Homer Kelley talking with Lynn Blake
 

For all those interested in hearing the thoughts and conversations with Homer Kelley.

Tom Tomasello had many conversations with Homer that he recorded - some of them will be available through this website link - http://www.crokergolfsystem.com/Homer_Kelley.htm

In this first release, Homer talks with Lynn Blake for the first time.

Christmas in April!!! Thank you Santa!!!
 

Holy Smoke!!!!! You are my G.O.L.F. Hero!!!! Awesome!!!! This is truly amazing. This is the first time I have had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Kelley. My initial observations would be that the man OWNED this information. You can hear the conviction in his voice. It seems that there is no question he couldn't answer . . . COMPLETELY! The second observation is that he seems to be all about the "possibilities." As long as you adhere to the basic geometry, you can do anything you like.

The book is a truly amazing piece of work, but to actually hear the man himself is unreal. There was obviously WAY WAY more in his mind than what actually made it into print.

Those of you that were fortunate enough to go to the AI Schools and speak on the phone with Mr. Kelley were truly blessed.

I can't wait to hear more. This is exactly the type of stuff that needs to get out. Thank you sir.

A terrific audio clip can't wait to hear the rest of the recordings.
Thanks!!!!

G.o.l.f.
 

For a G.O.L.F. student... you can't get much better than that!!

Fantastic - I guess it takes a little brainwork for all of us to get some of the concepts of the golfing machine. Hinge action - turning, rolling, swivel???:confused: ;)

Hinge Action Versus Swivel Action
 

Hinge Action is the Left Wrist remaining Vertical to one of the Three Basic Planes. Swivel Action (or Wrist Action) is Turning or Rolling away from that Vertical condition.

With Horizontal and Angled Hinge Action, the Vertical Left Wrist appears to Roll through Impact. However, as long as the Wrist remains Vertical, there has been no independent rotation of the Hand (and hence no Swivel).

Well I liked hearing it - of course :)

But at the same time I don't know if it was correct of Peter Croker to put it on the web as it really something that belonged to Lynn and Tom collectively.... just IMO

It was great to hear though....

What a treat that is!

Thank you very much for posting it, I look forward to hearing more!

I loved his response..... "you guys need to get into chapter 2, that's where all this stuff is explained" :)

Homer, this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship...
 

And so it began...

I am amazed that Lynn still sounds the same 25+ years later and how much he knew, before he ever talked to Mr. Kelley. The little yellow book is much easier to read when you have a guide.

Homer Kelley's 'Gin Joint'
 

I love your adapted line from Casablanca, Drew. And I'm sure that after a couple of years of me badgering him with all kinds of questions, Homer could well have uttered Rick's other famous line:

"Of all the gin joints in all the world, you had to walk into mine!"

Really really cool stuff Blade. Thanks a lot.

...

I liked how he always would hold off on recommending anything.....even Double Anchor over Standard Knee Action.....even though he put DAnchor in 12-1 and 12-2 he refused to admit that anything was neccessarily all-out superior all the time.

Very cool stuff.

Must've been fun picking Homer's brain eh Lynn? Wow....

kind of interesting as Homer talks about a passive right arm with swinging during this audio tape...and not promoting a 4 barrel swing.

It's interesting that Tom Tomasello didn't let the commment about a passive right arm stop him or close his mind to the idea of using the right arm for swinging. 4 barrel swinging and the right arm accelerated swinging approach that Tomasello taught are two completely different swinging procedures. For those of you who have perfected what Tomasello taught, I think you know what I mean.

Checkout the Tomasello Letter series...the first video from that series....play the video at the 8 minute and 30 second mark and listen to how Tommy talks about using the right forearm....THE MAGIC OF THE RIGHT FOREARM...

DG

How great is this to listen to!
 

Pretty amazing that this was even recorded all those many years ago. The really great thing about listening to this, is hearing Lynn ask some of the same questions, and even struggle a bit, with some of the same concepts we "current neophytes" face today. I assume Lynn you gave permission for this to be released, and I for one thank you and whoever provided it for sharing with us.

I infer from something Homer says in the audio that he perceived the book to be more of resource for teachers of the swing rather than students. But with the help of websites like this, it has certainly made me (a student) enjoy golf so much more.

