Where do I start?

[12 piece bucket]

tgmnut,

There is a lot to like in your Total Motion. I am particularly impressed by your ability to maintain your Flat Left Wrist through Impact. Whether acquired through hard work or athletic birthright, it is the reason you play as well as you do.

As I see it, three major stumbling blocks stand between you and your potential. Here they are, along with my recommended cures...

1. The Start Up. Yours is a very 'Handsy' Full Sweep Action (10-22-A) that results in an exaggerated Left Wrist Turn and an Off Plane Clubshaft as you move into the Backstroke. You stated that you have experimented with both the Impact Address and the Standard Address and that you prefer the latter. I suggest you use it to its full advantage by using your Right Forearm -- not your Turning and Cocking Left Wrist -- to move the Clubshaft back along the Plane Line in Start Up. It will be easy because in Standard Address, your Right Forearm and Clubshaft are pointing at very nearly the same spot on the Plane Line. So, think of this initial move as a 'Flat Right Wrist' Takeaway. Practice this diligently with the Right Forearm and Club only. Drill: Position an Impact Bag behind your Right Foot and on the Arc of Approach. Then, hit it with the Club on the Backstroke using your Flat Right Wrist and Forearm to initiate, direct and sustain the action. Do this over and over until your Right Forearm assumes full control of your Start Up. This will put you well down the road to happy times.

2. The downward Bob. I am not nearly so concerned about what is being labeled the 'forward Sway' because you are merely returning to a Centered position. And Tiger has shown us that even the Bob is not exactly a fatal Snare if it is compensated. Nevertheless, your Head is moving way too much. As a result, your Pivot Center is unstable and Centered Arc is in jeopardy. Until you bring this element under control, you will always struggle for consistency.

3. The Looping Plane Shift. You begin your Stroke on the Elbow Plane and then gradually Shift to the Turned Shoulder Plane. So far, so good. But then, at the Top, you Loop to the very steep Squared Shoulder Plane (10-7-F). All this requires a ton of compensation. The cure -- Pivot correction -- will also go a long way toward curing the above-mentioned Bob.

The first step is understanding exactly how the Pivot should work. Here I would reference the On Plane Shoulder Turn combination of 10-13-D. The student must learn to turn his Right Shoulder as Flat back to the Plane as he can -- you do a good job here -- and then to take the Shoulder directly Down Plane toward the Ball (and not back 'out' to where it came from, i.e., its Address position, which is what you do). And this requires the proper Hip Action -- Slide with a Delayed Turn -- to tilt the spine (the Shoulder Turn's Axis) and enable the Hands to take their desired Straight Line (10-23-A) or Angled Line (10-23-B) Delivery Path to the Ball. So, as a first step, you must work on the Pivot Motion itself without the Arms and Club per Photos 9-1-1/12.

Once you have a crystal clear picture of how the Pivot should function and are able to do make that Motion without Arms and Club, you should immediately turn the control back over to the Hands. This is where the 'magic' will happen.

Without a Club, raise your Right Hand to the Top of your Stroke. Then, leaving the Hand turned palm-up to the Plane, bring the Right Forearm down in a 'karate chop' motion through your line-of-sight to the ball. You will find that the Right Shoulder will cooperate beautifully to enable and suppport that Motion. In fact, it would be quite foreign for the Shoulder to go 'out' and still make the Forearm motion I've described.

Not only will this better keep the Clubshaft On Plane, it will also promote Maximum Trigger Delay of the #3 Accumulator. And that means Maximum Distance. Because of the nature of Right Elbow Participation, Swingers will be able to delay that Release a bit longer than Hitters, but with practice, even Hitters can learn to get that Right Elbow 'past the Ball' before Triggering.



From the Top, you will want to Feel the Pivot's Pull of the Arms and Club -- practice Start Down Waggles endlessly -- directly toward the Plane Line. Regarding what 'spot' to Pull toward from the Top, just Pull toward the Plane Line. Since you are always pulling the club lengthwise in the direction it is pointing, and since that direction is changing every split second, the specific point you are Pulling toward is likewise changing. So, just pull toward the Line, and you'll get the job done.

In summary, tgmnut, each of these three items are closely related. Learn to use your Tracing Right Forearm to stay On Plane in Start Up and to guide your Stroke to a Turned Shoulder Plane at the Top. Then, use the Magic of the Right Forearm to deliver the Club Down Plane into Impact on either the Turned Shoulder Plane (Single Shift / 10-7-B) -- probably your most 'comfortable' alternative at this point -- or on your original Elbow Plane (Double Shift / 10-7-C). This focus on Hand-Controlled-Pivot will train your Body to support -- not bully -- the Hands. Finally, work on keeping your Head Stationary. Your reward will be Centered Arc and a new level of consistency.

