"Rotor Swing"

Surely with the vast wisdom on this site, someone would be familiar with the Rotor swing?

You're the teaching pro, so enlighten us... Usually these are bait people into an argument threads...

No bait. Just curious who, if anyone, has heard of the Rotor swing?

[quote name='mikpga' post='2098599' date='Dec 2 2009, 02:25 PM']No bait. Just curious who, if anyone, has heard of the Rotor swing?[/quote]

Nope, not even close to Mr. Hogan. Look for pics of Billy Kratzert and Mike Morley for the Rotor. Taught by Joe Nichols.

Kevin

BTW, Mr. Nichols was a real character. I watched him teach Jerilyn Britz, winner of the US Women's Open in 1979. One of the funniest lines I've ever heard by a teacher and will never forget...

She was hitting little wedges, about 50 yards. She would hit it, and fall back on her right foot. EVERY TIME. It looked very strange. Every swing Joe would say "That's Perfect." Jerilyn just kept looking up at him with this blank look.

Another one. Same thing, fall back. "That's Perfect."

Jerilyn, what do you mean, I'm falling back on my right foot every shot!

Joe: [b]"You are hitting the ball so solid the compression is literally knocking you back!"[/b]



Oh well, it was really funny at the time!

Kevin

Kevin,

I believe John Dahl and Rod Lidenburg played around with it for awhile.

What's the point of this thread? We're no closer to knowing what a "rotor" or "box" swing is, how it can or can't help us with our swings, and have no way to compare it to Hogan. Pointless.

At least kevcarter was willing to point us in the right direction, and give a funny anecdote as well.

[quote name='jar59' post='2099402' date='Dec 2 2009, 07:52 PM']Kevin,

I believe John Dahl and Rod Lidenburg played around with it for awhile.[/quote]

Add Dave Duschane to that list as well, another excellent player from the great white north.

A lot of stories I have heard about Joe were from Rod. Rod knew Joe very well. I didn't know John was involved with the Rotor but it doesn't surprise me. John has always been a top teacher and seeker. While Joe Nichols was a character, he was a VERY good teacher and had some very innovative ideas. My previous post was not meant to be disrespectful...

Kevin

[quote name='kamandi' post='2099876' date='Dec 2 2009, 11:04 PM']What's the point of this thread? We're no closer to knowing what a "rotor" or "box" swing is, how it can or can't help us with our swings, and have no way to compare it to Hogan. Pointless.

At least kevcarter was willing to point us in the right direction, and give a funny anecdote as well. [/quote]

kamandi,

I don't think that was the point of the thread, I believe it was just an honest question...

There was a lot to the "Rotor" swing. Part of it was seen in old golf magazines where instead of starting the swing at address, the player started with his wrists cocked and the club up in the air. Dave Duschane finished second in the Minnesota PGA Championship in the late '70s doing this every swing!

What got the method the name "Rotor" was a ton of resistance of the left side immediately after impact. You sort of fought off the finish, and in stopping the club quickly it sort of bounced in a circle like a helicopter rotor. I'm not doing a great job of explaining, I hope you are getting the idea...

Kevin

[quote name='kevcarter ' post='2100280' date='Dec 3 2009, 10:33 AM'][quote name='kamandi' post='2099876' date='Dec 2 2009, 11:04 PM']What's the point of this thread? We're no closer to knowing what a "rotor" or "box" swing is, how it can or can't help us with our swings, and have no way to compare it to Hogan. Pointless.

At least kevcarter was willing to point us in the right direction, and give a funny anecdote as well. [/quote]

kamandi,

I don't think that was the point of the thread, I believe it was just an honest question...

There was a lot to the "Rotor" swing. Part of it was seen in old golf magazines where instead of starting the swing at address, the player started with his wrists cocked and the club up in the air. Dave Duschane finished second in the Minnesota PGA Championship in the late '70s doing this every swing!

What got the method the name "Rotor" was a ton of resistance of the left side immediately after impact. You sort of fought off the finish, and in stopping the club quickly it sort of bounced in a circle like a helicopter rotor. I'm not doing a great job of explaining, I hope you are getting the idea...

Kevin
[/quote]

Thanks for taking the time to explain, Kevin; much appreciated. Sounds like a real interesting looking swing ... don't know how that relates to Hogan, but maybe I just didn't read the inflection in the thread. Sorry for my rant.

[quote name='kamandi' post='2100344' date='Dec 3 2009, 09:03 AM'][quote name='kevcarter ' post='2100280' date='Dec 3 2009, 10:33 AM'][quote name='kamandi' post='2099876' date='Dec 2 2009, 11:04 PM']What's the point of this thread? We're no closer to knowing what a "rotor" or "box" swing is, how it can or can't help us with our swings, and have no way to compare it to Hogan. Pointless.

At least kevcarter was willing to point us in the right direction, and give a funny anecdote as well. [/quote]

kamandi,

I don't think that was the point of the thread, I believe it was just an honest question...

There was a lot to the "Rotor" swing. Part of it was seen in old golf magazines where instead of starting the swing at address, the player started with his wrists cocked and the club up in the air. Dave Duschane finished second in the Minnesota PGA Championship in the late '70s doing this every swing!