Homer the Libertarian
 

No matter how hard one tries to squeeze an answer out of Homer about component variations, he was always very liberal and gave answers such as "its strictly matter of choice, what you like and what it would do for you that goes with the rest of your swing".

This is one of my favourite bits, because it's finally confirmed what I always thought to be true:

LB: What would you say takes the club away?
HK: You can take it away with anything you want to.
LB: As long as you stay on the Plane?
HK: Yeah, as long as you stay On Plane. As long as you have the right Loading Action...Whether you're coming in flat, low or whatever, the only thing that's really required is to stay On Plane and to observe the Plane Line. The Plane Line is really the most important thing.

Yoda,

I'm glad to hear that that you finally "got it".:) I was cheerleading for you durring the conversation. Without you understanding it first, I would be scheduling a tennis match today.

Thank You

Caterpillars, Cocoons and Butterflies
 

You know, it really IS amazing! I don't have the exact date in front of me, but this conversation was recorded 25 years ago next month, and nothing in this system of golf instruction has changed. How many 'methods' have come and gone since? And how many of those few that have survived still profess their original principles and procedures?

I remember the call as if it were yesterday. Tommy Tomasello and I were sitting in the stands behind the practice tee during the Atlanta Golf Classic, enjoying a wonderful spring afternoon watching Gene Littler and Larry Nelson hit balls after their rounds. We had both become students of The Golfing Machine® in 1979 when Bobby Clampett emerged as a world-class player and drew attention to The Book. We got to asking each other questions that neither of us could answer and decided then and there to go call the only person we knew who could: Homer Kelley. So, off we went to Tommy's house. He hooked up his little cassette recorder to the phone in the living room, punched in Homer's number and the rest, as they say, is history.

For the record, I did not authorize the release of the tape, just as I did not authorize the publication of my photograph of Homer Kelley that appeared a couple of years ago in a feature article of Sports Illustrated. Further, I had no knowledge that the tape was being promoted on Peter Croker's new site www.crokergolfsystem.com. But, also for the record, had I been asked, I would have had no objection to it. The Golfing Machine® is so much bigger than any one person, and Homer's genius and words belong to all golfdom, not just to the few who were there. I am humbled to have had the privilege of working with Homer, and I am proud to be playing today least a small part in bringing his work to the forefront of golf instruction.

For his part, Peter Croker is a champion golfer and teacher who is doing a magnificent job communicating TGM concepts around the world. He wrote a note last year inviting me to participate in his U.S. tour and, while we were not able to connect, the groundwork for a future association was laid. Our own Lee Dietrick (ldeit) was and is an integral part of that connection.

And, finally, this third time for the record, the reason Tommy's and my tape (and so much more) have not appeared on this site is that I was advised early on by the current owner of The Golfing Machine, LLC -- first orally and later in writing -- that doing so would be an infringement on the "rights" they alledgedly hold to the name, image and voice of Homer Kelley. Through counsel, I requested documentation of those "rights," but I received none. Nor was my request even acknowledged. Nevertheless, respecting the notice given and not wanting to test those murky waters at this time, I have refrained from any public dissemination of my recordings. Also pursuant to their written order, we no longer sponsor the Homer Kelley Award -- despite the prior approval and participation in the 2004 Award by The Golfing Machine, LLC -- and have removed from the site all threads relating to it, including recognition of its deserved recipient, then 17-year-old Matthew Sluzinski.

Paradigms have shifted . . .
 

I find what Yoda has described above interesting in contrast to one particular portion of the recorded converstation that goes pretty much like this:

HK: I couldn't grasp how the club took the path it did until I built the Inclined Plane. I think ANY instructor should construct himself an Inclined Plane . . . I was going to patent it. But I found out that IF I DIDN'T PATENT IT, NOBODY COULD. THEREFORE IT'S FREE FOR ANYONE TO USE.

Wonderful oral document of TGM teaching - feels like eavesdropping on Socrates and his students!!

So much to agree with comments above - nobody is born with TGM knowledge,everybody needs time to incubate , and patient instructors!

I can not be the only person who got a bit confused trying to replicate the hinge actions, east and west, is there roll or not etc... would it be possible for you, Lynn, to recreate your end of the telephone conversation as you remember trying to move your thumb around to replicate various hinge actions? Great video potential, opportunity for getting dressed up in your early 80's wardrobe and surely can't be treading on any legal toes as it is your memory!!

It woulda been easier if you were facing north lol.....

