I feel obligated to get this off my chest. You are 80 and I'll be 79 next month, but you appear to be amazingly robust and vigorous, while I've been going downhill for quite a few years, my 6 irons last week barely going 100 yards. I've never been very strong, a little guy, but I had a golf scholarship in college and in the air force got down to a +2.7 handicap briefly, quite an ego builder because they used to post everyone's handicap on the golf club bulletin board every month. Of course, if a guy is realistic, he knows such a low handicap is a product of local knowledge, and this is why so many hot shots think they can make it on tour, only get a dose of reality when they fail to qualify. JH (if I may call you that) you have turned my whole life around. Before I discovered Chanel Lock, I dreaded getting up in the morning, because golf used to be my whole life, and trying to stick with the same natural swing I've had for over 65 years just made me so depressed, I finally decided to start writing a book as a way to keep from going nuts. But guess what - everything has turned around, and I can't wait to get up in the morning and head to the driving range, because now I'm hitting a 6 iron 140+ yards, only about 10 yards short of what my stock yardage was 50 years ago, and while I used to hit an entire bag of shag balls through soccer field goal posts 150 yards away when I was active duty, I'm every bit as accurate with Chanel Lock. I'm in the process of checking out your other videos and the one in which you use the "shoulder sling" really clicks because I recall dragging the club head back (making love to the grass along the way was how it used to be described.) Can't thank you enough for bringing me back from the dead - I'm really looking forward to the future now and I owe it all to you. Cheers forever mate - good on you for "digging this out of the dirt," (to coin a phrase.)
Hi Ed, I am so glad that a 'type' of swing I have highlighted on my channel has been of benefit to your golf game.. and your general outlook in your later years of life. I have been lucky to maintain a good level of body fitness into my later years of life.. I fortunately haven't been afflicted with the normal wearing out of body parts that invariably beset us in our advanced stage of life. All my joints are still in good working order.. my muscle flexibility levels are certainly not as good as it once was.. and I don't include any of that flexibility training in my workout routines.. least I haven't up to now.. I am however going to embark on that aspect of my body's musculature needs from now on. I firmly believe that the CL swing is a better type of swing for a senior body .. it doesn't require a lot of excessive stretching of the muscles.. and it doesn't put a lot of stress on the balance system of the body.. you basically just stand still in place and swing your arms past your body. I am glad you have picked up some distance again with your clubs.. the benefit of the CL swing is that it can be shorter in overall range of movement and still develop good distance.. and that is because the strike just becomes more efficient at impact.. you don't need the clubhead to travel a long way to generate good power in the strike. 'Looking forward to the future'.. that's the thinking you want .. don't ever let 'age' stand in the way of getting the best out of every day of your life. I know my body is not 30 anymore... but I just don't give it a chance to think it is in fact 80 .. we just need to keep the brain living in the 'now'.. not the 'past'... cheers mate.
JH I never get enough of the basics ... never never never What you showed the new guys coming on is the best foundation and process to the greatest golf swing ever Finding oneself with the protocols in the Channel Lock Swing is truly finding the real golfer they never were Love the basics Thanks
Hi Steve, I really think I have to keep reinforcing the base principals of CL from time to time and keep tailoring the base protocol to ever increasing understanding and ease of initial uptake for players.. and especially ''newbies' .. which really is going to be virtually 'everyone' anyway.. cheers JH
This is great stuff!!! As you know, most golfers arrive at impact with their shoulders open and this creates a lot of opportunities to hit poor shots. I gave lessons at several driving ranges in San Antonio, Texas after I retired from the air force in 1986, and I wish I had known about this technique back then, because what you present here is a fantastic way to compress the ball and still hit a draw. What can happen with the inside-out swing is a tendency to hit upward, which leads to sweeping the ball, resulting in no compression - a glancing blow. You may be the only innovative instructor in golf today - my cowboy hat is off to you!!!
Another 5-star CL video, JH! Excellent! For me, I like to keep both feet on the ground like your vid a couple days ago. It's a protocol for me. Thank you for summing things up for rookies!!
Hi Dave, I have to say that 'every time' I push 'both feet into the ground at impact' into my practice warmup shots I hit the ball super all day .. so it goes to reason that I should apply that process in 'every' shot I hit .. ... the clear major plus of having both feet on the ground at impact and pushing into the ground ....is that it just supports the upper body and shoulders so well at impact .. I frankly cannot see any reason not to apply the 'feet down' at impact process.. cheers JH
Having watched a few videos of the Channel Lock swing I decided to try this out at the range today.The session resulted in me playing the ball off the back foot as shown but instead of twisting myself as you show I just closed my stance and body a little which gave me the opportunity to make a full turn. The resulting shots with all irons shots and fairway woods was really great. The driver I am still working on.
Can u hit a fade with the CL? Seems impossible. Gave it a go today and liked it. In competition hit it pretty straight but seemed to lose driver distance. But only two range sessions after fed up with game. Tried CL 4 months ago but never continued. Thank you . Glad to see u are still making vids. Seems like lockdown down under has slowed u
I just want to say THANKS JH i have been playing channel lock for about 3 months now and i can honestly say that i have never hit a golfball better Cheers from Sweden
Thanks for letting me know that, CL is a swing that once you become familiar with it will be so much easier to maintain as a consistent swing process because it has a 'specific' set of swing mechanics to apply.. cheers JH
Hi George, You will struggle with the woods and longer clubs until you arrive at the 'same' arms/hands setting at address with the longer clubs as that of the shorter clubs .. you need to get as close to the ball as possible with the longer clubs to stop the clubhead going sideways in the backswing initially ... the more 'stretch' you get with your arms at address away from your body the more the club will go sideways instead of rearwards in the backswing .. as well the most you stretch your arms out at address the more that will happen at impact and have a big influence on turning the shoulders open at impact . Just try a few longer clubs.. 3 wood.hybrid ..even driver .. but grip the clubs down somewhat and stand closer to the ball at address and just don't try to hit the ball hard or far and just get the feeling of the body being quiet during the downswing and the arms just swinging freely past the body .. that will happen when you get closer to the ball because your balance will be way better because your upper body weight will not be tipping forward out in space on the downswing.. cheers JH
Very interesting and informative. Alignment sticks would help us to better see what you’re doing. I’m 90% Mike Austin method with one of Joe Dante’s “Magic Moves,” the “Early Backward Wrist Break” which is very different from the CY loose dragging takeback but achieves the same result. Many of us can’t control the wrists and easily get off plane, too loose at the top, collapsing and over swinging. Believe me, I’ve tried. In fact in my 45 years of golfing I’ve tried everything from Farnie’s Golf Manual to S&T. For me, Dante’s takeback is a major foundation of my swing. That said, the CY method is how I would use my appendages to create the fastest impact speed as in cracking a whip. I just can’t do it repeatedly with a golf club and I believe many can’t either. One thing I’ve taken from the Count is his closed stance. I tend to pull my short irons with the standard open stance and open clubface and compensate with weaker grip or aiming right. I tried the CY method and have become deadly accurate with no compensatory adjustments. Thanks for posting. PenguinGolf
There is a basic geometry applicational requirement in any type of golf swing in order to create a speciific starting direction of the golf ball post impact.. That being the shoulder girdle alighnment factor.. the arms can only track in the direction the shoulder girdle is pointing at impact.. and as the hands are attached to the arms and they onwards attached to the golf club.. the ball will be subjected to that swing direction path at impact. You can only pull a shot if the shoulder girdle is aimed to the left at impact ( right handed golfer.. conversly you will only hit a genuine push shot if your shoulders are alighned to the right at impacy .. if the clubface is open at impact with closed shoulders the ball will start to the right and keep going right.. if the clubface is closed at impact the ball will 'start' right.. then curve back . You can have an open stance and hit a dead straight shot or even a power draw.. if.. you shoulders are aligned square to closed at impact . Lee Trevino had an extreme open stance .. and he his natural ball flight was a straight 'push' out to the right.. not much.. but still a push direction shot .. he could also hit a perfect power draw if required. So if you experience pull shoyts you just need to work on keeping the shoulders closed at impact if you want to use an open stance . With regards to alignment sticks to better understand the CL swing geometry .. this video might help you .. ua-cam.com/video/VHPmRWm-jnE/v-deo.html cheers JH
One final point and I'll leave you to bask in your brilliance. In teaching the standard swing many years ago, I ended up relying on the Hogan half-swing exercise to help people understand how the body and arms work together, but this still requires pretty decent coordination, and it all goes out the window as soon as the application of force is ratcheted up. I'm not sure I'm doing it right, but in my second session today, I feel like I start the downswing and focus on keeping the right shoulder back as I pivot around my right leg, not allowing it to move forward until after impact, when the force of the club allows it to move forward naturally - I'm killing it - anything you suggest will be appreciated.
