different editions

[stilltrying]

With rumour of a 7th edition about, what are some of the differences from earlier editions? What were some of the major changes?

[kmmcnabb]

Great question, I would be very interested in the responses in this area.

[Yoda]

With rumour of a 7th edition about, what are some of the differences from earlier editions? What were some of the major changes?

The character of the book did not change through the editions. Generally, Homer Kelley simply gradually supplied more and more detail about the same things. In particular, Chapters 2, 6, 7 and 10 were expanded tremendously.

Some of this he added because he came to understand that we mere mortals just couldn't 'get it' from the paucity of information originally provided. For example, Sketch 1-L (Basic Golfing Machine) was in the first edition, but it wasn't until the third that the now-familiar 21 points were listed.

Other material made its way in as Homer's Incubator completed its 'idea processing' and gave it to him. In particular, much of the book's 'page growth' over time came as he himself began to differentiate much more clearly between Hitting and Swinging. One concept he was particularly proud of was the "Non-Technical -- Simplified" Three Stage Basic Motion Curriculum. He felt it could stand alone as an introductory teaching methodology and that it would ultimately become more popular than the book.

Then, too, certain things found their way to the cutting room floor. Sometimes due to 'page constraints' as new material muscled its way in -- "Do you know what it costs for an extra page, Lynn!?" -- and sometimes in an effort to resolve certain inconsistencies. This last was particularly true with regards to Hitting and Swinging. In fact, it was the rationale behind the elimination of the multiple Sample Stroke Patterns of the earlier editions and their replacement with the Basic Stroke Patterns (Drive Loading and Drag Loading) in the fourth.

The seventh edition revisions and additions are more of the same. He said this one would be his last. But then again, he also said:

"Never in all the forty years did I feel I was more than a week away from finishing."

[onemomentintime]

so when was the last one published? 1983? are the new owners coming out with another revised edition?