Lee Trevino
 

Hi, Ted:

Lately, I have become fascinated by the swing of Lee Trevino, primarily because he is reputed to be one of the all-time great ball strikers, and because he figured out a way to whack it hard without going left. I found a copy of the vhs tape Volume 3 of "Lee's Priceless Golf Tips," but there is not enough meat in it to give me a true picture of what's going on. I am wondering if what he does is adaptable to a hitting procedure. And, if what he does could be done with a more neutral grip adn without destroying one's back. Lastly, I wonder if any of the LBG members has a video that could be posted for someone's astute analysis.

Thanks

Channelback

I have a copy of Lee Buck vs. Fat Jack Shell's Wonderful World of Golf on DVD. Lee Buck is the BEST. If someone can tell me how to do it, I'll put some stuff up. I have a dvd player on my 'puter.

I would love to read an analysis with references by Dr. Collards. I'm just on a dirt road when it comes to the internet super-highway. Give me some instructions and I'll put the video up.

Hey Colonel,

Go to www.savefile.com or www.putfile.com, upload er' there.
Failing which, PM me...;)

uh, if that's a commercial copyrighted/protected dvd you are going to have to rip out the video (using special software) and it is likely to be pretty big and probably less than legal to upload it...

-hcw

Moe and Lee
 

When asked who he thought was the best golfer around, Moe Norman said "Trevino" ... justathought.

Obi WunPutt:cool:

Tried it. . . took FOREVER! 2 hours later . . . gave up.

Sorry boys. Must not be in the cards.

perhaps, although there can be an exception for 'fair use' and 'educational purposes'

Ted and Dr. Collards: please tell us about Lee
 

Thanks for trying, bucket.

Channelback

I ain't done yet!

pictures of Lee
 

Annikan might have some pics. He's got pics of everyone. I'd be glad to comment on them, if someone has them. I do love the motion of the Merry Mex. Joe Inman told me once that Lee's sound at impact was unmistakeable and different than most.

Unmistakeable and very MEMORABLE! In 1965 or 66 (yup..roughly 40 years ago)I attended what was then the Ford Thunderbird at Westchester CC. I had passes for the whole week (golf wasn't as popular then as now). I saw Jack, Arnie, Tommy Bolt, Doug Sanders, Homero Blancas, a young Kermit Zarley, Bob Murphy, Sam Snead... a whole slew of guys including Lee Buck. Everyday we got there pretty early and went to the practice tee and then afterwards we tried to stop at the practice tee again... I only saw Lee Buck Trevino hit balls ONCE in person on the practice tee and I have never heard that sound again in my life. I can't recall who won the Ford Thunderbird that year... but I can recall that sound.

In the ensuing years I have been to many other tournaments and watched VJ, Tiger, Daly, Mickelson ...you name it...they don't make that sound.

Lee:

http://asafgolf.free.fr/images/golf/swings/

Birdie Links
 

Thanks for the links, Birdie!

wow
 

Look how many ways to swing a club! :cool:

What's the word . . .
 

THUNDERBIRD

WOW! So Ford and Thunderbird did a joint venture back in the day huh? I wouldn't think that golf patrons would be Thunderbird's target market. I pegged them for something a bit more high-brow like nekkid puddin' wrasslin' or something.

No problem sir Yoda.

freddie swing
 

BTW: the sequence of Freddie Couples is a paste from two differnt "takes." The first picture is does not belong withthe rest of the 'group.' Notice not only the palm tree but the ball location off the front foot.

Stalking Trevino
 

I've studied Trevino to the point of being concerned that he was going to seek restraining order to keep me away--only 1/2 kidding. He illustrates stloc better than any player I've ever seen. His irons on sole heavy, his grip is very passive--always monitoring, his pivot is very active and smooth, and his shaft lean @ impact is very forward. By the way, he is anything but merry.

Thanks, Birdie! And look at that left wrist!
 

Why does he "supinate" (Hogan definition) his left wrist so much?

Human heads in the fridge.
 