You got it right there Ed.. by keeping the trail leg just working as a vertical stabilizer you are allowing the arms/club to exert maximum straight-line motion 'at' the ball ... from the contained in position of the slightly closed shoulder girdle. By applying the trail leg vertical stabilization .. the shoulder girdle is allowed to just stay in place easily because it's not having to react to a lower body driving away underneath it and over rotating ...putting pressure on the shoulder girdle to follow that rotation direction coming into impact. It's really a 'stand and deliver body action .. which maximizes the stored energy release of the arms/hands .. if the arms/hands are fighting a shoulder girdle that is having to follow rotating hips and legs etc.. they can never release in an uninhibited manner 'at' the ball at impact. The Iron Byron test robot always has maximum energy release of the swing arm mechanism because the base of the Robot is totally stabilized and not moving at the club's impact. OK.. the Robot's Bio Dynamics are not that of Human joint structure .. but I can tell you if the base of the Robot was independent of the arm swinging mechanism.. the strike would not be the 100% efficiency the Robot achieves every swing. The Robot applies what is known as a 'Closed circuit' mechanism.. the Human body is an 'Open Variable' mechanism .. its pivot/fulcrum points are not fixed in place.. the Robot's pivot/fulcrum points are fixed in place.. hence the more you can eliminate of that Open System variable of motion positioning.. the more consistent will be the delivery efficiency of the clubface to the ball at impact. Cheers JH
@@1atomicgolf Something else that ties right in with Chanel Lock - although it looks like my original understanding of centrifugal force has taken a hit, with new scientific studies designed to confuse me, my own personal sensation during the downswing is that I used to gain speed through impact by allowing an uninhibited free-swinging motion through the ball. In the old days, I would drive my legs through the shot, but I can see now that this floating action of my lower body actually prevented me from establishing a solid base to maximize my power. That's why using my right leg as a vertical stabilizer feels fantastic, like I'm actually using this ground force thing I've heard so much about, but with Chanel Lock, I don't even have to think about it. One final amazing bonus - to hit a decent shot with my old swing I had to finish in what was called a "reverse C" position, but for the last 20 years or so, my lower back would tell me "no way, Jose." Incredibly, I can really take a rip with Chanel Lock, and feel no strain in my back whatsoever, and believe me, I've surfed the internet for a long time and the "walk-through" swing was the only thing that helped a little bit, but I could never swing as hard as I wanted. You saved me from having to take the advice from a friend years ago, when he said I should just lay off for 3 weeks and then quit.
Hi Ed, I just believe a 'quiet' stabilized body at impact just lets the arms/hands/club release so much easier because they don't have to try and reroute around a body that has rotated and positioned itself in front of those arms/hands/club .. essentially blocking the free arm travel release path. I am now of the belief that the quieter you can keep the lower body coming into impact.. the faster you can actually move your arms. .. so what you are experiencing I can totally understand. cheers mate
One final point - (2.0) More than anything else, I like the way I can swing as hard as my feeble body will allow without any pain, without losing my balance and still hit the ball squarely - no other swing technique has all that going for it. It was a lucky day for me when this came up on "recommended for you," and I recalled your atomic handle. Cheers forever mate - I'm a fan for life (however much I have left.)
Hi Ed, Thats great you can use all the available zip you have left in your swing because of using the CL swing methodology. As we get older we invariably are still physically quite strong in the hands/arms/shoulders.. but we cannot utilise those components to their maximum because we cannot rotate enough out of the way at impact to give those body components a room to fire correctly. With the CL swing we are not trying to get the lead side out of the way at impact.. and with closed shoulders at impact its so much easier to release the arms/hands straight out to the ball at impact. You've still got plenty of years left to play golf.. Golf will keep you active.. an active body will survive longer than a sedentary one. cheers mate.
My 2 cents worth (may not be worth that much!) At about 9:00 minutes in your video where you show a short back swing, the proper release without trying to kill the ball is the best way for a beginner to start CL. I'm pretty sure Bill suggested this in one of his videos, but I only did it about 5 times before I started the full swing and tried to kill the ball. Stupidity and arrogance on my part! If it ever gets below 104 heat index here I'm going to hit a whole bucket of balls just doing this. Odd how it's cold in Australia while Bill and I are suffering the heat here in Tennessee. Both of you guys are great!
Hi John, I liken learning the process to that of a high jumper trying to get over a certain maximum/future height .. they will not attempt that maximum/objective height initially but will try clearing lower heights initially building up to the intended maximum height intention.. 'baby steps' is the way to go absolutely.. cheers JH
Discovered this over the weekend, had a couple of range sessions and couldn't believe the quality of strike I was getting. However, i rather ill-advisedly took it into a club match today and couldn't replicate the range session. I won 3&1 against someone with the same handicap, but I can't say I played well.
Hi J h really enjoyed your videos over the last few years I'm seventy last October since watching your videos I am playing better golf I have watched the moe Norman and the devinci code today i was on the range I tried the cl with the trail hand domanint also another unsung hero of mine eamon D'Arcy I just let the l lead arm break and consent rated on the club face I have never hit shots as good in my life and the sound of the strike so good so I thought I would let you know about eamon D'Arcy I m sure you have heard of him anyway J h keep up the good work and lots of luck with the future and channel lock
Hi john, I have actually played with Eamon Darcy in Pro Ams.. he was a super ball striker .. and the nicest person of all time .. The CL swing with the 'new bits' is going to be a very interesting swing .. cant wait for the weather to get better so I can get some development going on the swing .. cheers JH
JH, I have just started to use this on short irons and really like it. Thank you!! Not so easy on long irons and metalwoods. Did you ever think of laying out marker sticks on the ground? I think that would really help a lot to understand the alignment of all the parts.
JH, Thanks for replying. I had viewed it prior to my sending you a note. I am having directional issues and was hoping for a diagram or a clip from a ball flight pov. I know my buddies are going to give me a hard time, but from an irons standpoint, it helps with not hitting fat amazingly!!
After further review, I double down on the comments I posted 4 hours ago, my take then based on the obvious superiority of your method, but without any actual ball-striking to validate it, and be it known, the first ball I hit trying Chanel Lock was picture perfect - a tight little draw that was followed by the same caliber shot all the way down to the last shag ball. That you have shared this with the golfing community is astounding, as you could have made a fortune with the right publisher and proper marketing. You should be in the Golf Hall of Fame.
