2 o clock finish keys?

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2 o clock finish keys?  

  By: Zach F on Nov. 21, 2024, 4:07 p.m.

Hi Tyler!
I found your keys to a successful finish position (follow through to finish video for those who may be curious) enormously helpful.
I’ve recently started focusing more on integrating 10-2 swings into my practice(only took me a year haha). Do you have any keys to the 2 o clock finish that you would kindly share?

These reps look ok? Please pardon the start line; you know I don’t mind a push ;)

Thank you so much, and happy 1 year. I’m so glad I stumbled across GSA!
Zach

 Last edited by: Zach F on Nov. 22, 2024, 6:48 a.m., edited 4 times in total.
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Re: 2 o clock finish keys?  

  By: Tyler F on Nov. 26, 2024, 12:28 p.m.

Morning Zach, Happy one-year anniversary. Your swing has definitely come a long way technically. Kudos for putting in the work!

For the 2 o'clock position, I think there are a few keys. To me, it's the end of the bracing feel. When I'm really hitting well, my 2 position has a strong sense of resistance in my lead shoulder scapula. It looks to me like that might be collapsing a bit. Also, you'll see that your lead foot is rolled a bit to the outside of the heel AND the trail hip is a little low. Either one by itself isn't that bad, but together it usually indicates an avoidance of side bend from the bottom of the ribcage (T8 to T12 area). Overall, your 2 o'clock is pretty clean.

If you needed something else to work on (like we all do, right?) I would consider the down-too-long theme. Your upper body seems to lower the entire downswing, this could lead to some of the upper body dominant feels. https://www.golfsmartacademy.com/golf-instruction/down-too-long/

Happy Golfing,
Tyler

 Last edited by: Tyler F on Nov. 27, 2024, 12:35 p.m., edited 2 times in total.
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Re: 2 o clock finish keys?  

  By: Zach F on Dec. 6, 2024, 9:54 a.m.

Ok, so I’ve learned to be leery of the phrase “I think I’m getting it,” but how’s this looking?

I took your idea about lead scap bracing to mean a mirror to the right shoulder “pack” from the backswing- is that correct? Is this the idea, scapula wise?

As far as arms, I feel that both radial bones have rotated slightly past a thumbs up orientation and my wrists are still in UD.

For the body I folded your “down too long” idea(which I really love because it allows you to bounce down more aggressively without hurting your back) into your idea of the spine being like an elephant trunk(which also blew open doors and turned on lights), with the image from your analysis of JT of his centers exploding in opposite directions from a “stacked” place in transition, and addressed my uneven side bend after your observation that it was causing me to lose my balance (more lights and doors- turtle shell and and lean the wrong way). All that has led me to here: what do you think?

Thank you as always and I hope your holidays are shaping up grandly,
Zach

PS- when it comes to me needing stuff to work on, I can’t imagine ever getting to a place where I’m not working on something.
;)

 Last edited by: Zach F on Dec. 7, 2024, 10:39 p.m., edited 14 times in total.
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Re: 2 o clock finish keys?  

  By: Tyler F on Dec. 9, 2024, 3:59 p.m.

It looks like it's trending in the right direction (especially the down too long portion), but I'd still like to get a better 10 position. I think a feel that might help your lead arm is feeling like the arms are squeezing together during impact and into the finish. That might help fix the left arm collapsing look.

Re: always working on something. I think that's the goal, that we all settle into a handful of key peices that we work on. Jack Nicklaus said every player has 3-5 keys. I remember in the late 90's, golf digest would have a section where tour pros listed their keys on an index card. I think of it like maintaining good posture. Even if you know what good posture feels like, you still have to work on it consistently to maintain it.

Happy Golfing,
Tyler

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Re: 2 o clock finish keys?  

  By: Zach F on Dec. 12, 2024, 6:01 a.m.

See? This is why saying “I’m getting it” is bad!!

