With all Patrick's hard work, I have a feeling Jerry and I are going to learn a lot of TGM from him!

Our job will be to help Patrick incorporate the appropriate ideas into his stroke. This will be a BLAST!

Kevin

New personal bests thanks to TGM and this fine group!
 

Ok, the good news: first time ever I have had three consecutive
"9's" sub 45 (41, 42, 44). Yesterday was my personal best of 6 pars in a round. Today, I had 7 pars. :)

It was also ok that I had 10 GIR's for the first time in my life. Bad news: I was 3 over for those 10 holes! :crybaby:

I burned lots of edges and did not make any putts over 10'. My chipping game was not strong and I snap hooked (because I tried my HHinge at the wrong place in my stance (made two triple bogies).

How did I do it? I started on the driving range getting my hip back with the marching exercise and using pp# 4 to reverse. Felt very solid with plenty of distance (thanks, Daryl). :) I saw that we were playing our White 9 with 3, 200 + yards shots to the green. So, I tried about 10 EA dominated primary levers. I ripped them straight, dead on line.

What does that mean? I let my left arm be completely limp and traced the base line of the plane (BLP) forever. I brought my left arm to my chin ramrod straight with lots of elbow bend. I kept my head down, except for two holes and extended my elbow to the BLP! Uhmm, no pivot because my left leg is shorter by 1.5 inches than my right and my RFT actually pushes me forward a bit as my hip goes back! (I owe this to insights from my GSEB, John Savage who showed me the "straightness" of the RFT, to Kevin and Jerry who hammered me with RFT, to Daryl and OB, who only give me about one major insight regarding something in TGM daily, and to Yoda's DVD that showed me the yellow stretch band and lifting my left arm up on the DVD.) :salut: :thumleft: :notworthy

I am thankful, and I'm breaking 80 tomorrow one way or another. :rambo: :rambo: :rambo: :super: :super: :angry1:

I had two drive over 280 yards, on purpose! :) I simply lowered my tee ball to only 1/2 inch above the driver! I was 5 yards short of our 535 yard par 5 after my second shot. Missed an eagle chip when it hit the pin (first ever eagle chance) and bounced 10 feet away. The birdie putt fell an inch short. We won $23 which went to my Minnesota beer fund account! :laughing9

Patrick

Sorry,
All I saw was "Minnesota Beer Fund Account."

Wasn't that what he typed? I quoted it:

I thought maybe he was posting to our brothers in Scandinavia again...

Kevin

Living the TGM adventure for fun and profit!
 

I was 1 over after the first hole and 1 over after the fifth hole. One of my opponents, our club champion, had parred the first five holes. He was starting to complain (in a friendly way) about being 4 down after five holes. I was 7 over on the front nine having burnt the edge or popped out of five holes. He was 1 over. I had 4 pars with five GIR's.

I had four more pars and burnt five more edges and hit two pins sending the ball more than 10 feet`away each time. I shot an 86 and our club champ shot a 69! $10 more for the Minnesota Beer Fund!
What made it even more fun was the fact that champ was using Titelist Pro V1's and I was using Nike's cheapest ball, the "Mojo." (24 for $12) if I had made 2 putts of any length, we would've collected $30! :)

I have shot two under my hcp during the last two rounds. :eyes:

It's ok, but I need to overcome one big problem. I am hooking my short irons like crazy and have started to rely on pp #4 sending it straight up on the downswing to keep my line. It was 100 degrees F. here today, and I was carrying my 9 iron over 140 yards!

Patrick

Holy Buckets, City, much more in the beer fund and you'll be hanging around with us for an extra 28 days!
Those distances you are hitting those 9 irons are certainly impressive. We have to talk. You first.

I got it! No kidding. July 26th, 2010!!!
 

So I went back to my first TGM, RFFW, frozen, locked in.

I added EA below plain and bent the elbow. The funny thing is that EA below plain bend s the elbow and unbends the elbow. :whistle:

Here's the amazing thing. Unbending the elbow produces pro trajectory and straight while I'm leaning on the left side. A hip bump sends it further and I can get the same distance and straightness and trajectory by rolling the shoulder up and staying on my left side. :)

I parred the first two holes and I was long with my short irons, 145 yards with my 9 iron. Driver was long and straight on the third hole and then....:crybaby: :crybaby: :crybaby:

I had driven to an uphill position and I stopped leaning because of the hill! I fought the short iron hooks the rest of the day! Chips and putts got me only four more pars...44/45 for an 89. By failing to lean to my left my ball placement was too far forward and my shoulder came around the hip.