Hi Ed, So glad you like the CL swing process, I must say .. without wanting to seem arrogant and big-headed.. that I believe the CL swing process could have changed the entire world of golf swing mechanics understanding.. and resultant scoring performances never before approached. However at my stage of life the battle against the current World Teaching establishment and its resistance to anything other than what is currently the considered doctrine..was frankly just a bridge too far to try to cross. I know without a doubt that if I could have convinced a rising Tour player to convert to the CL methodology/mechanics.. he would have forged a place in World Tournament golf that heretofore could never have been imagined. For a Tour player to categorically 'know' he is going to 'start' the ball in the same initial direction 'every' shot ...would have to place him in a category so far above every other professional golfer.. he would be the only player who could guarantee he was never going to not start the ball in a direction that he had intended. I know one day in the future someone will discover CL mechanics and bring it to the World of Golf instruction.. and that person will establish himself as the teacher who 'cracked' the Atom' of swing mechanics.. I just hope I am still around to see that happen As an aside.. I played in a US Senior Tour School Qualifying event at Woodlake Country club in San Antonio.. way back in the early 90's. I missed qualifying to go on to the final tournaments because I hit my second shot on the 18th par 5 hole out of bounds left.. and ended up double bogeying the hole . That shot could not have happened with the CL swing mechanics.. unfortunately, I was using a conventional type set of swing mechanics back then ..I still had another 30 years before I would be acquainted with CL mechanics. I Have heard from people in San Antonio that Woodlake Country club is now just a rundown public course .. it was a good course when I played it.. John Daley won a Texas Open there If I remember ... doesn't seem like 30 years ago when I was there. When I was in San Antonio I also played the Trophy club course.. and the Pecan Valley course .. and the Quarry golf course.. the Quarry was a great course.. someone told me the Quarry course was sold to a California housing development company.. such a shame if that did happen . . cheers JH
@@1atomicgolf You and I have touched base before and I vaguely recall you mentioned playing in the Senior Tour Qualifier at Woodlake in the early '90's, as did I, in 1993. That year it was very cold for November, and these conditions lasted all week. My back went out in September and my wife told me I should withdraw and get the $2000 entry fee back but I figured I may never get the chance again. The first day I shot one under on the front and I walked because I seemed to get a rhythm that way. On the 10th hole a tour official drove up and told me to speed up because we were 2 holes behind. My caddie was an air force buddy and asked him why he didn't go talk to the other 2 guys who were using carts, always looking for their ball in the rough and neither had broken 40, but the official just drove away, sure I was holding up play because I was walking. Anyway, my caddie told me my swing was nothing like it had been on the front, a lot faster and I lost my tempo, shot 44 on the back giving me a 79, a lot to overcome. I ended up with a 304 total and I think 4 guys shot 292 and went on to Florida for the finals. Did a lot of soul-searching after that, and even though I think I could have qualified in a few years, I don't think I had the temperment - if I let a pissant tour official throw me off my game then it's better to look for something else to do. I've played Pecan Valley a number of times - they had the PGA there in '68 when Boros won. Only played the Quarry once and can't remember much about it, but yeah, Woodlake and Pecan have both fallen on hard times and I think Pecan may have closed but I'm not sure. I am a northern neighbor of yours, retired in Chiang Mai, Thailand at the moment. Very nice of you to send a really great email. Take care and all the best mate. Cheers Eddie Chapman
Hi Ed, I forgot to add that I played La Cantera Golf Course as well in San Antonio.. it was a great course back then .. Duffy Waldorf was playing with some corporate guys in the group behind us.. they caught up a few times on the tee and Duffy was really friendly.. he said he wanted to come down and play in Australia sometime... and I remember the 'Trophy Club course I played was in Dallas.. not San Antonio.. cheers JH
@@1atomicgolf Never played La Cantera but heard a lot of good reports about it. My favorite course to play in San Antonio was Cedar Creek, a city course north of town, unusual because it was located where the Texas Hill Country begins and you could often see deer and wild turkeys as you played. It was more like being in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains than Texas, which most out-of-staters think is as flat and hot as the devil's anvil. I was born in Texas but ever since Trump became president, I've been telling anyone who asks that I'm from Australia - hope you Aussies don't mind. I'll never go back to America - not that long ago it was tolerable, but now it's like a funny farm, people eaten up with hatred and intolerance. I'll be 79 next month and I think I'll just stay on this side of the planet until St. Peter calls my name Cheers again mate Eddie Chapman
@@edchapman5801 Hi Ed, Its funny you mention one of your playing partners not looking like breaking 40.. one of the guys in our group I think would have been a genuine 10 handicap player.. how he got away with submitting his playing credentials is beyond me. I thought he might have been a worry when I noticed 'Sky Marks' on the top of his driver on the first hole.. I pointed it out to one of the other guys in the group who actually ended up being low qualifier at the end of the tournament.. he just raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders .. as if to say what type of player is this guy.. the guy had I think one par on the front 9.. I can't remember what he shot.. but it was a telephone number. I actually only entered the Qualifying Tournament as a bit of a giggle.. I was going to be on holiday in the US at that time and thought it would be a hoot to tee it up in a Tour Qualifying event .. I had no real interest in playing the tour because I had a very successful teaching facility /driving range in Australia .. but I do remember that $2000 entry fee ..my buddy who was coming on holidays with me thought I was nuts paying that much money for a few rounds of golf . I really enjoyed my time in San Antonio.. and Texas generally. PS.. I never even had a practice round at Woodlake before the first round of the Tournament.. we got into San Antonio way behind schedule.. the Pro at Woodlake.. a guy named Poke Horsefall.. was stunned that I had only arrived that morning for the tournament.. as was the Tour official .. I remember him saying .. 'You Aussies are a crazy bunch'.. he was right I guess. Cheers JH
JH---New to CL. Could you go over the equipment changes you have made from std. equipment. Your irons look to be a longer playing length and possibly more upright lie angle? Thanks! Scott
Hi Scott, The irons I currently use are std length...and std lie ...Taylormade M2 model..I will be going down the road of getting a set of Cobra One length irons made up in way more upright lies than std..probably around 8 degs more upright .. but that is a special project that I will be grafting a lot of new things into the CL swing relative to equipment etc.. Generally speaking with the base CL swing you only need std lie clubs.. today's specs for irons tend to be a bit on the upright lie side of construction anyway which suits the CL swing better in most respects .. cheers JH
Hi JH I keep coming back to this video. This is definitely where I have problems. I often hit the ball with good flight but too far right. I am not releasing the club towards the target. Having looked again at this video I see you are flicking your trail wrist towards the target as you hit the ball. I don't think I do that. My wrists are mainly static. This gives me something to work on. I hope things are well with your family.
Hi George, Its vital to get the 'clubface' releasing towards the 'target .. swing goes out wards 'away' from the target .. clubface goes 'towards' the target.. cheers JH
Hitting it left, for me, merely says I rotated my shoulders, instead of rocking them. If it goes right, I simply blocked it, so my ball flight tells me whwre I erred and how to fix it on my next shot without having to go to the range after the round. I'm almost out of the organization I helped create. CL saved me from quitting. Now I'm worried that the game will get too easy after struggling forever, to be consistent.
