New to Golfing Machine - Where to start.
 

Hi all.
I am new to the golfing machine and new to this forum. I am planning on attending the schools in February for Level 1 and Level 2. I am trying to get prepared for the school and learn as much about the golfing machine as I can. Where should I start??

I have started to read the book but I am finding it difficult to follow:eyes:

Ask 12b
 

Welcome To The Forum

The 12b I Have In The Title......refers To 12 Piece Bucket

A Member Of This Forum.......just As A Suggestion If I Were Planning For School.........i Would Ask 12b Lots Of Questions....and Go Back And Read His Posts

1 Caveat......bucket Walks To The Beat Of A Different Drummer

But As For Knowledge Of Tgm......he Is The Real Deal...

There Are Many On Here Who Will Help You.....but 12b Is The Place To Begin

Hjack

First Stop
 

You must check out the

GALLERY!

abso
 

gallery is correct..........good call okie

Start with a question?


Look at the chapter and section headings in the book- does anything jump out at you?

The Imperatives? The machine concept of 1-L? How about the preface? Kelley's preface has more golf information in it then most entire golf books?

Why is a flat wrist important?
What is the difference between the physics of the stroke and the geometry of the stroke? How many are there?

what are pressure points?

Besides reading the book- go lightly with it at first. Read past threads and see what interests you and - Ask a question. It is a long and fascinating path

For a TGM for "Dummies" guide- the videos are some of the best in the tgm golf world.

read the book from XIV ..

gettin' ready for a whole new world
 

Having attended and passed both schools you will be attending, all I can say is that you will have a great time and you will learn so much. As far as getting prepared for school 1 I would take time to get a good understanding of the terms located in the "glossary". Most of the 1st day will consist of getting the definitions down. Next I would follow the outline that you will be presented prior to going. As always starting with the outine given in the preface of the book as to how you should follow the chapters and topics. Finally, be prepared for a lot of writting each evening. The questions for the exam will have you writting until your hands bleed! Stay ahead of the game and do as much answering of the questions as you can each day. I promise you will get a great deal of information from the experience. Enjoy!

Lag and Snares.
 

"Lag, the secret of golf".

"Snares", the enemy of golf.

Forgive me, what's a "snare"? Thanks

Read Preface
 

Read the Forward and Preface. The suggested approach to the book is on page x.

I have a copy that I tabbed for easier reading using the lists provided.

You can also look up EdZ and check out his suggestions on how to approach the book.

Congratulations on finding the yellow book. You will be amazed at what you will learn in a very short time. Stick with it.

Also, great suggestion on the gallery. Plenty of information there to help you with the terminology.

Good luck.

Thank you guys for all the help. I will definitely go through the book a few times. The glossary is probably what I need to focus on the most as the terminology is really confusing me right now. I have another question for those that have been through the class: Would you suggest taking both level 1 and level 2 back to back or do you think it would be more beneficial to take level 1 and wait a few months then go to a level 2 class?
Again, thanks for all help!

Back to Back
 

There were a few in my class that attended back to back sessions. It certainly can be done but do expect to become a little brain dead with all the research and reading you'll be doing. School 2 is a balance between classroom and outdoor, so it breaks it up a little. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to going for my GSEM soon. One day I hope to get to the new "swamp" and get to know the people behind the icons. Enjoy the ride!
:golf:

The golfing machine at first can be quite daunting and is certainly not for the myopically minded. The golfing machine really gets you into the correct type of thinking and concepts required to understand the golf stroke and its variations.

To really understand TGM, you must never stop thinking! You must gain the knowledge to really visualise how every part works as a collective in its own intraspective way and their interactions with each other. You must find ways to test yourself and the more that you visualise the clearer and clearer the picture becomes until its crystal clear to where you can just visualise different patterns in your head... this skill is what seperates someone that just quotes and paraphrases the book (often incorrectly) from those that understand it. However that is something that will take a LONG time.

