Gave up the game tad over two years ago out of frustration, had been stuck on the same handicap for years and wasn't doing anything about it. About six months later I started logging into internet golf forums and came across Manzella on FGI. His talk of mashing the ball hit the right note. I'd always hit it best shots when trying to keep the ball under an obstruction, punching down and through the ball. My normal full swing lacked even a portion of that powerfull feeling. Started to work on my swing and eventually got the itch to test myself out on the course. Now I mostly lurk here and sometimes at Brian's site.
Went out for my first round in four months a few days ago. Had been doing some mirror work and other indoor drills during the interval. Ended up with 3 over. Even better, I wasn't searching for a swing, I knew exactly what I wanted to be doing, even after such a long break. Thanks TGM and big thanks to Yoda et al
Likewise David Lavelle- a forgotten early advocate of TGM.
Chuck's early site with PhillyGolf exploding questions in my head and followed Manzella from FGI exile to his are to other sources.
TY Mike...
I thought perhaps maybe more would have been following me and Randy!.......
Oh well...
And David was almost my first eposure as well.....
Bottomline...I am an Athlete....and I sucked at golf!!!!....and so....the journey began!!!!!!!
A co-worker of mine who I had played a lot of golf with came over to my office one day. He had a little yellow book in his hand and handed it to me and said, "I'm not sure if you are ready for this, but check it out".
Then I got addicted to the enthusiasm of some guy named "Yoda" on TGM's forum. I PM'd "Yoda" and asked him for a lesson and he said he didn't give lessons anymore. About 8 months later he changed his mind!
Thanks for the book Bagger. And thanks to Yoda for "getting back in the game"!
It was fall of 2000 and my instructor had the book. He was a GSEB authorized by Sally and was well grounded in the TGM principles. I did some poking around on the internet, found the TGM forum, and eventually bought the book. I distinctly remember when the book came and I sat down on the couch and started to page through it. I remember thinking to myself, "What have I gotten myself into? This is crazy."
But slowly it all started making sense. As always, there were questions that I couldn't find answers to - either because people simply didn't know or because the nature of communicating via forums wasn't the best for communication. With the help of my AI I improved rather nicely nonetheless. I was a high 80s/low 90s shooter that first year of high school in 2000 and by junior year had cracked the varsity squad - I beat out probably 12-15 other guys for one spot. I won our state regional tournament that year with a one-under 70 (many more stories can come out of that round because it was a clearkey epiphany!) Senior year I was individual conference medalist and our team lost the state tournament in a playoff.
I am of course grateful to Lynn for making St. Augustine happen. Chuck and Randy also were big influences there. I had hit a semi-roadblock in my book study around that time and felt that to progress forward I had to really get some info from "outside the box." It needed to be first-hand stuff because parts of this book are just plain hard to understand using only a keyboard. St. Augustine opened up a lot of the book for me. I remember Danny Elkins asking me after the first day, "Matt, what is the biggest thing you've learned so far?" I told him, "I never knew how important the right forearm was." I still feel that way.
I feel fortunate to have connected with these people because it opened up such a network for me. There are countless others on the forum here that I've met as well and it was a pleasure.
Thanks for the book Bagger. And thanks to Yoda for "getting back in the game"!
What are friends for? Trig's swing has made a huge tranformation ever since he took ownership of it and he is deadly in our skins games as a result.
Iron sharpens Iron.
I took up the game 7 years ago at 39. Didn't even know how to hold a club prior to that. I found myself wading through all the trade rags trying to find the magic move that would break 100. Had a few lessons with the local range pro's at my club. All of them seeking their PGA qualification and each trying to get me to pattern after their swing. After a few years, the contradictions from every source nearly drove me away from the game for good. I did an internet search on "swing plane" which landed me on Chuck Evans first EZ-Board forum and read posts from Randy, Philly and a few others. The language was clear and precise and they seemed to understand the swing better than anything I had read till then, and I think they would readily admit they were really struggling to understand TGM at the time. You guy's have come a long way.
I made my way over to the Golfing Machine forum (when it was still active), and ordered the book from Sally in 99. Started posting and trying to learn the yellow book. Like Metallion said, it's been downhill (handicap-wise) ever since. On a really bad day I shoot in the low 80's. I'm convinced I would still be struggling to break 90 right now if I hadn't stumbled on TGM. Thanks Randy, Philly and especially Chuck for keeping the fires going. It's my time to help hold the torch and give back everything that Homer has given to me. My contribution is helping the worlds best G.O.L.F communicator bring Homers work to everyone that needs it as badly as I did, and still do. Lynn Blake is turning the golfing world upside down. The package is all there, the timing is right, and we all need to help deliver it.
Respect goes out to all y'all.
So what happened to David Lavelle? (sp?) Is he still posting anywhere? I remembered seeing some of his posts on rec.sports.golf newsgroup. Pretty strong advocate as I recall.
What are friends for? Trig's swing has made a huge tranformation ever since he took ownership of it and he is deadly in our skins games as a result.
Iron sharpens Iron.
I took up the game 7 years ago at 39. Didn't even know how to hold a club prior to that. I found myself wading through all the trade rags trying to find the magic move that would break 100. Had a few lessons with the local range pro's at my club. All of them seeking their PGA qualification and each trying to get me to pattern after their swing. After a few years, the contradictions from every source nearly drove me away from the game for good. I did an internet search on "swing plane" which landed me on Chuck Evans first EZ-Board forum and read posts from Randy, Philly and a few others. The language was clear and precise and they seemed to understand the swing better than anything I had read till then, and I think they would readily admit they were really struggling to understand TGM at the time. You guy's have come a long way.
I made my way over to the Golfing Machine forum (when it was still active), and ordered the book from Sally in 99. Started posting and trying to learn the yellow book. Like Metallion said, it's been downhill (handicap-wise) ever since. On a really bad day I shoot in the low 80's. I'm convinced I would still be struggling to break 90 right now if I hadn't stumbled on TGM. Thanks Randy, Philly and especially Chuck for keeping the fires going. It's my time to help hold the torch and give back everything that Homer has given to me. My contribution is helping the worlds best G.O.L.F communicator bring Homers work to everyone that needs it as badly as I did, and still do. Lynn Blake is turning the golfing world upside down. The package is all there, the timing is right, and we all need to help deliver it.
Respect goes out to all y'all.
Bagger
Bagger...ty for your post. And yes, I struggled big time to learn the terminology (I remember Chuck, Randy, Todd trying to explain the flying wedges to me - a disaster!). You and I, while not recently, have chatted alot in the past - always been a pleasure.
Thats the thing. I know recently I have been questioning alot of hte 'minutia' of TGM - but it comes from wanting to understand better. And where better then here? With friends?
Also...I am utterly amazed at how quick some of the members here have learned the book and the concepts. Truely a testament to the type of people the book draws.
I love this Job. I thank God for every day he gives me in the Corp. Ooo rah.
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