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Why Can"t People Just Have Discipline???
Well currently I am an Assistant Golf Pro in Nashville Tennessee. I have a lot of talent when it comes to playing and I feel like I can teach pretty well also. But the way I became dangerous as a player was through a better understanding of what needs to happen and a even greater discipline on doing things the right way.
When I started TGM I hit basic motion shots for hours every day, and I still do when given the chance. Now I am teaching people what I have learned and, well they seem to believe that hitting 10 basic motion shots in a lifetime will be enough. Most of the time they still aren't doing it correct. My head just wants to explode half of the time. How do you other teachers put up will the egos that show up on the range? It seems that everyone just wants a instant fix. I would love to hear how you guys do it. |
reading people
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Everyone's different. But, I strive to truly know my students. If our goals are the same, then no one is disappointed. I think that everyone that takes lessons from me knows that I care about them, I want them to get better, and I take as much delight in their success as they do. There are those that want a "tip" to hit it better in the Club Championship which, by the way, starts tomorrow. And, there are those that understand that it will take time and effort to make a substantial change. If I had a dime for everyone that said, "I don't want to change my swing. But, I sure would like to play better.", I could retire. I am brutally honest with those that don't listen to my advice about proper practice. I tell them that they are welcome to stay vested in MY retirement plan. They are more than welcome to keep coming every week, wasting money, just to listen to me talk. Or, they can take my advice and reap the benefits. Usually, they choose the latter. |
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How I start out teaching a lesson.
After the student understands some basic things such as: Low Point, Inside out impact, Flat Left Wrist, Cocking and Uncocking of the left wrist, Bending right wrist, Turning and Rolling, Plane line, and Impact Alingements (that sounds like a lot, but everyone seems to understand it pretty easy) After I cover these topics I will try and go into some Basic Motion Shots
Basic Motion- Slow Smooth motion up-and-back, down-and-out and up-and-in the same distance in both directions. (two feet back, two feet through) No adjustments because of or for impact. Monitor flat left wrist, and bent right wrist, ball then grass (small divot) Then I have to explain that we are not throwing the clubhead, just move your hands the correct way and everything happens the right way. That is most of it. Maybe I talk about to many things. :rolleyes: |
A Full Box of Band Aids
Basic Motion changed everything in my golf strokes these past few months. I had little time to play any golf but lots of practice both basic and acquired motions on the carpets at work and my backyard. I had nothing to lose. From Chipping to Pitching- Flying wedges, Hinge Motions, RFT, 7-3, Hand actions, Elbow positions, accumulators and pressure points, rhythm, on and on- it was the best thing to happen to my G.O.L.F. education. The Yoda-Hull vids, the Colleen Neeman series, and some others vids were a great help. I know doing basic/acquired motions are not sexy to teach and some rip it every chance they get but my band-aid box is full. My hands never use them.
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Too much space...
I think that trying to teach basic motion on a range 300 yards long makes it harder... most of us will hit to within the limits of the surroundings... put a 50 foot high wall 20 feet in front of the player and see how many want to hit full shots into that...rebounds flying head high certainly makes one concentrate on 2 feet back 2 feet through.:)
Better still, use their most expensive balls 20 feet in front of a deep lake.... they are not going to want to get anywhere near acquired motion ... may not hit through enough though.... |
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Yes, yourself and Yoda are great teachers, but are higher handicap players tough to teach for you guys? Or even worse how about the guys who think they can really play, but the only course they can play is there home course? Preaching to the choir is the feeling that I seem to get a lot of the time. Such a thing like Basic Motion seems so easy to me, yet these people seem like they have a better chance of winning the powerball, than preforming a great Basic Motion stroke five times consecutively. |
Sponges
A teacher can only point the way- the student needs to grab the reins.