Hitting 15/16 greens around will keep your interest up I think .. we have all struggled with the inconsistency of ball starting direction ... I think it's amazing that it has taken so long for someone (ME) to nail the reason for that inconsistency in the golf swing ... and for it to be something as simple as the ball position at address and the shoulder direction attitude at impact .. But the good thing is the formal flaw in the Golf Swing 'has' been found ... and we all still have time to take advantage of it in our golf games from now on .. cheers JH
I really like the CL method. Are there examples of how you would advance the ball off of uneven lies? I seem to seldom strike a ball that comes to rest on a flat area. Thanks
Hi Herb, Basically its just 'not' moving the 'hands' out to the ball coming into impact as a feeling ...you need to feel only the clubhead going 'out' to the ball at impact and the hands staying back near the body .. a bit like how you would throw the tip of a fly rod in casting where the hand stays stationary and the tip of the rod is thrown away from the hand .. same thing in the golf swing but at a lower horizontal plane .. Generally, you just need to fire the 'clubhead' out to the ball at impact .. not the 'hands'... cheers JH
I didn’t see you touch on how far the ball is away from you at address. It’s in front of your trail foot but how far away is it and how do you get that distance evertime?
The ball position off the trail foot is whatever it needs to be to suit individual setting up to the ball .. you just measure club to ball during the setting up phase of the swing by putting the clubhead and trail foot forward to a comfortable position to set your measurement and then you bring up the lead foot to balance the address setup .. if you watch the CL videos I perform that action on every shot .. cheers JH
Hi John, Weight still has to shift targetwards coming into impact.. as long as you keep the trail foot down as much as you can on the ground at impact you can let the weight move laterally into the ball at impact. If you get the trail foot up and driving to early you will invariably get the hips and torso rotating open coming into impact... which you must not do with this swing .. the shoulders must be closed at impact. Cheers JH
Hi JH, could you say what your weight distribution is at address and also at impact? That is one aspect of CL that still confounds me. At address, your front shoulder is high and it looks like you have a bit more weight on your front side but I am probably mistaken. I have tried doing that, moving weight back to the rear foot on back swing and had some success with it but overall, I still struggle with set-up for some reason. Thanks.
My weight is intentionally proportioned into the trail leg/side at address and is kept there as much at impact and just post impact as possible .. I set the lead shoulder high at address because that is where I want it at impact and post impact. The weight distribution is a balancing act of sorts really .. whereas you want to keep weight into the trailside as much as possible coming into impact you, of course, have to get some type of lead side weight shift going to initiate the downswing .. my own personal feeling is that of the lead knee starting the downswing and moving diagonally outwards towards the target line whilst my trail leg/hip is resisting at the same time .. sort of like an opposite direction force application .. its a very subtle process to get in place but it really needs to be applied... cheers JH
The 'short' answer to your question is .. ' Just Aim To The 'Left' Of The Tree line'.. the CL swing shot ball flight is designed around the swing geometry of a straight' Push' ball flight.. the std ball flight that emanates from the CL swing mechanics geometry which is a small 'Draw' comes about by the in to out attack path of the swing setup geometry and a slightly closed clubface at impact .. which gives the 'Push Draw' ball flight shape. If I had a tight tee shot with trees on the right as you describe I would just aim down the left side of the fairway and either 'push' the shot back to the center of the fairway .. alternatively you could could just aim down the center of the fairway and let the normal std draw ball flight move the ball back to the center or center left of the fairway.. The good thing about the CL swing mechanics is that you know you ball will always 'start' in the same direction .. so knowing that you just align accordingly to the shot direction requirements .. The swing might 'look' Weird .. but it doesn't 'Play' Weird.. cheers JH
Hi George, Thanks for that .. but I really don't try to 'teach' anything on my channel.. its all just stuff that I have found works for 'me' .. for me 'real' teaching has to be done in a 'hands-on' situation which is what I do with everyone I formally 'teach'.. The JH practice tee is just a recording of what I continually research and review about swing mechanics generaly.. these days its very much Channel Lock of course .. but it as an evolutionary process at present requires ongoing experimenting and revising of the protocol processes. cheers JH
The fade shot is actually a 'Push Leak' type ball flight .. you just aim a little further to the left of the target ( right handed golfers) and open the clubface a bit and the ball will push leak itself to the target .. Because CL does not allow an across the target line attack path... no cut spin can be put on CL shots .. but realistically why would you ever want cut spin on a shot .. its the most inefficient ball flight you can apply .. a straight leaking push shot has good integrity of ball flight .. cheers JH
To get 'more' movement on the ball you either open or close the clubface significantly 'more' than normal.. and 'aim' further away from your target than normal ... CL does not hot 'cut/curving' type shots ... but you can hit significant push fades /leaks or push slinging draws.. its just a mater of the 'amount' you aim away from your target line and how 'much' you open and close the face at impact .. cheers JH
Just aim a bit further to the left ( if you are a right hander) and open the club face a bit and the ball flight will be a push end of flight leaking fade..because the CL swing geometry is always going to direct the club path in to out at impact the ball will 'always' start to the right .. how much it stays moving to the right is relative to how much face closure you have at impact .. a club face that is closed at impact will produce a slight 'push draw' ball flight .. a clubface that is open at impact will create a push fade .. cheers JH
Hi Mo, The channel beside the body is still absolutely the mainstay thinking of the CL swing .. I don't emphasise that aspect specifically a lot these days because I think its a given for most people who have grown up with Channel Lock ... I absolutely want the club to move in a channel beside the body .. and that is why I set my shoulder preturn as I currently do .. The early days of CL was all about getting across the channel aspect of the swing .. and as result there was a lot of 'overdo' application to get that message across.. you don't have to swing the club in an extreme attempt of getting in the channel .. you only have to be 'in' the channel .. it doesn't have to be an extreme commitment .. just so long as you get the club moving 'beside' the body rearwards instead of 'in front' of the body sideways you are swinging the club correctly for the CL swing mechanics..
@@mobarber3308 OK.. so apply an open stance .. its what 'you' can do to get swinging in the 'Channel'.. the ''beside' the body in the channel swinging is the 'objective..'how' you achieve that is absolutely optional .. cheers JH
@@mobarber3308 I too find, that if I open my stance a bit it helps the ball stay on the target line better. For me it feels like its balancing the equation, before you can solve it, or in this case, make a good swing, with clean, thoughtless, fluid contact. Close shoulders, open stance and they're automatic.
hello atomicgolf, you have a whole lot going on with your 'channel lock' swing, but you demonstrate with nothing more than a straight on youtube video. One you need to invest in some alignment sticks. Dont figure that we get what is said, show us! Two, you should move your camera and shoot from behind, that view would save a thousand words! Three, demonstrate the bad shots. I cannot say how many times I have mishit and said, "I wish i knew what did I do wrong?" Every golf shot will fail and when we fail knowing what we did wrong is critical to getting back on the horse again.
Hi Karen, Hopefully, this video view aspect will give you insight for the the Channel Lock swing you are requiring.ua-cam.com/video/VHPmRWm-jnE/v-deo.html Cheers JH
I feel obligated to get this off my chest. You are 80 and I'll be 79 next month, but you appear to be amazingly robust and vigorous, while I've been going downhill for quite a few years, my 6 irons last week barely going 100 yards. I've never been very strong, a little guy, but I had a golf scholarship in college and in the air force got down to a +2.7 handicap briefly, quite an ego builder because they used to post everyone's handicap on the golf club bulletin board every month. Of course, if a guy is realistic, he knows such a low handicap is a product of local knowledge, and this is why so many hot shots think they can make it on tour, only get a dose of reality when they fail to qualify. JH (if I may call you that) you have turned my whole life around. Before I discovered Chanel Lock, I dreaded getting up in the morning, because golf used to be my whole life, and trying to stick with the same natural swing I've had for over 65 years just made me so depressed, I finally decided to start writing a book as a way to keep from going nuts. But guess what - everything has turned around, and I can't wait to get up in the morning and head to the driving range, because now I'm hitting a 6 iron 140+ yards, only about 10 yards short of what my stock yardage was 50 years ago, and while I used to hit an entire bag of shag balls through soccer field goal posts 150 yards away when I was active duty, I'm every bit as accurate with Chanel Lock. I'm in the process of checking out your other videos and the one in which you use the "shoulder sling" really clicks because I recall dragging the club head back (making love to the grass along the way was how it used to be described.) Can't thank you enough for bringing me back from the dead - I'm really looking forward to the future now and I owe it all to you.
