TGM is Misunderstood
 

Why does much of the golf world seem to dislike TGM? I have been involved with TGM since the late 80's. The reaction I often get when I mention I am a TGMer is usually not very positive, and sometimes quite negative, unless the person is already involved, then they usually like it very much. Why is this? I think I know.

1) To them... TGM has a cult like appearance, where there is a special language, and even a HANDSHAKE.

2) To them... Many of the TGMers seem to think they have all the answers. They seem to think that TGMers believe that non-TGM golf knowledge is inferior, even though they may have spent years learning golf teaching information and techniques from OTHER sources, many of them proven to produce champions and good players.

There probably are a few other reasons, but that is all I will list.

What can be done to change these perceptions?

Getting Through
 

People mistrust (and even fear) that which they do not understand. That mistrust and fear is exacerbated when the 'redeeming' message is delivered without empathy -- and even with arrogance -- in a language they do not understand.

The mind of a Golfer -- whether Instructor, Student or Performer -- must be won. It cannot be commanded.

How can perceptions be changed?

Adopt the approach of Homer Kelley:

Resolute in Principle...

Strong in Character...

But gentle in Spirit and respectful of his fellow man.

In short...

The Humble Approach.

We just have to keep trying:)

It's because it is right
 

IMHO..... it is because TGM is correct. Most people don't want a)to invest the time and energy into understanding what is required to make an efficient golf stroke and b) given 'a' they don't want to be told they are going in the wrong direction. The book stands as a constant, unchanging reminder that an individual is or isn't doing something correctly. What percentage of people in our society take responsibility for their failure? 100% will take credit for their success.

The book requires a certain intelligence to understand and that intelligence isn't minimal. AND... it requires a lot of time to even begin to master. Not everyone will make that commitment.

Now, as to why so many people think TGM is a cult etc.? Again, imo, that is just the way the VOCAL minority behaves. If something is hard, and requires work.... don't do it, just criticize it. I read a post on GEA where the nut poster actually equated TGM with a religion. You can't argue with people like that, you surely can't reason with them :BangHead: .... just ignore them . (BTW... the same nut challenged Ted to a golf match, for money, and I think he is a 6...and probably a vanity 6... and probably can't hit it 230.) We shouldn't get too sensitive when dealing with people like that.

I'm not sure TGM is misunderstood at all. Those with open minds who try it, and work at it, know it works. They know it is unchanging and that the principles upon which it is based are factually correct. Those who have a vested interest in TGM failing or who are ignorant and prefer to stay that way will criticize it. They will follow the instruction found in golf magazines....I laughed recently, I have a complimentary subscription to one (don't remember which one) and in the last issue there was a world renown instructor telling everyone to use the right hand to control the clubface..... I'm dying to see how many people get messed up on this one.

Ultimately TGM will succeed because it works. Many other well marketed, highly financed products that don't work that well will also succeed, at least financially, and at least for a time. This happens often in service industries. I think people who teach and promote TGM need to be patient and less sensitive. Everytime I see someone who doesn't think TGM isn't correct, I just think "there is another guy I can beat." Now, to be truthful, that isn't always correct, because there are some people so talented that they don't even need instruction to play at a higher level than I'll ever be able to play at.... but most of the time, it's true. Focus on those that want to learn and don't try to convince anyone. Word will spread and people will follow results. The one thing I would recommend is staying away from hostile environments. There is nothing to be gained by arguing with the Stags, Hammers, and george hibbards of the world. You can't change their opinions, they aren't there to have an exchange of intelligent opinion, they're there to fight.

Man prefers to believe what he prefers to be true.
Bacon

TGM is not known in India AT ALL. I ventured out on my own on recommendation from Paul Smith to half way around the world to learn what this little yellow book was all about. I did my GSEB and returned with a much clearer understanding and intention as to what I MUST impart to my students. Having taught for only two years till then, I was noticed by an ametuer while I was teaching a student at the Driving range. A day later he asked me if I could help him as things were not happening with his present coach the way he expected to. Said he had reached a brick wall and had tried everything under the sun but wasnt able to move up the ametuer ranking -26 at the time.

