Okay, This Stuff Works. Period.
 

Finally, finally, finally got dowels+a hinge assembly this winter.

Followed LB's instructions on hinges.

And Right Forearm Pick Up.

And PP#3.

Couldn't swing a club due to torn elbow tendon.

Finally started hitting little chips 2 months ago.

Felt the club load onto PP#3.

Hit down.

Fat. Fat. Fat.

Back to the book.

Fog lifted - didn't have my left thumb down aft side of club.

Adjusted grip.

Started taking truer divots on 2 ft chips then I ever did with a full swing.

Experimented with hinges (well, to the best of my understanding).

Angled hinge - chips were a bit higher, softer.

Horizontal hinge - chips were a bit lower, flatter trajectory.

And almost every chip had a distinctive sound and feel.

Played yesterday for the first time in 3 yrs.

Went 44 on the front/44 on the back.

Not a world class course, but fairly legit - 6500 yds/126 slope.

And was off my career best by 7 strokes.

Now I have to figure out the other 98% of the book I don't understand.

But once the fog lifts enough to see and hear a true, 3D golf stroke - you have confidence you can keep fog lifting.

Thanks for all the hard work you've put in Lynn, much appreciated.

Mr. Passage,
Read the above.

How did you putt?
 

Set your anchors push your elbow against your motionless head like it was a wall!

Your misses will be within inches, if you miss! Same techniqe for chips and pitches. Experiment with heavy EA within 150 yards esp." target practice " under trees, over bunkers. AIM AT THE PIN!!!!

Enjoy!

ICT

Putting...the other game.
 

Hey ICT~

Hadn't touched a putter in years either.

No clue what I was doing, haha.

Until 5 mins before we teed off and I thought, 'Wonder what would happen if I monitored PP#3 for putting as well...'.

I set the ball just slightly to the toe of the putter, felt PP#3 on the backstroke and hit 5 of the purest feeling putts I ever hit.

Couldn't take it to the course quite so quickly - I missed 5 par putts from within 10 feet, most of them short cuz I was scared to blast them past the hole with my newfound Hulk like PP#3 induced stroke.

If you're game, would love to hear more on

And...

Is EA extensor action? Haven't dialed that in yet, am kind of stumbling through fog lifting. So much of TGM is still a mystery to me, I'm kind of getting by on the few things I can figure out.

I know I'm a swinger, and I use a 10-2-B grip.

Funny thing is, I can't hit it out of my shadow, haha.

I used to be long'ish - okay, wild and always O.B., but long'ish.

The new swing is just so compact - I push back against PP#3 and somehow the backswing finds its natural stopping place, then I aim at inside aft quadrant, and try to drive to the low point.

I was so surprised I kept hitting the ball so solidly - short, but solidly. On one approach I had 110 to the pin. Hit a SW right on line, came up 10 yds short.

Plunked a ball down for fun and decided to 'go after it'.

Completely chunked it. Downswing black out.

Put another ball down, just made my typical compact, somehow feels like its on auto backswing, drove PP#3 to the inside and bingo - put the ball within 4 yds of the original one.

Lesson learned. I'll work on power later, for now I can't tell you how happy I am to be playing again - with half a clue.

Peace, thanks.

HoganFan, If you are thinking you are short, try a little more forward shaft lean through the ball. More downward pressure on the shaft and you will get some more distance.

Thanks JerryG...
 

Appreciate the suggestion!

Can I ask how you feel that's best accomplished?

Left thumb aft of the shaft.
Level left wrist.
Bent right wrist.
Flying wedges are set.
Go to it.

I just read what I wrote and it seems so curt.
Sorry.
Do some basic motion without a ball at first. Feel the shaft loading into pp#3 in the back swing.
Push pp#1 forward and hopefully you will feel a little more loading into #3. That is quite a bit of forward shaft lean.
A lot of basic motion will help instill that feeling so you can carry it into acquired motion and then full motion.
As a newly converted hitter, I hate the term "swing."
Good luck. And if you have any questions, do not go see your PGA pro unless he has GSE? behind his/her name.

No worries!
 

Jerry, curt is the uncomplicated poetry of TGM - pretty sure Homer himself would give you a thumbs up for keeping it concise and accurate.

So thanks for that - I wasn't trying to be coy, I actually get that with TGM less is more. Like the swing, Homer found a language that made the most impact, with the fewest moving parts.

And thanks for the exposition on your points - most of TGM is way beyond me. So a extra verbiage goes along way to fog lifting for me. But I'm amazed at how profound a change the little I have figured out, has made to my game.

I hear you brother. I can't even watch playing lessons with the pros on the golf channel anymore unless I turn the volume off. I watch just to see beautiful, efficient motions.

Last face to face instruction I had was at cracker barrel with Lynn+Ted over a short stack. That was...5 years ago?