Cheers forever mate - good on you for "digging this out of the dirt," (to coin a phrase.)
Hi Ed,
I am so glad that a 'type' of swing I have highlighted on my channel has been of benefit to your golf game.. and your general outlook in your later years of life.
I have been lucky to maintain a good level of body fitness into my later years of life.. I fortunately haven't been afflicted with the normal wearing out of body parts that invariably beset us in our advanced stage of life.
All my joints are still in good working order.. my muscle flexibility levels are certainly not as good as it once was.. and I don't include any of that flexibility training in my workout routines.. least I haven't up to now.. I am however going to embark on that aspect of my body's musculature needs from now on.
I firmly believe that the CL swing is a better type of swing for a senior body .. it doesn't require a lot of excessive stretching of the muscles.. and it doesn't put a lot of stress on the balance system of the body.. you basically just stand still in place and swing your arms past your body.
I am glad you have picked up some distance again with your clubs.. the benefit of the CL swing is that it can be shorter in overall range of movement and still develop good distance.. and that is because the strike just becomes more efficient at impact.. you don't need the clubhead to travel a long way to generate good power in the strike.
'Looking forward to the future'.. that's the thinking you want .. don't ever let 'age' stand in the way of getting the best out of every day of your life.
I know my body is not 30 anymore... but I just don't give it a chance to think it is in fact 80 .. we just need to keep the brain living in the 'now'.. not the 'past'...
cheers mate.
@@1atomicgolf THANKS AGAIN MY FRIEND!!!
JH
I never get enough of the basics ... never never never
What you showed the new guys coming on is the best foundation and process to the
greatest golf swing ever
Finding oneself with the protocols in the Channel Lock Swing is truly finding the real golfer they never were
Love the basics
Thanks
Hi Steve,
I really think I have to keep reinforcing the base principals of CL from time to time and keep tailoring the base protocol to ever increasing understanding and ease of initial uptake for players.. and especially ''newbies' .. which really is going to be virtually 'everyone' anyway..
cheers JH
This is great stuff!!! As you know, most golfers arrive at impact with their shoulders open and this creates a lot of opportunities to hit poor shots. I gave lessons at several driving ranges in San Antonio, Texas after I retired from the air force in 1986, and I wish I had known about this technique back then, because what you present here is a fantastic way to compress the ball and still hit a draw. What can happen with the inside-out swing is a tendency to hit upward, which leads to sweeping the ball, resulting in no compression - a glancing blow. You may be the only innovative instructor in golf today - my cowboy hat is off to you!!!
Another 5-star CL video, JH! Excellent! For me, I like to keep both feet on the ground like your vid a couple days ago. It's a protocol for me. Thank you for summing things up for rookies!!
Hi Dave,
I have to say that 'every time' I push 'both feet into the ground at impact' into my practice warmup shots I hit the ball super all day .. so it goes to reason that I should apply that process in 'every' shot I hit .. ... the clear major plus of having both feet on the ground at impact and pushing into the ground ....is that it just supports the upper body and shoulders so well at impact .. I frankly cannot see any reason not to apply the 'feet down' at impact process..
cheers JH
Having watched a few videos of the Channel Lock swing I decided to try this out at the range today.The session resulted in me playing the ball off the back foot as shown but instead of twisting myself as you show I just closed my stance and body a little which gave me the opportunity to make a full turn. The resulting shots with all irons shots and fairway woods was really great. The driver I am still working on.
Hi Bob,
This video will help you with the driver ua-cam.com/users/edit?o=U&video_id=eL_8_rOt2qU
cheers JH
Can u hit a fade with the CL? Seems impossible. Gave it a go today and liked it. In competition hit it pretty straight but seemed to lose driver distance. But only two range sessions after fed up with game. Tried CL 4 months ago but never continued. Thank you . Glad to see u are still making vids. Seems like lockdown down under has slowed u
I just want to say THANKS JH i have been playing channel lock for about 3 months now and i can honestly say that i have never hit a golfball better Cheers from Sweden
Thanks for letting me know that, CL is a swing that once you become familiar with it will be so much easier to maintain as a consistent swing process because it has a 'specific' set of swing mechanics to apply..
cheers JH
It's just your presentation so simple and easy to understand
I am new to cl,amazing with
the irons but I struggle with the woods.
Hi George,
You will struggle with the woods and longer clubs until you arrive at the 'same' arms/hands setting at address with the longer clubs as that of the shorter clubs .. you need to get as close to the ball as possible with the longer clubs to stop the clubhead going sideways in the backswing initially ... the more 'stretch' you get with your arms at address away from your body the more the club will go sideways instead of rearwards in the backswing .. as well the most you stretch your arms out at address the more that will happen at impact and have a big influence on turning the shoulders open at impact .
Just try a few longer clubs.. 3 wood.hybrid ..even driver .. but grip the clubs down somewhat and stand closer to the ball at address and just don't try to hit the ball hard or far and just get the feeling of the body being quiet during the downswing and the arms just swinging freely past the body .. that will happen when you get closer to the ball because your balance will be way better because your upper body weight will not be tipping forward out in space on the downswing..
cheers JH
Very interesting and informative.
Alignment sticks would help us to better see what you’re doing.
I’m 90% Mike Austin method with one of Joe Dante’s “Magic Moves,” the “Early Backward Wrist Break” which is very different from the CY loose dragging takeback but achieves the same result.
Many of us can’t control the wrists and easily get off plane, too loose at the top, collapsing and over swinging. Believe me, I’ve tried. In fact in my 45 years of golfing I’ve tried everything from Farnie’s Golf Manual to S&T. For me, Dante’s takeback is a major foundation of my swing.
That said, the CY method is how I would use my appendages to create the fastest impact speed as in cracking a whip. I just can’t do it repeatedly with a golf club and I believe many can’t either.
One thing I’ve taken from the Count is his closed stance. I tend to pull my short irons with the standard open stance and open clubface and compensate with weaker grip or aiming right. I tried the CY method and
have become deadly accurate with no compensatory adjustments.
Thanks for posting.
PenguinGolf
There is a basic geometry applicational requirement in any type of golf swing in order to create a speciific starting direction of the golf ball post impact..
That being the shoulder girdle alighnment factor.. the arms can only track in the direction the shoulder girdle is pointing at impact.. and as the hands are attached to the arms and they onwards attached to the golf club.. the ball will be subjected to that swing direction path at impact.
You can only pull a shot if the shoulder girdle is aimed to the left at impact ( right handed golfer.. conversly you will only hit a genuine push shot if your shoulders are alighned to the right at impacy .. if the clubface is open at impact with closed shoulders the ball will start to the right and keep going right.. if the clubface is closed at impact the ball will 'start' right.. then curve back .
You can have an open stance and hit a dead straight shot or even a power draw.. if.. you shoulders are aligned square to closed at impact .
Lee Trevino had an extreme open stance .. and he his natural ball flight was a straight 'push' out to the right.. not much.. but still a push direction shot .. he could also hit a perfect power draw if required.
So if you experience pull shoyts you just need to work on keeping the shoulders closed at impact if you want to use an open stance .
