We need to follow Homer's advise and spend more time in front of a mirror or video camera checking these basic alignments. I was making the same mistake last week Patrick. We all go through the same problems... like Jerry said, get that geometry right!
Kevin
I had the worst geometry teacher in the world. The slug should have applied it to golf. Circles, angles, parallels and perpendiculars would have been a snap. I wish Homer had come along with this in 1960 or so.
2nd lesson : Flipperrado escapes and is recaptured!
My second lesson with John Savage (GSEB), in Southhampton, PA
After asking about my play during the week, we got to work. John set up a ball to my address position and one ball to my right, even with my toe line. John demonstrated that as I turned, my triangle was breaking down, first with my wedges and then with my arms! Years of tennis and bad information, AND NEVER HAVING A PROPERLY TRAINED TGM INSTRUCTOR, allowed me to ingrain years of bad feelings in my hands and wrists and consider those feelings normal.
From address position as I rotated back, my hands could not come close to the ball at my toe line! It took me about fifteen minutes to generate my pivot with my right hip. Then with my sternum. I had to completely ignore my hands.
John then layed down a club in front of me to a 45 degree angle to show me how my handle should move around my body at a 45 degr. angle as I PIVOT PROPERLY USING MY LEFT SIDE/RIBCAGE TO MOVE THE CLUB, NOT ARMS OR HANDS.
As I sat on my right hip and rotated to the toe line ball, I realized that the feeling of ease and speed in my right hip was balanced from an undamaged hip. I cannot feel anything like that in my left hip. So, I switched back to my feeling of sternum rotation and my handle came all the way through to a 45 degree angle.
John was just getting started, however. After 20 or so 110 yard pw's which did draw after hitting the sweet spot and travel on a very high arc, John said "take your 7 iron."
I repeated my new swing and hit a 150/10 yard high flying hook. "Do it again, and stop after your backswing." "Why isn't your left palm turned down?" (BECAUSE I AM AN IDIOT WHO DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO GOLF, JOHN.) We practiced palm down-FEEL IT, DON'T LOOK AT IT, FEEL IT." The 7 iron popped straight out to the 150 yard angel on an egg-shape that was towering in the air. "Again" Sternum-put a leash on that puppy-sternum!
Mike, a fellow middle school teacher came by. Both commented on how my swing looked "sub-80." Mike started hitting balls and John told him he was not balanced in his down swing and too quick. John launched into a very good discussion of power needing balance for effectiveness. So I tried it. Sternum-feel the leash or palm down rest-sternum. "Linear first then down!"
John explained "Down the line, out to the ball, and forward." "I thought down meant literally down," says me. "Yes, I know," says John, "you have many strange ideas." "The club must be carried by the pivot! It will hit the ball without any manipulations. Let the pivot do the work!"
"One other thing, would you like another 20 yards?" "Why do you have your back elbow stuck on your back hip?" "Because I saw it in the Ben Hogan book?" John explained that without width of swing on plane, there is no power. John showed me how the stuck elbow deflects the thrust line of the pivot away from the plane line. I tried a few five woods and pushed everything out to the right. I realized I was concentrating so hard on feeling the elbow hip seperation, that I had no idea where the plain or my balance was. John said "It'll take you awhile to find your balance with the elbow seperated from your hip, keep the palm down on the backswing. Remember the plane line."
I have a lot to work on, keep you posted!
Patrick
Originally Posted by JerryG
I had the worst geometry teacher in the world. The slug should have applied it to golf. Circles, angles, parallels and perpendiculars would have been a snap. I wish Homer had come along with this in 1960 or so.
__________________
HP, grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Progress and not perfection is the goal every day!
Last edited by innercityteacher : 04-11-2010 at 05:23 PM.
You may have a lot to work on Patrick, but finally, you are working on the proper concepts. This is going to be a fun summer watching you, Jerry, and Sean do nothing but get better and better, and smarter and smarter!
