Hi JH. FIRST, how blessed we are, your fan club, for sharing your journey with us and trying to help us enjoy the game more! I wanted to share my experience with CL. As I approach my ball (t-ball or approach shot) I approach it face-on looking ahead to my target. I have my club in my right hand and aim the club face right at the target. In order to do this your body will be already be open to the target line about 45 degrees and the ball will be at your trail foot. Then all you have to do is backcock and go. I’ve had really good luck with this. Simple address system and the trajectory of my shots are right on. One more thing. I have found that if I maintain a wider stance by stretching forward my lead foot just a bit, this helps me to keep my weight back on my trail leg better. Your thoughts are always welcome. Thanks.
Hi Craig, What you are doing as a setup is eminently acceptable ..as long as you maintain the back foot ball position as much as you can so as to allow the club to be swung beside the body and allow the shoulders to be closed at impact you are applying a Channel Lock Protocol ... it matters not that its different from mine or anyone else's as long as the ball starts where you want it to consistently . The stance width is always optional because we all have flexibility ratio and balance differences... That's great you are having success so early with the Protocol .. there are still 'Evolution' bits of the swing manifesting themselves at present but soon the Protocol will be finalized as to be considered pretty much a 'Final' Protocol. The Atomicgolf channel is a low profile channel which is how I want it to be... and because of its profile golfers have to be on the search for some swing help to find it invariably .. I find those type of golfers are for the most part open minded and appreciate different attitudes of swing mechanics... which is what I am all about.. to that end anyone interested in what I have available on my channel will always get my full support should they request it. cheers JH
Superb video JH! That was by far your best step by step explanation of CL to date. I think you could take a lot of what you described in this video as the "differences between traditional and CL" and script it when you decide to produce a DVD for the CL program. Your presentation was flawless, too the point and easy to understand. The guys I grew up with used to ask me what life was like to in the Army, and if it was really hard. The best description I could come up with was that life in the Army was simple but it wasn't easy. I think that description applies to CL perfectly. In the Army, I knew what my job was every day that I woke up and some days were very difficult and some days were a snap. The CL protocols are simple to understand and see but not easy to apply because of all the conventional programming in our brains and bodies (muscle memory). As many have stated in previous videos, we have all seemed to parallel the same paths and that is we give up (at least 2 times, lol) before we really understand what we're trying to do and how to apply with this totally different swing and we take it to the course way too early. Apply the protocols as described and you will be successful...simple, right? It won't be easy until you flush almost every conventional swing thought you've ever had. Once you are free of those old habits and thoughts then you will finally be on your way to the best golf you've ever played. Thanks for all the time and effort that you've put into this swing and for giving it to us! I'll always be grateful JH!
Your correct JH. I’m finding learning this swing is tricky. Diligence is needed along with an understanding of everything you spoke of in this vid. The payoff, and I’ve seen it, is a beautiful solid strike with no pull hook or slice. At all. I hope other student might read this comment. And by the way this has been fun, and will continue being fun. Thanks.
Hi John, The reason I haven't come up with yet a formalized teaching/ learning blueprint is because I want to make sure when I do present the 'blueprint' it is of such quality of understanding as to make it easily understood and uptaken... I 'basically' know what it needs to be now but its not 'turn-key' ready just yet.. better take a bit longer and make the switching to the CL swing for people a switch without 'frustration' ... cheers JH
I’m grasping Channel Lock because I have been following your vids since day one. For those that are new, I guess down the road you will have to make a formalized training video. This will should be helpful for you also in maintaining rights and control. Good luck mate!
Hi. Jh. I was at the range today hitting balls. I was hitting solid and then started hitting fat shots so I thought I'd try something different. I pulled out my 5 wood sort of had my back to the target and swung way right around my right leg etc had ball off back foot and was hitting solid draws it felt like I was swinging around my back leg etc no manipulating the face massive in to out swing also worked for 3 iron and smashing 7 iron. Then I tried aiming left with feet .shoulders on target line and swinging out to right not as much draw but still solid. Like Steve Johnson urrecka etc. Feels more open and like I'm hitting ball side on etc. I feel like I carnt turn as much in the back swing and generate as much club head speed but the strike is solid. My coach is more traditional but there is no way I can come over the top doing this. And I love experiencing. Cheers Orlando
Hi Orlando, You won't be able to get as much backswing range of motion as normal if your stance line is to open at address.. you should still be able to get the amount of in to out attack path as you need from a not so open stance line .. The secret to getting the massive amount of into out path attack from a square to closed stance is really concentrating on making sure the lead shoulder pulls upwards in the downswing .. actually you really can't overdo that feeling .. you might think you can But I haven't been able to do it as yet .. the feeling of hitting' 'side on' is absolutely the feeling you should have with CL .. cheers JH
Thank you, sir. This will overtake Moe Norman’s single plane because Moe was working on this for his game. He could not teach it because I think he did not feel it could be learned. There seem to be some similarities with Moe’s ultimate swing, but your approach is based on a teachable repeatable golf game. I am not a real golfer so clearly I do not understand the swing, traditional or Moe’s. There is no natural golf swing as you rightly say. Moe simplifies the swing but you have simplified how to teach a swing. I just spent a king’s ransom learning Moe’s swing which he said couldn’t be taught ! You have made your point with me even though Moe’s unteachable swing has helped me understand a lot, your whole approach is just too compelling to ignore. Sorry if I sound conflicted, but I am beginning to see that getting interested in golf, even at 69 sure can cause cognitive dissonance! You are a true renaissance man.