To survive the round, I gave up shaft lean with the short irons which defeated the hooks but took out the trajectory and the sharpness of direction. It is amazing how important the down portion of the strike is because of the forward lean and the clearing of the down hip!!!!

The EA applied to chips and putts with the line in the hole is incredibly accurate and trustworthy relating to the BLP!

Thanks guys!

Patrick

Locking up the Left Lean & RFFW for fun and profit!
 

OK, shifting left or simply staying on my left or forward leg allows the right shoulder to come straight down. Coming straight down allows me to hit stright down on the ball and shoot at the middle of the greens without fear of hooking. :)

I have two problems, at least. When I am standing to a shot that is uphill, I forget to lean and get my hip out of my way. I also forget to keep my RFFW intact.

I practiced the hip shift and shoulder down move with RFFW intact a little too much, about 500 balls worth, yesterday. I was 8 over for 12 holes until the back spasms hit producing a disaster. Instead of finishing well, I had to get help to get back in the cart on the last two holes and somehow shot a "91."

The Minnesota Fund was increased, however by $7. Our total is now at $55!

With City's back, Lefty's (Kevin's) elbow and my ailments, we better find a range close to a hospital.
As for the beer fund, nice goin' City. That should get us through an hour or two.

I was 8 over for 12 holes until the back spasms hit producing a disaster. Instead of finishing well, I had to get help to get back in the cart on the last two holes and somehow shot a "91."

The Minnesota Fund was increased, however by $7. Our total is now at $55![/quote]

Impact Fix, hands level, EA, RFT
 

[/quote]

Came down by a front leg post allowing the back shoulder to drop and drive right arm to Both Arms Straight Poisition with Finish Swivel. (The video with Yoda and Rick did it Kevin, Jerry! Frick'n awesome! :) )

Legs are fine but back spasms came at odd times. Spasms cost me a double and two triples on front and two bogies and two triples on back. Shot 92.

Had lunch. Back felt better. Played a 9 hole Stableford with two past club champs (got lots of strokes) and was 2 over for the last 6 holes. :)

Minnesota Beer Fund increased by $44!


Patrick

City,
Thanks for the update. While I was mowing the estate I was wondering if you were able to play today. $44!! You guys play for keeps out there. We're lucky to see $4 change hands around here.
See you Sunday.

Our maximum bet is $20
 

:p The shoulder spasms have been very instructive, Jerry. I had to realize that I couldn't shortcut the biomechanical truths about Alignment G.O.L.F. (The recent film really helped but so does the premium films with Ted Fort and Jeff Hull.)

The plane is the thing. The club must go back on plane using EA and RFT. The pivot must permit the club head to come down on plane. That can only happen if the hips get the heck out of the way, the back shoulder comes down on plane, and EA holds the flying wedges and club face on plane. Planting on the front foot brings the power package intact below the waste and the right forearm extends through the Impact Fix startup, intact, compressing the ball along the chosen target line. :)

Keeping the alignments intact allows for a very slow "pinch" of the ball off the ground holding the ball on course with backspin. I swung within myself hoping to avoid the spasms and taking extra club to shoot to the middle of greens. No moving pieces, except for the pivot, means less chance of spasm city. No pulls, no pushes, just straight shots.

The stroke was so smooth, I only had trouble picking up the tee or breathing after I struck the ball. Getting into the cart was harder than hitting the ball! :eyes:

Chips and pitches loaded with EA hold their line even if the distance is not quite right. :eyes:

The elbow putt method is so smooth that the only question is where will the baseline of the putt be aimed and speed. :laughing1

We are not building a stroke that "peaks" if we get hot. We are building a consistent, intelligent, dependable stroke that doesn't care about the weather or the opponents. It is a bio-mechanically honest and physics-driven stroke that anyone, almost, can do, given the physical tools necessary to work on plane.:snooty:

My foursome, and most of the guys at my course who play in the daily game, have simply not grasped
If they knew TGM existed, after seeing such a display, many would line up for lessons!




Patrick

Mbf +$30
 

Now using this technique with lighter back spasms but looking for a new one (shot 46/46 UGH):


Impact Fix, EA/RFT to Top, Lean left and Throw to Finish via driving pp # 1 and Primary Lever.