Kevin
Originally Posted by innercityteacher
My second lesson with John Savage (GSEB), in Southhampton, PA
After asking about my play during the week, we got to work. John set up a ball to my address position and one ball to my right, even with my toe line. John demonstrated that as I turned, my triangle was breaking down, first with my wedges and then with my arms! Years of tennis and bad information, AND NEVER HAVING A PROPERLY TRAINED TGM INSTRUCTOR, allowed me to ingrain years of bad feelings in my hands and wrists and consider those feelings normal.
From address position as I rotated back, my hands could not come close to the ball at my toe line! It took me about fifteen minutes to generate my pivot with my right hip. Then with my sternum. I had to completely ignore my hands.
John then layed down a club in front of me to a 45 degree angle to show me how my handle should move around my body at a 45 degr. angle as I PIVOT PROPERLY USING MY LEFT SIDE/RIBCAGE TO MOVE THE CLUB, NOT ARMS OR HANDS.
As I sat on my right hip and rotated to the toe line ball, I realized that the feeling of ease and speed in my right hip was balanced from an undamaged hip. I cannot feel anything like that in my left hip. So, I switched back to my feeling of sternum rotation and my handle came all the way through to a 45 degree angle.
John was just getting started, however. After 20 or so 110 yard pw's which did draw after hitting the sweet spot and travel on a very high arc, John said "take your 7 iron."
I repeated my new swing and hit a 150/10 yard high flying hook. "Do it again, and stop after your backswing." "Why isn't your left palm turned down?" (BECAUSE I AM AN IDIOT WHO DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO GOLF, JOHN.) We practiced palm down-FEEL IT, DON'T LOOK AT IT, FEEL IT." The 7 iron popped straight out to the 150 yard angel on an egg-shape that was towering in the air. "Again" Sternum-put a leash on that puppy-sternum!
Mike, a fellow middle school teacher came by. Both commented on how my swing looked "sub-80." Mike started hitting balls and John told him he was not balanced in his down swing and too quick. John launched into a very good discussion of power needing balance for effectiveness. So I tried it. Sternum-feel the leash or palm down rest-sternum. "Linear first then down!"
John explained "Down the line, out to the ball, and forward." "I thought down meant literally down," says me. "Yes, I know," says John, "you have many strange ideas." "The club must be carried by the pivot! It will hit the ball without any manipulations. Let the pivot do the work!"
"One other thing, would you like another 20 yards?" "Why do you have your back elbow stuck on your back hip?" "Because I saw it in the Ben Hogan book?" John explained that without width of swing on plane, there is no power. John showed me how the stuck elbow deflects the thrust line of the pivot away from the plane line. I tried a few five woods and pushed everything out to the right. I realized I was concentrating so hard on feeling the elbow hip seperation, that I had no idea where the plain or my balance was. John said "It'll take you awhile to find your balance with the elbow seperated from your hip, keep the palm down on the backswing. Remember the plane line."
I have a lot to work on, keep you posted!
Patrick
__________________
I could be wrong. I have been before, and will be again.
My second lesson with John Savage (GSEB), in Southhampton, PA
After asking about my play during the week, we got to work. John set up a ball to my address position and one ball to my right, even with my toe line. John demonstrated that as I turned, my triangle was breaking down, first with my wedges and then with my arms! Years of tennis and bad information, AND NEVER HAVING A PROPERLY TRAINED TGM INSTRUCTOR, allowed me to ingrain years of bad feelings in my hands and wrists and consider those feelings normal.
From address position as I rotated back, my hands could not come close to the ball at my toe line! It took me about fifteen minutes to generate my pivot with my right hip. Then with my sternum. I had to completely ignore my hands.
John then layed down a club in front of me to a 45 degree angle to show me how my handle should move around my body at a 45 degr. angle as I PIVOT PROPERLY USING MY LEFT SIDE/RIBCAGE TO MOVE THE CLUB, NOT ARMS OR HANDS.
As I sat on my right hip and rotated to the toe line ball, I realized that the feeling of ease and speed in my right hip was balanced from an undamaged hip. I cannot feel anything like that in my left hip. So, I switched back to my feeling of sternum rotation and my handle came all the way through to a 45 degree angle.
