How does TGM help me develop my best possible golf swing?
 

:thumright


TGM fundamentals are to golf (imho) what gravity is to the field of physics, the Bible is to Stephen King (rips it off in almost every story he writes), phonics is to reading, and number line theory is to Algebra, Geometry, and space exploration. :study:

Physics can address lots of different areas of interest but if you ignore gravity in physics, you are either immature or you are dealing with a very, very important event or occurrence. Some of the greatest insights of human history have come about by comparing the obvious "common sense" of a period of time, to a stubborn little fact that demands its due. :idea:

The earth is round, not flat, but what important physical laws would suggest the earth is flat? What subtle, stubborn facts would challenge a person to search beyond the obvious? What increases in knowledge, technology and personal sacrifice would enable a person to KNOW the answer to the question is TRUE for their life? :angel:

The Geometric Orientation of Linear Force cannot be ignored in a golf discussion, but if an effective technique for golf ignores TGM or varies from TGM insights and practices, that, then, should offer TGM'rs a chance to grasp golfing technique at a deeper level and become even more impressed by TGM insights. :idea1:

Let's say a person has a normal physique. The "swing" explained by TGM is easy, sensible, and amazingly efficient. Only a newbie to TGM would struggle with the use of TGM as a method and guide. However, a physically "frail" golfer might really question the TGM hitting motion. This is all obvious. :)

I have had 9 hip operations and will have have this artificial hip I have now replaced in about seven or eight years (with the cancellation of the stupid health bill and its silly supporters). The imbalance due to the shortness of my front leg and metal rod that connects different parts of it, makes me terrified of the idea of whipping around in a golf swing in hopes of golfing precision. Twisting around the 1/2 of a plastic and metal pelvis 80-90 times or more a week doesn't seem like a great idea, either, at the tender age of 52.5. :hand:

But I'm not going to stop golfing. I won't swing but I'll golf, and that means hitting. The speed, power and ease of uncocking the left wrist is brilliant! I feel as if I can get into my tripod and accurately snipe at holes and positions forever with RFM (that's take away and thrust for Right Forearm Magic). What's funny is that I'm sure I've only gotten about 4% comprehension of the act in my golfing DNA. :pray:

Notice how I came to my decision to hit? It was a combination of physical necessity, TGM (gravity) insight, and a dogged desire to test every idea in search of my "best" (most easily repeatable, most powerful, and most precise) possible golf swing. It's my hope that this thread would help every golfer examine why they golf as they do and challenge themselves to get greater insight using TGM as a map, a flashlight, crutches, or a right arm sling. :dontknow:

I hope this is fun and interesting for everyone. :) :occasion:

Patrick (or I See!)

As you know, I teach and I have to monitor my student's abilities constantly.
 

So, the question on the table is "what is my best possible swing?"For now, I will assume that we are teaching a person with 7th grade intelligence. (OB's Mrs. is much further along than this, but OB might like the humor :) and Buckett will be given a special note to attend when I speak with his case-worker and store manager.) I hope we can build a consensus as to how to start a young golfer on the road to TGM!

I would like to begin by using the video done by Yoda, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVws0CQqTDc

Imho, it is a simple example of the capabilities of TGM. Anyone can understand making a vertical hammering motion with a golf club. The left hand flying wedge and grip can be built with the student as well as the right hand flying wedge and right forearm takeaway. This could be one lesson or four and the student would get instant success using this procedure.:read:

Thoughts?

Patrick

City. You read the half hour lesson I gave my wife I know. Im not a teacher by any means and have nothing but respect and admiration for those guys and what they face with various students. But what I taught her was really a boiled down version of what it was that brought me to TGM in the first place combined with some further revelations provided by Lynn. Which when I look back at now I can see how they relate somewhat to the Three Basic Imperatives!

Let me explain as briefly as I can. After years of pretty advanced golf I had stumbled upon the Frozen Right Wrist and its power, it simplicity. Its a long story about a game of golf in the snow, me taking a call on my cell phone that went on for too long and having to chip with one hand to finish the hole. It was a great chip too. My best of the day and with a practiced frozen and bent right hand. Something I had been working on while waiting for the call to end. It left me to wonder and so I spent some time on the range hitting right handed shots. Something I bet Homer did, not sure but I have a feeling he did. I learned that the bent Right Hand had a profound effect on the shot!