I'm with you man! My 10-2-D buddy! So give us more details about your Trevino stalking . . . have you boiled any rabbits in his crib or anything? I have heard he can be less than merry too. I think he's got the best alignments out there.

Leading the witness . . . do you think the shaft lean and stloc could be a result of his grip?

Let's hear some gruesome details man!

Yo Luke!

Got anything?

Another reason God loves Texas
 

West Texas hardpan will do that to ya Channelback.

The only way to make solid contact is to drag or push the leading edge past impact...like a bulldozer y'all. :D

Bagger

I love pic #9 and #10, face on sequence. Wonderful stuff there.

12

After about the fourth day of watching every ball Mr. Trevino struck both on the range and the course, his caddy, Herman grew tired of me and really blasted me. I never uttered a word the entire time. It was kinda of funny, Herman pulled the wrong club on a par three, Lee hit it pure--but long. Lee really let Herman have it, and Herman then gave it to me. He questioned my man-hood, which considering my fixation with his boss was completely understandable. The next day it made the Philadelphia Inquirer, something to the effect that Lee blasted Herman. Bell Atlantic Classic--Senior Tour, Chester Valley CC, around 1993 or so.

Anyway around to his move. He sort of traps his irons and they do sound resonant. His downward stike is unmistakeable. Hitter, swinger, switter, it's hard to say --he's got a alot of elements working. One thing for certain he uses a very heavy wet mop!

Hitter elements:
1- PP#3 on meat of index finger
2- Carry-back on his figure 8 backswing
3- Stable right shoulder @ startdown

Swinger elements:
1- Very soft passive hands
2- Float loading
3- Lots of CF is let go causing some serious throwout to low point.
4- Lots of pivot--though it's delayed.

The Merry Mex
 

Can anybody say "extensor action"?... I knew you could!!!

FO #4, Here’s a Pivot Center Tripod, from one of the best ball strikers that ever lived. How’s this for a cleared Right Hip?

FO #3, Hula Hula.

FO, #7-10, don’t get in the way of that driving right arm. It looks like an exploding piston. Also, his right shoulder is deep enough to make plenty of right arm available.

FO #5 and #9, the left wrist certainly doesn’t look to be as arched at Impact as it was in Start Down.

FO #1, a Hitter starting at Standard Address?? The “middleman” address?? Heaven forbid! (8-3 & 12-1-0, #9-A, Standard)

FO #7-9, right shoulder looks like a “launching pad” to me, from which the right arm can drive. 4-D-1, “Hitters, especially, must learn to straighten the Right Arm without flattening the Right Wrist.” 7-1, “for the Hitter, the Right Triceps become “Active” and execute both Uncocking motions with a firmness that approaches the mandatory rigidity of the Right Wrist.”

FO #10 & #11, Hitters, too, have a swivel.

Can you tell I like it???
=P~ =P~ =P~
I need a bib.

I'm out . . .
 

Tobell,

You are solid my friend. I'm sure Herman would have been cussing me too. I would pimpstrut on hot black tar barefoot to see Lee Buck work his magic. If that's coming out of the closet, well I'm ready to redecorate and start ironing stuff.

Lee Buck's alignments are pure.

What is/was your motion Hitter Swinger Switter?

B

How about #7 and #3 the shaft is bi-secting the Right Forearm. This the Right Forearm Flying Wedge Poster Boy.

12

Don't tell Herman, but I did go both ways. Hit 8 thru putter, swinger Driver thru 7. I tended to l0-2-D the swings, and 10-2-B the hits, and Paul Runyon the putter. I find myself laughing at the dignified TGM terminology for what was in reality found by adrenalin and nicotine sawing thu the haze of nasty hangovers.. Golf was a sport played by men with nasty hangovers and a butt danglin, Palmer, Nicklaus, Trevino, Marr, Bahr, Chi-Chi, they all had butts danglin. Now it’s Nike and Underarmor, I miss the good ole daze.

Still photos do not capture the essence of Lee Buck’s motion. His wonderful figure 8 loop allowed him to deliver what may have been a 4 barrel hit. That straight right arm never appeared to be driven there, it was just all of sudden just there! It was as much pulled by CF, which was enhanced by his loop, as it was pushed by his right triceps.

