A User-Friendly "The Golfing Machine"????

[BobbySchaeffer]

Wouldn't it be fantastic to still have Homer around and be able to bounce ideas off of him? He never intended or assumed that all the answers for golf were to be found in his landmark book TGM. He would have enjoyed the feedback from all of you, especially the world-class players such as Steve Elkington and the top teachers like Brian and Lynn. I believe it's a disservice to Homer not to continue to GROW what he started with TGM. For example, Homer would have been fascinated with how to amp-up the horsepower of "The Machine" through some of the cutting edge physical training techniques that are now being incorporated by many of the serious competitors. After all, it's not that new graphite shaft in your driver that is your REAL equipment! Perhaps more on this topic at a later date.
The real genius of a Gregg McHatton or a Ben Doyle is being able to take science and words and APPLY it to the student through innovative techniques. Application is the key. The student that "does the work" will find himself improving.
I was hired by my dear friend Sally Kelley to conduct the official TGM seminars in the late 80's and early 90's -- I felt quite honored. I was introduced to TGM as a teenager by the legend, Gregg McHatton, who soon after sent me to Ben Doyle to continue my education -- what a lucky start for a kid, and I am forever grateful to my two mentors. I was fortunate to have competed against some of the finest players in the world, including Els, Lehman, DiMarco, Tiger and countless other top players. What I learned from many of them about the playing of the game was priceless.
I will share with you some of thoughts from a book I'm working on tentatively titled "The P's of Golf". A big chunk of it concerns TGM. Basically (as Ben would say) I have restructured TGM into 3 key areas in which to practice; PIVOT, POWER PACKAGE and PLANE. I find this format more accessible to the layperson which, if they so choose, can lead to deeper study of TGM and other works.
In brief, the student can imagine the PIVOT as "chop off" my head and arms and everything else from the bottom of my feet to the top of my shoulders comprise the pivot components. Included in PIVOT training are various drills and techniques designed to allow the student to build a more more powerful and effective pivot.
The POWER PACKAGE is comprised of the role the arms and hands play in the golf swing. This includes not just the pressure points, arms, educated hands, flying wedges, etc. but specific ways to train and APPLY.
Once the student works with the first 2 P's then we get him to find, and more importantly FEEL the proper plane (in fact, if you work properly with the first two P's the proper plane may just "show up"). Drills and techniques that I have developed, along with insights from my fellow golf professionals follow.
Some of the many other P's that I explore include, but are not limited to, Physical fitness, Psychology, Putting, Power, Planning, Practice, Precision....
I'm not trying to replace TGM, but I am trying to contribute and make it more accessible to Golfdom. I know I don't have all the answers, and never will, but I'll heed Homer's advice to "continue the search!"
I've posted this on various websites looking for feedbsck from ALL of you.
Good golfing,

Bobby Schaeffer

[6bmike]

Sounds like a noble addition to the Homer’s book. I can’t wait to buy a copy. I hope a section on Hip motion will be included. I’m still working on my “Candy Cane Hips.”

I have always wondered why some in the TGM family feel that any book that helps explain the original work is ‘replacing’ the book. Far from it. The Internet has been a boom to Homer Kelley and TGM. Forums devoted to TGM have been the first seed in simplifying and explaining Homers life work and passion. A passion that has been absorbed by many of us. The last two years, especially, have been a wild ride through the Fog!

Go get them Bobby- cut the fog and show the way to the green.

[cjgolf]

Here is some initial feedback from the Land Down Under

most people on golf forums wld love to play better golf and feel the thrill of a crushed drive or 3 or 5 wood and would not have any idea what it wld feel like to have a fireside chat with Homer

I notice a lot of people mention a TGM link then go on to explain or suggest that they can expand, clarify or Inserrt word of your choice here on what Homer really meant etc and they just happen to sell services or products to bring golfers up to speed

Sally Kelley must be a lovely lady

Its great there is a tradition of a teacher passing on a chela to another teacher in the golf tradition you come from as that is a long standing spiritual tradition so thats wonderfull to see

Its great u played against countless top players as it shows u come from a tradition of mixing it with the best

they are my initial thoughts on yr first 2 or 3 paragraphs

regarding the book u are working on:

u mention 3 key areas that begin with P then a number of Ps like (but not limited to) putting, practice, precision - this might be a bit confusing to a lot of yr intened audience

how long have u been working on the book - I only ask this because I know a guy who has been working on a book forever - so my thought wld be set a deadline

a few other thoughts:

humility is a nice quality to have so its nice u are trying to contribute and not replace TGM but just make it more golfdom friendly - thank god as Forums are full of TGM posts that do it to death

we tend to be a bit more down to earth in Australia ( althought I do concede anyone can be marketed to so dont exclude us from yr target audience ) and my feeling is that a lot of Aussies might feel yr post is a bit of self marketing when in fact that may not be your intention at all

your post covers a lot of territory and we are not sure what feedback u are seeking

one of our 14 year old district juniors that I play and practice with sometimes shot 4 under par today for the second day in a row and I just scratch my head when I see how he mixes his patterns

it does make u wonder what this kid could really do if he really knew what was going on

he was really excited about it and could not wait to tell me and anyone else who wld listen - good on the kid I say

sorry if I didn't really answer yr post and got off topic as I was not really sure how we cld assist u

please feel free to post any further questions u may have

PS:

i just had a thought - u have a number of videos out which seem to cover a lot of the ground u cover in yr post

in this modern age of CDs, DVDs etc why not just package them together and sell them as a set - total hard cost wld be maybe $10 and they cld be retailed at $?

I have a number of ideas with respect to this

please PM me if u wld like to discuss how this might best be achieved