What got the method the name "Rotor" was a ton of resistance of the left side immediately after impact. You sort of fought off the finish, and in stopping the club quickly it sort of bounced in a circle like a helicopter rotor. I'm not doing a great job of explaining, I hope you are getting the idea...

Kevin
[/quote]

Thanks for taking the time to explain, Kevin; much appreciated. Sounds like a real interesting looking swing ... don't know how that relates to Hogan, but maybe I just didn't read the inflection in the thread. Sorry for my rant.
[/quote]

Hey, no problem, we're all friends here!

Kevin

I'm starting to get the feeling I've been giving the right answer to the wrong question. Did the OP mean "Rotary" swing by Chuck Quinton? Totally different deal.

Pro?

Kevin

Add me to the list of old guffs that remember (with keen interest I might add) Joe Nichols. No
personal connection just a two page article in Golf Magazine ( I believe) so many years ago.
I thought his ideas were refreshingly innovative and valid. One more way to skin the cat. The
main thrust of his method that resonated with me was his centeredness and the resistance that
came from his rotor action...... it all spells WIDTH of the arc to my eyes. Seem to remember Dwight Nevil was a Nichols student. DTS

P.S. No Hogan in it, IMO.

[quote name='downtoscratch' post='2100603' date='Dec 3 2009, 11:02 AM']Add me to the list of old guffs that remember (with keen interest I might add) Joe Nichols. No
personal connection just a two page article in Golf Magazine ( I believe) so many years ago.
I thought his ideas were refreshingly innovative and valid. One more way to skin the cat. The
main thrust of his method that resonated with me was his centeredness and the resistance that
came from his rotor action...... it all spells WIDTH of the arc to my eyes. Seem to remember Dwight Nevil was a Nichols student. DTS

P.S. No Hogan in it, IMO.[/quote]

Dwight Nevil, theres a name I haven't heard in years. I don't remember his action at all I'm afraid. Maybe you're even older than me.

Kevin

Ah yes. Mr. Joe Nichols, very good!

I will be back with a little more elaboration on the Rotor swing and explain my question regarding any resemblance to a Hoganesque swing motion...

Left side/front side resistance...

Hogan high hand finish...

Back in about 1977, a buddy of mine came back from seeing Joe Nichols. Shot 62. Short course, but he couldn't miss a fairway and don't know how many very short putts he had that day.

"...a vertical release towards the wall..."

[quote name='kevcarter ' post='2100815' date='Dec 3 2009, 01:24 PM'][quote name='downtoscratch' post='2100603' date='Dec 3 2009, 11:02 AM']Add me to the list of old guffs that remember (with keen interest I might add) Joe Nichols. No
personal connection just a two page article in Golf Magazine ( I believe) so many years ago.
I thought his ideas were refreshingly innovative and valid. One more way to skin the cat. The
main thrust of his method that resonated with me was his centeredness and the resistance that
came from his rotor action...... it all spells WIDTH of the arc to my eyes. Seem to remember Dwight Nevil was a Nichols student. DTS

P.S. No Hogan in it, IMO.[/quote]

Dwight Nevil, theres a name I haven't heard in years. I don't remember his action at all I'm afraid. Maybe you're even older than me.

Kevin
[/quote]

3 years younger than Nevil.............. two years older than dirt!

Rotor precepts...

- Swing on the line of the butt of the club...
- Shaft vertical at the corner of the box on each side...
- Club head starts and remains in balance...

Check out Chuck Quinton on Youtube.

That's rotary, not rotor...

I remember the vertical shaft positioning on the halfway back and in the post impact area. I cannot recall details of the "vertical release". I seem to remember the clubhead to shaft and toe to heel visuals but it is cloudy. Can you provide a little more complete description?

At the time, I recall thinking it wasn't bad, but I felt it wasn't for me.

Okay, how about...

[i][b]Golf is momentum against resistance...Eh?

-[/b] RotorMan
[/i]

Rotor thought of the day...

[i]"The lead hand has the butt of the club, and the trail hand is on top. The lead hand does not pull the butt of the club beyond the ball before impact."

- RotorMan...Where Are You?



[/i]

Anyone have the Joe Nichols article from Golf Magazine.............. circa 1970's????

[quote name='downtoscratch' timestamp='1292435551' post='2842204']
Anyone have the Joe Nichols article from Golf Magazine.............. circa 1970's????
[/quote]

I only have the 78' article by Charles Price.

[quote name='jak_bot' timestamp='1292470318' post='2843179']
[quote name='downtoscratch' timestamp='1292435551' post='2842204']
Anyone have the Joe Nichols article from Golf Magazine.............. circa 1970's????
[/quote]

I only have the 78' article by Charles Price.
[/quote]

jak_bot.
That may be 'the' only one! Is it from Golf Magazine? Would you be willing to share it?
Can you either post it or scan it and email it? Thank you for responding. DTS

DTS,

After a bit of searching, I realized that 'rotor swing' was taught by PGA pro Joe Nichols. The article I have is about Ben Hogan, not Joe Nichols rotor swing. You've probably read/have the article I'm talking about; it's the one where Hogan is on the cover wearing a blue shirt.

Anyway, I tried finding stuff about the 'rotor swing' from my usual sources, but unfortunately the database I have access to only goes back to the mid-80's.

Thanks just the same jak_bot. The Hogan article sounds interesting though. dts