Hi JH, I have tried CL at the range today for the first time and I amazed at the strike on the ball I was getting. I was hitting it 10 yd further than normal, even with such a short backswing. Even the bad swings were acceptable. I am a convert. What I have to do is get my aiming more consistent and I can take it to the course. Thanks so much for sharing your ideas.
Hi Terence, That's great news you got such a good result so early with the swing.. there is more to come that will refine the Protocol to a virtual 'turnkey' system.. stay tuned.. cheers JH
Hi jh only started reading about channel lock on Tuesday,went down range and practiced Tues and Wednesday and took it on the course today Thursday in a match with a member and visitor (don't know if I'm brave or stupid) I played to 3 over my handicap so to me that's the worst im going to be. Hit some bad shots but also hit some fantastic shots that i couldn't have hit before. 5 wood and 3 wood draw shots onto 200 yard par 3 greens for birdie putts,which i missed. In fact i have left a lot of shots out there with my chipping and putting which were abysmal otherwise it could have been well under. Still a lot to learn and i can't get the driver off the back foot but hit it well slightly inside back foot. Just hope I've got the patience to keep learning and stick to cl as i believe in it..p.s last Friday i spent £240 on lessons and had a conventional lesson before i went away on a golfing trip the weekend and was absolutely atrocious,I've now exchanged them and given them to my wife for the winter as she's just starting up. That's how come I found channel lock out of desperation really but love all the videos and thankyou jh for everything you're doing
Hi Paul, Glad to hear CL got some good results for you.. there are around 150 CL videos on my channel that have lots of intrinsic information about CL mechanics etc. If you punch in Channel Lock golf swing into the search bar of 1atomicgolf UA-cam downloads.. you will get those videos to come up.. there should be information in those different videos that will give you some insight into understanding CL mechanics for your personal uptake. cheers JH
Hi Ruben, The CL swing does 'work.. if.. you apply the 'correct' protocols.. the exact 'same' way every swing .. which I why I emphasise having the protocols numbered in a sequence.. and you just go through that sequence from 1 to how many protocols you have worked out suit your swing.. if you go through that sequence in your mind before every swing you should be able to apply those protocols in the correct sequence 'every' swing. cheers JH .
Hi Ken, The great majority of my teaching is done online. I have a group that has been cultivated over the years which I have culled to a manageable amount relative to my time availability these days ..I am virtually retired from teaching.. I teach only long-term students personally these days .. but only on a basically 'catchup' basis... I use the Chinderah Public course facilities for those lessons and for my UA-cam videos. cheers JH
JH Crash and burn you said...yep that was me...2 times But my pea brain keep me coming back and I’m so glad I listen to that pea brain I think one reason it’s hard to lear for the student is they can see in there brains their favorite golfer on TV like I did and thats Ernie Els But another reason they fail is they take it to the corse to soon and not practice with it first... agin like I did But besides a constant ball flight golf swing that I couldn’t get with the conventional golf swing is what I’m happy about the reason I stuck with the evaluation of CL is it’s a body friendly golf swing...for sure This is a great learning vid today JH and just not for the new bees but for us all Thanks
Hi Steve, I was lucky because CL worked for me from the very first ball I hit with it ... and because the result was so amazing my brain had no trouble with cross programming from my conventional swing setup because it just found the new setup so different there was nothing in the old swing mechanics that really could get into the new swing .. the 'difference' was so great it just shut down all other memories of my old swing. I found a little bit of setup and backswing today that has made a huge difference to my impact contact .. I will detail it in the next videos .. it brings the driver alive like you wouldn't believe. cheers JH
Hi JH, Regarding your comments about getting someone to hit the ball straight within an hour, does that apply to someone who has never golfed? Thanks, Ben
Hi Ben, No, it doesn't apply to someone taking up golf for the first time... building a complete new set of motor moves into a persons brain is not a '1 hour' process.. I was referring to a 'conversion' of an 'existing' swing to the CL protocol. Having said that I could get 'a' straight shot within an hour from someone who has never played before .. it wouldn't be a full swing shot but it would be straight in its flight ... the geometry of CL would do that by itself. Frankly I see the CL protocol as a 'conversion' process in the main as opposed to a 'new beginning' golf swing process.. initially anyway. cheers JH
Thanks JH, I suspected that's what you meant but wanted to know for sure. It is very interesting that CL has the straight ball flight built right into it. That can automatically take most of the misery out of a bedragled golfer who has fought a slice or pulled shot most of his golfing life. Matt's son Mr. S from what I could see in the video really caught on to the protocols quickly. The video didn't show whether he got it airborn in the swing shown. Maybe Mr. S will make a repeat performance some time. Thanks, Ben
The hips will clear by themselves post impact because of the swing velocity inertia applied during the swing and post impact .. You should not deliberately 'try' to clear the hips at all during the swing... the hip action should feel like it is a tangential shuttling motion coming into impact .. no lateral sliding/rotating taking place ... cheers JH cheers JH
Hi Jh , You definitely have the plans and master carpenter skillls. Lately I’ve been thinking about developing some drills that might help cultivate CL swing.I was just wondering if you have opinion or have you given this any thought? One of the issues I’ve noticed with people and myself is a overactive pelvis with the driver.when I keep the lower body from spinning out I hit the ball very solid and straight but if I get hips firing to hard I hit blocks.If u have any suggestions about how the pelvis works I would greatly appreciate it!