John was just getting started, however. After 20 or so 110 yard pw's which did draw after hitting the sweet spot and travel on a very high arc, John said "take your 7 iron."
I repeated my new swing and hit a 150/10 yard high flying hook. "Do it again, and stop after your backswing." "Why isn't your left palm turned down?" (BECAUSE I AM AN IDIOT WHO DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO GOLF, JOHN.) We practiced palm down-FEEL IT, DON'T LOOK AT IT, FEEL IT." The 7 iron popped straight out to the 150 yard angel on an egg-shape that was towering in the air. "Again" Sternum-put a leash on that puppy-sternum!
Mike, a fellow middle school teacher came by. Both commented on how my swing looked "sub-80." Mike started hitting balls and John told him he was not balanced in his down swing and too quick. John launched into a very good discussion of power needing balance for effectiveness. So I tried it. Sternum-feel the leash or palm down rest-sternum. "Linear first then down!"
John explained "Down the line, out to the ball, and forward." "I thought down meant literally down," says me. "Yes, I know," says John, "you have many strange ideas." "The club must be carried by the pivot! It will hit the ball without any manipulations. Let the pivot do the work!"
"One other thing, would you like another 20 yards?" "Why do you have your back elbow stuck on your back hip?" "Because I saw it in the Ben Hogan book?" John explained that without width of swing on plane, there is no power. John showed me how the stuck elbow deflects the thrust line of the pivot away from the plane line. I tried a few five woods and pushed everything out to the right. I realized I was concentrating so hard on feeling the elbow hip seperation, that I had no idea where the plain or my balance was. John said "It'll take you awhile to find your balance with the elbow seperated from your hip, keep the palm down on the backswing. Remember the plane line."
I have a lot to work on, keep you posted!
Patrick
This is a lot more exciting than anything I've been watching on T.V.
Congratulations Patrick.
BTW, Jerry, You are a kinder man than I am. A Bowie knife coming out of a locker would've been stuffed back in the locker with the student attatched.
Back to golf, my practice swings felt effortless, today. I felt the sweetspot following the plane line.
The right arm extension on the plane line produces almost as much power? WOW.
Have a safe/good week men!
Nice round, again, Jerry.
Kevin prob. shoots 69's to warm-up, right Kevin?
Patrick
Originally Posted by JerryG
This is a lot more exciting than anything I've been watching on T.V.
Congratulations Patrick.
__________________
HP, grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Progress and not perfection is the goal every day!
I wish that were true! Luckily I have two guys near me who work under the principles of LBG to help me get back to where I used to be until I can get to Cuscawillo, Jerry and RogerDodger. I really need those extra sets of eyes and ears. It's going to be a great summer, golf is fun again!
Kevin
__________________
I could be wrong. I have been before, and will be again.
The Slap is a sharp smack with the palm of the Right Hand and with a Bent Right Wrist. It is the Swinger's Major Basic Stroke (10-3-B) delivered using the Arc of Approach procedure (2-J-3-A).
The Punch is a straight line thrust of the Right Forearm and Bent Right Wrist. It is the Hitter's Major Basic Stroke (10-3-A) delivered using the Angle of Approach procedure (2-J-3-B).
Slapping or Punching, the entire Right Forearm Flying Wedge (6-B-3-0-1) -- the On-Plane Right Forearm with the Bent (4-A-2), Level (4-B-1) and Motionless (Frozen) Right Wrist, the Lag-Loaded Right Forefinger #3 Pressure Point and Clubshaft -- is thrown (Swinging) or driven (Hitting) into Impact per 7-3.
As always, Educated Hands control the Stroke, utilizing the Lag-Loaded #3 Pressure Point to trace the Straight Plane Line (10-5-A Swinging Arc of Approach or 10-5-E Hitting Angle of Approach) and thus maintain the essential Geometry per 5-0."
For me, these simple concepts have revolutionized my enjoyment of the game. I know I need to learn a strong pivot, but after 11 hip operations over man years it is soooooo cool to be able to hit under trees, from the fairway, anywhere, with this stroke.
I can put my 3 wood 200 yards or so more or less straight with this.