One year later we have a No.1 in the guy and when he looks back at the year passed says" What a trip Sir!! What a trip!!

Thats the power of TGM as far as I am concerned. Many others have come in to the swamp here and all are here to stay. The word is spreading here and who knows!! A TGM summit in India????

Anythings possible.

Vik

And So It Grows...
 

Thanks for sharing this inspirational experience, Vik. Great stuff!

And I like the reference to your own "swamp" in India. It brought a smile to ol' Yoda's face. :)

I'll be there with you Lynn - sometime. Gotta move ahead. Its been an experience on its own - The Forums. Put your brains in your hands is what I tell them (My students), Works wonders for them and me.

Vik

Wow that's cool Vik.....another success story for TGM...

...

Haven't heard many failure stories myself....;)

Again
 

Here we go again. After a TGM student becomes the No.1 golf ametuer in India another one gets second place in the Malaysian Ametuer at 14 under par. Now THATS not too bad going is it. Things are happenning around here people and TGM is coming alive. "I am trying my best Mr. Kelly" Hope you can hear this!!!!

Vik:hello2: :hello2: :hello2: :toothy: :clap: :clap:

For those who think Vikram got lucky by chancing upon a world beater...think again.

His student Chiragh Kumar was no where near the dominant amateur he is now before he met "Sir". Nuff' said :)

Deadly Vik.....a victory for you is a victory for all of us man.

Thanks Compda,

You had the pleasure of meeting Chiragh when he was in Singapore and rubbed some of your vast TGM knowledge into his mind, body and soul. So you're a part of that acheivement too.

Thanks for the compliment Justin. Now lets go and get some more guys into the fray.

Birdie man Thanks for your kind words for our fraternity.

Vik

Congratulations Vikram:occasion: Is it just my ignorance in the past, or are there a lot more youngsters taking the game up in India?I seem to notice more Indian names in amatuer golf these days-are they about to take over like the Koreans have in the LPGA?.If so,you're going to be busy:hello2:

Yes Neil Thank you.

It is busy out here and its only getting better. I see only the "tip of the day teachers" around here and its a pity that only some few will ever get the information that they really really need to become better individuals and better players.TGM has cleared the way for me, otherwise I would have been a card in that pack too. Theres so much conflicting information around that it makes me sick at times the way the game is taught. Less said the better. For me?-I just STUCK to the essentials and imperatives, used the component variations to get my students to where they needed to be in their alignments and I have two pretty good performing players and quite a few who are getting there - slowly but steadily. Its been a lot of hard work both sides but thats the only way to go I guess. I have another imperative that I found most useful and that my freinds is how to talk patience into your pupils.

Yes Neil, we have a few guys up there and lots more to come hopefully. Will need every bit of everyones input and encouragement to get there though and by the looks of it I have all the help I need.

Thanks everyone.

Vik:study: :study: :study:

My perspective
 

As new to the TGM book and theory here's my 2 cents.

My place in the golf world is as a recreational player that strives to improve. I've played for 15 yrs now following all the traditional instruction published in print and broadcast on TV. When I stumbled upon this site I found the depth of discussion fascinating even if it was way over my head. I love technical discussion and exploration so I feel like TGM is a good fit for me. I thinks that's the main difference, some people don't have the paitience or interest to plumb the depths of golf theory that TGM does. TGM is fantastically complex to the fisrt time reader. I think that TGM is best suited to a certain personality type and the golfer at or near single digit handicap.

The similarities to a cult are apparent too. It appears to have an almost mythical figurehead, devout followers, sacred text, the handshake I haven't heard of. Similar to a religion, it attempts to answer all the concievable questions one might have about the subject with an element of faith required to boot. There's a definite sense of superiority in this forum that may be well deserved, I certainly can't suggest anything that's better and it may prove to be the best eventually.

I would not feel comfortable in telling my playing buddies to go and buy the book, they're just not that interested.

To change the perception? I don't know if it can be done without a marquee player flying the TGM flag. It sucks but that's the era we are in. We live in a world of instant gratification, something that you won't find in TGM.
Try and picture an infommercial for TGM.

