G’day Guru(s)

I have a question about the swinging style vs. a hitting style based on someone’s body type. Would one action be preferable over the other for example if someone is tall and lean, or short and stocky?

Or should body type not matter?

Forewood,

Generally if you are strong – hit ; if you are quick – swing. If you are strong and quick, do either or both – Homer Kelley.

As far as learning golf goes we should all learn both so as not to confuse the two.

Having only a rough idea of the difference can be very instructional, cathartic and have a serene effect on the mind.

I’ve been reading swingers v hitters and I’m not really sure when it comes to the downswing(pulling the rope or using the axe)Guru’s explanation, whether I’m one or the other. I definitely take away with the right arm ( I’m left handed. ) Does this give any indication as to whether I’m a swinger or hitter?

Dart,

Can you suggest any instructional literature/video one could go to for a broad picture/description of hitting vs. swinging – something to get me to begin to understand how much and whereabouts in my swing I might be hitting, swinging or switting. Knowledge is the first step.

cheers

I’m with Perko on this one. I’ve read countless articles about hitting and swinging and I’m not comfortable to “categorize” myself in either.

Cheers,

Mick

Guys,

You are looking too hard.

If you push the club though impact you are drive loading or hitting.

If you are pulling it through impact you are drag loading or swinging.

Further, hitting is muscular contraction, swinging is tendon stretching.

If your wife punches you in the mouth she is hitting, if she slaps you she is swinging. Take both the makeup sex is always good. Drive Loading?

But the difference is not where we have trouble. The sequence is the place to look.

The full sequence is; assemble the angles, load them. store them on the downswing and deliver them to the spot you want and release or throw them to the finish for swingers or followthrough point for hitters.

What you are doing is reversing that to release then load – back to front.

Load from the top and release or throw at the bottom. Throw the angles and maintain the pressure.

Pretty simple? Doing it better is the job.

Dart,
That was huge, golf is as easy as that,
Print this page out everyone and stick it on your wall,

Dart,

What about if you pull with both arms?

Guys,

Dart has given a very, very good explanation as to the differences between hitting and swinging. However, for me, the difference is much simpler and easier to relate to.

When swinging I feel as if I am being pulled down the line, after the ball, in my follow through. Almost like throwing the club down the fairway after the ball.

When hitting I feel as if my stroke finishes immediately after the ball has been struck. Almost like throwing the club at the ball.

Dart and Burner,

I’m very roughly in the ball-park on this (I think).

On downswing hips lead, then torso, shoulders, hands, in a shaft-pulling sequence and you’re swinging.

Less left side (for RH) and more right side behind the shaft (pushing,punching) coming into impact and you’re hitting.

After impact the clubhead chases after the ball and the full extension of arms (with forearm crossover) are a key move for the swinger finish (even though the right side has moved into the swing to some degree).

In my head I’m clear on the above but what I’m not clear on is what the hitter does just after impact. It would seem to me that there may be no extension for the hitter?? Anyway, if I can be a pain in the arse here – Dart, Burner, talk to me like I’m 7 years old on post-impact hitting – it might take a bit more elaboration for me. Baby steps. For example, what do I do with my hands post-impact when hitting? Burner says he feels like his stroke has finished etc. etc. when hitting but that advice can’t help me yet – what do I need to physically do before I can notice that feeling!

As for being punched in the mouth by my wife – you try it mate. She was expelled from the mafia … for excessive cruelty. You know how I know she is just coming through the front gate? The 3 Rottweilers next door start to wimper. Tyson won’t fight her.

thanks for any efforts on your part in answering my question

Perko

Take a look at Arnold Palmer’s twirl in his followthru. He is driving or thrusting his right arm to the right field, eventually to be brought back in as the left arm is joined to the left shoulder (I hope I haven’t muddied waters!). What I am trying to say is that the Hitter continues to drive and drive until he can no longer by the left shoulder “bungy-jump” effect. That’s why you sometimes see Hitters finish in funky styles. Take a look at Chi Chi Rodriguez. He looks he slashes thru impact but maintains his Flying Wedges and finishes in that funky style.

Or more recently, take a look at our own Peter Lonard. I am convinced that he is a Hitter but Gary Edwinites may have a different view.

Perko

Take a look at Arnold Palmer’s twirl in his followthru. He is driving or thrusting his right arm to the right field, eventually to be brought back in as the left arm is joined to the left shoulder (I hope I haven’t muddied waters!). What I am trying to say is that the Hitter continues to drive and drive until he can no longer by the left shoulder “bungy-jump” effect. That’s why you sometimes see Hitters finish in funky styles. Take a look at Chi Chi Rodriguez. He looks he slashes thru impact but maintains his Flying Wedges and finishes in that funky style.