Basic Motion is so easy, yet... do it, study it and everything will crystallize. It ain't a waggle- it's a motion. Ben Doyle's chip, pitch and Punch starts every session. That's Basic, Acquired and a Punch. I have seen AI's work with Pros or advanced players who listen with half an ear, providing nothing back to the instructor, just hoping to get a tip or a position change. I have seen Lynn work with a tour guy that might just be one of his best students- not because of ability but for his sponge- like qualities. |
his significant other
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I thought I had the answer, when I asked a guy to imagine his girlfriend was sitting a couple of feet in front of him. I said, "hit the ball to her." Then, he must have hit the PW 175 yards. I said, "You just killed her!" He chuckled and said, "yeah!" :evil: Something tells me they're no longer together. |
enjoying everyone
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I've had two guys that have given me updates in the last few months that have broken into the 70's. Each of them began with me a few years ago, and both were shooting in the 120's before we met. I would consider both of them to be very good students/listeners. They followed our plan for improvement (Basic Motion/Acquired Motion/Total Motion ) precisely. A couple of weeks ago, I gave a private school to two guys in West Palm Beach. One was 87 years old, and he was terribly depressed. He couldn't play with his buddies anymore, because his game had really deteriorated. I just spoke to his son-in-law today. And, he has been playing often, with better results than he's had in years. In fact, he beat his son-in-law who's more than a few decades younger. The ones that think they can play (dressed like a Tour player and can't break 90) are always entertaining. If they truly want change, they're just as willing to do the work. If they just want the look, anyone can buy a Polo and a staff bag. The Tour players are easy. They can do anything that you ask. |
I like this thread, as I am a "hacker" who struggles with my game, and have had a bunch of conventional instruction with very little improvement. It's interesting to hear instructors talk about the frustration from their side.
I would gladly do hours of basic motion, but I am never completely sure if I am doing it correctly. how can I be sure that I am? Secondly, I haven't completely grasped the relationship between basic motion (back two feet, forward two feet) and the other aspects of TGM, that being the up and down (out and forward) of the acquired and total motion. I have watched the LB/JH videos, and that has been somewhat helpful, but I seem to have a pretty thick coconut. How do I build on the lessons of basic motion to improve the full swing? Thanks. |
Wow
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That is the funniest thing I have read in forever!! I also love teaching the good player who just wants to know more and more. If someone comes to you and has never heard about TGM, how deep would you take them in your first lesson? Do you teach everyone speaking about TGM and using the terms after a full explanation? Maybe since you are known for this style it is easier for you. I wish my students were living breathing and eating TGM. That would be so much fun!! |
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Watch Jeff Hull and Lynn in the video section, and you should pick it up. I just don’t see how a guy can hit a total motion eight iron somewhat decent, but try to get some good quality basic motion out of him and look out, FLIP! SCOOP! FLENCH! SKULL! CHUNK! It is like forget this let me keep fighting club head throwaway. |
Do y'all think that the Flat Left Wrist in the Basic Motion is the SAME Flat Left Wrist in Total Motion? This question is more geared toward the Swinger. The Hitter basically maintains the Impact Alignments in his Hands regardless of the length of the motion . . . The Swinger however has MUCH MORE going on as the motion gets longer.
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Maybe it is the quality of the student or could be more likely the instructor! But I am always trying to get them on the road to great golf. |
nd,
Thanks. Flench? I might be guilty of that. Chances are your student that can hit a decent 8 iron doesn't know what throwaway is. The terms, terminology and essential truth are what appeals to me about TGM. I am just struggling to implement. Drewit, we're going to spend some time together this summer! (did you just flench when you read that?) |
concepts always, terms seldom
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Thank you so much for sharing a little bit about how you go about teaching. It is so nice to see such a great instructor helping out. This may lead to better teaching from me as I continue. I am going to be heading back down to the swamp either later in the spring or early summer. I sure hope to meet you this next trip. |
Thought I would share my struggles in golf with you guys and see what you thought.
