toward the Plane Line. That takes only a fraction of a second, and just as soon as you Feel the strong, Downward Uncocking Motion underway, use its momentum to begin the Roll of your #3 Angle On Line through Impact. You've Launched a Three-Stage Rocket: The Drag Load established your initial Thrust; your Uncocking Left Wrist created the highest Velocity you will be able to achieve; and the #3 Accumulator picked up that Velocity and sustained it into Impact.

With Practice, this Sequenced Release blends into a single unified Motion and creates truly effortless, mystifying and almost magical Power. And when you get it right...

You're not going to believe it!

Accumulator #3 GM#124
 

Centrifugal Force -- not Right Arm Muscular Thrust -- does all the work in Swinging. In the Start Down and Downstroke, the Right Shoulder Turn Thrust 'cranks the Gyroscope' by 'blasting the Left Arm off the chest.' In the Release, the Uncocking Left Wrist unleashes the true Velocity Power, and the Rolling Left Hand then sustains it into Impact and the Follow-Through. Momentum carries the Hands into the Finish.

God is good.

Planes, Pressure Points, Grips, and Lasers - Ugh! GM#163
 

Thank you for your post, MJ. I have numbered your points in the order presented. My comments are in bold type.

1. In 9-2-1 #1, 9-2-2 #2, and 9-2-3 #1, the left wrist is not level, but partially uncocked...

The Left Wrist is Level when the wrist-bone and the edge of the hand (to the first knuckle of the first finger) form a straight line (4-B-1). This condition is more Uncocked than you think. Note in the 4-B-1 photo the upward pointing fingers of the Left Hand fist. Also note the downward pointing knuckles of the Right Hand fist. Contrast these alignments with the In Line fingers and knuckles of the Cocked Condition (4-B-2). Also, the even greater downward pointing fingers and knuckles of the Uncocked Condition (4-B-3). Finally, understand that the Left Wrist is considered Uncocked any time it is moving away from any Cocked condition, whether that be from Cocked to Level or from Level to Uncocked. So, in the Chapter 9 photos, you have observed and correctly described a "partially Uncocked" Left Wrist. And this precise degree of Uncock is defined as Level.

2. ...and the #3 accum has been zeroed out.

Zero #3 Accumulator is achieved when the Clubshaft and Left Forearm form a straight line. This position can be achieved by either Gripping the Club in the Cup of the Left Hand or by dropping the Clubhead into a Reverse Wristcock condition (Flat, Vertical and Uncocked). The Chapter 9 photos illustrate the recommended minimal #3 Accumulator. The Club remains under the Heel of the Left Hand, and the Left Wrist remains in its Level Condition. As a result, there is a readily observable angle between the Left Forearm and the Clubshaft. Any such Angle represents #3 Accumulator, and its Clubhead Travel (Rhythm per the selected Hinge Action) must be accomodated from Release to Follow-Through. Hence, it has not been "zeroed out."

3. And, are you saying it's preferable to use #3 [Accumulator] to "super uncock" rather than to use "throw out" through impact, if #3 [Accumulator] is NOT zeroed out at normal address?

At Impact, the Left Wrist returns to its Flat, Level and Vertical Impact Fix Alignment. Only after Impact does the Primary Lever Assembly (Left Arm and Club) achieve its 'in line' condition of Full Extension. This post-Impact continued Uncocking of the Flat Left Wrist -- from Level to Uncocked -- assures that the full driving power of Centrifugal Force will be maintained through Impact. For Swingers, the Lever Extension is driven by Centrifugal Force and its Throw-Out Action. For Hitters, it is driven by Muscular Thrust and its Drive-Out Action. With or without #3 Accumulator, any shortening of the Stroke Radius (Primary Lever) via the Wristcock will require Lever Extension during Release. In other words, that Extension must occur and is independent of the #3 Accumulator.

4. There are many tour players with "low" hands at address, and with #3 intact at impact.

True. And they have achieved their high degree of skill despite -- rather than because of -- a less than perfect Address Position. Remember, Rotation about an axis tends to pull everything into a straight line, including 'Low Hands,' i.e., a Cocked Left Wrist or an Off Plane Right Forearm or, most likely, both. For the 'Low Handers,' on Tour or otherwise, thank goodness!

4. It seems that Homer and you are recommending the "single-axis" setup (without the right hand palm grip).

Homer and I recommend the Impact Alignments of 7-2, 10-2, 7-8, 2-F and 2-J-1 with a modified Adjusted Address Position per 7-9 (primarily for Swingers). In a nutshell: The Left Wrist is Flat, Level and Vertical; the Right Wrist is Bent, Level and Vertical; and the Right Forearm and #3 Pressure Point are On Plane. The 'Single Axis' System is an unscientific, ungeometric 'Pivot-Controlled Hands' Procedure. It is riddled with serious errors of both omission and commission. Accordingly, its On Plane Right Forearm is not a 'saving grace,' and it should be avoided.

A New 'Level' Of Understanding GM#165
 

You're welcome, MJ. As Homer said, "Precision is recognizing and reconciling minute differentiations." And you've just made a giant TGM leap!