Although, I think I have had more insight. I’ve been coming at the problem from an arm swing perspective, wondering what happens after impact during a proper slow motion rehearsal. Does the un released flying wedge “climb up the wall” a la Bender, or do the wrists release and then forearms stop rolling(relatively), like Champ or Xander, or is it more that the forearms keep rolling over(face on video)? I’ve seen all of these demonstrated by coaches.

What I really was after though is the balanced and right looking spot you arrive at effortlessly(still photo) and I believe the roadblock in my case was less about arm mechanics and more in an incomplete understanding of bracing.

When I practice a lot, I get sore on my lower right side, spine adjacent, in what feels like the multifidus but could be the QL muscle, and what I finally realized about proper bracing(and I hope I’m correct here) is it stabilizes all the muscles AROUND the lower back and protects it. When I combine that with *doing* less(open palm trail hand) and just letting the arms do what they’re going to do, I arrive at a spot that feels in my heart much more like where you end up(pardon my cartoonish proportions as I work macro feels of down then up in slowish DTL video). Is this more the right track?

Thank you in advance as always and Happy Holidays!

Edit- threw in a night rep from a few days later, and it definitely feels more correct.

 Last edited by: Zach F on Dec. 14, 2024, 8:29 p.m., edited 2 times in total.
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Re: 2 o clock finish keys?  

  By: Tyler F on Dec. 16, 2024, 12:06 p.m.

The tricky thing is that the forearms stop rolling or keep rolling, can vary in how it feels depending on the golfer. They are both correct feels, depending on who needs it, which is why you see both on Instagram and youtube. The key is figuring out which you need.

Proper bracing elongates the spine as it rotates and side bends, which helps protect it (and the muscles you mentioned). I agree the night time picture is looking better, I'd try to challenge a little more lead arm stability. So bracing more with the scap than the bicep.

I hope my fancy picture makes sense.

Happy Golfing,
Tyler

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Re: 2 o clock finish keys?  

  By: Zach F on Dec. 16, 2024, 3:14 p.m.

Makes perfect sense. I was hoping I would look more elegant, but I’m getting Zach Johnson hitting PW vibes.

Is what I said.

Then, I realized that you said what you said, and that I would have to do the work to find out what I needed to feel. I also remembered that it was anatomically possible to rotate the humerus while packing the shoulder joint. I had to fight through some middle aged shoulder crunchies to continue on but the light bulbs did go off.

Is the night video more of the creature?

TIA,

Z

 Last edited by: Zach F on Dec. 18, 2024, 9:11 p.m., edited 2 times in total.
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Re: 2 o clock finish keys?  

  By: Zach F on Dec. 19, 2024, 10:14 a.m.

It this more like it? I feel like it is, but I’m often wrong when it comes to this pursuit.

TIA

Z

 Last edited by: Zach F on Dec. 19, 2024, 10:19 a.m., edited 2 times in total.
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Re: 2 o clock finish keys?  

  By: Zach F on Dec. 20, 2024, 4:40 p.m.

*Submits hopefully*

 Last edited by: Zach F on Dec. 20, 2024, 6:10 p.m., edited 2 times in total.
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Re: 2 o clock finish keys?  

  By: Zach F on Dec. 21, 2024, 6:26 a.m.

Hey Tyler, happy solstice.

I feel like it was a year ago, blowing up your inbox like this. This is just a large visible piece falling into place, I think. I’ll continue to refine my bracing strategies but I think you’ve really given me something crucial here. Thank you, and Merry Christmas!

Zach

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Re: 2 o clock finish keys?  

  By: Tyler F on Dec. 23, 2024, 9:19 a.m.

Hey Zach,

Left arm structure is definitely looking better. This picture in the first clip was my favorite. How's it feeling? Less hooky? I heard a few positive reactions on the video clips, does it have a distinctly different feel?

Happy holidays, and happy golfing,
Tyler

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