Ya...Homer threw a bit of a curveball at you by saying south.....I almost had to draw myself a little NESW diagram.

Taking Homer's Advice
 

HK: I couldn't grasp how the club took the path it did until I built the Inclined Plane. I think ANY instructor should construct himself an Inclined Plane . . . I was going to patent it. But I found out that IF I DIDN'T PATENT IT, NOBODY COULD. THEREFORE IT'S FREE FOR ANYONE TO USE.

This struck a chord with me when I listened to the tape. One thing I have learned is if Mr Kelley says something like

"I couldn't grasp how the club took the path it did until I built the Inclined Plane."

He means it is important and you had better sit up and take notice.

I am at home full time looking after my Mother as she goes through the chemotherapy process. I bought in some ply and 2 x 2 to make a full size plane board that I will erect in the garden to train my downswing in-between making cups of tea and meals for her. I am making it along the lines of the one in the book with the hole big enough not to interfere with the path of my hands. Are there any plans for a full size plane board out there that I could use before I start cutting wood? Training in this device has to be way better than just using plane lasers. I will be stuck at home for at least 7 months. My plan is to use this timer to study more and absolutely own my downswing plane through training in the full size plane board. As soon as I heard Mr Kelley mention the plane board . I though it is obvious I should have done this years ago.
Having met Yoda who IMHO knows the book better than anyone. I found the questions he asked showed that was not always the case. This has given me encouragement to keep on at it as knowledge is acquired and earned and Yoda is living proof of that and an example of what can be achieved .

Hue,

Good luck with your Mom. Keep positive thoughts for both of you.

For info on the Plane Board try this link: http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=508

I made mine from some basic plans in Hank Johnson's book "The Three Games of Golf" (I think that was the title?)

Toll Road
 

Right you are, fellows. I remember the poster of a young lad wearing a baseball glove and holding a bat on his shoulder. The caption read: "The greatest experts were once beginners."

I have written before that The Golfing Machine® is a journey whose rigors test all who attempt it. Mastery comes only at a price, and the coin is dedication and persistence. There are no exceptions, including Homer Kelley himself.

I once asked him, "How did you do it, Homer? How was it possible?"

He didn't hesitate:

"The sweat of blood on every page."

Here is a photo of a simple plane board
http://www.golfbetterproductions.com/lie-angle.asp

I would be more interested in creating Homer's indoor plane out of plastic sheeting? You could get the feel of a single plane swing -- the right forearm riding up and down the plane.

Yoda,

I would be very interested to know how good a golfer Homer was. I have no doubts he could demonstrate everything in the book, but did he also enjoy simply playing a round of golf?

RT

Thankyou for posting the link to the audio.

Wonderful listening!!!.

When Lynn Blake asked him about 10-3-E Putt and the

motionless Right Shoulder was his reply that it could be

executed as a "Swing" or "Hit", thereby matching the Full

Stroke Pattern?.

Thankyou again for the audio and a truly exceptional site.

The Golf Academy boys better watch out. There may be more

than a Plane Shift taking place!!!!.

Hit Basics
 

I very much enjoyed the audio and was surprised that apparently many have not listened to others.

My thanks to Peter Croker for keeping me anchored to TGM with the Hit Basics video. I had set the book aside after an initial reading with a feeling of ineptness. The video was found in a used bookstore and I remember his name from the magazine series. There was a connection with his "push the right hand bent" and other drills. His book, Path to Better Golf was, for me, a disappointment and then he resurfaced in the Tomasello tapes. An associate, Martin Green, reveals a TGM foundation in his Push For Perfection video drills.

DRW

Like others, I found this tape very valuable. Yoda, can you remember what the exercise Tom had students do with a glass of water was? Mentioned at the 18 minute mark.