Later I learned that a TGM instructor from my area had a logo that was a bent right hand, that the bent right hand was mantra for him. I called him for a lesson but he was out of town for an extended period of time and so I turned to the net............enter Lynn Blake Golf. Never did make contact with the local guy by the way.

Make a long story short ......it took me decades of self discovery to find the Bent Right Wrist (the companion to the Flat Left Wrist). But in my first lesson with Lynn he shared with me; the On Plane Right Forearm and the #3pp (as well as several other nuggets). Oh the time I wasted!

I still start every warm up and practice session with right arm only chipping. I monitor three things.......bent right hand, on plane forearm, #3pp tracing the Plane Line with an associated feeling of Lag (its the secret to all good shots).

2.0 The Three Basic Imperatives are;

-1. A Flat Left Wrist.
-2. A Clubhead Lag Pressure Point.
-3. A straight Plane Line.

The On Plane Right Forearm doesnt rank as an Imperative but.......its pretty dang close to being one for me.

Only having one arm on the club simplifies things. My wife could see the relationships as did I. How the shot that fails didnt have any Lag Pressure for instance. How the Bent Right Hand needs to be frozen through the shot anyways. How the right Forearm if on Plane adds structure. Its all there.

Hey booger. Ya almost had me goin. My eyes where watering. But then you said: ...and I knew you were full of it. :laughing9

OB, that's helpful but along with the content we need a show!
 

:3gears: It's great to communicate with your spouse, but you are dealing with someone who knows you and still, for some reason, wishes to listen to you. :laughing9

In a funny way, that is the opposite of what a professional teacher encounters, esp. during the first few lessons or sometimes, ever. You are better off believing the people you teach have had the worst night before at home, their dog destroyed their home, their elbow is in a sling, and you need to "wow" them every 8 minutes to inspire them and build a level of trust. :naughty:

In short, as a teacher you are torn between correct instruction and the pupils'abilities to undestand or comprehend your instruction. My own GSEB is very good at content and has a genuine gift for communication, but his lessons are very content heavy. His TGM is so profound and subtle that even throwaway remarks take me to a logical truth! Sometimes, he just buries me with amazingly useful insights, and I am very motivated! :3gears:

So, OB, you are literate and thoughtful as are most of us on this site (even people in Illinois and original recipe). Assume your students are different, have a seventh grade attention span, acne, raging hormones (I'm not only thinking of Daryl), and their mom is with a different guy every week and that guys likes to put his hand on your left knee for no apparent reason.

What kind of display then, OB, to start to illustrate one simple point would you suggest to such a person or group? Details count! Fun and doing count, peer comprehension and coaching count, visuals count as well as having some competition!

:study:

Besides OB's answer that I agree with completely, I love TGM because it gives us all options. No cookie cutter swing for everybody. Homer Kelley gives a chance to work with motions we enjoy and make changes around them...

I can't wait to travel to Cuscawillo for training in how to use the system properly, I have a lot to learn but am enjoying every minute of study.

Kevin

City,
Remember also that class size matters. Each kid has a potential weapon in her/his hands and your liability insurance is probably next to non-existant.
You are going to need a couple paras that buy into what you are doing to help you with supervision and on key message.
I merely suggest you start small and let it spread, but not too fast. Maybe you could start with training a couple volunteers this summer on the golf course and on the range. Maybe one will be an administrator, a teacher or two and a para or two if they are available. Maybe a young assistant pro in the area has a little interest in doing something for the benefit of others (good luck with that).

Nice reminders, Jerry! Thanks!
 

Very pragmatic! A safe alternative to dowels? How about Nerf streamers to start? I have my eye on a young man who is a driving range assistant at my reg. range. He might even be reading this.

I have 3 homeless shelters that we serve and the Univ. of PA is 10 minutes away from the school as is Drexel and Temple. "Do not despise the days of small beginnings," is good sense, also.

Sadly, or happily according to your world view, lots of parents are on support; we need clearences and perhaps a Teach for America newbie.

Kevin, Jerry, are there schedules for Yoda, or do you just sign-up? Jerry, do you have a 12 step workbook or are you taking OB's (TGM's) essentials and imperatives in those priorities?

To start with a flat left wrist and to maintain it in a backswing, on plane, as the basis of the wrist hinges seems crucial!