WOW!!!! Seems like there's a thread out here about FREE STUFF . . . How freakin' good was that? That's like hittin' the lotto.

Boss I latched on to the part about the Right Forearm and the Start Up:

Practice this diligently with the Right Forearm and Club only. Drill: Position an Impact Bag behind your Right Foot and on the Arc of Approach. Then, hit it with the Club on the Backstroke using your Flat Right Wrist and Forearm to initiate, direct and sustain the action. Do this over and over until your Right Forearm assumes full control of your Start Up. This will put you well down the road to happy times.

As far as positioning your bag on the Arc of Approach that would be "inside the plane line" no?

And how about this too . . . . Homer Kelley said that on the Backstroke the Pressure Points were REVERSED right? So one using this drill you would feel the inertia of the Sweetspot in the FINGER-TIPS rather than in #1 and #3 right?

That has been one thing I have focused on anyway . . . feeling the pressure in the finger tips on the way back then feeling it load on #3 as my pivot drags the club downplane establishing the Pressure Point Pressure by overcoming the inertia of the club moving back.

2Legit2Quit? Or just plain QUIT?

This is a post to PRINT and TATOO upon one's body somewheres.

[tgmnut]

Yoda, Bambam, Mike O, 12 Piece,
I don't know how to thank you guys enough. All this feedback is incredible. I do feel like I hit the golf instruction lottery, as 12 Piece said. You're not kidding Denny, that was definitely worth some money. Mike, you're absolutely right, my swing has always been about hitting the ball as far as I can, even when I've tried to force myself to swing more under control. Yoda, I thought last night after watching my swing that I had that loop, but I wasn't sure I was seeing things quite right. Thanks for confirming my suspicion. I was also pretty sure I was lost in that scary nether world of switting, but I've thought that for a while. Mike, thanks for the huge response. I completely overlooked the fact that I was standing up and losing my spine angle. Also, you made me realize something else. I've been an athlete my whole life and I think sometimes I think too much and make things harder than they need to be. One other thing, I am more than willing to give up some of that power I crave if I can get it back and become much more accurate and consistent in the process. I am very driven to get better and I don't really care what it takes right now, I just want to be damn good at this game. I'm going back to the range in the morning and hope to have more video posted by tomorrow night. Thanks again for everything guys!
nut

[Mike O]

Bucket,
OK - we've got TGMnut right where we want him - a few more posts and he won't be able to hit it out of his shadow- why don't you throw in that holding his breath on the backswing would be good- PM me back with our next line of attack- Oh Ya - what time are we playing him next weekend? Wait a minute!? I think I just posted this on the forum instead of sending a PM

[Mike O]

Yoda, Bambam, Mike O, 12 Piece,
I don't know how to thank you guys enough. All this feedback is incredible. I do feel like I hit the golf instruction lottery, as 12 Piece said. You're not kidding Denny, that was definitely worth some money. Mike, you're absolutely right, my swing has always been about hitting the ball as far as I can, even when I've tried to force myself to swing more under control. Yoda, I thought last night after watching my swing that I had that loop, but I wasn't sure I was seeing things quite right. Thanks for confirming my suspicion. I was also pretty sure I was lost in that scary nether world of switting, but I've thought that for a while. Mike, thanks for the huge response. I completely overlooked the fact that I was standing up and losing my spine angle. Also, you made me realize something else. I've been an athlete my whole life and I think sometimes I think too much and make things harder than they need to be. One other thing, I am more than willing to give up some of that power I crave if I can get it back and become much more accurate and consistent in the process. I am very driven to get better and I don't really care what it takes right now, I just want to be damn good at this game. I'm going back to the range in the morning and hope to have more video posted by tomorrow night. Thanks again for everything guys!
nut

Funny - in regards to thinking- I thought before I posted that it was somewhat odd- or not quite the norm - that an athlete such as yourself would be drawn to TGM- normally you guys just do it (No I'm not talking NIKE here!)