Hi Matt, Something Moe Norman told me about the hips being overactive and how to put a brake on the firing around to early and over rotating which drags the torso with it and ultimately the shoulder girdle as well. He said the more you can keep the lead knee flexed at impact and post impact the more the hips will not over rotate but stay in a supporting position to allow the arms a free swinging motion past the body... I actually said to Moe that you only have to look at what happens to the hips when the lead leg snaps straight early in the downswing in conventional swings .. it fires the lead hip straight around and upwards .. he said he felt that exactly when he was starting out in golf and he said it probably was one of the main reasons he kept his lead knee bent into and through impact . I think with the CL swing and us wanting to keep shut in the shoulders at impact we need the help of the hips to do that I think .. a lead hip firing around to the rear is going to have a big knock on effect to the torso and shoulders .. I guess in a nutshell .. just try keeping your lead knee flexed as much as you can at impact and a bit after impact and see what that does to the activeness of the hips .. I personally get a lot more extension through impact with my arms when my lead knee has some flex in it at impact. cheers JH
JH...thanks for your blueprint for Channel Lock...as a Certified C/L teacher I want to be sure I have relayed certified information. I learn by asking questions...As a point of reference...how tall are you and how many inches do you have your trail foot from the ball...would a shorter golfer have it positioned more out...a taller golfer closer ? Cheers Bob Cunningham Atlanta section Certified Channel Lock Teacher•••••••••
Hi JH Recently returned to using Channel Lock and the results have been impressive...very good aiming with little dispersion and nice baby draws Driver I find needs a good 3 inches further forward to get better hits...is this normal? Many thanks for all your you tube effort...much appreciated!
Hi John, If you can get good results with the ball further forward of the trail big toe.. and your ball flight consistently 'starts' in the same direction.. I have no problems with that geometry setup. If you are getting the slight push draw ball flight you must still be keeping your shoulders closed at impact .. if you can do that you are clearly still hitting in to out from the channel. Ball flight is the indicator of whether you are swinging correctly or not.. if the ball flight is what you want.. the swing is as it should be. I hope to be back on the practice tee in the near future. cheers JH
Hi JH, does gripping down on the club helpful with the channel channel lock swing using variable length clubs? I’ve been gripping down on my long irons and it has helped to stop my tops and thinned shots. Is gripping down for the CL swing a good thing in your opinion?
Hi Ronnie, Sometimes gripping down on the club will help eliminate thinned and toped shots because the club being shorter is easier to control coming into impact and the radius change that occurs (standing up) because of the length of clubs generally is reduced because of the shorter club and the balance/stability improving resultant. Bottom line.. I think for most people gripping down on clubs will simply improve the quality of ball strike and make it easier to control a club generally, it makes no difference if the swing is conventional or Channel Lock.. I just believe the overall controllability of clubs improves when you grip the clubs down. cheers JH
How do you feel about the Jim Venetos method.. ? I recently made the switch to his theory due to injuries in my right leg and it has really simplified my swing and has created nice dispersion.. I actually found your swing from someone who posted on jims channel... I love that you both are teaching a simpler more structured approach..
Hi Shelby, I think the Venetos swing process is a good one .. and Jim Venettos is an excellent coach... it has, however, the same inherent problem all golf swings have that play the ball from a forward of body centre position at address and impact .. and that is the ball can be pulled or dragged easily in the swing .. the Channel Lock swing was designed to eliminate pulled or dragged shots ... But for anyone that cannot load into the trailside and play the ball from there the Venetos swing process is certainly worth a try .. cheers JH
@@1atomicgolf thanks JH... I was taking conventional lessons and was highly frustrated..i found Jim and it really helped as I stated. The issue with loading my trail leg for me was trying to rotate the body back and then realign myself to position. I must say thta when I saw the CL swing initially i thought it was abit humerous.. Yesterday i actually tried to apply your methods and although not perfectly and with much more effort i must say it really works.. I even showed my old golf instructor and he was wide eyed and mouth open about the sheer power it generates and how far i was hitting a 9iron.. Just inside the 145 marker and super high with a soft drop. I wish there were more teachers avail to teach these kinds of theories. I am in Washington State, US.. For giggles, how would one go about being certified to teach this? I dont feel that a person needs to be a pro and 25 years in the industry to teach a solid idea.. Also, i have playing Sterling single length irons( all.8niron length) for about 3 years and they have really helped with my consistency. Although i have a conventional set, i still seem to stuggle on anything past my 7 iron..and at 47yo im not sure I want to keep that struggle..lol...thanks for your time.. Shelby
Hi Grover, The 'Preturn' is always something you should strive to apply.. it just gets you set up earlier to get the club tracking into the channel on the backswing .. cheers JH
Hi Andy, The release is so important for consistency of clubface application in any swing .. the CL release is different as 'feeling' to that of traditional release methods and it takes a bit of working into the swing ..but it comes surprisingly quickly if you work with it diligently... the thing that becomes apparent is how much true release of the clubhead we 'do not' apply in normally in our swings after we experience the slap release process. cheers JH
Hi JH, what would be the cause of me topping the ball at times with CL? Topping the ball at times is a problem that I have with the 4, 5, and 6 irons. I don’t top shots all the time but i wish I could figure out why this happens. Can you please advise me on this problem?
Hi Ronnie, The obvious reason for ta topped shot is the clubhead coming upwards way too early in the delivery to the ball .. that can happen if you straighten your lead leg too early and get to much 'push back' from the lead leg into the trailside coming into impact .. if you just hit some shots and concentrate on keeping the lead knee bent through impact and really work on keeping your head turned away from the ball at impact I think you will get your lead arm extending more level through the ball coming into impact .. As well try and get the lead hand/arm really 'pulling' through impact .. that will keep the clubhead down through impact .. The reason it's probably happening with the longer clubs is because there is just more energy in the longer clubs so you have to exert more 'down' stability coming into impact with those clubs .. just hit some half shots and concentrate on the lead arm 'pulling' and the really flexed lead knee .. I think you will see an improvement .. Cheers JH
Perhaps we can take the 'back-cock' out of CL altogether? I'm thinking as most conventionally taught golfers are used to aligning parallel square to the target line then it might be easier to start in that address position and then move the lead foot and hip line to an open position and then either keep the shoulder line parralel square or experiment with having shoulder girdle in a more closed/shut position.
