A Ben Doyle Lesson -- Part III / Ball-Turf...Please
The student continues his Turf-Ball difficulties. Ben continues to stress Ball-Turf as the desired end and Impact Hand Locaton as the necessary means. To no avail, a water bottle, golf balls, the tire -- each is positioned at one time or another outside the student's left foot and in his line-of-sight through the Impact Hand Location.
Note the difference in the position of the student's body -- Head centered, Hips and Weight left -- when Ben is hands-on and dragging the Hands down-and-through into their correct Impact Location. Then see how the student reverts to his habitual alignments -- Bobbing down and Swaying back and Scooping up -- when Ben is hands-off. He obviously is a strong Swinger -- a Hitter, actually, in my opinion -- who itches to hit full shots, no doubt to prove to Ben that he is far more capable than these little Shots seem to indicate.
But he is not more capable. Though he has good control of his Clubface (Hinge Action as controlled by the Flat Left Wrist), his control of the Clubhead Line-of-Flight (Inclined Plane as controlled by Right Forearm and #3 Pressure Point Tracing) is abysmal. Even in these powerfully-made full Shots, his sweeping Impact Geometry reveals the truth -- he hits Up through the Ball, not Down, and has no idea how to achieve a true Three-Dimensional Downstroke (Downward, Outward and Forward). To the student's chagrin, Ben keeps going back to the Short Strokes, striving to ingrain the Hands-in-Front Feel -- against the tire, the ball box, the ground, the Ball. Nothing seems to work. Both student and teacher are giving 100 percent, and the growing frustration is palpable.
The clip ends abruptly, as did our tape, and we are left to our own conclusions: Was the problem solved by lesson's end? Was it solved with post-lesson practice? Or was it, like so many of the world's problems, never solved...only reconciled with an acknowledgement of limitation and an attitude of toleration. For this concluding sidelines view into an hour of the life of Ben Doyle, click on www.lynnblakegolf.com/Video/Doylelesson3.wmv .
And as you watch, remember: Building a successful Golf Stroke is all about continuous progress toward an attainable objective, not instant perfection. We each have our own limitations -- time and talent are two 'biggies' -- and we should not expect any more of ourselves than we are both willing and able to give.
The good news is that even the most humble expectations can lead to a lifetime of enjoyment as we meet -- each at his own level -- the unending challenge of Golf.
Interesting psychology going on. The student seems to revert back to the swing he showed up with; sort of needing to show Ben and himself: "But look at the ball flight: It is ok, more or less. I just need a small fix. I do not need this. Pleeease!"
In this segment Ben is explaining and informing, the student is absorbing - but not really applying - at least not yet.
I get the feeling the student came to Ben expecting to get his current swing adjusted to make him shoot lower numbers, and did not really expect a lesson on such a fundamental level would be needed to make him a substantially better ballstriker.
I personally spent 10 hours over 3 days with Ben. It was not until the 8th hour he said:
- Thats very negotiable. I can see 24 components. Now we can start upgrading.
I feel Ben is being as brutally honest to this guy as he was to me. Sticking to informing and explaining and trying to keep the student "within bounds" ("- I would start from chipping and work myself up") so that he can focus his attention on absorbing and applying important principles.
Entering "learning mode" is sometimes hard to do. Especially if you start sensing that an idea that you fundamentally believe in is far from the truth.
Many instructors out there does not have the integrity to stick to explaining and informing. I feel Ben does.
Most students out there probably show up at a 1-hour lesson hoping to return from it being able to shoot a score at 75-90% of their handicap.
IN reality I feel it would be more adviseable to take a lessing in order to understand what to look, look, look for. Then spending practice time to absorb and apply, not expecting immediate results.
Originally Posted by Yoda
Though he has good control of his Clubface (Hinge Action as controlled by the Flat Left Wrist), his control of the Clubhead Line-of-Flight (Inclined Plane as controlled by Right Forearm and #3 Pressure Point Tracing) is abysmal.
Great Expectations? Charles Dickens Doesn't Live Here!
Originally Posted by DDL
Aren't your expectations of this student unrealistic? Fixing a lifetime(a rather long one so it looks) of ingrained faults within an hour? OF course I am still downloading as I type this.
I don't recall mentioning any expectations for this student. I merely pointed out his first 'wobbly' point and what had to happen to correct it.
I did mention that "humble expectations" -- that is, rational expectations tempered in reality -- are the key to a lifetime of enjoyment of the Game. I also mentioned the will 'o the wisp of Instant Perfection. Both statements imply the opposite view of the one you have attributed to me.
That said, I have seen many, many students improve instantly and permanently with an improved Head position. Bottom line: It is extremely difficult to get your Hands well forward through Impact with your Head hanging back and down over your right Foot.
I've noticed several of you have slower connections and these are large videos. Due to the time of each segment (approx. 20 minutes) they are going to big now matter how much I compress them. That said, a decision had to be made; do we sacrifice video quality for file size? In this case the answer is no. This is some of the highest quality teaching available. Even so, the video quality is highly compressed and barely CD quality. I appreciate your patience.
If you are curious on "Master level golf" as mentioned 11 minutes 12 seconds into the clip, as I recall Bens definition is:
- Any ball position
- Any hinge action
- Any length (of shot)
For example: put a ball back in the stance, grab an 8-iron, use horizontal hinge and hit it 60 yards.
If you are curious on "Master level golf" as mentioned 11 minutes 12 seconds into the clip, as I recall Bens definition is:
- Any ball position
- Any hinge action
- Any length (of shot)
For example: put a ball back in the stance, grab an 8-iron, use horizontal hinge and hit it 60 yards.
Pretty fun (and humblifying) exercise.
Thanks, Frederick, for Ben's three levels.
And from 3-F-6, the MASTER'S level of execution:
"With and without Wristcock, with and without #3 Accumulator, with any Hinging, with any Plane Line Combination from any Ball Location, Hitting or Swinging, with Right Forearm Takeaway and with a motionless Right Wrist."
That will keep you busy, as it did me the winter and spring of 2004, the year I re-entered the world of...
Re: A Ben Doyle Lesson -- Part III / Ball-Turf...Please
Originally Posted by Yoda
But he is not more capable. Though he has good control of his Clubface (Hinge Action as controlled by the Flat Left Wrist), his control of the Clubhead Line-of-Flight (Inclined Plane as controlled by Right Forearm and #3 Pressure Point Tracing) is abysmal. Even in these powerfully-made full Shots, his sweeping Impact Geometry reveals the truth -- he hits Up through the Ball, not Down, and has no idea how to achieve a true Three-Dimensional Downstroke (Downward, Outward and Forward).
Yoda,
Great to hear your view on the efforts of Ben & the student.
Watching this 3rd video, I think I am starting to see what the student is missing too. He seems to be having issues regarding RFP and extensior action. His right arms (elbow) seems to be so extended through most of the down stroke that it is getting close to a right arm swing. I think this might be a root cause that the student is unaware of.
The power leak may be a compensation to avoid hitting the turf before the ball and/or prematurely closing the clubface.
While Ben is stressing hip action and passive hands. I believe RFP and extensior action might turn on the lightbulb with this student.
This is a great exercise in swing analysis. Please let me know how I am doing.
It is extremely difficult to get your Hands well forward through Impact with your Head hanging back and down over your right Foot.
Very true! And if you can fix this moving off the ball...then the seemingly other endless faults to your current less than ideal pattern starts to disappear. A domino effect. Not to mention relieving the stress off of your right knee and lower back.
Linear Mode