City,
I'm with OB. Start with the imperatives BWR/FLW is the first absolute. I'm thinking you are staying awake at night trying to come up with ways to get your minions to conceptualize and internalize that imperative. I do.
Watch Yoda's swing and visualize key components. Heck, go to 12-3 and get in contact with dodger and KevCarter (I gotta do that)
The golf camp I work at is coming up soon. I'm still trying to come up with a subtle way to subvert the Kids USA curicculum. I think the 3 imperatives are the main driving points for any student (including me) and they are nowhere to be found in those books.
Looks like a nice project we should be working on, eh?

One other thing. Grip is very important. I also think kids need to start with a 10 finger grip and get their hands on the grip in a proper manner.
We gotta talk one of these days.
g

Hah, your spelling is improving! What next "The Bears"?

Your right I was waxing it on a little hard there maybe? For grade 7's anyways......but I did show my daughter how to chip just that way when she was about 8 years old. She was making nice little frozen right hand chips with some cut down clubs and was all smiles.

But grade 7's? That her grade now. Thats a tuff one. City, Im thinking you need to let em have fun! That is job one! Just let em go , let em rip it and hard. Maybe think about some music for them to hit by! Get every one to laugh at how frustratingly stupid the game is.

"OK everyone stand on one leg now".

Those who are the addicted to compression types will reveal themselves, invariably. Then you can start to teach them, not before!

Maybe ask them what the secret to golf is? Who knows, you might be surprised by their answers?

"Go ahead ENJOY the game" Homer Kelley

Actually as I think about it, job one is really making sure no one gets a club in the teeth! Im always freaked when my kids start swinging clubs in the back yard and running around. Those things can hurt ya.

Good advice Boogerhead. Finally.:laughing9

Maybe you should work in Day-Care. :naughty:

I feel like Im in one right now actually! I think I just barfed up my milk!

OB, I'm sure you have a nice family.
 

All of you are very lucky to have each other. Jerry and Kevin, I'm sure you grind on giving the best possible instruction to your peeps. :thumright

I'm not sure what Daryl does for a living. For all we know, he could be an IRS or State Dept. wonk who surfs the net for nasty things but hides it behind our LBG website. He publishes those remarkably insightful articles of his to hide his terrible secret: He needs a date and has been booted by EHARMONY. Who knows? :dontknow: :laughing1

Daryl might also be an "idiot-savant" and 15 years old.:rolleyes: That would explain his great golf knowledge, or at least, research skills, and terms like "boogerhead."

I'm going to start collecting nerf golfballs and wiffle plastic balls for the team. I think I need special provisions for those interested in golf intellectually, but don't play. Maybe a TGM coloring book with lots of pictures of Hogan? :drool:

Daryl has been Happily Married to the same gracious and beautiful woman ( and the best chef in the world) for 30 years. 2 Children through college and out on their own.

I tried to get my wife to play golf years ago, but she couldn't get past all of the clothing and shoes and matching bag. She hasn't played in years but still keeps her shoes and hats in the closet because she's a Golfer. She doesn't understand why everyone doesn't play alternate shot all of the time. I mean, she say's "with Margarita's at Twilight Couples golf, it's unsocial to play by yourself". :laughing9

I work during the day and have studied TGM at night for more than 25 years. Until this website came on-line, I thought I was the only person in the world who read the Little Yellow Book. I was shocked to find out how many concepts I had misinterpreted during the Pre-LBG.Com years. I'm almost caught up.

You guys On-Line are like my extended family. We share the pain, the insights and the glory.

That's very nice, Daryl.
 

Your Mrs. would have to be very gracious, it seems to me, with exceptional inner beauty, at least, for a 30 year tour plus. Do your adult children golf? If so, what was helpful in working with them?

I have family in Chicago, are you near there? BTW, thanks again for so many helpful and timely answers to my questions. I am frankly embarrassed to have the title "senior" attatched to my name on this forum.

Happy Memorial holiday to all! :salut:

All the best,

Pat

Double D, aka "The attack arm of LBG" as he is known on other sites.
 

Nice try D, Im with City, you're IRS arent you? Admit it. Well at least when your not boycotting our good Canadian soft wood lumber and making millions in the process.

Let the record show that I have met, golfed and dined with Daryl at the Atlanta Country Club. I love the man despite all of that. I saw Hip Action, believe me. Got a lesson on it actually at dinner along with Jeff Hull..... who was all ears. But thats another story for another day. Had a hard time waking up the Judge that night. Good times, new friends and a very gracious host, Mr Lynn Blake. Bambam can attest to this.

Viva D. Viva LBG.

Out of many divergent vectors, one resultant Path! It is so in the golf swing , it is so in life and it is so here at LBG.