Now its me, this forum and a stack of balls chipping to a hole 35 yds away. My warm up used to be an hour of pointless / uninformed ball smashing hoping something good would happen.

Now, once I hit a few solid chips, feel the ball melt, compress then fly off the clubface - I know I'm on the right track. Well, at least a 'more right' track.

Sorry to run on, thanks again for taking a moment to help.

Dana

Hi Jerry, could you explain the term 'Left thumb aft of the shaft.' for me please - many thanks Tim

When we begin, too many of us are told to put our left thumb down the top of the shaft at 12:00. In the Book it says "aft of the shaft." Yoda stated "aft of the shaft." Aft of the Shaft works for me.
Aft of the shaft would be for you to find that spot to the right of 12:00 on the grip. Personally, I think mine is pretty much at 2:30-3:00. Then pp#1 and 3 line up right behind the shaft as they should.

I can be a bit doltish. Go to The Book and find Strong Single Action grip. I think that is the best place to start.

Dead onto the Longitudinal Center of Gravity of the Club. Sense the Sweetspot.

My Thumb is aboutish 2:35 pm and my #3 PP against the Top Knuckle is aboutish 2:27 pm. :laughing9 (I don't have a clue)..

thanks for the reply Jerry, i was hoping 'aft of the shaft' for the left thumb was as you describe. It is a great start for me as it is the only place my thumb wants to go & i'm delighted to hear for the first time that it is ok !

''I can be a bit doltish. Go to The Book and find Strong Single Action grip. I think that is the best place to start.''

I'm new to the whole deal, would you tell me where i can access 'The Book' - thanks

Daryl,

You remind me of Socrates. Not the Brazilian football player. The other guy. :salut:

as i attempt to get to grips with TGM i'm currently concentrating on the following...

an on-plane right forearm;
delivering a flat left wrist & loaded right hand pressure points;
through the inside aft quadrant of the ball;
to the both arms straight position

i would be grateful if anyone had time to comment on the likey usefulness or otherwise of this focus and/or suggest a different one

TIA

Tim, check our thread in the "Bag Room."
 

Hit off of grass OK?
Your # 3 PP cannot stray too far from your back elbow. :)
Think about it.

Watch Lynn's videos (all of them, tonight, while drinking beer or your choice of a meditative, highly reflective substance. Watch everyone's elbow! If your married, watch your wife's elbow!

If you are single take a club into a bar/pub and find a hot girl. Tell her you need her to help understand your golf swing. You are capable of handling this I trust! Whether she helps you or not, loudly proclaim your need a a female golfer's elbow!

Make a list of all the girls you meet and, if they are cute, PM me!!!! :laughing9

Ok, I get a little carried away, sometimes. It's part of my charm.

Seriously though, watch Lynn! He's very good at this stuff,

If you are a swinger, you must Hula/shift your hip at the downswing. YOUR BACK ELBOW WILL FIRE your vertically uncocking wrist DOWN and you will crush the ball through the ground.

As a hitter, start with the Hula shift. Use a little Extensor action and pull your left arm with right forearm takeaway to shoulder lever. FEEL THE LAG! LOVE THE LAG! ALLOW THE LAG PRESSURE TO SNUGGLE (A TECHNICAL TERM) INTO # 3 PP. AND WHILE YOU ARE FEELING THE LAG SETTLE INTO YOUR TRIGGER, DRIVE YOUR RIGHT ELBOW AND FOREARM STRAi GHT INTO YOUR BALL! The more ball you hit, the less you'll feel the impact!

Get the lady you met at the bar to tell you what she thinks of your shot! Have her put a few tees into the ground, WORK IT! :laughing9

Let us know how you, uhmmm, "made-out!" I love Win mcMurray. Did I mention that! :laughing9

ICT

I'm thinking City should invite Ms. McMurray to join this little band.

Thanks fella, i'll give this full attention later. With a quick swing here in the living room i think there is good improvement possible with some of the work on the hips that you suggest. I'm playing in an hour, so will see what occurs.

Playing in an hour? With the present 8-12" of partly cloudy collecting on the ground here in Minnesota I think our next round will be April.
Off to the dungeon for Basic Motion.

ICT
I've got a bunch of work to do, i realise i don't know what my hips should be doing for a start - i'll ask when i've worked out a bit more.

i think i've been basically a swinger but i was hitting today & i'm excited by what happened (2 weeks after making a start on TGM) i hit more well struck shots today than i ever have in a round of golf. The two good players i played with both commented on the improved ball striking & extension through the ball.

bring it on ! :-)

i get your point about the elbow - i'll experiment tomorrow - yep, sorry Jerry i get to play tomorrow too

[quote] The more ball you hit, the less you'll feel the impact![quote]

This is so true. There have been shots where I thought for sure I'd simply chunked it. Just felt like a divot with no "hit". However, the rifle shot sound and ball flight told me it was the compression that I was seeking.