Martin is definately a TGM guy, but he doesn't soley teach "the machine". The 5 or 6 lessons I saw him give, at least 2 of the 3 were covered: 1.) flat left wrist at impact; 2.) tracing a straight plane line (using the "generic smart stick"); 3.) hinge action.
If you never read TGM, you wouldn't know he teaches it. In my opinion, he does a great job explaining things without getting too techincal.
He is one of the few "top teachers" that I will stop and listen to. Has given Homer Kelley and TGM credit in some of his videos. Check out the hinges in this video (flying wedges...hello!)
Even more impressive is the fact that he called me and apologized for being hard to get a hold of!!! Pretty humble guy to say the least.
I think there are a lot of guys out there that teach TGM without even knowing it. I love this site, as well as David Orrs. But, so many people still think TGM and think technical. This is true, but it doesn't have to be that techincal. If more instructors had just a background in TGM, teaching would be significantly different...and better.
I think any "top teacher" that preaches a few principles found in the book, are giving it a lot of justice. Sorry to get on a soapbox!
The instructors job is to inform and explain. The good instructor uses TGM as their information base, the great instructor is able to explain it in a manner that the student understands, remembers and is able to absorb and apply and make it their own. Martin Hall is one such instructor.
BTW, is there any training aid he doesn't endorse ?
[Daryl] You should believe it as Martin was taught by Yoda. He has also just been named PGA Teacher Of The Year for 2009 and has acheived Master Pofessional Status in Europe one of elite group.
Hey Ed after spending a couple days with you at the Barclay's you should know that you cannot even buy the lasers for less than $160.00 for the 2 lasers. Do your homework and then apologize. No stick for you???
You should also know that nealry 80% of all of TGM teachers have and use the Smart Stick. On tour there are over 27 players using the SS including VJ who was the first, Charles Howell, Chris Riley, John Reigger, Brian Gay, Jay Haas, Billy Haas, Tom Purtzer just to name a few.
Hey Ed after spending a couple days with you at the Barclay's you should know that you cannot even buy the lasers for less than $160.00 for the 2 lasers. Do your homework and then apologize. No stick for you???
Easy Tom, EDZ posted those remarks last Dec 2007, long before he got a chance to see and use the product. I know from being there in Paramus that he used the stick all the time. A google search I did after our first call told me the green lazers were not cheap. You have a fine product
You should also know that nealry 80% of all of TGM teachers have and use the Smart Stick. On tour there are over 27 players using the SS including VJ who was the first, Charles Howell, Chris Riley, John Reigger, Brian Gay, Jay Haas, Billy Haas, Tom Purtzer just to name a few.
I have been agonizing over a tool to help teach swing plane for a long time. After speaking with many other instructors, I decided to give the Smart Stick a try. I contacted the company through Yoda's Pro Shop.
Mr. Smart personally spoke with me via email, and I was VERY impressed by the service, and his willingness to discuss his product with me without any kind of hard sell, he just wanted to help me. When I finally decided to place the order, Mr. Smart made it very easy, and shipping was immediate. Wonderful customer service, and from what I have read, if there are ever any problems, I have no doubt he will continue to be helpful. I feel very good about the company, I know Yoda only deals with first class people.
I was a little nervous when I received the package, and didn't see instructions. I'm a mechnical idiot. I have both a hammer, and a screw driver, but I can never remember when to use which. I popped in the included DVD, and the instructions were on it. Mr. Smart walks you right through it step by step, and it's a piece of cake.
Martin Hall's instructional video makes it easy to get started. I was surprised to see there are many other uses other than just the swing plane, my primary objective.
For personal use, I LOVED it. I am trying to get rid of my Furyk like backswing, if it worked as well for me as it does Furyk, I wouldn't try to change, but it doesn't. This is the first time I have been able to feel where the club is supposed to go. It makes it so simple to develop feel through the proper mechanics, I think Mr. Kelley would approve. This is going to help my golf swing.
The next test, I used it in a teaching situation with a couple of friends. One has a hard time getting the club started down on plane. He wants to drop it under plane and gets badly "stuck" behind him. We have worked on it a lot this winter, but he couldn't get the proper feel and repeat it. After a few minutes with the Smart Stick, the proverbial light bulb went off in his head. He was all smiles for the entire session, problem solved!
Sorry for the long post. I appreciate Yoda and crew pointing me in the right direction on this training aid, and I wanted to let everyone know what a first class company Smart Stick is to deal with. Please remember to mention LBG when you contact them. You will be very happy you did!
Kevin
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I could be wrong. I have been before, and will be again.
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I popped in the included DVD, and the instructions were on it. Mr. Smart walks you right through it step by step, and it's a piece of cake.
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