The Flying Wedge - A Precision Assembly

The following is a Precision Assembly and Alignment of the Power Package basic structure and is Mandatory during the entire motion.

The Right Forearm Flying Wedge with its 'Bent and Level' Right Wrist is a Major Alignment. The Left Arm Flying Wedge with its Flat Left Wrist  will only Cock and Uncock.

It is secondary in importance only to the Flat Left Wrist. Together they form the Precision Assembly and Structure of the Power Package.

It is this ideal structure that is to be Assembled, Loaded, Stored, Delivered and Released into Impact and maintained through  the Follow-Through position  and to the Finish.

When combined with the Bending backward of the Right Wrist the Clubshaft and Right Arm fall into line with one another.

This is absolutely crucial in delivering a fully supported club into the ball.

That is not to say that you cannot Cock the Right Wrist. The latitude for geometric disruption is wide and may be seen daily (or even Daly) on the practice grounds and links of the world.

Left Arm Flying Wedge

The entire Left Arm, the Clubshaft and the back of the Left Hand are ALWAYS positioned against the flat plane - The plane of the Left Wristcock Motion (perpendicular motion only).

Right Arm Flying Wedge

The Right Arm and the Clubshaft are positioned on the Plane of the Right Wrist Bend - At right angles to the Left Arm Plane.

It's not the size of the Wedges that matter. For example, by changing the amount of Left Wrist Cock I can change the size of my Left Arm Flying Wedge. Or by adjusting my Right Wrist Bend, I change the size of my Right Forearm Flying Wedge.

The important thing is that the plane of the Flying Wedges remained undisturbed. Otherwise, you get some bent-looking Wedges. For example, if I Bend my Left Wrist, that will deform my Left Arm Flying Wedge.

The Cocking motion of my Left Wrist is on a Vertical Plane, but the Bending motion is on a Horizontal Plane.

The Right Forearm Flying Wedge is on a Horizontal Plane. So if I make any Vertical motion (Cocking or Uncocking) with my Right Wrist, this will conflict with the Plane of my Right Forearm Flying Wedge.

As you can see, the Planes of the two Wedges are perpendicular or 90 degrees to each other. And as long as the Left Wrist remains Flat, and the Right Wrist remains Bent and Level, the Wedges will still have this all-important 90 degree relationship with each other.

This is true even if you Cock or Uncock your Left Wrist (keeping the Right Wrist Level, obviously) since this only changes the size of Wedge, but the vertical plane of the Left Arm Flying Wedge remains exactly the same.

Johnny Miller. Flying Wedges

Drill #1- For the Right Arm Flying Wedge

Take a club in your right hand and hold it horizontal to the ground. Now lower the Right Forearm and Clubshaft to a table top. You'll see that both the Right Forearm and Clubshaft are in one line.

Now move the Right Forearm back and forth making sure that it does not leave the table. This is called Right Forearm Tracing.

Now Bend the Right Wrist backward and you'll notice that the Clubshaft and Right Forearm are once again in line but this time they form a "Wedge". Move this assembly back and forth on the table. You now have a precision assembly and the Right Forearm Flying Wedge.

The goal with this drill is to make you aware of what the Right Forearm and Clubshaft should do during the stroke.

When the Clubshaft and Right Forearm are in the same Alignment you have a positive force into Impact, Lag Pressure, and a sound that is unmistakable!

Drill #2 - Dowell Practice

Start with two dowels (5/8" X 48"), and take one in each Hand. Grip down 8-10 inches on each, with the Left Arm Dowel under the Left Hand heel and the Right Forearm Dowel in the Right Hand cup (lifeline). Holding the dowel in the cup of the Right Hand will feel a bit awkward at first, but you'll soon get used to it.

Step #1

Align the Left Arm Dowel so that it passes directly under the Flat Left Wrist and Forearm. Thus, both the Left Arm and the dowel will lie in the same Vertical Plane - the Plane of the Left Wristcock Motion.

Maintain this alignment throughout the exercises. [Remember, Cocking and Uncocking the Left Wrist are Vertical Motions, even when executed on an Inclined Plane. Note that the Left Arm clearly is not on the same Inclined Plane with the dowel at Address. Instead, because the dowel is gripped under the heel of the Hand, the Left Arm points well below the plane of the dowel.

Step #2

Align the Right Forearm Dowel so that it is On Plane with the Right Forearm. Bend the Right Wrist - but do not cock it! -- so that the top of the dowel points well to the left of the Right Forearm. Remember, Bending and Flattening are Horizontal Motions whereas Cocking and Uncocking are Vertical Motions.

Maintain this Alignment throughout the exercises. Note that the Upper Right Arm clearly is not on the same Inclined Plane as the dowel. Because the Right Arm is Bent at the Elbow, the Upper Right Arm points well below the Plane of the dowel.

Step #3

When the Left Arm Dowel and the Right Forearm Dowel are brought together, the Left Wrist remains Flat (and the dowel continues to be In-Line with the Left Forearm) and the Right Wrist remains Bent (and the dowel continues to be On Plane with the Right Forearm). Accordingly, at Address, your Right Elbow will be Bent and your Right Forearm will be below your Left.

Static Exercises

Grip both dowels in the manner described for 3-5 minutes each day for the next three weeks. Look at each independent of the other. Study them - in front of you waist high in the Horizontal Plane and also on the Angled Plane of the Stroke. Position them one-against-the-other in an Impact Fix.

Position them one-against-the-other at the Top. Position them one-against-the-other at the Finish. Look, Look Look and make sure you are maintaining their respective alignments.

Dynamic Exercise

Hold your Left Arm dowel in its Impact Location and take your Right Forearm dowel (and its Frozen, Bent Right Wrist) in a 'direct path' - on the Plane established by the Right Forearm - to the Top.

Make sure that your Right Forearm Turns and Fans and that the Right Wrist maintains only its Right Wrist Bend (and does not Cock). Then return it on the same 'direct path' to its Impact Location touching the Left Arm dowel.

Keep your Head still. Watch yourself make this move in a mirror (front and down-the-line view). Repeat this move - your new Basic Motion - over and over until it becomes second nature.