No more hooks to middle of green, but I do not really have any power in this technique. It is a very good technique for staying in the middle of fairways and greens so the precision is excellent, but not much power.

On the shorter holes, this is an excellent tq. But as soon as I start searching for power, it is snap hook city. I believe the driving PL disconnects me from the source of my power or I am not keeping my BRW intact. Or, perhaps the driving is just over the top stuff.


When I simply Lean left and use RFT and RF drive, the shots are much more effectively compressed as I hit down more crisply and the ball flies up the mountain then lands softly.
I can "punch down" with my RF (right forearm) while leaning left. It also seems as if that when I really lock out my BRW and drive on my front leg and drive my shoulder down hard, I get the same effect. (Maybe I'm throwing out there, too, but the RW is held so far back that there is nothing to over the top with?) Is that the "underhand throw?"Or, if I maintain the Impact Fix position up the plane and then step and rotate Fix back down, is that "underhand throw?"

How much protection against OTT does a Startup Swivel provide?

Since my right leg is longer then my left by 1.5" + if I maintain my right knee bend throughout RFT and front leg drive, that has to guarantee no OTT? What if I drive my right knee in to Pivot? Wouldn't that send the back shoulder down right away to avoid OTT?

Thoughts?

Patrick

The Mineeeesoota Summit post #1
 

The hotel room I'm staying in has finally got their router working after being here for two days without it.

I have a lot to get to so I'll have to about throwing the hooker out! :laughing9

Get your minds out of the gutter!!!:)

I'm talking about the wonderful work done with me by "the G man" and "KC Masterpiece!"

You see I'm speaking about me. I'have been the hooker of late and managed to get myself in quite a series of compensations which we all know is a bad place.

I arrived in MSP (Minnesota St. Paul) at 10:30am. "the G man," Jerry G, one of the most gracious men in the universe, picked me up at the airport and whisked me away to Greenleaf Country Club where Kevin Carter "KC Masterpiece" helps many, many North woods golfers work with TGM. He is such a good teacher that people are giving him their children for life!:king: That's right! They drive by the club, and get out of the car carrying their children in their arms and beg him to make the young ones into the next Steve Stricker!

At Kevin's club, we got to go down to the "Inner Sanctum" replete with a net, video camera's and lots of multi-colored dowels! Kevin decided to check out my swing and immediately had me flare out both feet to aid my pivot. As he observed my longer right or back leg (+ 1.75"), he pointed out how I was bio-mechanically getting stuck on my right side (the longer leg).
He also observed how far back my ball position was of center.

Kevin was supervising a tournament and Jerry took me to his lovely home to meet the family (beautiful wife Pat amd daughter Jen (and her nice friends) and Henry and Holly, their very cute dogs. You probably don't want to hear about the sumptuous feast we had but you do need to know we watched "Extreme Home Makeover" which was touching and beautiful, and HGTV programs including the "Next Design Star" which allowed us to yell at the TV quite a bit when we saw those terrible designs!

After our fiesta, I went home to practice the major insights Kevin and Jerry had helped me understand! (Try not to laugh Daryl and OB). I did not realize that rolling my hip back put me on plane by moving my back shoulder back!! :crybaby:

One they showed me how easy it was to be on plane, the next real question was what had I been doing? Easy, I had been sliding my hips and not using the "Wild Bill" marching drill. My RFT was funky and I was off plane with it. Once I rolled my back hip back, I was perfectly on plane ON PURPOSE!"

The next question was then logical! How the heck can I consistently come down on plane?

This will be our starting point for the next post.

Goodnight! We golfed a Donald Ross course, today, par 72.8, slope 136 with the excelllent golfer Kevin Sweeny, anothrt TGM adherent who just fished 2nd at his clun championship by one shot and is a very nice guy! I am exhausted!

Pat

don't blame me. Blame KevCarter. He put you on plane and did the smart stuff. I just drove the car and tried to be agreeable.
Mr. Ross got the best of us today, but it sure was fun and the course is nothing if not extraordinary and classic.
There sure were some good looking swings out there today. Cannot wait for tomorrow!

Good stuff Pat.