With regards to alignment sticks to better understand the CL swing geometry .. this video might help you .. ua-cam.com/video/VHPmRWm-jnE/v-deo.html
cheers JH
One final point and I'll leave you to bask in your brilliance. In teaching the standard swing many years ago, I ended up relying on the Hogan half-swing exercise to help people understand how the body and arms work together, but this still requires pretty decent coordination, and it all goes out the window as soon as the application of force is ratcheted up. I'm not sure I'm doing it right, but in my second session today, I feel like I start the downswing and focus on keeping the right shoulder back as I pivot around my right leg, not allowing it to move forward until after impact, when the force of the club allows it to move forward naturally - I'm killing it - anything you suggest will be appreciated.
You got it right there Ed.. by keeping the trail leg just working as a vertical stabilizer you are allowing the arms/club to exert maximum straight-line motion 'at' the ball ... from the contained in position of the slightly closed shoulder girdle.
By applying the trail leg vertical stabilization .. the shoulder girdle is allowed to just stay in place easily because it's not having to react to a lower body driving away underneath it and over rotating ...putting pressure on the shoulder girdle to follow that rotation direction coming into impact.
It's really a 'stand and deliver body action .. which maximizes the stored energy release of the arms/hands .. if the arms/hands are fighting a shoulder girdle that is having to follow rotating hips and legs etc.. they can never release in an uninhibited manner 'at' the ball at impact.
The Iron Byron test robot always has maximum energy release of the swing arm mechanism because the base of the Robot is totally stabilized and not moving at the club's impact.
OK.. the Robot's Bio Dynamics are not that of Human joint structure .. but I can tell you if the base of the Robot was independent of the arm swinging mechanism.. the strike would not be the 100% efficiency the Robot achieves every swing.
The Robot applies what is known as a 'Closed circuit' mechanism.. the Human body is an 'Open Variable' mechanism .. its pivot/fulcrum points are not fixed in place.. the Robot's pivot/fulcrum points are fixed in place.. hence the more you can eliminate of that Open System variable of motion positioning.. the more consistent will be the delivery efficiency of the clubface to the ball at impact.
Cheers JH
@@1atomicgolf Something else that ties right in with Chanel Lock - although it looks like my original understanding of centrifugal force has taken a hit, with new scientific studies designed to confuse me, my own personal sensation during the downswing is that I used to gain speed through impact by allowing an uninhibited free-swinging motion through the ball. In the old days, I would drive my legs through the shot, but I can see now that this floating action of my lower body actually prevented me from establishing a solid base to maximize my power. That's why using my right leg as a vertical stabilizer feels fantastic, like I'm actually using this ground force thing I've heard so much about, but with Chanel Lock, I don't even have to think about it. One final amazing bonus - to hit a decent shot with my old swing I had to finish in what was called a "reverse C" position, but for the last 20 years or so, my lower back would tell me "no way, Jose." Incredibly, I can really take a rip with Chanel Lock, and feel no strain in my back whatsoever, and believe me, I've surfed the internet for a long time and the "walk-through" swing was the only thing that helped a little bit, but I could never swing as hard as I wanted. You saved me from having to take the advice from a friend years ago, when he said I should just lay off for 3 weeks and then quit.
Hi Ed,
I just believe a 'quiet' stabilized body at impact just lets the arms/hands/club release so much easier because they don't have to try and reroute around a body that has rotated and positioned itself in front of those arms/hands/club .. essentially blocking the free arm travel release path.
I am now of the belief that the quieter you can keep the lower body coming into impact.. the faster you can actually move your arms. .. so what you are experiencing I can totally understand.
cheers mate
One final point - (2.0) More than anything else, I like the way I can swing as hard as my feeble body will allow without any pain, without losing my balance and still hit the ball squarely - no other swing technique has all that going for it. It was a lucky day for me when this came up on "recommended for you," and I recalled your atomic handle. Cheers forever mate - I'm a fan for life (however much I have left.)
Hi Ed,
Thats great you can use all the available zip you have left in your swing because of using the CL swing methodology.
As we get older we invariably are still physically quite strong in the hands/arms/shoulders.. but we cannot utilise those components to their maximum because we cannot rotate enough out of the way at impact to give those body components a room to fire correctly.
With the CL swing we are not trying to get the lead side out of the way at impact.. and with closed shoulders at impact its so much easier to release the arms/hands straight out to the ball at impact.
You've still got plenty of years left to play golf.. Golf will keep you active.. an active body will survive longer than a sedentary one.
cheers mate.
My 2 cents worth (may not be worth that much!) At about 9:00 minutes in your video where you show a short back swing, the proper release without trying to kill the ball is the best way for a beginner to start CL. I'm pretty sure Bill suggested this in one of his videos, but I only did it about 5 times before I started the full swing and tried to kill the ball. Stupidity and arrogance on my part! If it ever gets below 104 heat index here I'm going to hit a whole bucket of balls just doing this. Odd how it's cold in Australia while Bill and I are suffering the heat here in Tennessee. Both of you guys are great!
Hi John,
I liken learning the process to that of a high jumper trying to get over a certain maximum/future height .. they will not attempt that maximum/objective height initially but will try clearing lower heights initially building up to the intended maximum height intention.. 'baby steps' is the way to go absolutely..
cheers JH
Well Moe Norman could pretty well land them on a table but, you're right the traditional swing is wildly inconsistent.
Discovered this over the weekend, had a couple of range sessions and couldn't believe the quality of strike I was getting. However, i rather ill-advisedly took it into a club match today and couldn't replicate the range session. I won 3&1 against someone with the same handicap, but I can't say I played well.
"Didn't play well but still won".. has to say "something" good was going on ..
cheers JH
Hi J h really enjoyed your videos over the last few years I'm seventy last October since watching your videos I am playing better golf I have watched the moe Norman and the devinci code today i was on the range I tried the cl with the trail hand domanint also another unsung hero of mine eamon D'Arcy I just let the l lead arm break and consent rated on the club face I have never hit shots as good in my life and the sound of the strike so good so I thought I would let you know about eamon D'Arcy I m sure you have heard of him anyway J h keep up the good work and lots of luck with the future and channel lock
Hi john,
I have actually played with Eamon Darcy in Pro Ams.. he was a super ball striker .. and the nicest person of all time ..
The CL swing with the 'new bits' is going to be a very interesting swing .. cant wait for the weather to get better so I can get some development going on the swing ..
cheers JH
Are there variations of channel lock for shortgame need to see more. Love Channel lock i started yrs ago with Natural Golf
JH, I have just started to use this on short irons and really like it. Thank you!! Not so easy on long irons and metalwoods. Did you ever think of laying out marker sticks on the ground? I think that would really help a lot to understand the alignment of all the parts.
Maybe this video will help you get a better understanding of the swing geometry. ua-cam.com/video/VHPmRWm-jnE/v-deo.html
cheers JH
JH, Thanks for replying. I had viewed it prior to my sending you a note. I am having directional issues and was hoping for a diagram or a clip from a ball flight pov. I know my buddies are going to give me a hard time, but from an irons standpoint, it helps with not hitting fat amazingly!!
After further review, I double down on the comments I posted 4 hours ago, my take then based on the obvious superiority of your method, but without any actual ball-striking to validate it, and be it known, the first ball I hit trying Chanel Lock was picture perfect - a tight little draw that was followed by the same caliber shot all the way down to the last shag ball. That you have shared this with the golfing community is astounding, as you could have made a fortune with the right publisher and proper marketing. You should be in the Golf Hall of Fame.
Hi Ed,
So glad you like the CL swing process, I must say .. without wanting to seem arrogant and big-headed.. that I believe the CL swing process could have changed the entire world of golf swing mechanics understanding.. and resultant scoring performances never before approached.
However at my stage of life the battle against the current World Teaching establishment and its resistance to anything other than what is currently the considered doctrine..was frankly just a bridge too far to try to cross.
