Picked it up on Friday and been reading it this weekend.
His theme is Dynamics (Imperatives) over Style (Component Variations) + A mantra of: 4 inch forward of the ball swing bottom (based on his research he is convinced of this measurement)
Or at least this is the way I've understood it so far...
Love the way he organizes the chapters
Starting with putting (Flat Left Wrist) on to Chipping, Pitching, Full Stroke
There is a lot in here.
Great stuff on lag and hitting down on the ball.
Some great anecdotes: Hogan, Snead, Nicklaus
Much of it is pure Doyle
and many ref to Kelley and TGM
If it's marketed well it could be very influential to help publicize TGM
Interesting read so far...
I would not equate dynamics to TGM imperatives. There are only 3 imperatives and Clampett has 5 dynamics. Granted it may appear that way, I beleive he refers to them as essentials. Just like his approach to learning seems to parallel Homer's 12-5 (basic, acquired and full motion). Ben Doyle has a similar approach and I am not sure which came first since it wasn't in the first edition.
The Dynamics
Dynamic #1 - Putting: "The Flat Left Wrist at Impact"
Dynamic #2 - Chipping: "The Forward Swing Bottom"
Dynamic #3 - Pitching: "The Loading of the Club on the Backswing"
Dynamic #4 - Swinging: "Lagging the Load Through the Impact Zone"
Dynamic #5 - Swinging the Club Along a Straight Plane Line Through the Impact Zone.
Learning the 5 Dynamics
1. Putting
2. Chipping
3. Pitching
4. Full Swing
Load, Store, Lag I thought was present extremely well. Including the possible faults associated when lost.
Sustain the Lag...A biggie which I beleive he may be the first to actually provide the insight on how this is done or not done.
The main theme being 'The Impact Zone', 4 inches in front of the ball is low point (divot's deepest point).
Interesting that Clampett advocate a pivot and some wrist cocking on the chip. (granted the cocking is minimum, but this and the pivot is contrary to TGM in the conventional sense. Though in re-reading a number of threads, it might be that this has been mistated regarding the pivot, shoulders on that back stroke and hips on the downstroke seems to be supported)
His approach is to fix the path, then the clubface.
He does give credit to a number of people, but two are done more than the others, TGM(Homer) and Ben Doyle.
His use of swing vision does provide some compellling evidence to back up his positions.
This book is targeted to swingers, thought with some adjustments it could support hitters as well.
His drills are very good. Most focus on the bunker, no ball, then ball. Immediate feedback.
I think it is a keeper and re-reader...This has to be a classic for TGM, in fact I would go so far as to say that it is the only book I have read that does put TGM into English that the average golfer should be able to grasp.
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"In my experience, if you stay with the essentials you WILL build a repeatable swing undoubtedly. If you can master the Imperatives you have a champion" (Vikram).
The reason you can't sustain the lag is because you are so eager to make the club move fast (a reaction to the intent of "hitting it far"). So on a full shot you throw it away too early, which doesn't happen for your short chip. (bts)
Noticed that he never wrote about the right forearm? Also, there is a picture of his setup and he is not even close to having his forearm on plane. Does Doyle not teach this?
Noticed that he never wrote about the right forearm? Also, there is a picture of his setup and he is not even close to having his forearm on plane. Does Doyle not teach this?
You can go to the gallery and see exactly what he teaches. TGM is all about options. Clampett has his forearm on plane at impact as well as anyone.
I would like TGM experts to expound on the aiming point that Clampett emphasizes in the book. I have read the first 3 chapters so far. While I understand that the "thrust" of the proper impact is down/out/thru the inside aft quadrant of the ball, I find that if I direct my eyes to the aim point 4 inches in front of the ball as Clampett shows in his book, I seem to run the risk (when swinging) of failing to completely release accum #3, resulting on occasion in a shank or weak slice. I feel sometimes like I am coming into the back of the ball with the little finger side of my left hand rather than a F/L/V wrist. Hopefully this description makes sense.