Kevin knows g.o.l.f., he does great things, I know he has helped my swing and understanding immeasurably. Plus, he is as nice a guy as you will meet. Interesting that guys who follow the good yellow book are as nice as any you will meet in golf. Listen to Lynn's interview with Gothamgolfer for a taste of that. I just purchased an analysis of Steve Elkington's swing from Ben Doyle and he provided hand written, personalized things to focus on for someone he has never met. One thing Homer should be proudest of, how willing those who learned from him are to share with other golfers, often at no personal financial gain.

Thanks very much guys. I am learning as much from you as you are from me. What a great journey!

Kevin

Call me "AMIONTHELEFTY?" (with apologies to H.Melville) MN post # 2
 

"Call me Ishmael. Some years ago - never mind how long precisely - having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world."

Some years ago, never mind how long ago precisely, having only modest resources and no excessively expensive vices (camping and gardening), I thought I would travel about the finely manicured golf courses of the world and challenge myself to enjoy nature and satisfy my competitive urges muted by my football injuries and unfulfilled by the victories I enjoyed in the classroom.

Ahh, Mr. Ross must have giggled in heaven with a cold, sweet, pink lemonade, as he observed the four of us tramping around one of his magnificent courses, The White Bear Yacht Club in the searing heat and humidity. (He might've been really rooting for us, too.)

But I'll wager he had cause to quietly mumble as he witnessed three mere mortals under the excellent tutelage of Mr, Homer Kelly via Mr. Blake and three of his earnest students, Kevin Carter, JerryG, and K.S. hitting tremendously sound shot after shot from the very tips of his magnificent course. Only one of our "Fellowship of the Plane" (sorry J.R.R.) had played there before and yet two of these fine golfers, had they played this course once a month, would be able to shoot very low scores given their awareness of the bio-mechanics and "plane" realities of TGM.

Mr. K.S. came within a few strokes of shooting par and JerryG was not too far behind, even given his advanced age and lack of hair. :) Kevin could not participate with his broken elbow but he was quietly instructing me to the point where I was shooting straight shot after straight shot from the 2nd hole on.


On Monday, before the round on a nearby driving range, we were treated to free balls (normally $7 a basket) by the most excellent Paul and Greg (manager and friends of Kevin and Jerry who seem to know everyone up here).

Within, 10 balls, Kevin had me striking a 150 yard 8 iron with the most predictable high, 10 yard draw. Not satisfied (though I was elated) Kevin told me my ball was too far back in my stance by about 6". Instantly, my ball flight became more penetrating and uhm, straight. I striped the 8 iron, then the 4 iron, again and again, uhm straight. When I missed two in a row, Kevin told me I was getting stuck on my right side (my longer 1.75" back leg).

Now, we all have our own sense of balance. For me, I pretty much have stood on my right leg mostly, for the last 37 years. My right foot is almost 3/4 of a size larger than my left. And when each of my three children learned how to walk, they all walked like John Wayne until I explained to them that they didn't need to since they had no hip injuries. :)

In short, unless Kevin had observed me in a trained fashion, I would never be able to feel my "getting stuck" on my right side. Kevin's advice was simple, "get to your left side." I started out simply turning back to the plane with my hip from Impact Fix and stepping down on my left heel. Driving on my left leg was a little scary (I was new to the sensation and I worried about my balance) though terribly effective.

I followed Kevin's plan though I offered one substitution which was to not drive down on my heel, but simply tilt my front shoulder up. My reasoning was that it was less stressful to my body and the differential of my legs was so great that the slightest tilt would send me forward. That motion allowed me to shoot a straight ball all day on the toughest course I ever played! :notworthy

Now, I am not a long driver or hitter of my longer clubs and K.S. out-drove me by over 70-80 yards each time. Jerry had me by 40- 50 or so, but my ball was straight. Then reality set in. I was so accustomed to playing a draw, that I just kept aiming down the right side of everything! :naughty: I would just stand there like an idiot waiting for the ball to drift left or curl in to the middle. :confused1 I was very dumb. Even when I stopped to think about it, I just kept doing it!

However, this must've been very frustrating to Mr. Ross (in heaven or perhaps very encouraging) because I was still managing to par several of the par 5's owing to the fact that my short irons (where I usually take dead aim) were flying straight! The greens were incredibly fast, and the slopes were only missing dinosaurs and windmills! :( I missed several other pars just because I had no clue as to speed and break. In other words, TGM was helping me hang on while playing a very difficult course and being a short hitter.