Hi paul, I had a guy tell me just what you are advocating and he came over to talk to me about it .. he tried every which way to get his shoulders closed at address and impact and he couldn't do it without enormous concocted body configurations which were simply way to difficult to repeat. But you should try yourself to come up with something .. you might come up with a better mousetrap for us.. ... I just think the way I have been applying the protocol now is virtually foolproof .. I can set up the same every time now with little mental consternation . cheers JH
Hi Ronnie Sure you can put a bit of forward lean on the shaft at address .. I actually do myself .. but not more than a 'bit'.. with the ball as back as far as it is with CL any forward shaft angle application will get the clubface opening up at address . so if you do put a bit of forward lean on the shaft make sure you adjust the clubface a bit more closed .. Remember the more forward shaft anngle you have at impact the lower the impact loft of the club is at impact .. if you have any difficulty now with getting good hei ght on your shots I wouldnt go adding any shaft lean at address .. cheers JH
This video is not relative to Yogi swing principals.. its relative to Channel Lock principals. This video ua-cam.com/video/Hxuw9M3T498/v-deo.html has an element of Yogi principals in it.. but the main emphasis is that of the Channel Lock swing. cheers JH
Driving the trail leg can induce excessive hip rotation which can cause torso.. then shoulder rotation... which makes it difficult to keep the lead shoulder closed at impact .. If you keep the the lead shoulder up and closed you can swing the arms with more unobstructed motion which gives plenty of speed to the clubhead .. cheers JH
There was never a Golf Swing called 'Channel Lock.. until I invented it about 4 years ago .. that's probably why you haven't heard of it before.. and frankly I haven't promoted it at all in real terms.. the only promotion of the swing is on my channel.. and its not really a 'promotion'.. its more just a 'project'.. cheers JH
Hi Benjamin' The geometry of the Channel Lock swing is actually opposite in application to the Veneto's swing. That being the ball position is way behind the body centre line.. actually right foot positioning.. veneto's positions the ball off his left armpit .. the weight loading is into the trail side at impact.. the Veneto's swing loads into the lead side at address and at impact. So the general swing geometry of the Channel Lock swing is for all intents and purposes diametrically different to the veneto' swing .. The major difference advantage the CL swing has over the Veneto's swing is the shoulder line being locked into a closed position at impact because of the extreme trail side positioning of the ball at impact.. you virtually cannot pull or drag the shot with that body geometry setting.. the Veneto's leadside loading can.. and does... create pulled or dragged starting direction shot direction on occasions ... which was as well the major flaw in the stack and tilt swing. cheers JH
So let me get this straight. You have an extreme ball pacement, close your hips and shoulders to the target line and close the clubface, even though you state thats its square. How is it then that you hit a completely straight ball yet everything youre doing produces a draw? Another thing, in prior videos you state to hit into flexed knees yet everytime you slo mo the swing youre posting up? Where is your clubhead speed coming from? I have a hard time believing you hit a wedge 140yds with that swing. If this truly works then you could be onto something. Just my two cents.
The clubface is closed to the attack path .. not to the target .. there are plenty of videos that show me hitting into flexed knees ... my clubhead speed is coming from where everyone that has good golf swing mechanics clubhead speed comes from ...the free-swinging of my arms past stabilized non-blocking body .. Clearly, in the video where I said I was hitting the wedge 140 it was a max attack swing process under perfect conditions .. I thought that was patently obvious in the video.. I would never try to hit a wedge 140 yards normally...which I also made quite clear in the video .. I can assure its not a matter of I 'could' be on to something with Channel Lock .. I have proven the process absolutely and unequivocally .. I can hit the same starting direction of shots with every shot I hit ... I have had very high profile sceptics go home with their doubting tails between their legs ... I 'know' what I have uncovered with Channel Lock ... I think you actually got great value with my reply for your.. '2 Cents' opinion .. cheers JH
This video might help your understanding of the body geometry alignment requirements ..ua-cam.com/video/VHPmRWm-jnE/v-deo.html .. again there are lots of videos on my channel showing DTL swings .. cheers JH
Finally able to golf here in Michigan. Birdied my 1st hole! Never did that to start a season in 22 years playing. Thanks JH.
Hi Will,
It will only get better my fiend..
cheers JH
Hi JH. FIRST, how blessed we are, your fan club, for sharing your journey with us and trying to help us enjoy the game more!
I wanted to share my experience with CL. As I approach my ball (t-ball or approach shot) I approach it face-on looking ahead to my target. I have my club in my right hand and aim the club face right at the target. In order to do this your body will be already be open to the target line about 45 degrees and the ball will be at your trail foot. Then all you have to do is backcock and go. I’ve had really good luck with this. Simple address system and the trajectory of my shots are right on.
One more thing. I have found that if I maintain a wider stance by stretching forward my lead foot just a bit, this helps me to keep my weight back on my trail leg better. Your thoughts are always welcome. Thanks.