My opinion is that TGM is best golf instruction manual because it properly details an immensely complex athletic activity. I am truly glad to have found it and this forum.

CW

tgm
 

Well spoken CW.

Hey, who told Millrat about the secret handshake?

Pass the Coolaide so we can make a toast. You have come to the right place.

Seriously, you post has alot to say. Many feel the same way you do. I am a little concerned about the sense of superiority. That can be a turn-off. I believe that the people that post here, however, mean well and will be helpful to all that really want to learn.

humility - I like it Lynn. There are a coule instructors I've seen elsewhere with an absolute deficiency in this regard.

lol secret handshake....

...

The cult stigma is prolly well deserved at times.

Secret Handshake
 

The secret handshake.... yep! I remember when it started during the St. Augustine classes. What a fun and educational time that was. It has forever affected my golf game in a very positive way.

Our Canadian Friend
 

Birdie Man- I'm with you here.
No handshake secrets in my travels but for those that are looking for something more - the Golfing Machine really is the only thing that really plays in a different playground in my mind. In regards to published golf instruction- for us TGM fans- it's a desert out there and then when you do run into this thing- it's like water or a drug! The divergence is so large that it does create a passion, appreciation, fevor, call it whatever you want- so in my mind there is a real catch 22 in that regard - sharing the ideas, and the excitement without allowing yourself to turn people off or become so enamored with it that you don't look at it with a critical eye at times. That Catch 22 for TGM obsessed pupils in unrelated to the era or times- even in the early 80's you had the same issue- and I know Mr. Kelley said and "Never sell the system!"- in the sense of being to aggressive or fanatical- he knew that would only hurt the "system" and I'm sure that he believed in it enough that he knew he didn't need to - In one of the published interviews he said something to the affect that the system would sell itself (with the successes) and if it didn't then there was something wrong with it. Why would people just switch over when they been led down so many other dead ends and this is just another system.

Anyway- I'll rambling incoherently now-:confused1 and covering old ground- but all of these posts here really are very spot on in regards to their criticism and also to the positive comments. Gotta get back to studying the book:read:

I met a PGA professional today. Inevitably, The Golfing Machine was brought up. The pro said, "I don't do TGM". I asked, "why not?". He said because everyone he knew who had a TGM background taught a method. I was quite shocked to say the least. He then named a 'famous' player taught by a 'famous' TGM instructor and said he doesn't like this player's new swing. He then went on to say he doesn't like the way TGM says your elbow must stay on the plane line on the backswing.
:eyes: :confused: :dontknow:
He said he might "do TGM" in the future.

Ha good post Mike.

I didn't know about that....but it really really does make sense. Everything (and as a side note TGM does now too...thank god for it...).

It's true man....it doesn't have an answer for every single thing out there.....but man it answers a lot! It means you can be confident and thorough when talking about the swing....some people could be insulted (lots of ppl complain about being "pooed" on by TGMers...some of the complaints are justified...some are out of anger or frustration), especially if you're too cocky.

Thanks for the info.

Did you kick him in the bag?

;) jkjk

...

Really tho....how many TGM instructors do the "method" deal? (honest question)

It doesn't mean TGM is a bad system....he prolly just doesn't understand it or know a lot about it....I'd say that would be the common reason for not liking it....I just don't know how you can't appreciate the information in this book.

And man....there's lots of PGA pros that teach methods too...

It might not have an answer for everything, but it does give you a perspective.

Here we go again
 

Sure does.

We have a winner in one of my students Chiragh Kumar in the South India Open. I wrote about his performance in the Malaysian Ametuer at 14 under. He cleared the field by seven strokes to win hands down this time. TGM power with some
Clear Keys. W:dance: e will be hearing a lot about this guy in the future I hope?:happy3: Justin (Comdpa) this ones for u.

Victory for us all.

Vik.

Whoa!

7 strokes...

Craziness.

What'd he shoot?

...

EDIT...ah ic in other thread:
http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/forum/s...ead.php?t=3031