"Once more. Say, you are in the country; in some high land of lakes. Take almost any path you please, and ten to one it carries you down in a dale, and leaves you there by a pool in the stream. There is magic in it. Let the most absent- minded of men be plunged in his deepest reveries - stand that man on his legs, set his feet a-going, and he will infallibly lead you to water, if water there be in all that region. Should you ever be athirst in the great American desert, try this experiment, if your caravan happen to be supplied with a metaphysical professor. Yes, as every one knows, meditation and water are wedded for ever. ("Moby Dick" p.2) "

Say you are on a golf course. Take any one you please. There is magic in it. Stand a person on their legs, even artificial ones owned by our brave soldiers, and set their clubs aswinging and they will all will benefit from TGM. Should your golf game be suffering and you be thirsting for insight, get yourself to Lynn Blake or one of his personally trained golfers like Kevin, Jerry or K.S or this forum. As everyone knows, TGM and golf are wedded forever.

More domani!

Patrick

Great story Patrick, thanks. So those birds you saw were really mosquitos?


"Keep it come'n on , keep it......." K. C. and the sunshine band ladies and gentlemen.

"Why I go as a sailor to the sea" MN post # 3 (Sorry Mr. Melville)
 

Though I cannot tell why it was exactly that those stage managers, the Fates, put me down for this shabby part of a whaling voyage, when others were set down for magnificent parts in high tragedies, and short and easy parts in genteel comedies, and jolly parts in farces - though I cannot tell why this was exactly; yet, now that I recall all the circumstances, I think I can see a little into the springs and motives which being cunningly presented to me under various disguises, induced me to set about performing the part I did, besides cajoling me into the delusion that it was a choice resulting from my own unbiased freewill and discriminating judgment. ("Moby Dick" pp. 5-6)


Why did the Fates induce me to come to Minnesota and to trust these two seemingly fine men, Kevin and Gerry, and those they represented (Mssrs. Kelly and Blake), to inspect my mind for golf and my friendship? Would part of my stay and study be tragedy, subtle comedy, or even farce?


By reason of these things, then, the whaling voyage was welcome; the great flood-gates of the wonder-world swung open, and in the wild conceits that swayed me to my purpose, two and two there floated into my inmost soul, endless processions of the whale, and, mid most of them all, one grand hooded phantom, like a snow hill in the air. ("Moby Dick)

My trip was welcome for lots of reasons but chief among all the reasons I had was the Plane and most importantly, my ability to keep all my clubs and swings on the Plane, using all my bio-mechanical abilities and finding the necessary combination of components to stay on Plane.

On my first day, Sunday, Kevin revealed that I was getting lost on my right side, my feet were not flared to allow freer Pivot, my ball position was 6" too far back, my head swayed, and my version of driving the Primary Lever was most likely, Throway.

On Monday, I had an excellent playing lesson on the toughest course I ever played, the Donald Ross designed White Bear Yacht Club. For almost 6 hours, Kevin and Gerry gently but firmly reminded me of my foibles and I was able to observe Gerry and K.S. put on a TGM clinic. All the while Kevin would be explaining to me what I did incorrectly, and ask me how I thought I could achieve the goals of starting at Impact Fix and getting back to that position with a minimum of compensations.

When I messed up on Monday, the mistake was clear. I would get over and stay over my right side. That would cause my head to move, my balance to change and the OTT's (over the tops) to re-appear. If that was my only lesson, the trip would've been worth it.

On Tuesday, though, with Kevin training many of the golfers of the North Central Plains, I was in the capable hands of the fine high-school golf coach, JerryG. Jerry had once been a 2 hcp. and competed in state-wide and regional competitions (with K.S. who could still kick a lot of golfers around, physically and golf skill wise. I'm sure K.S. has a negigible hcp.).

On the first three holes of a new course, I was 9 over. :crybaby: Exhaustion from the first day combined with lesson overload of my tiny brain left me lost. But Jerry had the answer. "Get to your left side and stay there." I had been using the swing key of "Impact Fix, nose on ball, rotate and shoulder up," but it was not resulting in finding my way back to my left side.

I agreed with Jerry in the decision to plant my left heel firmly, to assure getting over on my left side. On the next thirteen holes, I was 8 over! :laughing9 Again, TGM had identified the Plane as the goal, and provided through Jerry, the possible components to use to reach that goal.

I was left with a few questions, though.

