Originally Posted by KevCarter (Post 87290)

I think you're being too hard on yoursewlf AIR. You have learned a TON in a very short time as evidenced by your post. You are also making steady improvement as evidenced by your handicap.

You can't do it on your own. You need to find another student of TGM in your area to hit balls with, or an AI to watch you once in awhile. I know, easier said than done. I am very lucky Jerry lives in my area...

Chin up Mate, you are doing great, don't stop now!!!:salut:

:golf:

Kevin

Originally Posted by Etzwane (Post 87294)

I'm not qualified at all to speak as an instructor, so I'll speak as another 18 handicaper that tries to get better...

My first reaction is that there's too many items in your list, the task is overwhelming. I'd break that into small bites and focus first on the basic building blocks, basic and acquired motion, tracing the line, right forearm takeaway, dowels. To stay focussed, I'd also recommend that you make precise plans for the drills you want to practice (have a clear picture of what they are and how to check you're doing them correctly).

In addition to getting the correct move, you also need to find *your* feel for the correct move, so I'd would also spend time with mind focus on the hands, on the body movements. Let say "what does the body need to do for me to be able to still trace the planeline after the ball is gone ?" My feel is I need to have the left hip cleared enough to make room, more precisely to have the hips movement blended with the body and arm movement (I guess Rythm). Find your on feel, and try to be precise, maybe write it down so you can come back to it and improve it as you awareness and feel evolves.

If you still have some time on the course or the practice ground, I would turn the basic and acquired motion into chipping and pitching. If you're like me, there would be a handfull of stroke to be shaven from your score with a top notch short game.

Last, if you have a room that can be dedicated to golf, I'd buy a putting map, "almost golf" balls for basic/acquired, and possibly mirrors so that you can look look look.. I wish I could do that.

Originally Posted by airair (Post 87288)

This golf season is soon over here. My two trips to Cuscowilla and Yoda have stopped my decline with regards to my raising hcp. I'm down from 21 to 18. But that still makes me a high handicaper. I need to get even better despite my age (63).

My understanding of TGM has been poor regardless of being a copy machine the last halv year. I still wish for a TGM light to work on. The whole book is too overwhelming and impossible (for me) to consider when hitting a shot.

This winter I need to figure this out for my self.
If anybody wants to give some advice it would be appreciated.

My biggest problems have been steep OTT cut shots.
My random thoughts on what to do are:

- Always keep the Imperatives and Essientials in mind and find a way to do this right.

- The difference between address and impact/impact fix is surely important to work on - combined with a lot of basic and acquired motions.

- Make sure the basic and acquired motions are working before training a lot on the total motions.

- The tracing of the base line with the right forearm /#3 PP is probably something I need to fokus more on.

- The start down waggle and right shoulder on plane on the way down is something I need to work on.

- The freewheeling arms in conjunction with the pivot working from the ground up is a problem area for me I think.

- For the total motion the importance of making the finish swivel and getting a "stylish" finish - arrow thru the ears etc.

- Working on the 12 sections of a golfstroke and putting it together with good balance and rhythm.

- Figuring out how to make CF my friend (as a swinger).

- I know about 12-3-0 which says it all, but I have to find a way to make this work for me without getting lost.

- Learn how to store power and deliver it with the sustained lag we all want..

- Hinge actions..

- And for good measure I'll throw in MacDonald Drills.

- And there's always the putting..

What have I forgot...?

....

Does any of this make sense?

Originally Posted by O.B.Left (Post 87296)

Hey Airair .

Just flew back from Cuscowilla boy my arms are tired. Someone not sure who , maybe you can try to find it , once said that the books geometry could be reduced (via simplification by omission , not such a good thing) to a single statement.

Keep swinging out until your divots point straight.

Originally Posted by airair (Post 87297)

Keep swinging out until your divots point straight. That's the goal alright (and with a lot of compression - and a little draw would be nice).

Originally Posted by O.B.Left (Post 87298)

Compression and a Draw? Nice. Then per 7-2 manipulated hands swinging, as the ball moves back in the stance for the shorter clubs you Rotate your Grip so the face stays aligned to the target. You do this by spinning or rotating the clubs grip in your loosened hands not by rotating your hands anti clockwise. Now from this back in the stance ball position with the Rotated Grip, if you swing along the arc of approach , tracing the straight line plane you will tend towards a draw shot. However the draw tendency is reduced by the increased plane angle. Given horizontal hinging you will nut the thing, total compression with a delofted clubface. If anything the tilted backspin will start the ball at your target line and then bend it slightly left. If you want to bend it more play it further back in the stance and rotate the grip more. You'll have to point your target line sufficiently right of your intended landing area.

For all but a truly vertical plane of motion the club does move OUT as it approaches low point. We keep trying to straighten it out to make it a more linear deal (steering) but the clubhead is swung OUT and DOWN to low point. Imagine a circle laying on a inclined plane.