Now let's 'tighten the tolerances' a bit more:

As we've discussed, the Level Wrist condition can be defined as Uncocked. That's because the Cocked Wrist moving to Level is moving away from a Cocked condition (4-B-3). However, the precison Impact and Address Wrist condition of Level is not considered to be Cocked. That term is reserved for the movement from Level to Cocked and excludes the movement from Uncocked to Level (4-B-2).

Therefore, while Level can be considered 'slightly Uncocked,' it should never be considered "slightly Cocked." :oops:

Moe's #3 BM#73
 

Because Moe Grips the Club under
the Heel of the Left Hand -- and not in the Cup -- and because the Left Wrist
is Level -- and not Uncocked -- the Plane of the Left Arm cannot possibly be
the Plane of the Clubshaft.

More Moe and #3 BM#75
 

Teacher:

I certainly agree with you that a Grip with Club under Left Heel Pad and
Level wrist precludes Left Arm on Plane with Clubshaft. Do you agree that if
the Grip is in the Cup of the Left Hand that the Left Arm could be on-plane
with the Clubshaft? The reason I ask is because I have the Suttie video
wherein he does a freeze frame analysis showing that Moe's left arm is on the
clubshaft plane. His statement on the video is that Moe swings "on a
single axis", by which he was referring to the Clubshaft Plane.


Mathew or mgjordan, can you tell me how to get that Suttie freeze frame
displayed on the board? It is a VHS non-digital video. I will be glad to post
it so that everyone can view it.





Hi Bob,

Technically, when the Club is in the Cup of the Left Hand or
when the Left Wrist is fully Uncocked -- Zero #3 Accumulator (6-B-3-B) --
there is a Left Arm Plane. However, since these are synonymous terms, it is
best to consider this alignment as Zero #3 Accumulator (7-13).

But, this clearly is not the case in the above Address photo. It is
true that Moe has minimal #3 Accumulator -- the preferred Angle
recommended by Homer Kelley for reasons I have detailed in several posts on
other sites -- but there is some...and that is all you need for
Maximum Transfer Power (6-B-3-0) and, also, to negate the 'Single Axis'
Theory.

In the Follow Through (Both Arms Straight) photo recently published,
there appears to be a Left Arm Plane, but this is nothing more than
than the Primary Lever Assembly -- the Left Arm and Club -- at Full
Extension. In other words, the completed Release of the #2 Power
Accumulator (6-B-2-0 and 2-P) has resulted in the Left Wrist moving from its
Flat, Level and Vertical condition at Impact to its Flat, Uncocked
and Vertical condition post-Impact.

So, the post-Impact Full Extension of the #2 Accumulator has also Zeroed-Out
#3. This In Line condition of Left Arm and Club leads some to conclude
erroneously that the Left Arm and Sweet Spot have been adhering to the same
Inclined Plane throughout the Stroke. However, such is not the case. If this
'In Line' condition of the Golfer's Flail -- Angular Momentum (Phase Two of
the Law of the Flail per 2-K) -- was actually achieved at Impact,
the result would be an unstressed Clubshaft and a very soft shot (2-P). And
this obviously is not happening with Moe.

In the Release photo (also shown elsewhere on this site), the Right
Forearm is beautifully On Plane, but the Left Arm is clearly above this
Plane. This is the precision alignment of the Flying Wedges Assembly
(6-B-3-0-1) when #3 Accumulator is present. The commercial video I have of
Moe's swing clearly reveals this relationship wherein the Left Arm cannot
adhere to the Sweet Spot Plane. Therefore, throughout the Release Interval,
the Club describes an Arc around the Hands (when related to the Left
Arm) during the Clubhead Overtaking of the Hands (the #3 Accumulator Roll).
Simultaneously, it moves On Plane with the Right Forearm. A
Down-The-Line Impact photo would illustrate this point, and if someone
would put one up, I'd appreciate it.

So, until the Suttie analysis is posted, I can only conclude that (a)
selected frames of reference were used that gave the illusion of the
'Single Plane' for the Left Arm, Right Forearm and Sweet Spot; and that (b)
an inaccurate explanation reinforced the illusion.

Accumulator #3 BM#138
 

You are correct, azgolfer. The #3 Accumulator Roll (6-B-3-0) -- the
Open-to-Close Action of the Clubface (and, indeed, the entire Left Arm Flying
Wedge) -- is, in fact, actuated by the Right Arm.

[Don't be buffaloed by the terminology here; we're talking about simply 'closing
a door' by pushing on it with our right arm.]

However, for a number of reasons, Right Hand Control of the Clubface
Alignment (in addition to its natural control of the Clubhead
Power) is less than ideal. Therefore, though the Drive Out of
the Right Arm -- Active (Hitting) or Passive (Swinging) -- is
the Actuator of the #3 Roll, it is the Flat Left Wrist and its Hinge Action
(2-G and 7-10) that gives Clubface Control its fine tuning. It's what
Homer Kelley called...


"The veneer control."