Why would a shoulder bump (to replace my left hip bump which I cannot feel) work so well on such a tough course, yet not on a course with a more "Parkland" type layout? Was it just fatigue? Why was I still getting lost on my right side with my drives? On the last two drives I made, I simply pulled the ball 45 degrees to the left having planted on my left heel so strongly.

Again, Jerry had the answer that Kevin had wondered aloud earlier on Monday. "Didn't I need to brace my right knee in?" and today, Jerry actually made me do the old drill of placing a golf ball on the outside of the left foot. :salut:

We played Kevin's Green Haven course, today, from the tips. Lots of slope, long holes, deep rough and uhmm, sand. I was fatigued and forgot on some tee shots to set my right knee brace. (I know this is a response to a left hip bump for normal leg lengths, but my back leg is extra long and I really need to set it on purpose.) Every hole at Green Haven, and I mean every hole :( offers a 2 club elevation to get to the green with bunkers on the front.

In the old days, with my sweeping hook, I ignored bunkers and played around them, in front of them and behind them. Now, though, I could hit straight at the pin! :(

I added one or sometimes even two clubs to my distances. Guess what? The bunkers at Green Haven are really long and deep. As a matter of fact, the elevation of the greens, the length of the bunkers, and the size of the bunkers helped me have the longest day "at the beach" I had ever experienced! :crybaby: That was the bad news.

The good news was that I was no longer playing for the hook/draw and was aiming straight, and hitting straight at the pin! I was also long enough to get into trouble! More "strategerie" needed on the courses and probably a new hot driver and souped up new model three wood, too!


The Drama's Done. Why then here does any one step forth? - Because one did survive the wreck. ("Moby Dick, Epilogue")

The Plane...the Plane...it's the Plane! I have survived my lack of skill and disabilities with the help of this forum and my friends from it and TGM. In a funny way we have all set out to capture our "whale" the golf "Plane," and because of Mr. Blake and Mr. Kelly and TGM, we have all survived and will survive the wreckage of our old swings, to begin a better golfing adventure.

Thanks Kevin, Jerry, K.S. OB, Daryl, Yoda, and Mr. Kelly! We will have more great adventures searching for the Plane in the future!

Patrick

Dude , Mobby Dick this year .............next year you visit Bucket..........Conrad, Heart of Darkness.

"This is the End.......my only friend the End".

"Breakfast"
 

Another view of Bucket......

But as for Queequeg - why, Queequeg sat there among them - at the head of the table, too, it so chanced; as cool as an icicle. To be sure I cannot say much for his breeding. His greatest admirer could not have cordially justified his bringing his harpoon into breakfast with him, and using it there without ceremony; reaching over the table with it, to the imminent jeopardy of many heads, and grappling the beefsteaks towards him. But that was certainly very coolly done by him, and every

Instead of one, two or three harpoons, we have 14.

one knows that in most people's estimation, to do anything coolly is to do it genteelly.

I have never met Bucket, OB, Daryl, of Yoda or.... but they all seem "genteel" in their responses.

We will not speak of all Queequeg's peculiarities here; how he eschewed coffee and hot rolls, and applied his undivided attention to beefsteaks, done rare. Enough, that when breakfast was over he withdrew like the rest into the public room, lighted his tomahawk-pipe, and was sitting there quietly digesting and smoking with his inseparable hat on, when I sallied out for a stroll.


I will not speak of Bucket's peculiarities. I will leave that for others...his undivided attention to drumsticks..with his hat on...does Bucket wear a golfing hat? :golf:

Patrick

"Learning to Use the Harpoons" MN post # 4
 

In our last day in MN, I had a chance to put some of the many things I learned into practice. Gerry let me lose on his local golf course, a par 72, "Emerald Green."

My swing thoughts were a jumble. "Stay on plane, stay left, brace my back right foor, keep my nose or sternum over the ball, lift the front shoulder to come down, plant the front heel, or drive the primary lever."

I shot a 46 on an easy front nine.

"Simplify. Impact Fix, Stay on plane, Nose over the ball." I shot my first 39.

When I met back up with Gerry on the range, he was finishing teaching a junior class. I told him how I was snap hooking my drives and longer clubs. "Trace the baseline of plane with pp # 1 or 3, Delivery Hand Path, Hula-Hula."

235 yard drives or so, down the middle.

I intend to see Yoda personally, some day. What is amazing to me is how insightful three guys are who have spent time being trained by Yoda namely, Kevin Carter, Gerry and K.S.