Hi Craig,
What you are doing as a setup is eminently acceptable ..as long as you maintain the back foot ball position as much as you can so as to allow the club to be swung beside the body and allow the shoulders to be closed at impact you are applying a Channel Lock Protocol ... it matters not that its different from mine or anyone else's as long as the ball starts where you want it to consistently .
The stance width is always optional because we all have flexibility ratio and balance differences...
That's great you are having success so early with the Protocol .. there are still 'Evolution' bits of the swing manifesting themselves at present but soon the Protocol will be finalized as to be considered pretty much a 'Final' Protocol.
The Atomicgolf channel is a low profile channel which is how I want it to be... and because of its profile golfers have to be on the search for some swing help to find it invariably .. I find those type of golfers are for the most part open minded and appreciate different attitudes of swing mechanics... which is what I am all about.. to that end anyone interested in what I have available on my channel will always get my full support should they request it.
cheers JH
One of your best videos yet, hope your feeling better, thank you
Superb video JH! That was by far your best step by step explanation of CL to date. I think you could take a lot of what you described in this video as the "differences between traditional and CL" and script it when you decide to produce a DVD for the CL program. Your presentation was flawless, too the point and easy to understand. The guys I grew up with used to ask me what life was like to in the Army, and if it was really hard. The best description I could come up with was that life in the Army was simple but it wasn't easy. I think that description applies to CL perfectly. In the Army, I knew what my job was every day that I woke up and some days were very difficult and some days were a snap. The CL protocols are simple to understand and see but not easy to apply because of all the conventional programming in our brains and bodies (muscle memory). As many have stated in previous videos, we have all seemed to parallel the same paths and that is we give up (at least 2 times, lol) before we really understand what we're trying to do and how to apply with this totally different swing and we take it to the course way too early. Apply the protocols as described and you will be successful...simple, right? It won't be easy until you flush almost every conventional swing thought you've ever had. Once you are free of those old habits and thoughts then you will finally be on your way to the best golf you've ever played. Thanks for all the time and effort that you've put into this swing and for giving it to us! I'll always be grateful JH!
Your correct JH. I’m finding learning this swing is tricky. Diligence is needed along with an understanding of everything you spoke of in this vid. The payoff, and I’ve seen it, is a beautiful solid strike with no pull hook or slice. At all. I hope other student might read this comment. And by the way this has been fun, and will continue being fun. Thanks.
Hi John,
The reason I haven't come up with yet a formalized teaching/ learning blueprint is because I want to make sure when I do present the 'blueprint' it is of such quality of understanding as to make it easily understood and uptaken... I 'basically' know what it needs to be now but its not 'turn-key' ready just yet.. better take a bit longer and make the switching to the CL swing for people a switch without 'frustration' ...
cheers JH
I’m grasping Channel Lock because I have been following your vids since day one. For those that are new, I guess down the road you will have to make a formalized training video. This will should be helpful for you also in maintaining rights and control. Good luck mate!
Hi. Jh. I was at the range today hitting balls. I was hitting solid and then started hitting fat shots so I thought I'd try something different. I pulled out my 5 wood sort of had my back to the target and swung way right around my right leg etc had ball off back foot and was hitting solid draws it felt like I was swinging around my back leg etc no manipulating the face massive in to out swing also worked for 3 iron and smashing 7 iron. Then I tried aiming left with feet .shoulders on target line and swinging out to right not as much draw but still solid. Like Steve Johnson urrecka etc. Feels more open and like I'm hitting ball side on etc. I feel like I carnt turn as much in the back swing and generate as much club head speed but the strike is solid. My coach is more traditional but there is no way I can come over the top doing this. And I love experiencing. Cheers Orlando
Hi Orlando,
You won't be able to get as much backswing range of motion as normal if your stance line is to open at address.. you should still be able to get the amount of in to out attack path as you need from a not so open stance line ..
The secret to getting the massive amount of into out path attack from a square to closed stance is really concentrating on making sure the lead shoulder pulls upwards in the downswing .. actually you really can't overdo that feeling .. you might think you can But I haven't been able to do it as yet .. the feeling of hitting' 'side on' is absolutely the feeling you should have with CL ..
cheers JH
Thank you, sir. This will overtake Moe Norman’s single plane because Moe was working on this for his game. He could not teach it because I think he did not feel it could be learned. There seem to be some similarities with Moe’s ultimate swing, but your approach is based on a teachable repeatable golf game. I am not a real golfer so clearly I do not understand the swing, traditional or Moe’s. There is no natural golf swing as you rightly say. Moe simplifies the swing but you have simplified how to teach a swing. I just spent a king’s ransom learning Moe’s swing which he said couldn’t be taught ! You have made your point with me even though Moe’s unteachable swing has helped me understand a lot, your whole approach is just too compelling to ignore.
Sorry if I sound conflicted, but I am beginning to see that getting interested in golf, even at 69 sure can cause cognitive dissonance! You are a true renaissance man.
You nailed my golf swing "random"😂👍
Hi JH, I have tried CL at the range today for the first time and I amazed at the strike on the ball I was getting. I was hitting it 10 yd further than normal, even with such a short backswing. Even the bad swings were acceptable. I am a convert. What I have to do is get my aiming more consistent and I can take it to the course. Thanks so much for sharing your ideas.
Hi Terence,
That's great news you got such a good result so early with the swing.. there is more to come that will refine the Protocol to a virtual 'turnkey' system.. stay tuned..
cheers JH
How much torque is there on your back?