Or more recently, take a look at our own Peter Lonard. I am convinced that he is a Hitter but Gary Edwinites may have a different view.

Yep he hits and Edwin confirms that via his “catch up”(swinger) and “leverage”(hitter) categories.

He even says you can’t do both and you must pick one, exactly the same as Homer stated.

Numbers,

thanks mate – I can just about see that outcome in my minds eye – I’ve got some pics of Palmer and I’ve always known he’s been considered a real hitter but I guess I was unsure as to whether he was considered a perfect general example of hitting or whether his swing was so idiosyncratic as to be a special case (maybe in the same way that Trevino’s swing is considered to be somewhat individual – but conforming where it counts i.e. at impact).

I’ll keep an eye out for Lonard, notwithstanding it seems, that not everyone sees him as a hitter. I saw footage of Rodriguez some time back but can only remember him as someone who “punched well above his weight”.

Cheers

This is a hit

Clicky

Clicky

This is looking very similar to the guy in my avatar.

Clicky

Thanks JonD – I see here how the hitter moves into his finish – that’s just the picture I needed.

Both arms straight out towards right field and everything is really spent and then the follow through to the end is almost incidental unless you keep going at it as Lag’ suggests to make sure you are not leaving anything behind before you get to both arms straight.

Trevino and Kenny Perry are other classic hitters.

Both arms straight out towards right field and everything is really spent and then the follow through to the end is almost incidental unless you keep going at it as Lag’ suggests to make sure you are not leaving anything behind before you get to both arms straight.

Trevino and Kenny Perry are other classic hitters.

Hmm didn’t realise KP was a hitter i must take more notice next time i see him on tele

Generally if you are strong – hit ; if you are quick – swing. If you are strong and quick, do either or both – Homer Kelley.

As far as learning golf goes we should all learn both so as not to confuse the two.

Having only a rough idea of the difference can be very instructional, cathartic and have a serene effect on the mind.

No truer words spoken, as I found out this morning. I tried hitting today. Well, I wasn’t sure what I was doing, but it was different and wonderful. I used my arms to power the club. Not sure what line I was supposed to be using. I used a tighter grip, and left the clubface looking at the ball almost all the way to the the end of the backswing.
Transition was quick and I aimed my hands left of my left foot while the looking at the ball, letting the clubhead whip through it. Lots of hooks, but oh the distance!

When my so-called hitting stroke faltered, I went back to swinging. At first I unsuccessfully tried to be aware of PP#4, but as always happens when I think of the pivot, the results were bad. So just think about the hands. Wow, hitting also improved my swinging. On the backswing, I turned my arms and hands so the feeling was as though my left hand was facing the sky. Transition was slow. The downswing was more like an unravelling, a drop. Pivot automatically responded and in synch with my arms. Lazy.

Retried hitting. No good. Then I rehearsed getting to impact fix, aiming my hands to the left of my feet. Don;t aim hands at ball, or else bad shots. Attained the original good results. Very humid day. Very soaked. Very happy.

Even improved my 3-wood swing, which was awful all year long. Went as far as my driver. Key pre-swing thought was to keep my knees flexed, which helps the body lead the stroke. DIdn’ t have to intentionally or consciously swing the arms hard. Just happened .Again, lazy.

I got a lot of questions about hitting, but I’ll do research on lagpressure’s illuminating posts.

Ok this is Peter Lonard from behind, I always thought he was a hitter…

Lonars from behind, fast and slow mo….

I really would like a comparable view of a renowned swinger… anyone come across one yet? Preferably fast and slow like this one….

Luke Donald Swinger

VJ Singh Swinger

Thanks guys – very educational.

BTW, are there any female pro golfers who are hitters? I would think because they are comparatively more flexible and thinner ( in most cases) and less strong than men, that practically all LPGA players are swingers.

Laura Davies? From strength point of view anyway. :)

It’s going to be cool seeing a generation or a bunch of golfers on the fairways around Australia who are all Hitters!

Women hit the ball different to men, my understanding is because their hips are so much different to men, they can’t (generally) turn the way men do. This is the main reason women don’t hit the ball as far, their pivot isn’t as free… something to do with babies. ;-)

If you watch a long hitter on the LPGA they almost invariably jump into the ball as they make contact, although this just seems to be a very popular way to make distance, one of many… Used to do this myself when I was young and flexible… not to mention ignorant.

The laws of mechanics are at work everywhere.

My wife went from 27 to 14 when I adjusted her components to her natural hitting temperament. She weighs 52 Kgs. and hits it past almost all men her age.