Here is my additional advice to your follow-up post. While you might think that - "Hey! All this thinking is just holding back my natural ability- therefore let's not think so much"- nothing could be further from the truth. Although, believe me I understand the feeling. In fact, you may have already gone back and forth on those two philosophys many times in your golfing career. Certainly if you're at a fork in the road and you've got to decide- "Do I go down the left hand road and just use my athletic ability" or "do I go down the right hand road and try to figure out and consciously apply movement concepts to swing a golf club"- You know the left hand road will look the easiest and in fact when you're on it it'll seem the easiest- but then at some point when you don't get better you've got to apply some knowledge- anotherwords you need to get back on that other road. When you start to think and apply knowledge and you don't get any better then after some time on that road you're thinking "This isn't helping - I need to get back on the other road"-The Athlete Road- "why am I mentally and physically "forcing" myself to do this when I'm getting worse or not getting better!" So you switch back over to the athlete non-thinking road. Well you get the picture. In summary- my advice- "struggle my friend!" - Take the road less traveled~!

[tgmnut]

Funny - in regards to thinking- I thought before I posted that it was somewhat odd- or not quite the norm - that an athlete such as yourself would be drawn to TGM- normally you guys just do it (No I'm not talking NIKE here!)

Here is my additional advice to your follow-up post. While you might think that - "Hey! All this thinking is just holding back my natural ability- therefore let's not think so much"- nothing could be further from the truth. Although, believe me I understand the feeling. In fact, you may have already gone back and forth on those two philosophys many times in your golfing career. Certainly if you're at a fork in the road and you've got to decide- "Do I go down the left hand road and just use my athletic ability" or "do I go down the right hand road and try to figure out and consciously apply movement concepts to swing a golf club"- You know the left hand road will look the easiest and in fact when you're on it it'll seem the easiest- but then at some point when you don't get better you've got to apply some knowledge- anotherwords you need to get back on that other road. When you start to think and apply knowledge and you don't get any better then after some time on that road you're thinking "This isn't helping - I need to get back on the other road"-The Athlete Road- "why am I mentally and physically "forcing" myself to do this when I'm getting worse or not getting better!" So you switch back over to the athlete non-thinking road. Well you get the picture. In summary- my advice- "struggle my friend!" - Take the road less traveled~!

That's probably exactly what I needed to hear. I have no problem with thinking things through, I guess I just needed someone to tell me that's what I ought to be doing. By the way, how can you continually post from the trunk of Bucket's car? Seriously though, I will happily take the road less traveled (so you're into poetry, too?) if that is what I must do. Also, I tried to work on some of what you and Yoda said I needed to work on, and I was quite pleased with the results. I should have some new swings up tonight. Thanks for everything!
nut

[birdie_man]

tgmnut don't worry about thinking too much....unless you're looking for pure execution of the habits you already have ingrained....(when PLAYING I mean)...

It's a very hard game if you aren't one of the ones who has "fluked into" "getting it" easily....

Keep with it and it'll lead to good golf long-term...

And/or see a GOOD AI and you will be set.

...

Ppl tell me I think too much...well....that makes me THINK that they should go to....(insert word).

[tgmnut]

Ppl tell me I think too much...well....that makes me THINK that they should go to....(insert word).

I'm pretty sure I can figure that one out. I agree totally. Well, I have some more footage up after trying to heed Yoda's and Mike O's advice. Tell me what you think.
http://www.geocities.com/robmont64/swing3.html

[Yoda]

I'm pretty sure I can figure that one out. I agree totally. Well, I have some more footage up after trying to heed Yoda's and Mike O's advice. Tell me what you think.
http://www.geocities.com/robmont64/swing3.html

tgmnut,

You may be able to feel the difference -- and that's a first step -- but I cannot see any differences yet. Your Start Up looks exactly the same, and so does your Shift to the Squared Shoulder Plane. On closer inspection, you do seem to have decreased the Bob somewhat.

This time 'round, I would also add the following to your Work In Process Checklist:

1. Left Foot Action. In the Down-the-Line view, check the excess Roll to the outer edge of the Left Foot. Note also the weight toward the toes that has your heel 'tapping' and your Balance teetering. The 'turn' on the heel is not so disruptive, but do you really want all that with a mid-iron?

2. Exaggerated Finish. Again, you are a playing a mid-iron here. This is the super-full Finish one would normally see only with the longest Clubs. The 'wraparound' of your Arms has caused your Hands to separate at the Finish -- the heel of your Right Hand has lost contact with the thumb of the Left Hand. Keep that Pressure Point intact throughout the Stroke, and cut that Finish back.

3. Finish Swivel. You have one, but it is extremely delayed. Your Hands are shoulder-high into the Finish before you finally Swivel. Hitting or Swinging, the Swivel should occur as you exit the Follow-Through (with your Right Forearm about parallel to the ground). You exit the Follow-Through with a non-Swiveled Left Forearm and hence, a Bent Left Wrist. So, Swivel sooner.