Hi jh only started reading about channel lock on Tuesday,went down range and practiced Tues and Wednesday and took it on the course today Thursday in a match with a member and visitor (don't know if I'm brave or stupid) I played to 3 over my handicap so to me that's the worst im going to be. Hit some bad shots but also hit some fantastic shots that i couldn't have hit before. 5 wood and 3 wood draw shots onto 200 yard par 3 greens for birdie putts,which i missed. In fact i have left a lot of shots out there with my chipping and putting which were abysmal otherwise it could have been well under.
Still a lot to learn and i can't get the driver off the back foot but hit it well slightly inside back foot.
Just hope I've got the patience to keep learning and stick to cl as i believe in it..p.s last Friday i spent £240 on lessons and had a conventional lesson before i went away on a golfing trip the weekend and was absolutely atrocious,I've now exchanged them and given them to my wife for the winter as she's just starting up. That's how come I found channel lock out of desperation really but love all the videos and thankyou jh for everything you're doing
Hi Paul,
Glad to hear CL got some good results for you.. there are around 150 CL videos on my channel that have lots of intrinsic information about CL mechanics etc.
If you punch in Channel Lock golf swing into the search bar of 1atomicgolf UA-cam downloads.. you will get those videos to come up.. there should be information in those different videos that will give you some insight into understanding CL mechanics for your personal uptake.
cheers JH
Keep your left arm 'straight' then you'll make a full turn and complete follow thru.
Great tip!
Hi Jimmy,
Glad the swing tip resonated with you.
cheers JH
THANK YOU JH..YOUR METHOD WORKS
Hi Ruben,
The CL swing does 'work.. if.. you apply the 'correct' protocols.. the exact 'same' way every swing .. which I why I emphasise having the protocols numbered in a sequence.. and you just go through that sequence from 1 to how many protocols you have worked out suit your swing.. if you go through that sequence in your mind before every swing you should be able to apply those protocols in the correct sequence 'every' swing.
cheers JH .
HI JH,
Very interesting concept. I live on the Gold Coast and would like to know which golf club you teach at. Thanks.
Hi Ken,
The great majority of my teaching is done online. I have a group that has been cultivated over the years which I have culled to a manageable amount relative to my time availability these days ..I am virtually retired from teaching.. I teach only long-term students personally these days .. but only on a basically 'catchup' basis... I use the Chinderah Public course facilities for those lessons and for my UA-cam videos.
cheers JH
JH
Crash and burn you said...yep that was me...2 times
But my pea brain keep me coming back and I’m so glad I listen to that pea brain
I think one reason it’s hard to lear for the student is they can see in there brains their favorite golfer on TV like I did and thats Ernie Els
But another reason they fail is they take it to the corse to soon and not practice with it first... agin like I did
But besides a constant ball flight golf swing that I couldn’t get with the conventional golf swing is what I’m happy about the reason I stuck with the evaluation of CL is it’s a body friendly golf swing...for sure
This is a great learning vid today JH and just not for the new bees but for us all
Thanks
Hi Steve,
I was lucky because CL worked for me from the very first ball I hit with it ... and because the result was so amazing my brain had no trouble with cross programming from my conventional swing setup because it just found the new setup
so different there was nothing in the old swing mechanics that really could get into the new swing .. the 'difference' was so great it just shut down all other memories of my old swing.
I found a little bit of setup and backswing today that has made a huge difference to my impact contact .. I will detail it in the next videos .. it brings the driver alive like you wouldn't believe.
cheers JH
Hi JH,
Regarding your comments about getting someone to hit the ball straight within an hour, does that apply to someone who has never golfed?
Thanks,
Ben
Hi Ben,
No, it doesn't apply to someone taking up golf for the first time... building a complete new set of motor moves into a persons brain is not a '1 hour' process.. I was referring to a 'conversion' of an 'existing' swing to the CL protocol.
Having said that I could get 'a' straight shot within an hour from someone who has never played before .. it wouldn't be a full swing shot but it would be straight in its flight ... the geometry of CL would do that by itself.
Frankly I see the CL protocol as a 'conversion' process in the main as opposed to a 'new beginning' golf swing process.. initially anyway.
cheers JH
Thanks JH,
I suspected that's what you meant but wanted to know for sure. It is very interesting that CL has the straight ball flight built right into it. That can automatically take most of the misery out of a bedragled golfer who has fought a slice or pulled shot most of his golfing life. Matt's son Mr. S from what I could see in the video really caught on to the protocols quickly. The video didn't show whether he got it airborn in the swing shown. Maybe Mr. S will make a repeat performance some time.
Thanks,
Ben
1atomicgolf l
Hi JH...how do you hit fades and draws with the channel lock swing?...
Hi Martin,
I will be doing a video on 'shot shaping' soon.
cheers JH
Hi JH, is a little bit of forward shaft lean acceptable with the Channel lock swing?
Do i have to think about clearing hips in downswing?
The hips will clear by themselves post impact because of the swing velocity inertia applied during the swing and post impact ..
You should not deliberately 'try' to clear the hips at all during the swing... the hip action should feel like it is a tangential shuttling motion coming into impact .. no lateral sliding/rotating taking place ...
cheers JH
cheers JH
Hi Jh , You definitely have the plans and master carpenter skillls. Lately I’ve been thinking about developing some drills that might help cultivate CL swing.I was just wondering if you have opinion or have you given this any thought? One of the issues I’ve noticed with people and myself is a overactive pelvis with the driver.when I keep the lower body from spinning out I hit the ball very solid and straight but if I get hips firing to hard I hit blocks.If u have any suggestions about how the pelvis works I would greatly appreciate it!
Hi Matt,
Something Moe Norman told me about the hips being overactive and how to put a brake on the firing around to early and over rotating which drags the torso with it and ultimately the shoulder girdle as well.
