Wondering where the Waggle went

After suddenly struggling with my swing, I was on the range when a guy who works there asked to play when he clocked out. I had been determined to find a fix before I hit the links, but I figured a spontaneous opportunity might be good medicine...that I might have been carrying too much swing-thought baggage. I decided to kind of walk into each shot actively, moving the club and my feet freely rather than any fixed pre-shot routine. And it really helped...not just with better contact but I also started wanting to shape each shot and stopped forcing each club to fly a set distance with a similar flight. I realize now I had gotten far away from the waggle over the years, and somewhat unconsciously, I come had come to view waggling as a sign of uncertainty...in grip pressure, alignment, sequence, weight distribution, etc. My first reflection after the round was that I wasn't really waggling...I was moving my feet a few times; first when considered the target, and then tracing the club path into the ball. I didn't think you were supposed to be moving your feet, but a quick Internet check pulled up Hogan and Trevino, among others.

So cutting to the quick, I'm pondering whether the older, smaller blades (I was playing Mac FC4000s) require a waggle relative to the bigger, modern heads to explain why the waggle went away. As I write this, Jason Dufner leads the Memorial, and of all modern players, he is most know for his waggle. But I don't think he waggles during his approach to the ball as Hogan and Trevino did. And my recent research has Hogan saying "don't groove the waggle" which tells me it should be specific to the conditions of each shot. As a final thought, I'm wondering if the waggle only belongs on the course, and should be kept off the range to avoid having it get absorbed into my swing instead of "preserving" it as part of each, real stroke.

The waggle is supposed to be the "rehearsal" of the intended swing, I would say it belongs on the course

and the range.

I guess it's just ingrained in me. I know I play my best golf when I take the few moments before swinging to adjust my feet and over-all body position until I know it all feels right.

I also make a point of always watching my wife's waggle as she walks away. ;)

IMO most hackers hack because they start static and have no rhythm and become too tense. Not only do I waggle, I start with a forward press.

IMO most hackers hack because they start static and have no rhythm and become too tense. Not only do I waggle, I start with a forward press.

Me too. Unfortunately that doesn't stop me from hacking it around the course all too often! :tongue:

Have always felt that there was a "transition" into the backswing as well as from the top to the foreswing. Waggle, and for me, a slight press of the trailing knee forward starts the reaction from static to dynamic.

IMO most hackers hack because they start static and have no rhythm and become too tense. Not only do I waggle, I start with a forward press.

Have always felt that there was a "transition" into the backswing as well as from the top to the foreswing. Waggle, and for me, a slight press of the trailing knee forward starts the reaction from static to dynamic.

Well, I found the perfect ol' timey instructional video on the waggle. The secret is you have to tap before you hit the ball. I'm working on it...

If that's a Waggle I've been doing it wrong! :rofl:

Well, I found the perfect ol' timey instructional video on the waggle. The secret is you have to tap before you hit the ball. I'm working on it...

 

Damn! That's one way to practice at golf! :good:

The waggle is supposed to be the "rehearsal" of the intended swing, I would say it belongs on the course

and the range.

 

I don't think that is the intent of a true waggle. The true waggle is a tension release mechanism. It also gives a chance to reset muscles and verify that alignment is correct and not forced. I am a feel player and club head feel is important to me.

 

IMO most hackers hack because they start static and have no rhythm and become too tense. Not only do I waggle, I start with a forward press.

I wiggle my feet some and it does not really matter there because my feet have always been all over the place sorta like Patrick Reed. I also do a forward press for me it sets my wrists

+1. Forward press is trigger, like a single action revolver can't fire without cocking the gun.

I've always wanted to have a stylish waggle like Sam Snead, but I do better with the quiet eye technique. First on the target, and then on the ball. Works good for 9 ball as well :)

It seems that "the waggle" is more of an "old school" tradition.

Maybe it's because the older clubs seemed to have more weight that could be felt through the hands....

The kicking of the trailing knee into the swing to start the swing....now that is really old school.

When the Masters comes up this spring, if Golf Channel plays the old tournaments again (I'm talking late 50's and early 60's) you will see both the forward press of the hands and the knee action.

Now that the clubs are so light, I guess you don't feel the head wth a waggle.

But....let's ask Sean Foley what he thinks.

Personally, i do it with putting, altho very minor action. This is where you still some/most touring pros utilizing the forward press. Not so much the full swing.

Except for Bubba Watson....he waggles damn near everything damn near everywhere!

I was thinking of the knee thing when i saw this thread. Everyone did the knee thing. It has to be better on your back then having your feet pegged into the dirt.

Well, I found the perfect ol' timey instructional video on the waggle. The secret is you have to tap before you hit the ball. I'm working on it...

 

Love the dancing. Imagine if you could play off plus four, but only if you did this before each shot.

Defo-waggle. Favour a Hogan style face-opener, just giving my arms a sneak preview of how I want them to rotate going back.

I do the waggle to feel if there is any kink in my grip and to visualize the trajectory in my mind.