I know without a doubt that if I could have convinced a rising Tour player to convert to the CL methodology/mechanics.. he would have forged a place in World Tournament golf that heretofore could never have been imagined.
For a Tour player to categorically 'know' he is going to 'start' the ball in the same initial direction 'every' shot ...would have to place him in a category so far above every other professional golfer.. he would be the only player who could guarantee he was never going to not start the ball in a direction that he had intended.
I know one day in the future someone will discover CL mechanics and bring it to the World of Golf instruction.. and that person will establish himself as the teacher who 'cracked' the Atom' of swing mechanics.. I just hope I am still around to see that happen
As an aside.. I played in a US Senior Tour School Qualifying event at Woodlake Country club in San Antonio.. way back in the early 90's.
I missed qualifying to go on to the final tournaments because I hit my second shot on the 18th par 5 hole out of bounds left.. and ended up double bogeying the hole .
That shot could not have happened with the CL swing mechanics.. unfortunately, I was using a conventional type set of swing mechanics back then ..I still had another 30 years before I would be acquainted with CL mechanics.
I Have heard from people in San Antonio that Woodlake Country club is now just a rundown public course .. it was a good course when I played it.. John Daley won a Texas Open there If I remember ... doesn't seem like 30 years ago when I was there.
When I was in San Antonio I also played the Trophy club course.. and the Pecan Valley course .. and the Quarry golf course.. the Quarry was a great course.. someone told me the Quarry course was sold to a California housing development company.. such a shame if that did happen . .
cheers JH
@@1atomicgolf You and I have touched base before and I vaguely recall you mentioned playing in the Senior Tour Qualifier at Woodlake in the early '90's, as did I, in 1993. That year it was very cold for November, and these conditions lasted all week. My back went out in September and my wife told me I should withdraw and get the $2000 entry fee back but I figured I may never get the chance again. The first day I shot one under on the front and I walked because I seemed to get a rhythm that way. On the 10th hole a tour official drove up and told me to speed up because we were 2 holes behind. My caddie was an air force buddy and asked him why he didn't go talk to the other 2 guys who were using carts, always looking for their ball in the rough and neither had broken 40, but the official just drove away, sure I was holding up play because I was walking. Anyway, my caddie told me my swing was nothing like it had been on the front, a lot faster and I lost my tempo, shot 44 on the back giving me a 79, a lot to overcome. I ended up with a 304 total and I think 4 guys shot 292 and went on to Florida for the finals. Did a lot of soul-searching after that, and even though I think I could have qualified in a few years, I don't think I had the temperment - if I let a pissant tour official throw me off my game then it's better to look for something else to do.
I've played Pecan Valley a number of times - they had the PGA there in '68 when Boros won. Only played the Quarry once and can't remember much about it, but yeah, Woodlake and Pecan have both fallen on hard times and I think Pecan may have closed but I'm not sure.
I am a northern neighbor of yours, retired in Chiang Mai, Thailand at the moment. Very nice of you to send a really great email. Take care and all the best mate.
Cheers
Eddie Chapman
Hi Ed,
I forgot to add that I played La Cantera Golf Course as well in San Antonio.. it was a great course back then .. Duffy Waldorf was playing with some corporate guys in the group behind us.. they caught up a few times on the tee and Duffy was really friendly.. he said he wanted to come down and play in Australia sometime... and I remember the 'Trophy Club course I played was in Dallas.. not San Antonio..
cheers JH
@@1atomicgolf Never played La Cantera but heard a lot of good reports about it. My favorite course to play in San Antonio was Cedar Creek, a city course north of town, unusual because it was located where the Texas Hill Country begins and you could often see deer and wild turkeys as you played. It was more like being in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains than Texas, which most out-of-staters think is as flat and hot as the devil's anvil.
I was born in Texas but ever since Trump became president, I've been telling anyone who asks that I'm from Australia - hope you Aussies don't mind. I'll never go back to America - not that long ago it was tolerable, but now it's like a funny farm, people eaten up with hatred and intolerance. I'll be 79 next month and I think I'll just stay on this side of the planet until St. Peter calls my name
Cheers again mate
Eddie Chapman
@@edchapman5801 Hi Ed,
Its funny you mention one of your playing partners not looking like breaking 40.. one of the guys in our group I think would have been a genuine 10 handicap player.. how he got away with submitting his playing credentials is beyond me.
I thought he might have been a worry when I noticed 'Sky Marks' on the top of his driver on the first hole.. I pointed it out to one of the other guys in the group who actually ended up being low qualifier at the end of the tournament.. he just raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders .. as if to say what type of player is this guy.. the guy had I think one par on the front 9.. I can't remember what he shot.. but it was a telephone number.
I actually only entered the Qualifying Tournament as a bit of a giggle.. I was going to be on holiday in the US at that time and thought it would be a hoot to tee it up in a Tour Qualifying event .. I had no real interest in playing the tour because I had a very successful teaching facility /driving range in Australia .. but I do remember that $2000 entry fee ..my buddy who was coming on holidays with me thought I was nuts paying that much money for a few rounds of golf .
I really enjoyed my time in San Antonio.. and Texas generally.
PS.. I never even had a practice round at Woodlake before the first round of the Tournament.. we got into San Antonio way behind schedule.. the Pro at Woodlake.. a guy named Poke Horsefall.. was stunned that I had only arrived that morning for the tournament.. as was the Tour official .. I remember him saying .. 'You Aussies are a crazy bunch'.. he was right I guess.
Cheers JH
JH---New to CL. Could you go over the equipment changes you have made from std. equipment. Your irons look to be a longer playing length and possibly more upright lie angle? Thanks! Scott
Hi Scott,
The irons I currently use are std length...and std lie ...Taylormade M2 model..I will be going down the road of getting a set of Cobra One length irons made up in way more upright lies than std..probably around 8 degs more upright .. but that is a special project that I will be grafting a lot of new things into the CL swing relative to equipment etc..
Generally speaking with the base CL swing you only need std lie clubs.. today's specs for irons tend to be a bit on the upright lie side of construction anyway which suits the CL swing better in most respects ..
cheers JH
Hi JH I keep coming back to this video. This is definitely where I have problems. I often hit the ball with good flight but too far right. I am not releasing the club towards the target. Having looked again at this video I see you are flicking your trail wrist towards the target as you hit the ball. I don't think I do that. My wrists are mainly static. This gives me something to work on. I hope things are well with your family.
Hi George,
Its vital to get the 'clubface' releasing towards the 'target .. swing goes out wards 'away' from the target .. clubface goes 'towards' the target..
cheers JH
@@1atomicgolf Hi JH I realise what I tend to do is a sort of conventional swing along my back cocked shoulder line. Not channel lock at all.
JH, I was just checking on your health. Hope you are feeling better. I am looking forward to your videos on putting. That is my weak spot now. Cheers!
Hi Gary,
Hopefully, the CL Putting video will be done in the next few days.. My shoulder is still a bit sore but I think it's on the mend.
cheers JH
Hitting it left, for me, merely says I rotated my shoulders, instead of rocking them.
If it goes right, I simply blocked it, so my ball flight tells me whwre I erred and how to fix it on my next shot without having to go to the range after the round.
I'm almost out of the organization I helped create. CL saved me from quitting. Now I'm worried that the game will get too easy after struggling forever, to be consistent.
Hitting 15/16 greens around will keep your interest up I think .. we have all struggled with the inconsistency of ball starting direction ... I think it's amazing that it has taken so long for someone (ME) to nail the reason for that inconsistency in the golf swing ... and for it to be something as simple as the ball position at address and the shoulder direction attitude at impact ..
