Visualization to increase aiming and accuracy of direction during setup adds to those contributed by good kinematics during the downswing. For example, good kinematic sequencing during the downswing helps to greatly prevent coming over the top to result in slicing, but both Nicklaus and Nelson talk about visualization of targeting points in front of the ball during setup to further increase accuracy of direction. Good kinematics will increase accuracy, but it cannot be considered to be the whole thing.

In another words, the benefits of good kinematics can be maximized when the setups are good, while the benefits of good kinematics can be decreased by poor setups. Will not good kinematics during the downswing preceded by good setups produce better accuracy and distance than those by good kinematics preceded by only poor setups?

For what it’s worth, I think your use of Dan’s site to promote your thoughts on the golf swing is inconsiderate. I hope you are grateful that he has shown great respect and restraint towards your postings.

As an avid supporter of Dan, I wish that you would show him comparable respect by not attempting to leverage his popularity for your own benefit. If Dan’s current post concerned the set-up of the swing, your thoughts might be pertinent. Instead, they appear to be both self-centered and self-serving.

Have you considered the possibility that your repeated postings may actually alienate readers of Dan’s site?

I apologize to Dan for posting a comment unrelated to kinematics of the swing, but this time I feel it is appropriate.

The importance of the setup phase of the swing is that it can significantly influence the characteristic of the subsequent backswing and downswing phases of the swing in terms of accuracy, as well as power and distance.

Many beginning, and even more experienced average golfers have very different looking setups than the top pros. If their setups look more like the top pros, their accuracy and power can make quick improvements. Big improvements can happen in minutes by improving setups, when the setups are very poor. Because the setup is basically static, it is easier to see setup problems, and it is easier to make improvements that are static during the setup.

The setup effects the dynamics of the swing. Many golfers stick their arms too far out during setup in instinctive attempts to create bigger swing arcs in order to try to get more clubhead speed and distance. Some beginners also stick their arms way out to form a more straight line between the arms and the club shaft, so as to make it easier to make contact with the ball. Since most golfers do not study the physics law of the conservation of angular momentum, they do not realize that sticking their arms out away from their bodies during setup and during the downswing tends to slow their downswings, as arms sticking too far out from the body create more rotational inertia that slows down the downswing, resulting in lost of distance.

Forming too straight a line between the arms, and the club shaft during setup also tends to decrease clubhead speed generation from leading arm rotating to square during the final release phase of the downswing just before impact. This can be seen by considering how the wheel and axle of cars, and of bicycles are designed. The axle and wheel are set perpendicular with an angle of 90 degrees. For example, the axle and one spoke of the bicycle wheel form a right angle. When the axle rotates, the tip of the spoke at the rim of the bicycle wheel moves a great distance. Now imagine pulling the tip of the bicycle spoke from the rim, and bend the spoke so that it is in line with the wheel axle. When the axle is turned, the tip of the straightened out spoke does not move, other than just rotating in place with the axle. Thus, forming too straight a line between the arms and driver club during setup tends to decrease clubhead speed generation from leading arm rotation during the final release phase of the driver downswing.

Aiming toward the target and alignment are part of the setup. Various visualization methods can be utilized to increase accuracy by improve aiming and alignment. Unlike baseball pitchers who can keep their eyes on the catcher mitts as aiming targets during the pitch, golfers have to keep their eyes on the ball rather than the ultimate target where the ball is to go. Various target visualization methods can be used during setup and the swing to better the aim and alignment.

A good setup increases accuracy as well as distance.