Prelude-V7

Prelude - Connection & Leverage

This information was published in New Horizons Golf Approach
Pocket Coach Volume 7 - Connection & Leverage. Copyright
2002, 2005 by EA Tischler. All rights reserved.

Prelude

This volume of the New Horizons Golf Approach Pocket Coach Series is dedicated to connecting your
arm swing to your pivot, levering the club effectively, and releasing the swing’s stored energy to the
target.

This volume will help you find a pattern of connection, leverage, and release suitable to your unique
needs. It will also become clear that certain patterns work better with each of the anchoring
techniques discussed in volume 6 of this pocket coach series. The condensed style of this pocket
coach booklet will make it impossible to describe all viable combinations. So keep in mind, the
recommendations relate to the general patterns. They are not absolutes.

To make the most of this pocket coach, follow the recommendations while keeping your options open
to combinations that are not specifically covered. If you are unsure of which methods fit your
particular needs, execute the provided drills until you can determine the most repeatable variations in
your particular case.

Before we continue, I’d like to discuss the concept of depth in the golf swing. Depth is often
misunderstood and professed as a bad thing. However, for many swing styles it is necessary. All
swing styles display at least a minimal amount of depth, and most viable swing styles utilize a
significant amount of depth.

I say, “swing styles” because there are three basic actions used to play golf – swinging, throwing, and
hitting. In general, the New Horizons Golf Approach recommends developing a swinging style over
throwing or hitting. Hitting is very inefficient for normal play and is advocated only when playing
specialty shots such as punch shots. Throwing styles tend to be used in recovery situations. They
require a great amount of maintenance and timing, and therefore not recommended as a standard
style of play.

If you have followed the New Horizons Golf Approach through volume 6 it is likely you’ve developed a
swinging style. Of course, many beginners and recreational golfers start off with either a hitting or
throwing style. They would be wise to change to a swinging style of play.

It is not the purpose of this pocket coach to convince you of why this is the case. So, I will refrain from
discussing it any further. If you continue to wonder why, you can study this series in its entirety. For
now, simply keep in mind that we are developing a swinging style of play.

Let’s get back to the issue of depth. Depth is the activity of the hands moving around and behind your
body in an on-plane manner. The more behind the golfer the hands become, the deeper they are
located. For example, if your hands start in front of your body at address and remain there during the
swing, there is no depth to the swing. However, if your hands swing up the plane and behind your
head at the top of the backswing, your swing has depth. If you video a swing from the face-on angle
at address you can easily see how much depth your swing achieves. If your hands are more behind
your head at the top, then you’ve achieved good depth. If your hands are more to the right of your
head, then your swing has little depth.

So, depth requires the process of the hands moving behind the centerline of the body. The more the
hands travel behind the centerline, the more depth is achieved. With this in mind, it should be clear
that the more the arms swing around the body the more depth there is in the swing. Also keep in
mind that managing proper depth, in any swing style, with any connection method, requires that the
swing maintain an on-plane attitude throughout the entire swing. If the swing travels too far under, or
above, a viable swing plane pattern, then both depth and connection are lost. Therefore, as long as
your arms remain connected to your pivot, allow depth to occur naturally. There is no need to restrict
depth in your swing.

As usual, every volume of this pocket coach series can be studied and applied individually. However,
using volumes 5 & 6 to establish your body motions is highly recommended before studying
connection, leverage, and release patterns. I once again apologize to the left handed readers, the
condensed format of these pocket coach booklets make it impossible to describe both right-sided and
left-sided patterns.

This is the table of contents from Connection & Leverage. It may
give you some insights as to the topics covered in the New
Horizons Golf Approach Pocket Coach Volume Seven.

Table Of Contents

Prelude

Part One – Connection Methods

Why Get Connected?
Connection Points
Connected For Control
Connected For Trajectory
Connected For Power
Connection Drills & Aids

Part Two – Leverage Patterns

Linked Up For Leverage
The Hands Store & Release
Vertical Hinge
Horizontal Hinge
Angular Hinge
Alternate Combinations

Part Three – Release Actions

What’s A Release?
The Hold Release
The Extensor Release
The Lagging Release
Putting It All Together
Let’s Play Golf

Let’s Play G-O-L-F TM

Playing for a target score is only one way of implementing an on course strategy. I believe to truly
play the game you cannot worry so much about your scoring strategy. I think everyone is aware of
how well they are scoring, and they know they need to score as low as they can. So, since the idea
of scoring is always present you do not need to focus on it. Instead, focus on playing the game.

Truly playing the game involves feeling a game that fascinates you. It involves striving to play the
type of game you usually dream of playing. It’s about finding out your potential and
manifesting it in your play. It’s about engaging yourself in the ongoing drama of sport. It’s about
absorbing yourself into the possibility of expressing your true potential.

It’s about Gaming Out Life’s Fascinations.

So, when you walk out on the golf course, I’m inviting you to take the plunge, to go for it. I’m inviting
you to play golf without putting so much emphasis on scoring low. Win or lose, score low or high,
enjoy the adventure, keep a good attitude, and take something away from every round that makes
you a more accomplished golfer.

New Horizons Golf Approach
I n n o v a t i v e C o a c h i n g F o r G o l f e r s