I'm in TN now visiting my dad and we played a course "Stone Henge" which is a par 72, slope 130, in the foothills of eastern TN. I got stuck in my old habit of bending my long irons and driver to the left. I was using Impact Fix, Hula-Hula and RFT. Shot a 46 on the front side. UGH! :crybaby:

"Impact Fix, HH, RFT, Trace Baseline of the plane, ball off left heel." Shot a 40 missing lots of putts and was 1 under for a four hole stretch!

Guess what my swing thought will be tomorrow? :golfcart:

Thanks guys!

Patrick

"This is the End.......my only friend the End" HULA-HULA for DUMMIES!
 

I really "like" "Heart of Darkness," OB. Your talk of the "end" got me thinking with a club about Hula-Hula and what Jerry and Kevin showed me and Daryl's fine diagrams awhule back of hip movements and Ted Fort and Yoda...anyway....

I stood on the tile floor here at the hotel and set up with my front leg flared out (YEAH BABY!!!!) (KC/JG). I then hula'd and my left foot was flat on the ground and my artificial hip felt strong. So IF,HH,RFT to shoulder,EA and the weight stays inside the edge of my right foot, and I plant my left foot flat and my left hip fires my wedges, shoulders, and right hip through along with the club head, fast!!! Both hips face the target and my thumb is in my left ear!

When I over swing, I get lost on my right side. If I hula and feel the correct mechanics and repeat the hula once my RFT is done, the club rips through and I finished balanced AT THE END.

Impact is not a station. :golf:

Thanks guys!

Patrick

It is just as exciting to see your progress through this blog as it is to experience my own.
Way to go Patrick!
Nudge the carriage.

Foot flared, Hula, RFT/EA to Shoulder, Step through.
 

Easier course today, Rating 69.1 slope 125, 42/39.

The big insight was watching Yoda and Ted Fort going to shoulder level. Foot flare lets me step through and whole right side drives Primary Lever. The more rigid my Impact Fix, the farther the ball goes!

Gerry can still out drive me though, no problem. I have problems still bending my irons a bit right, yet. Ideas?


Pat

Nice job Patrick. I can't wait to see the I finally broke 80 post. I'll bet it's sooner than you think!!!

Kevin

I'm with you Lefty. Heck, he was pretty close at EG last week. Patrick's constant gain in knowledge of this stuff is astounding. I love this thread and look for it every day.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT (well, not really but it is sort of exciting to me).
 

13.8
HCP INDEX
Effective
8/19/2010


I shot my first 40 on my home course, today, with no birdies. And then, because I could, I shot another 40 for my first 80, ever!

In celebration of this event, I am starting the new, Cuscowilla Golf Club Beer Fund (hereafter, CGCBF). CGCBF + $18

How it happened. Thanks to the MN MAFIA (Mother and Father's Instructional Association), KevCarter and JerryG, I was enlightened.

Flare left or front foot
Weight forward ala Yoda
Impact Fix (w/Hula)
Frozen Bent Right Wrist
Nose over ball
RFT
Trace BLP (baseline of the plane)
Step through all the way left (Hips face target powering strike)


My dad is 74 and plays with a hockey-like slap shot. After shooting some pretty low scores with him TN, on some hilly courses I have never seen (86,83), my dad asked me to show him why I had improved so much.

Get a mark about a foot in front of the ball at the target
Flared left foor
Impact Fix (Weight left)
Right forearm on plane
Frozen Bent Right Wrist
RFT
Trace BLP
Step through with left thumb in left ear/hips look parallel to BLP/Target line (Pivot)

With 9 holes to play before getting on the airplane, we decided that he would get a playing lesson (much like I was given by the MN fellas). After 3 hours in the hotel room the night before, and one hour on the range, we had a patterm he could use:

Get target line/BLP
Place Right forearm on plane behind ball
Practice (Hold arms at chest, horiz. check grip, FBRW)
Bend
Trace BLP with RF
Step through (Pivot)

My dad shot one over for the fist three holes before getting sore. He was not use to finishing on his left side. He went back to slapping across the back of the ball. We narrowed his stance a lot! We shortened the trace to waist high! We made the trace very slow and we made the Pivot very slow and smooth.

The remaining seven holes saw my dad hit lots of good shots as he was mostly green side in regulation. He plays from the gold tees, His chips were very good, too. He kept repeating a certain expletive written first by London police (according to the story) after arresting a man who was patronizing a prostitute for unlawful carnal knowledge). The phrase was Un---------believable! I gave him my copy of Alignment I.