Need to experiment with this a little more I guess, we are still on mats where I live which limits divot evaluation anyway.
What about the idea of aim point 4 inches in front of the ball? Yoda?? Ted??
I find that if I direct my eyes to the aim point 4 inches in front of the ball as Clampett shows in his book, I seem to run the risk (when swinging) of failing to completely release accum #3, resulting on occasion in a shank or weak slice. I feel sometimes like I am coming into the back of the ball with the little finger side of my left hand rather than a F/L/V wrist. Hopefully this description makes sense.
Need to experiment with this a little more I guess, we are still on mats where I live which limits divot evaluation anyway.
What about the idea of aim point 4 inches in front of the ball? Yoda?? Ted??
Perhaps after reading the rest of the book Clampett's view on aiming point will make more sense. I think he covers that better at some point in the second half of the book. Clampett basically says that a person has to experiment with aiming point. It is entirely possible that 4 inches in front of the ball is too far for you. Someone like Brad Faxon may do well with an aiming point slightly behind the ball as crazy as that sounds considering how bowed (convex) his left wrist is at impact (at least the photos I've seen).
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"In my experience, if you stay with the essentials you WILL build a repeatable swing undoubtedly. If you can master the Imperatives you have a champion" (Vikram).
The reason you can't sustain the lag is because you are so eager to make the club move fast (a reaction to the intent of "hitting it far"). So on a full shot you throw it away too early, which doesn't happen for your short chip. (bts)
Clampett IMO big thrust regarding the Aiming Point, is to get you to STOP focus on hitting the ball.
Remember the Aiming Point is where you drive the hands too. The hands lead the clubhead. The four inches IMO is where the Low Point of the golf stroke is or should be for max compression and this was done by testing.
From the top of the golf stroke the hands are directed in a straight line to the aiming point. Now this actual Aiming Point can change based on the golfers swing speed and length of golf club used. Though it may seem that Clampett has said 4 inches, this is where the low point is, the Aiming Point may actually differ and thus the reason for the Bunker Drills.
TGM in 6-E-2 states you have to experiment to find your Aiming Point.
TGM doesn't define a Low Point per-se, in TGM states you don't have to take a divot. Clampett also pointed out that divot depth varies by individual, but the deepest point in the Divot, the Low Point, should be 4 inches in front of the ball. Interesting that his ball position places the ball back just about 4 inches from what TGM defines as the Low Point (Left Shoulder/Primary Lever).
Noticed that he never wrote about the right forearm? Also, there is a picture of his setup and he is not even close to having his forearm on plane. Does Doyle not teach this?
I have struggled with this right forearm on plane at set up. If the right forearm is on plane at Impact/Fix Impact, then you move to adjust address, will it still be on the same visual plane? I think not.
Clampett has done wonders IMO to cut through a lot of the Fog, eliminate the 'style' factors and define (some will say copied or redefined) the Essentials, that is what he refers to the Dynamics. He doesn't attempt to even start giving a dot to dot description. The alignments and motions of the Dynamics are pretty much universal for any swing motion. The concepts of Pivot, Building Lag, Storing Lag, Delivering Lag break the golf stroke down in such a fashion that a golfer should be able to apply and he provides simple drills that don't require any fancy expensive high tech junk. The only thing he didn't use was a dowel.
Also I believe, at least for me it takes a number of readings to get all of what is in it. He doesn't use the term to trace the plane, but he does define the golf clubs relationship/alignment throughout the golf motion to the plane line (which he refers to as target line) for example.
He in less than 100 words has explained how the feet, knees and hips function including the effects to the rotational and lateral motion of the pivot.
Yeah, after 2 plus readings and pages of notes, I really find this to be a good INSTRUCTIONAL golf book, I can't say that for the other 400 plus books in my collection, there are few that are my favorites but this one is at front of the pack.
Hybrid Mode