Can anyone tell me how to max out my drives with this?
There has to be a way to build a club/hold a club/ buy a ball and manage this TQ to get 250 or so yards.
If we can dream it, we can do it!
Patrick
Originally Posted by KevCarter
I wish that were true! Luckily I have two guys near me who work under the principles of LBG to help me get back to where I used to be until I can get to Cuscawillo, Jerry and RogerDodger. I really need those extra sets of eyes and ears. It's going to be a great summer, golf is fun again!
Kevin
__________________
HP, grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Progress and not perfection is the goal every day!
And they do this by learning to hit the Ball with the heel of the
Right Hand (and its Pressure against the Left Hand Thumb).
Learn to hit the Ball with the Pressure Points in your Hands.
The Club becomes irrelevant.
Maybe, this will give me my 250 with the driver!
__________________
HP, grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Progress and not perfection is the goal every day!
Our third lesson with John Savage, GSEB: Hinge Progressions!
John started our lesson stressing that he had looked at my tape many times and fond me flipping constantly.
I confessed I had lost my wedges all day in my round yesterday, while trying to concentrate on turning my sternum. I shot a 96 yesterday, starting with a 46 and totally falling apart on the back 9 holes. John said he realized I did not understand the wedges or how to tie my wedges to my pivot.
Chipping progressions were on tap. John started by showing me how the handle of the club travels on a level swing with basic motion. It took me awhile to fire the handle level and left using my right pocket as my pivot point. From about 20 feet away, John showed me how to take swing progressions, slowly, and hit angle hinges, horizontal hinges, and vertical hinges.
With John's help, I was able to stop chips on astroturf from the short distance, using all three hinges with my 54 degree sand wedge.
From 35 or 40 feet, we did the same thing. Then from 30 yards, we did pitch shots using all three hinges. I learned how my pivot has real power and that a level handle must be my starting point if I am ever going to use "address hands," and discover where both arms are fully extended.
We then went to the sand bunker where a double cock wrists combined with my pocket pivot allowed me to hit every kind of sand shot, but mostly vertical hinged, out of dry and very wet sand, ON PURPOSE! My sand game yesterday, cost me 12 shots. If I had been able to hit a cut lob shot and reasonably stop the ball near any pin, I would have saved another 10 shots.
As John helped my lovely 5-2" wife learn her pivot with several clever drills, I tried some level handle/ right pocket progressions. The driving range has a hockey net at 55 yards. I pretended I was a Philly Flyer, (not a Minnesota North Star, not a Chicago Black Hawk, and not a Toronto Maple Leaf, ) and I filled that net up with chips using all three hinge progressions.
Later in the day, I realized that a full level pivot makes the the seperation of the back elbow from the back hip and left palm down, automatic. I figured out the differences in PW and my 54 and 58 degree sand wedges with all three hinges and my 9 iron.
Using my other clubs including my woods and driver, I was able to hit shots that drew or screamed low and ran on purpose (HH), flew straight and high (AH), and shots that dropped from the sky and stopped very quickly (VH).
John showed me how to trust my pivot, today, and helped me create a full, powerful swing by starting with the smallest level movement of the handle and turning my pocket fully left. I stopped balls dead on astro turf from 30 yards away hitting full-blooded vertical hinges. I hit 20 sand shots from 2 feet away of a 4 foot lip out of wet sand
AND.....I LIKED IT....ALOT...when they stopped a few feet of the plastic bucket I was aimed at.
I also got to hear some neat Ben Doyle stories from a man that took lessons from him, including a neat way to square my stance and body to the plane of a sand wedge.
We also figured my Mrs. needs a set of women's petite's clubs.
Thanks John for a very good day, and all of you great folks for your encouragement!
Pat
Originally Posted by innercityteacher
And Yoda said this...
And they do this by learning to hit the Ball with the heel of the
Right Hand (and its Pressure against the Left Hand Thumb).
Learn to hit the Ball with the Pressure Points in your Hands.
The Club becomes irrelevant.
Maybe, this will give me my 250 with the driver!
