I was reading the blogs after yesterday's article and the following two caught my attention.
Rick says:
Something is lost in translation. You said, 'When hitting golf ball, the rock is the club head, the string is your club shaft, and forward arm and the hand is your entire body. So, hold your body and swing your arms faster.'
So, the forward arm and hand are part of the string or part of the body? If the forward arm and hand is part of the body, how do I hold it and 'swing my arms faster? Am I swinging my arms and hands or just the club shaft?
Don Parker responded to Rick's question very quickly with the following answer.
Don Parker says:
Rick, I think Don put a comma in the wrong place. The club head is like the rock at the end of the string. Your club shaft and forward arm are like the swinging string. And your entire body stays still like your hand does when holding the string swinging the rock. Is that better? Correct me if I'm wrong, Don.'
And I wrote:
Don Parker, your answer is right on and 100 percent correct. Thanks for writing in so fast (in minutes!) and clearing up and clarifying the picture for Rick, as he acknowledged to you in a later blog. You likely cleared it up as well for a lot of other readers who were trying to figure it out.
The comma is in the wrong spot and should be after forward arm. (It's been corrected.) I have also added, as a clarification, 'and the hand holding and swinging the rock and the string symbolizes your body.'
I saw two other questions that needed answers and will help a lot of other readers, so I will briefly address them in this column today.
Jason S. asked, 'How important is club length? I am 6'5' and bigger than the average person. What difference does it make if your clubs are extended when a Pitching wedge is still awkwardly short'?
For starters, Jason, the biggest and most important reason is that correct length is the way you can get into a dynamically balanced setup, and from there, stay in a balanced swing. I would say there is a good chance that if you have longer clubs, they may still need more length. I know that some tall players graduate their lengths with the wedges, say 1 inch longer, and the rest of their irons only ¾ or a half inch longer. They do this because, as you say, the shorter clubs may still feel awkward and the extra length helps them get into a better balanced setup and swing.
The next question is from Dave Buckenheimer. He wrote that he can hit most of his clubs, but not his fairway woods and hybrids. He asks if I can give him any suggestions that can help him hit them with more distance and control.
Dave, when you hit many clubs well and one or a few poorly, the problem is likely not you, but your clubs. Go to a club fitter and get them checked. The shafts are likely a lot softer/weaker or stronger/stiffer than the rest of your set. If that is the case, getting them re-shafted to match the good hitting clubs should get them performing well.
Lastly, Howard asked, 'How do you find answers to the questions in the letters?” Many to most of the letters give an explanation of the instruction topic covered. There are also past articles posted by topic on the main site that will have more information. You can also use our search feature on the site. Lastly, the ultimate sources are the instruction videos, the Foundation Swing Manual, and our new Inner Circle club.
The Surge!