He said the more you can keep the lead knee flexed at impact and post impact the more the hips will not over rotate but stay in a supporting position to allow the arms a free swinging motion past the body... I actually said to Moe that you only have to look at what happens to the hips when the lead leg snaps straight early in the downswing in conventional swings .. it fires the lead hip straight around and upwards .. he said he felt that exactly when he was starting out in golf and he said it probably was one of the main reasons he kept his lead knee bent into and through impact .
I think with the CL swing and us wanting to keep shut in the shoulders at impact we need the help of the hips to do that I think .. a lead hip firing around to the rear is going to have a big knock on effect to the torso and shoulders ..
I guess in a nutshell .. just try keeping your lead knee flexed as much as you can at impact and a bit after impact and see what that does to the activeness of the hips .. I personally get a lot more extension through impact with my arms when my lead knee has some flex in it at impact.
cheers JH
JH...thanks for your blueprint for Channel Lock...as a Certified C/L teacher I want to be sure I have relayed certified information. I learn by asking questions...As a point of reference...how tall are you and how many inches do you have your trail foot from the ball...would a shorter golfer have it positioned more out...a taller golfer closer ? Cheers Bob Cunningham Atlanta section Certified Channel Lock
Teacher•••••••••
Hi JH
Recently returned to using Channel Lock and the results have been impressive...very good aiming with little dispersion and nice baby draws
Driver I find needs a good 3 inches further forward to get better hits...is this normal?
Many thanks for all your you tube effort...much appreciated!
Hi John,
If you can get good results with the ball further forward of the trail big toe.. and your ball flight consistently 'starts' in the same direction.. I have no problems with that geometry setup.
If you are getting the slight push draw ball flight you must still be keeping your shoulders closed at impact .. if you can do that you are clearly still hitting in to out from the channel.
Ball flight is the indicator of whether you are swinging correctly or not.. if the ball flight is what you want.. the swing is as it should be.
I hope to be back on the practice tee in the near future.
cheers JH
Hi JH, does gripping down on the club helpful with the channel channel lock swing using variable length clubs? I’ve been gripping down on my long irons and it has helped to stop my tops and thinned shots. Is gripping down for the CL swing a good thing in your opinion?
Hi Ronnie,
Sometimes gripping down on the club will help eliminate thinned and toped shots because the club being shorter is easier to control coming into impact and the radius change that occurs (standing up) because of the length of clubs generally is reduced because of the shorter club and the balance/stability improving resultant.
Bottom line.. I think for most people gripping down on clubs will simply improve the quality of ball strike and make it easier to control a club generally, it makes no difference if the swing is conventional or Channel Lock.. I just believe the overall controllability of clubs improves when you grip the clubs down.
cheers JH
How do you feel about the Jim Venetos method.. ? I recently made the switch to his theory due to injuries in my right leg and it has really simplified my swing and has created nice dispersion.. I actually found your swing from someone who posted on jims channel... I love that you both are teaching a simpler more structured approach..
Hi Shelby,
I think the Venetos swing process is a good one .. and Jim Venettos is an excellent coach... it has, however, the same inherent problem all golf swings have that play the ball from a forward of body centre position at address and impact .. and that is the ball can be pulled or dragged easily in the swing .. the Channel Lock swing was designed to eliminate pulled or dragged shots ...
But for anyone that cannot load into the trailside and play the ball from there the Venetos swing process is certainly worth a try ..
cheers JH
@@1atomicgolf thanks JH... I was taking conventional lessons and was highly frustrated..i found Jim and it really helped as I stated. The issue with loading my trail leg for me was trying to rotate the body back and then realign myself to position. I must say thta when I saw the CL swing initially i thought it was abit humerous.. Yesterday i actually tried to apply your methods and although not perfectly and with much more effort i must say it really works.. I even showed my old golf instructor and he was wide eyed and mouth open about the sheer power it generates and how far i was hitting a 9iron.. Just inside the 145 marker and super high with a soft drop. I wish there were more teachers avail to teach these kinds of theories. I am in Washington State, US.. For giggles, how would one go about being certified to teach this? I dont feel that a person needs to be a pro and 25 years in the industry to teach a solid idea.. Also, i have playing Sterling single length irons( all.8niron length) for about 3 years and they have really helped with my consistency. Although i have a conventional set, i still seem to stuggle on anything past my 7 iron..and at 47yo im not sure I want to keep that struggle..lol...thanks for your time..
Shelby
Hi Shelby,
Contact Steve Walters at gswalters53@yahoo.com he can give you some information about certification in the US...
cheers JH
JH...are you still advocating the preterm in the setup?
Hi Grover,
The 'Preturn' is always something you should strive to apply.. it just gets you set up earlier to get the club tracking into the channel on the backswing ..
cheers JH
Excellent JH.
Just to let you know the "Release Pass" CL is just fantastic for me.
Thanks so much for that!
Hi Andy,
The release is so important for consistency of clubface application in any swing .. the CL release is different as 'feeling' to that of traditional release methods and it takes a bit of working into the swing ..but it comes surprisingly quickly if you work with it diligently... the thing that becomes apparent is how much true release of the clubhead we 'do not' apply in normally in our swings after we experience the slap release process.
cheers JH
Hi JH, what would be the cause of me topping the ball at times with CL? Topping the ball at times is a problem that I have with the 4, 5, and 6 irons. I don’t top shots all the time but i wish I could figure out why this happens. Can you please advise me on this problem?
