Okay so I've been TGMin' it for about 2-1/2 months now and I have deinitley seen improvemnet, no question. My pitching and chipping has improved leaps and bounds as well as putting so I feel so much more confident 100 yards and in and the scores are actually reflecting that.
The problem I'm having is translating that feeling I have throught the hitting zone while chipping and pitching to the full swing. I have seen improvement with my worst problem (topping the ball) with some very good advie from Compda (AKA Jusin ) but that great feeling and quality of contact that I get from prcticing TGM chipping and pitching still eludes me with the full swing
I am feeling the problem with monitoring the flat left wrist and the bent right wrist in the hitting zone and I really don't know if it's being sustained and what it would feel like when correctly executed in the full swing
So I know this is all in the learning process and I am committed to trusting the process but any and all advice isa welcome and appreciated.
Find the point where you still have good contact, be that a short chip, or a long pitch. Try a motion that is a bit longer. If you have an issue - that is the place to work next -
Homer called this the first 'wobbly point'.
That may sound overly simplistic, but it is hard for most people to work on the small swings for more than a short while.
When I go to the range for practice, I carry two clubs. My wedge and my 8 iron.
I spend 85% of my time hitting shots less than 100 yards, and the rest hitting my 8 iron in 'slow motion' - I usually hit a full 8 iron 152 on the course, but in practice, I hit at a flag that is 130 with a full, smooth, flowing motion. I alternate distance/trajectory/shape and target on EACH swing - just like on the course.
Also, when practicing, there are times to be 'target focused' and times to just 'free wheel'. When I 'free wheel', I let myself completely give up any thoughts of a target, I simply just make a motion, and hold my finish. This lets me learn the feel for the result that just 'happened'. Just letting the club swing.
It sounds like the 'punch' shot is the place for you to focus next. Learn to drive the ball down into the ground, with the hands ahead and finish without letting the clubhead pass your hands. You may be surprised how much force you can use while still keeping those hands ahead, because the force goes downplane, into the ground.
Also, use a broom or mop held about halfway down, with the handle against your left side (running up under your left arm). Don't let it hit you in the side
__________________
"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
Find the point where you still have good contact, be that a short chip, or a long pitch. Try a motion that is a bit longer. If you have an issue - that is the place to work next -
Homer called this the first 'wobbly point'.
That may sound overly simplistic, but it is hard for most people to work on the small swings for more than a short while.
When I go to the range for practice, I carry two clubs. My wedge and my 8 iron.
I spend 85% of my time hitting shots less than 100 yards, and the rest hitting my 8 iron in 'slow motion' - I usually hit a full 8 iron 152 on the course, but in practice, I hit at a flag that is 130 with a full, smooth, flowing motion. I alternate distance/trajectory/shape and target on EACH swing - just like on the course.
Also, when practicing, there are times to be 'target focused' and times to just 'free wheel'. When I 'free wheel', I let myself completely give up any thoughts of a target, I simply just make a motion, and hold my finish. This lets me learn the feel for the result that just 'happened'. Just letting the club swing.
It sounds like the 'punch' shot is the place for you to focus next. Learn to drive the ball down into the ground, with the hands ahead and finish without letting the clubhead pass your hands. You may be surprised how much force you can use while still keeping those hands ahead, because the force goes downplane, into the ground.
Also, use a broom or mop held about halfway down, with the handle against your left side (running up under your left arm). Don't let it hit you in the side
This is my favorite Edz post to date! Copying to my notes.
What does one do if the problem is in reverse? I can hit full shots adequately (though as evidenced by other recent posts of mine, there's still plenty of work to be done). The shorter I get, though, the more disasterous the results are, so much so that I can't chip without topping or shanking the ball. I've resorted to a hitting motion for chips and short pitches for the course (this has yielded wonderful results and tempted me with switching over completely to hitting) but since I'm trying to learn swinging, I feel as if I should master the 2 ft to 2ft chip and arms parallel pitch with a swinging procedure.
What happens is I start shanking the hell out of the ball and I give up. For me the wobbly point is the reverse of mabramb. Should I work in reverse or start from scratch with the chip trying to figure out why the hell I can't seem to get it?
tls2351 - it sounds like the short shots are the place to begin. In addition to the broom/mop drill, you may want to start with just putts, left hand only, then right hand only.
As you do them, focus on the 'swinging' motion, and on keeping the hand leading, the slightly forward leaning shaft.
It can be helpful to use a bit of a stronger left hand too.
As you start, don't worry about where the ball goes, your focus should be on listening for the 'click' of solid contact, and on a smooooooth flowing motion.
Chips next, which are harder to do one handed than most think! Keep those hands ahead, and hit 'down' on the ball, trying to hit a spot on the ground in front of it.
Flat left wrist, bent right wrist
__________________
"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
Okay so I've been TGMin' it for about 2-1/2 months now and I have deinitley seen improvemnet, no question. My pitching and chipping has improved leaps and bounds as well as putting so I feel so much more confident 100 yards and in and the scores are actually reflecting that.
The problem I'm having is translating that feeling I have throught the hitting zone while chipping and pitching to the full swing. I have seen improvement with my worst problem (topping the ball) with some very good advie from Compda (AKA Jusin ) but that great feeling and quality of contact that I get from prcticing TGM chipping and pitching still eludes me with the full swing
I am feeling the problem with monitoring the flat left wrist and the bent right wrist in the hitting zone and I really don't know if it's being sustained and what it would feel like when correctly executed in the full swing
So I know this is all in the learning process and I am committed to trusting the process but any and all advice isa welcome and appreciated.
Michael
Hi Mike buddy,
"but that great feeling and quality of contact that I get from prcticing TGM chipping and pitching still eludes me with the full swing"
This great feeling and quality of contact eludes you because (and I hazard a guess)of the addition of pivot motion in the Total Motion per 12-5-3.
Not to say that there are no pivot components in 12-5-1 and 12-5-2 the Basic and Acquired Motions or the chip and pitch strokes - they are just zeroed out.
I would suspect that in your full swing, the pivot hinders rather than helps your full swing.
Per 9-0: "The Three Zones are a natural division of the action. Their identities must be maintained in teaching, practice and playing. And unless developed in sequence, a very weak "compensated" game is inevitable."
Train the pivot (Zone 1) then let the hands control the pivot. Per 9-1, "Emphatically, Hands are not educated until they control the Pivot."
) but that great feeling and quality of contact that I get from prcticing TGM chipping and pitching still eludes me with the full swing 
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