Coincidentally . . . ole Jimmy Mac is giving his analysis of the Lee Buck motion on the Golf Channel.

Yo Ballstriker Grand Master Flash of Chapter 10! Can you give us the 24 component breakdown on Lee Buck?

his move is very good he liked the strong grip so he could controll it in the wind the only problem what that his face was shut on the downswing so he learned to fade it by pushing it out to the right. his feet are open to his target line he takes it back closed, on the downswing his face is closed say ten degrees so he just shifts his plane slightly more then ten degrees to the right on the downswing and whala a little fade. just remember any grip can work with the proper compensation, and his feet where alligned far enough left then when he shifted his plane to the right is was right where he was looking all along. if he where to line up square to the target and do his same move he would hit it right to right.

'puddin' wrasslin' in a thunderbird
 

Colonel.... the Ford Thunderbird was a car..(and there was probably some nekkid puddin wrassling going on in the early versions of that car, since it was two seater originally)... the top of the plain Ford line.... I think you're referring to that twist top 'wine' that never saw a grape, which I drank a bunch of in high school...now that stuff really goes with nekkid puddin wrasslin.... although, most anything goes with nekkid puddin wrasslin or conversely, enough thunderbird and anything goes...

12,

I'm still laughing at your post. I too would like to see 24 component list for Lee. 10-2-D, 10-7-G, that's all I see when I watch Mr. Buck.

10-2-D and 10-7-G for both Lee Buck and Freddy C. Not bad company. Strong grip and figure 8 swing, or "Strong Double Action" and "The Reverse Loop" for all those home TGMers out there. Would love to see the look on either of their faces when told of their TGM components. The reason Lee is either a swinger or a 4 barrel switter is because you can't exert too much right tricep drive when using a "Reverse Loop" or fore left. He may be 4 barrel switter just before low-point though.

Nothing to do with his swing...he came in to golfsmith (dallas) today where I"m the clubmaker...looked very good, pretty trim...was buying steel shafts for his TM Rescues 19* 23* (DGr300), said graphite wobbled too much when hitting the ground...said he still uses DGs400 steel in his irons...bought a steel shaft for his three wood too, an old Cleveland Quad Pro :smile: I thought that was funny cause he could play anything, of course he doesn't have to do his own club work either, just something he likes...very gracious...I need to bring my 1976 Groove Your Swing My Way to work so he can autograph it...something I noticed..everytime he starts talking about equipment, he takes his stance while talking, still checking those alignments :smile: ...hp

Rummaging In the Discount Barrel With Lee Trevino
 

A moment in time with Lee Trevino. Thanks, Hardpan!

Last summer he was in he was buying shafts/grips to make a young boy, ten or so, that he had with him, some clubs...I asked how his grandson was doing with his golf...whoops...Lee gives me a quick look and pounds his 65yr old chest and says "that's my SON!" ...yes sir...still got the macho e mano :D

Poundin' the 65-Year-Old Chest
 

"It ain't braggin' if you've done it."

-- Jack Nicklaus

I gotta say this:

Inside every old guy...

Is a young guy...

Sayin'...

"What the Hell happened?"

Awesome! I got that Groove Your Swing My Way too. Gotta love a dude that based his swing on some pie plates. Buck Rocks!

I was a young west texas boy turned pro in 1975, Lee was the man...modeled my swing on that figure 8 and it does work, definitely could keep it out of the wind...later went more Ballard, even bought the yellow book in the early 80's but no comprendre at that time...this place is the end of the yellow brick road as far as I'm concerned...hitting it so much better

Trevino
 

Many years ago Lee was doing an outing at our club, which was owned by one of the Casinos in Atlantic City at the time. I walked along and talked with him for several holes, and he can talk. I was doing alot of club repair and refinishing at the time. He was using an old MacGregor 4 wood. I actually had the same model that I had just refinished. We talked about equiptment, and he was showing off his knock down wedge shot. It was a very fun day. At the time I knew nothing about TGM or a good golf swing for that matter.