in reply to ieq's post, if you notice, many people bend over much more in there backswing than when they start out. i dont know if this has anything to do with it, but it might. i am one of the people that has a low backswing, below shoulder level, so i really cant comment on your question. people have commented i have to small of a backswing and that i must muscle it, but i know that i do not even touch the ball and ieq's comments make sense to my swing, i start off at hip level on my pushaway. Also, energy is sometimes transfered to the ball in the push-away, and that might be somewhat of an explanation.
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stanski