On a side note - if you ever get to that point, it is an unfortunate fact that the more you learn, the more you recieve animosity from others, almost to the point of absurdity which can be really annoying at times but you always have to remind yourself that is because you have something they don't - a clear perception.

Graduate Studies
 

Great insight Matthew. What did Al say about mediocre minds! Question for those neck deep in The Machine: Well, first a qualifier. I have noticed that the more I review a particular topic or element of TGM the more comes to the surface. It seems that my first understanding (which in my arrogance I thought to be complete) was but the tip of the iceberg. This is both disheartening and exciting at the same time, but it leaves me thinking that I will never truly get IT. No doubt I have been able to apply concepts with some success, but as I say from time to time I have just gotta know! So the question for you and others with a keen understanding of this material: What manner of chick has pecked its way out recently? As Homer may have thought you can solve problems starting at the begiining, or starting at the end and working backwards. I would be pleased if you could articulate your latest aha moment? I know that these things can seem private, but tell me anyway! :laughing9 Your posts challenge the status quo in my noggin' Toss us a bone, will ya? I would love to know what Yoda's latest aha moment was! I will write it down and use it as a barometer for my future undertanding.

Weird request? So be it!

matt
 

Matt,

Do you really think that a personal rant is the best thing to give to someone new to TGM?

It seems to me that a newbie would want to learn something fairly simple and concrete like maintaining the tripod, flying wedges, on plane, etc.

Going Deep
 

I'm working on something now that is tying together several major concepts. The various pieces to the puzzle make the presentation somewhat complicated, so it will take a while to put down. Nothing new, just 'more and more precision' in understanding and applying the big ideas.

The post is not appropriate here, but it is important. I'll start a new thread when time permits and invite comment.

:golfcart2:

Hello Well001

I bought the small yellow book 3 years ago and I would have of to ask the same question in this time. This site is a mine. To my opinion it is very difficult to read and to understand the book at once. I would advise to look several times at Lynn's videos and to return to the book from this information. You will improve the understanding of TGM and your own swing at the same time.
Start with:
A Lesson with Yoda - Collin Neeman
Specially lesson 1 This is the base for step by step building a good swing.

From Mechanics to Feel - Lessons with Jeff Hull and Lynn Blake

The Address Routine - Lynn Blake/Ted Fort/Jeff Hull

In the forum the archives topic contains very numerous explanations and responses to frequent asked questions.

TGM is not a "How to" method, but "why do". You are at the beginning of an exciting and gratifying journey to elaborate your own swing.

Hoping this will help.

Thanks, I look forward to it. Sorry...you are right...it is not the right thread is it! :naughty:

Im sorry, Well01- I didn’t realize you were attending the classes to become an AI. I would wait between sessions and continue learning. I understand that no prior knowledge is needed to finish the first part besides reading the book before you go- which in itself is a task-= you picked the right spot to help understand and unlock its mysteries. I don’t think in the system now in place that many GSEBs are meant to understand the whole book in just a few weekends. They are many on this site that have studied TGM even before Yoda exploded on the scene and catapulted Kelley’s knowledge further than we could imagine. I remember when posts were about the locations of the pressure points. Look at the quality of threads and contributors today on this site. We have come a long way.

Some of these long term non- AIs really know their stuff and could easily become an AI but for one reason or another, money or no desire to teach, never attend. Kudos to you for taking the next step but remember – this is a long journey and every time you think you know it- a new word or sentence jumps out of the book and makes you re-think something. That’s the part I like the best about Homer. Good Luck.

And let me add, knowing the book does NOT make you an instructor. Every instructor I meet from the LBG forum knows how to teach and apply Homer's gift to each student. Many of us know the book but are not instructors. Hope you become both Will01.

That wasn't a personal rant - trust me... If I was writing a personal rant, I wouldn't be as sedate.

I think that it extremely benefitial to those that might be motivated to become highly educated in the golf stroke mechanics to know exactly what happens if you achieve your goal of understanding the golf stroke to a very high degree and to expect the unpopularity it brings so that they can expect it. Anytime you know more than someone else and they know it - you generally do recieve nothing but negativity.