__________________
HP, grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Progress and not perfection is the goal every day!
Last edited by innercityteacher : 04-18-2010 at 11:45 PM.
Hinge actions and pressure points. That's all our buddy Jerry thinks about and his game is going so well he's giddy. You have found a WONDERFUL teacher!!!
We see guys come and go, most don't want to do the work, you are a TGM'er for life and I couldn't be happier for you!
Kevin
Originally Posted by innercityteacher
John started our lesson stressing that he had looked at my tape many times and fond me flipping constantly.
I confessed I had lost my wedges all day in my round yesterday, while trying to concentrate on turning my sternum. I shot a 96 yesterday, starting with a 46 and totally falling apart on the back 9 holes. John said he realized I did not understand the wedges or how to tie my wedges to my pivot.
Chipping progressions were on tap. John started by showing me how the handle of the club travels on a level swing with basic motion. It took me awhile to fire the handle level and left using my right pocket as my pivot point. From about 20 feet away, John showed me how to take swing progressions, slowly, and hit angle hinges, horizontal hinges, and vertical hinges.
With John's help, I was able to stop chips on astroturf from the short distance, using all three hinges with my 54 degree sand wedge.
From 35 or 40 feet, we did the same thing. Then from 30 yards, we did pitch shots using all three hinges. I learned how my pivot has real power and that a level handle must be my starting point if I am ever going to use "address hands," and discover where both arms are fully extended.
We then went to the sand bunker where a double cock wrists combined with my pocket pivot allowed me to hit every kind of sand shot, but mostly vertical hinged, out of dry and very wet sand, ON PURPOSE! My sand game yesterday, cost me 12 shots. If I had been able to hit a cut lob shot and reasonably stop the ball near any pin, I would have saved another 10 shots.
As John helped my lovely 5-2" wife learn her pivot with several clever drills, I tried some level handle/ right pocket progressions. The driving range has a hockey net at 55 yards. I pretended I was a Philly Flyer, (not a Minnesota North Star, not a Chicago Black Hawk, and not a Toronto Maple Leaf, ) and I filled that net up with chips using all three hinge progressions.
Later in the day, I realized that a full level pivot makes the the seperation of the back elbow from the back hip and left palm down, automatic. I figured out the differences in PW and my 54 and 58 degree sand wedges with all three hinges and my 9 iron.
Using my other clubs including my woods and driver, I was able to hit shots that drew or screamed low and ran on purpose (HH), flew straight and high (AH), and shots that dropped from the sky and stopped very quickly (VH).
John showed me how to trust my pivot, today, and helped me create a full, powerful swing by starting with the smallest level movement of the handle and turning my pocket fully left. I stopped balls dead on astro turf from 30 yards away hitting full-blooded vertical hinges. I hit 20 sand shots from 2 feet away of a 4 foot lip out of wet sand
AND.....I LIKED IT....ALOT...when they stopped a few feet of the plastic bucket I was aimed at.
I also got to hear some neat Ben Doyle stories from a man that took lessons from him, including a neat way to square my stance and body to the plane of a sand wedge.
We also figured my Mrs. needs a set of women's petite's clubs.
Thanks John for a very good day, and all of you great folks for your encouragement!
Pat
__________________
I could be wrong. I have been before, and will be again.
It took me about fifteen minutes to generate my pivot with my right hip. Then with my sternum. I had to completely ignore my hands. 
"Why do you have your back elbow stuck on your back hip?" 
"Because I saw it in the Ben Hogan book?" John explained that without width of swing on plane, there is no power. John showed me how the stuck elbow deflects the thrust line of the pivot away from the plane line. I tried a few five woods and pushed everything out to the right. I realized I was concentrating so hard on feeling the elbow hip seperation, that I had no idea where the plain or my balance was. John said "It'll take you awhile to find your balance with the elbow seperated from your hip, keep the palm down on the backswing. Remember the plane line."
I stopped balls dead on astro turf from 30 yards away hitting full-blooded vertical hinges. 
I hit 20 sand shots from 2 feet away of a 4 foot lip out of wet sand
Linear Mode