I watched the Ted Fort video a lot last night. I used it to remind me of the MN guys instruction.

Get BLP/target line
Left foot flared w/ball at heel club behind ball
Adjust back foot depending on club
Hands mid-body Impact Fix
Rehearse horiz. arms with frozen BRW over ball
Trace BLP to Shoulder (using RF to trace while BRW is frozen)
Pivot (stick thumb in left ear)

I made myself do it every time! I realized in MN, with the guys' help, my alignments were psychologically damaged by constantly drawing/hooking the ball.

Early in the round, I was talking myself out of my line with each practice swing. So I stopped practice swinging! I kept hitting pin high to the right fringe but EA helped my chips get within 3-4 feet each time. I got a mark put my club down behind the ball, froze the BRW at chest level, and traced the RF back and through as I Pivoted.


The elbow putting stroke worked like a charm.

I realized something else, too. I can drive the right arm down it's own angle as the frozen BRW stays out of the way. Now, this might be old stuff for all of you, but I used it for the first time to compress the heck out of a sand wedge. I aimed further ahead of the ball and instead of 70 yards of carry and 10 yards of roll, I carried the ball 100 yards over water.

Is this Aiming Point ahead of my irons how pros make an 8 iron fly 190 yards?

The only two double boogies I made today, came because I drove my ball through the fairways. One drive was almost 280 yards including roll. Time to embrace driving easier holes with a 3 wood or 2 hybrid, or, even cooler, my 4 iron!

Anyway,I can't thank everyone enough for the fun and enjoyment you have helped me get out of this great game! :)

Patrick

Congratulations on your '80'! :occasion:

Cuscowilla Golf Club Beer Fund :laughing9

Hey Daryl, you and James were mentioned w/Yoda and Ted daily in MN.
 

In case you were wondering, we were all speaking about the informative posts (esp. the hip diagrams), and how informative all of your comments are.

Had we found any drink umbrellas, we were coming to Chicago to look for you and then to Toronto, to challenge James to a $2 Nassau, after he got us on the course!


Patrick

Ah, how many drinks had you had, before you found they didnt come with umbrellas?



Cuscowilla is the place you otta be........so they loaded up the beer fund and drove to Oconee.

Lakes that is.

Swimmin pools, indoor drivin ranges, ceegar smoke extractor.


P.S. Id love to play you guys for $2 nassau but there's no way they'd let a Flyers fan on a course up here. Maybe the MN Mafia or the Chi Hawks guy , but ......perhaps if you wore my Borge Salming sweater and posted photos to your face book page and.....

Great going Patrick. That 79 isn't very far off!!!

Kevin

Very glib, OB!
 

Honestly, I did not know that checking the PGA calender was what I should do before going to see the MN Mafia. Next summer, I will better coordinate and see if I can get to Lynn and the boys for a full day within the region. I don't know how people lodge themselves near CGC. I have to figure out what December weather is like there, too. Maybe a Christmas break event or something.

While I like the Flyers, I think their logo is just dumb. I might have to break down and start collecting sweaters from every state I ever visited with a hockey team.

Patrick

That's some good playing Teach. Very impressive. The pros around here are really something. Got to meet Kev someday get a lesson.

I guarantee I would learn more from you my friend! :salut:

Kevin

Naw I can perhaps write about my own experiences but you teaching pros know what works and what doesn't. You guys must think us amateur enthusiasts to be a pain in the rear end most times. Honestly. Hats off to the PGA Teaching pro 's.

Well, I have to insert a qualifier there O.B. I'm thinking the TGMers who are PGA teachers are the ones I take my hat off to. I watch a couple non-TGMers give lessons every week and it seems like a certain amount of smoke, mirrors and hocus pocus instead of structure and process.
I am truely grateful for the teachers and the likes of you and Daryl who so freely give of your time, talents, astute observations and remarkable synthesis of this stuff.
Regards to all.
JerryG

Thanks Jerry. Hope the pros dont roll their eyes too much when D and I post. Honestly there's the guys out on the hill and then there's the guys who dont teach.......Teaching golf is not easy. Ive been playing for 40 years and I still dont know what its all about. Thats why I love this game , this place. I dont expect to ever know this game.

What a weird sport........who invented this game anyways?