But the good thing is the formal flaw in the Golf Swing 'has' been found ... and we all still have time to take advantage of it in our golf games from now on ..
cheers JH
I really like the CL method. Are there examples of how you would advance the ball off of uneven lies? I seem to seldom strike a ball that comes to rest on a flat area. Thanks
Hi Robert,
This video should help you ..ua-cam.com/video/qzhglOl5QAM/v-deo.html..
cheers JH
Hi JH, can you expand a bit on “Handle in Clubhead out”?
Hi Herb,
Basically its just 'not' moving the 'hands' out to the ball coming into impact as a feeling ...you need to feel only the clubhead going 'out' to the ball at impact and the hands staying back near the body .. a bit like how you would throw the tip of a fly rod in casting where the hand stays stationary and the tip of the rod is thrown away from the hand .. same thing in the golf swing but at a lower horizontal plane ..
Generally, you just need to fire the 'clubhead' out to the ball at impact .. not the 'hands'...
cheers JH
1atomicgolf thanks JH
I love a fade do i need to open the club face how do compensate to maje certain shots such as a fade
I didn’t see you touch on how far the ball is away from you at address. It’s in front of your trail foot but how far away is it and how do you get that distance evertime?
The ball position off the trail foot is whatever it needs to be to suit individual setting up to the ball .. you just measure club to ball during the setting up phase of the swing by putting the clubhead and trail foot forward to a comfortable position to set your measurement and then you bring up the lead foot to balance the address setup .. if you watch the CL videos I perform that action on every shot ..
cheers JH
Weight stays on back foot thru impact?
Hi John,
Weight still has to shift targetwards coming into impact.. as long as you keep the trail foot down as much as you can on the ground at impact you can let the weight move laterally into the ball at impact.
If you get the trail foot up and driving to early you will invariably get the hips and torso rotating open coming into impact... which you must not do with this swing .. the shoulders must be closed at impact.
Cheers JH
Hi JH, could you say what your weight distribution is at address and also at impact? That is one aspect of CL that still confounds me. At address, your front shoulder is high and it looks like you have a bit more weight on your front side but I am probably mistaken. I have tried doing that, moving weight back to the rear foot on back swing and had some success with it but overall, I still struggle with set-up for some reason. Thanks.
My weight is intentionally proportioned into the trail leg/side at address and is kept there as much at impact and just post impact as possible .. I set the lead shoulder high at address because that is where I want it at impact and post impact.
The weight distribution is a balancing act of sorts really .. whereas you want to keep weight into the trailside as much as possible coming into impact you, of course, have to get some type of lead side weight shift going to initiate the downswing .. my own personal feeling is that of the lead knee starting the downswing and moving diagonally outwards towards the target line whilst my trail leg/hip is resisting at the same time .. sort of like an opposite direction force application .. its a very subtle process to get in place but it really needs to be applied...
cheers JH
I like it👍
This looks so weird, how do you handle a tight treeline on the right side
The 'short' answer to your question is .. ' Just Aim To The 'Left' Of The Tree line'.. the CL swing shot ball flight is designed around the swing geometry of a straight' Push' ball flight.. the std ball flight that emanates from the CL swing mechanics geometry which is a small 'Draw' comes about by the in to out attack path of the swing setup geometry and a slightly closed clubface at impact .. which gives the 'Push Draw' ball flight shape.
If I had a tight tee shot with trees on the right as you describe I would just aim down the left side of the fairway and either 'push' the shot back to the center of the fairway .. alternatively you could could just aim down the center of the fairway and let the normal std draw ball flight move the ball back to the center or center left of the fairway..
The good thing about the CL swing mechanics is that you know you ball will always 'start' in the same direction .. so knowing that you just align accordingly to the shot direction requirements ..
The swing might 'look' Weird .. but it doesn't 'Play' Weird..
cheers JH
Best teacher on UA-cam
Hi George,
Thanks for that .. but I really don't try to 'teach' anything on my channel.. its all just stuff that I have found works for 'me' .. for me 'real' teaching has to be done in a 'hands-on' situation which is what I do with everyone I formally 'teach'..
The JH practice tee is just a recording of what I continually research and review about swing mechanics generaly.. these days its very much Channel Lock of course .. but it as an evolutionary process at present requires ongoing experimenting and revising of the protocol processes.
cheers JH
How do you hit a fade with channel lock when you need to fade
The fade shot is actually a 'Push Leak' type ball flight .. you just aim a little further to the left of the target ( right handed golfers) and open the clubface a bit and the ball will push leak itself to the target ..
Because CL does not allow an across the target line attack path... no cut spin can be put on CL shots .. but realistically why would you ever want cut spin on a shot .. its the most inefficient ball flight you can apply .. a straight leaking push shot has good integrity of ball flight ..
cheers JH
@@1atomicgolf when u need to go around a tree im talking about shaping your shots when need be
To get 'more' movement on the ball you either open or close the clubface significantly 'more' than normal.. and 'aim' further away from your target than normal ... CL does not hot 'cut/curving' type shots ... but you can hit significant push fades /leaks or push slinging draws.. its just a mater of the 'amount' you aim away from your target line and how 'much' you open and close the face at impact ..
cheers JH
How do you hit a fade?
Just aim a bit further to the left ( if you are a right hander) and open the club face a bit and the ball flight will be a push end of flight leaking fade..because the CL swing geometry is always going to direct the club path in to out at impact the ball will 'always' start to the right .. how much it stays moving to the right is relative to how much face closure you have at impact .. a club face that is closed at impact will produce a slight 'push draw' ball flight .. a clubface that is open at impact will create a push fade ..
cheers JH
This is the type of channel lock I prefer, with the channel beside the body, but you don't teach this type anymore.
Hi Mo,
The channel beside the body is still absolutely the mainstay thinking of the CL swing .. I don't emphasise that aspect specifically a lot these days because I think its a given for most people who have grown up with Channel Lock ...
I absolutely want the club to move in a channel beside the body .. and that is why I set my shoulder preturn as I currently do ..
The early days of CL was all about getting across the channel aspect of the swing .. and as result there was a lot of 'overdo' application to get that message across.. you don't have to swing the club in an extreme attempt of getting in the channel .. you only have to be 'in' the channel .. it doesn't have to be an extreme commitment .. just so long as you get the club moving 'beside' the body rearwards instead of 'in front' of the body sideways you are swinging the club correctly for the CL swing mechanics..
I find that hard to do without an open stance.
@@mobarber3308 OK.. so apply an open stance .. its what 'you' can do to get swinging in the 'Channel'.. the ''beside' the body in the channel swinging is the 'objective..'how' you achieve that is absolutely optional ..
cheers JH
@@mobarber3308 I too find, that if I open my stance a bit it helps the ball stay on the target line better.
For me it feels like its balancing the equation, before you can solve it, or in this case, make a good swing, with clean, thoughtless, fluid contact.
Close shoulders, open stance and they're automatic.
hello atomicgolf, you have a whole lot going on with your 'channel lock' swing, but you demonstrate with nothing more than a straight on youtube video. One you need to invest in some alignment sticks. Dont figure that we get what is said, show us! Two, you should move your camera and shoot from behind, that view would save a thousand words! Three, demonstrate the bad shots. I cannot say how many times I have mishit and said, "I wish i knew what did I do wrong?" Every golf shot will fail and when we fail knowing what we did wrong is critical to getting back on the horse again.
Hi Karen,
Hopefully, this video view aspect will give you insight for the the Channel Lock swing you are requiring.ua-cam.com/video/VHPmRWm-jnE/v-deo.html
Cheers JH
From what I understand watching your video is pretty much what Mike Austin taught, release the hands and hit the CRAP out of it