Post-connection

Post-connection is not anti-connection or abandonment of the concept of connection. This is still an important principle, in my view, of the way to control the swing path, to maximise the input of body rotation in concert with the motion of the arms.

However, while this is a sensation to work on during practice, and to rehearse in practice swings, there is a need to think or feel slightly differently when actually trying to hit a shot on the course.

The hope is that connection will have become ingrained, quintessential to one's swing motion, with no need to focus on it during shot-making. This allows other priorities to emerge, including and in particular, rhythm.

Rhythm is another key concept in my view. One of the great failings of a lot of average (and worse) golfers is a rush from the top of the backswing in an attempt to 'kill' the ball. It occurred to me the other day that during a shot, especially a pressure shot, say on a tight driving hole, that I needed to be very conscious of not rushing.

In some cases, this will mean incorporating that slight 'pause that refreshes', but it doesn't have to be any kind of conscious pause, just an awareness that there is plenty of time to commence the downswing. Again, overemphasis of the pause can cause problems, so it has to be a change of direction that is simply unhurried, allowing all the moving parts to align, for the weight to start to shift, and for the clubhead to stay on (or dip below) plane.

Post-connection is about having something in place that is essentially unconscious or sub-conscious, because, as we know, the unconscious mind is very powerful indeed. In the same way, timing and rhythm are elements of the golf swing that are difficult to define, let along prescribe.

The 'zone' is a well known concept in golf, which is again difficult to define or attain. In a way, we need to find that zone for the split second at the top of our swings as we transition to the downswing - on every swing. It's not easy to do. But I think an awareness of the need to aspire to it is a start.

Finally, my observations about Jack's piston putting method have now been tested. I think there is a lot to be said for it. As a right-hander, using the right hand to control the putter makes sense to me - it's our feeling hand, our control hand. Jack also uses a certain amount of connection in his right arm and side in the stroke, which I think helps with the putter swing plane.

But more on this later - and more on the elusive post-connection challenge.