I thought it would be reasonable that my first post would be to ask for help understanding TGM. But, if a senior member of these forums(forums that were suggested to me from members of other forums) say's the only way I will make any progress with TGM is by gassing up the car and driving 6 hours to stay in a motel to get a lesson from a contributor to this website, that's a little tough for me. As a father of three young children, a husband, full time career, and a part time college student, makes that option a little tough.
Like I said, I am a legitimate single digit handicap who plays in the mid- to low-80's with occasional rounds in the 70's who is just now starting to practice during the week to improve my game. I don't think that's too bad. I didn't mean to offend anyone and I apologize if I did. Seems like TGM aficionados are a little defensive.
For what it's worth though, Ben Hogan was pretty good.
Here is a suggestion. The thing that started my quest, not to get too poetic or anything. Try it out, perhaps you'll like it. Something kinda small that works for all shots however big.
Go to a mirror. Put the club in your right hand only with it down the shaft a little as per usual. The club running through the palm and not under the heal pad. Place the club on the ground in a chipping like stance and point the grip end at your left shoulder. Freeze your right hand in this degree of bend. Firm grip pressure. Now do the same for a down the line view in the mirror. Adjust your right arm and club so that the right forearm (only) is on the same plane as the club. This will take some getting used to and adjustments.
Next, with the grip pressure kind of firm in the last three fingers but kind of light in the thumb and forefinger , draw your attention to the area of the right forefinger between the knuckle and first joint. The upper section of the right forefinger on the aft of the grip. This is not tight to the grip but gently wrapped around it. This is the Lag Pressure Point, which senses the Lagging condition of the clubhead vis a vis the hands. With the club lagging there will be pressure at this point. With the club not lagging there will be no pressure there. This is the secret to golf. Wag the club around a little and feel it. Learn to nurse that Lag pressure so you can sustain it for a longer period and be able to take it right through and past an imaginary ball.
Next go to a range and hit little 10' chips beside a green with just your right arm. Put your mind on the pressure point, feel the lag. Sustain it. Give it some time, hours or days even if need be. If you keep the alignments as mentioned above and swing the right forearm with the wrist frozen you should notice some strange things. Namely, compression plus, a thought that you should chip one handed all the time, the sweet spot etc. Most importantly, with your focus centered on the Lag Pressure Point you'll notice a relationship between your loss of Lag pressure and bad shots.
I was very, very taken aback by all of this (Id been chipping for 30 years or so already and never felt anything like it) and wanted to take these alignments and this Lag Pressure into all my shots, with both hands on the club. I wanted to unlock the secrets this drill contained. It might take a life time or two.........But that is how it all started for me.
Next go to a range and hit little 10' chips beside a green with just your right arm. Put your mind on the pressure point, feel the lag. Sustain it. Give it some time, hours or days even if need be. If you keep the alignments as mentioned above and swing the right forearm with the wrist frozen you should notice some strange things. Namely, compression plus, a thought that you should chip one handed all the time, the sweet spot etc. Most importantly, with your focus centered on the Lag Pressure Point you'll notice a relationship between your loss of Lag pressure and bad shots.
Great Exercise. I don't do enough of that. I think I'll start all of my practice sessions that way. The john Daily putting warm-up routine.
Great Exercise. I don't do enough of that. I think I'll start all of my practice sessions that way. The john Daily putting warm-up routine.
I start every pre round warm up that way. First right hand putts, then left, then both. Next right hand chips, left hand chips, both.
Then over to the range from wedge up and back down to wedge to finish, then back to the pratice green repeating my warm up above, short putts, longer putts, back to short, back to one handed. Then off to the 1st tee.
__________________
"Support the On Plane Swinging Force in Balance"
"we have no friends, we have no enemies, we have only teachers"
Simplicity buffs, see 5-0, 1-L, 2-0 A and B 10-2-B, 4-D, 6B-1D, 6-B-3-0-1, 6-C-1, 6-E-2
I have got to sort of disagree with Daryl's earlier sentiments. I worked with a GSED about 10 years ago. We worked on a 'swinging' pattern. I really wanted to learn TGM, but he was pretty reluctant to teach me the nuts and bolts of TGM in fear of making things too complicated for me. I did learn a lot from him and my game improved because of it.
Fast forward to February. I had just gotten back into the game after an 8 year layoff in January and I went to see Luke over at the swamp. I made it clear to him that I planned on learning TGM and I would appreciate it if he would help me with things I didn't understand.
My brain and my personality is the such that I really need to know the technical stuff and what other people are doing. Otherwise, when I start to struggle I start to contemplate what other golfers do differently from me and that may not be a correct component to my golf swing. But, I'll try to make it a component of my golf swing.
I will say that I believe most golfers do not have this type of mentality. Just tell them what they need to do for their golf swing and if the info is pretty good, they are good to go with a bit of hard work and practice. Just as there is no one way to swing a golf club, there is no one way to learn about the golf swing and improve one's game, IMO.
And at the very least, I don't think it's a detriment to a golfer if they learn some of the basics of The Golfing Machine.
I want to thank everybody for the positive responses I got and I will choose to ignore the negative ones. I am going to print the suggestions I received and work on them over the next couple of days and I will post back with the progress I've made. I am truly interested in TGM and believe it could help me in my journey to play better golf. I also understand that other golfers have had success with other approaches other than TGM, and when you see how many TGM fans believe "their" way of TGM is the only way of TGM, I will try to take what I need and leave the rest. I also want to thank Jeff for his message and let him know I will probably be up half the night reading the stuff on his Awesome site. I have some friends who have never heard of TGM before I told them about it and am going to direct them to your site also. Great stuff.
@Daryl - I thought your original reply was great advice laced with humor.
People always misunderstand each other on forums... thats just the way it is.
I tell ya what, I wish there was a TGM pro in Upstate NY. I think I'm just going to have to save start my pennies for an airfare.
BTW, Chuck's forum is awesome, but it's not free, so there isn't a lot of 'action' on it. In a way I wish it was free, but there is so much video content that I can't blame him for having to charge $ for it.
Last edited by Andy R : 05-16-2009 at 11:26 AM.
Reason: Added the Chuck Evans bit
@Daryl - I thought your original reply was great advice laced with humor.
People always misunderstand each other on forums... thats just the way it is.
I tell ya what, I wish there was a TGM pro in Upstate NY. I think I'm just going to have to save start my pennies for an airfare.
BTW, Chuck's forum is awesome, but it's not free, so there isn't a lot of 'action' on it. In a way I wish it was free, but there is so much video content that I can't blame him for having to charge $ for it.
Not everyone saw the humor Andy R.
There was an AI around Chicago years ago but he's been long gone. Why is it that TGM Instructors reach Bachelor and some Masters but never reach their Doctorate? Hmm? That should start a new thread.....
I thought Chuck went "Medicus" and gave up the forum business. Putting away Hinge Action for a Hinged Club.
Didn't he move to Florida years ago? Great guy, super knowledgeable and He can really hit the Ball.
The john Daily putting warm-up routine.
.
Linear Mode