Basically, I struggle with this myself. I live hours from my golf pro and can only get down to see him every 3-4 months. I struggled for a long while with my practice, not really understanding the concept of discipline. I had to work out some way so that I could see the transition from basic to acquired motion. To be disciplined I came up with this system I only take 5 balls with me. Basically, 1 shortest basic motion 2 longer basic motion 3 1/4 swing acquired motion I have to hit 2 perfect shots from each of the chip shots... all 4 chips have to be perfect before I allow myself to attempt the acquired motion. If I screw a chip up I miss out on getting to hit the acquired motion. I like this because I can see the progression from that basic motion and its alignments to the acquired motion. When I go to a range I do the same thing but put balls in groups of 7's and hit 2 perfect acquired motions before trying a full shot. I have come to view basic and acquired motion as productive practice and wailing balls in my net as just exercise. Its the only way I could discipline myself to persist with the basic motion because I could see the connectedness. |
Nashville
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Your heading in the right direstion
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Mini clinic in Nashville?
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No handicap ATM. I only get to play 9 about once every 2 weeks, but I play consistant bogey golf now. A huge drop. A year ago I could not break 100. Bogey golf is not too bad when you do not get off the T well. Yesterday I played 9 - 3 bogeys, 3 doubles, and 3 pars. Only hit 2 fairways with my driver, so after taking my medicine, the bogeys were not too bad. At least I can chip! Oh, Cobra SS427, 10.5 loft, Reg flex. Been thinking of doing some basic motion with my driver to improve my hand action (into a net), but the ground around here is all dry and I don't want to ruin my driver. |
Bring your clubs
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Very interesting stuff. My guess is you pull and slice with the driver? It is entirely possible that you do not have the mechanical break-down until you get to the driver. For me, as a 3 handicap, I can be hitting everything great but I have a tendency to go over the top with the longer clubs and when my timing isn't so great I hit some big pulls and slices. For me it's just a matter of getting better at getting my right shoulder working down-plane in the downswing and hitting a lot of basic motion shots will not help a lot with that. But the basic and acquired motion will undoubtedly help a lot with a host of other issues.
By the way, do you have enough loft on the driver? Do you maybe have to scoop to get it high enough in the air? Matt Quote:
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I think the cobras actually play a bit higher than they list on the face. I think this is the case with me. I don't feel like I am using the same release with my driver as I do with my good iron shots. Not necessarily scoop but an unnecessary flip to close the clubface or sweep to close the clubface. Yesterday I started doing basic motion with my driver in hopes I can improve the conditions of my hands through impact. But the driver is such a different beast its hard to know if you are doing it properly. Its a waste of time to practice a wrong motion IMHO. During the summer I got to play quite a bit more and actually hit it quite well. But lately, I seem to have lost the plot. |
It could also be more of a bending the plane line issue. Sometimes you compensate well and hit it pretty straight, sometimes push, sometimes hook.
If you can get a video up of a 6 iron and a driver I bet the heavy hitters would be willing to weigh in and give you some ideas for what to work on. Otherwise TGM instruction might be what you need at this point. Matt |
he'll be comin' round the (lookout) mountain
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I still remember the "on-plane" change you made in Marietta. It's a great avatar. |
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They just can't help not to do it.
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It seems that they, for some reason, just can't help not to do it. |
It's funny, sometimes when my ball striking is struggling, I'll drop a club and use acquired motion. Seems to assist with getting my in sync.
My problem is a little different from what everyone is describing, right now I'm hitting 7GIR a round and I'm a 9 handicap, although got as low as a 6 last year. An average 10 handicap hits 3 greens a round, tells you what kind of short game and putting I currently have. |
I hit anywhere from 7-9 GIR's and I am 6 capper.
My short game blows too. |
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10 handicap...average 10 over par. 15 missed greens, have to get up and down 5 times and never take more than 3 to get down...also couldn't have a 3 putt on a green you hit...and never have a chip out. I would have thought 5 GIR would be average? I am off 8 and average 6-7 GIR...but my short game sucks too...maybe you are right with 3 and I just don't want to admit how bad my short game is!:( :( |
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