Thanks,
Chris

Getting in Communication for the long term growth of Homer's works
 

To Lynn from Peter Croker

Dear Lynn,
I appreciate all you are doing to take forward Homer's work. Both Paul Hart and I commend you for your persistence in studying all you can from TGM and your clear teachings that have followed.
Tom Tomasello was a dear friend to me and as part of our exchange, he gave me many audio tapes to study and to use in forwarding Homer's work plus many other valuable insights into Homer's works.
From this I have continued my research into "that one swing" Homer eludes to in his preface.
I appreciate that you have Tom Tomasello's videos that I shot downunder in 1989 at Peninsula Country Club, Melbourne, Austtralia. They are a real treasure to me and for you to share them with your members is a great thing.
Also having Lee Deitrick as a Forum Guest Instructor is great to see. Lee is one of the most insightful Golf Instructors I have met and I value his connection to our Croker Golf System as one of my Senior Instructors in the USA.
I am coming to the USA this June/July and this time would love to catch up in person.
I will be with Wedgy Winchester in Seaside, Oregon and also with Charlie Poole and Mark Wanser in Westchester County, NY

Kindest Regards,
Peter Croker

Shaking Hands Across the World
 

Hi Peter,

Thanks for writing. I appreciate your comments and am looking forward to meeting you personally.

As you may know, I will be in Westchester County, NY, the week of the Barclay's Classic, June 5-11. What are your dates there? If you will be there before, during or after, perhaps we can arrange to get together then.

Meanwhile, I wish you all the best with your work and your new site. You deserve it.

Paul Hart
 

I was fortunate enough to meet the legendary Paul Hart at the Henry-Griffitts Super School in Surfer's Paradise, Australia. He and his apprentice, Steve Khatib, were real gentlemen and treated those of us from the U.S. like they'd known us for years. It was a great experience.

If you speak to Paul, please tell him that Ted Fort said, G'day mate. I'd love to spend some additional time with Paul, talking about TGM.

Yoda and I are looking forward to meeting you. I hope it works out at the Barclay's.

DATES in USA
 

Dear Lynn,

I am with Wedgy June 21-27 and with Charlie Poole and Mark Wanser July 7-10. Would love to have you visit with us at either school.
Regards,
Peter

Peter...

Looking forward to your contributions and participation on this site...

I worked for Kelley Miller and Peggy Kirk Bell for 3 1/2 years at Pine Needles as their Head Instructor....They all had great things to say about you...especially "Chico"

Cheers,
David Orr aka annikan skywalker:cool:

More audio with Homer and Tom
 

Homer and Tom Tomasello talking again - I know that some of you find this fascinating and there is another audio file available to download at http://www.crokergolfsystem.com/Homer_Kelley.htm

Putt Minor Basic Stroke
 

The Minor Basic Strokes are usually for the Short Shots only and can be used in combination with the Major Basic Strokes. Most can be employed Hitting or Swinging. Certainly, that is the case with the Putt Minor Basic Stroke.

I downloaded 2 Homer Kelley audio conversations at that web site. Didn't see anything there that was contrary to anything I've learned from Yoda or any other TGM sources.

Edit: I mean anything on that site, of course. The audio tapes are sublime.

Tuti fruiti how sublime! My heart beats jazz time! -Fats Waller

Ted

Paul is back from New Zealand and we have been speaking on a regular basis. I will say G'day for for you when we next chat.

Ted and Lynn

I am hopefull that Paul Hart, Lynn and yourself can all hook up somehow for the benefit of golf

He is just a joy to speak to regarding lots of things including TGM.

FWIW I told Paul the other night that I think the future torch bearer of TGM will involve Lynn.

Ted as a hitter you may be interested to know that Paul and I have agreed to work on me hitting for a 6 mth period initially.

Then longer term to try swinging. Paul said he signed something that said as a TGM AI you should know both swinging and hitting and be able to demonstrate both.

He says once you realise what each of them is all about in your own experience then you wonder what all your questions were really all about.

Ted,

I spoke with Paul Hart last night and he really apreciated your comment when I read it to him.

He would love to catch up again as he very much enjoyed your time together.

Just for the sake of accuracy Steve Khatib is not his apprentice.

Paul
 

Knowing Paul, I would say that would be anyone's loss. He's overly qualified as far as "Mentor status" goes. :) I have a friend in Australia, at one of the finest courses in the world. Maybe we could have an Australian, LBG School. It would be worth it's weight in gold to have Lynn and Paul meet and talk TGM for a few days. :notworthy I'd get writer's cramp. I'm officially putting this on my wish list.

6-h-0
 

Tape 6-H-0 to your forehead.

I wish that all AI's had been required to stick to the same creed. Hitting got lost somewhere.

Great topic gentlemen,
In my limited observation, there seems about a 50-50 split among the tour players I've looked at between dual horizontal and angled hinging (obvoiusly one of the key determiming factors of hitter vs. swinger). An AI better know both.