Hi Ronnie,
The obvious reason for ta topped shot is the clubhead coming upwards way too early in the delivery to the ball .. that can happen if you straighten your lead leg too early and get to much 'push back' from the lead leg into the trailside coming into impact .. if you just hit some shots and concentrate on keeping the lead knee bent through impact and really work on keeping your head turned away from the ball at impact I think you will get your lead arm extending more level through the ball coming into impact ..
As well try and get the lead hand/arm really 'pulling' through impact .. that will keep the clubhead down through impact ..
The reason it's probably happening with the longer clubs is because there is just more energy in the longer clubs so you have to exert more 'down' stability coming into impact with those clubs .. just hit some half shots and concentrate on the lead arm 'pulling' and the really flexed lead knee .. I think you will see an improvement ..
Cheers JH
Perhaps we can take the 'back-cock' out of CL altogether? I'm thinking as most conventionally taught golfers are used to aligning parallel square to the target line then it might be easier to start in that address position and then move the lead foot and hip line to an open position and then either keep the shoulder line parralel square or experiment with having shoulder girdle in a more closed/shut position.
Hi paul,
I had a guy tell me just what you are advocating and he came over to talk to me about it .. he tried every which way to get his shoulders closed at address and impact and he couldn't do it without enormous concocted body configurations which were simply way to difficult to repeat.
But you should try yourself to come up with something .. you might come up with a better mousetrap for us.. ... I just think the way I have been applying the protocol now is virtually foolproof .. I can set up the same every time now with little mental consternation .
cheers JH
Forward shaft lean at address to be more specific.
Hi Ronnie
Sure you can put a bit of forward lean on the shaft at address .. I actually do myself .. but not more than a 'bit'.. with the ball as back as far as it is with CL any forward shaft angle application will get the clubface opening up at address . so if you do put a bit of forward lean on the shaft make sure you adjust the clubface a bit more closed ..
Remember the more forward shaft anngle you have at impact the lower the impact loft of the club is at impact .. if you have any difficulty now with getting good hei ght on your shots I wouldnt go adding any shaft lean at address ..
cheers JH
Is this related to Yogi golf at all?
This video is not relative to Yogi swing principals.. its relative to Channel Lock principals.
This video ua-cam.com/video/Hxuw9M3T498/v-deo.html has an element of Yogi principals in it.. but the main emphasis is that of the Channel Lock swing.
cheers JH
Why not to use right leg to move forward in downswing to generate power and more straighter shots?
Driving the trail leg can induce excessive hip rotation which can cause torso.. then shoulder rotation... which makes it difficult to keep the lead shoulder closed at impact ..
If you keep the the lead shoulder up and closed you can swing the arms with more unobstructed motion which gives plenty of speed to the clubhead ..
cheers JH
Preturn
Never heard a gold swing called Channel Lock…
There was never a Golf Swing called 'Channel Lock.. until I invented it about 4 years ago .. that's probably why you haven't heard of it before.. and frankly I haven't promoted it at all in real terms.. the only promotion of the swing is on my channel.. and its not really a 'promotion'.. its more just a 'project'..
cheers JH
Hello is there a CL teacher in St Petersburg Florida?
Hi Joel,
Not as yet .. maybe sometime in the early new year ...
cheers JH
...seems like the opposite of Jim Venetos teaches...
Hi Benjamin'
The geometry of the Channel Lock swing is actually opposite in application to the Veneto's swing.
That being the ball position is way behind the body centre line.. actually right foot positioning.. veneto's positions the ball off his left armpit .. the weight loading is into the trail side at impact.. the Veneto's swing loads into the lead side at address and at impact.
So the general swing geometry of the Channel Lock swing is for all intents and purposes diametrically different to the veneto' swing ..
The major difference advantage the CL swing has over the Veneto's swing is the shoulder line being locked into a closed position at impact because of the extreme trail side positioning of the ball at impact.. you virtually cannot pull or drag the shot with that body geometry setting.. the Veneto's leadside loading can.. and does... create pulled or dragged starting direction shot direction on occasions ... which was as well the major flaw in the stack and tilt swing.
cheers JH
?
So let me get this straight. You have an extreme ball pacement, close your hips and shoulders to the target line and close the clubface, even though you state thats its square. How is it then that you hit a completely straight ball yet everything youre doing produces a draw? Another thing, in prior videos you state to hit into flexed knees yet everytime you slo mo the swing youre posting up? Where is your clubhead speed coming from? I have a hard time believing you hit a wedge 140yds with that swing. If this truly works then you could be onto something. Just my two cents.
How about adding some DTL videos or incorporating them into your general videos so people (like me) can understand the whole shoulder/hip alignment.
The clubface is closed to the attack path .. not to the target .. there are plenty of videos that show me hitting into flexed knees ... my clubhead speed is coming from where everyone that has good golf swing mechanics clubhead speed comes from ...the free-swinging of my arms past stabilized non-blocking body ..
Clearly, in the video where I said I was hitting the wedge 140 it was a max attack swing process under perfect conditions .. I thought that was patently obvious in the video.. I would never try to hit a wedge 140 yards normally...which I also made quite clear in the video ..
I can assure its not a matter of I 'could' be on to something with Channel Lock .. I have proven the process absolutely and unequivocally .. I can hit the same starting direction of shots with every shot I hit ... I have had very high profile sceptics go home with their doubting tails between their legs ... I 'know' what I have uncovered with Channel Lock ...
I think you actually got great value with my reply for your.. '2 Cents' opinion ..
cheers JH
This video might help your understanding of the body geometry alignment requirements ..ua-cam.com/video/VHPmRWm-jnE/v-deo.html .. again there are lots of videos on my channel showing DTL swings ..
cheers JH