O.K. guys, allow me to introduce myself. I am a 38 year old male, 6'1, 180, right handed, in pretty good shape, who discovered TGM via the GEA website, and am now a convert. I first played golf 5 years ago, and fell in love with it. I shoot in the 90s.. I hit my driver about 220, my seven iron about 135 carry, 10 roll, pitching wedge 100 carry on the button. My distances have always been pathetic, because I could never compress the ball, rarely took divots and would always hit line drives; in fact the only clubs I ever hit somewhat high are my pw and sw. Pretty sad, I know- I just wanted to give you a little background so you can see what you're dealing with- your garden variety sucky golfer. Anyway, I bought the Little Yellow Book and have been reading posts on here for a month now. I want to learn to hit, and last week I went out in freezing Brooklyn and dropped some balls (had the local dogtrack all to myself) and tried the "hitting" swing (or at least my inept/newbie version of what I think it might be). I thought about nothing but trying to drive pp1 down and out at the ball (yes, I know- it should be PAST the ball, but we're talking baby steps here) and gentlemen, VIOLA- I started hitting high draws FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE! Now granted, I fatted a ton of balls, and also hit some of my "low line drive" draws, but the point is that SOME of the shots came off better than I'd EVER hit an iron in my life. Which makes sense, because I'd never, ever, ever tried to hit the ball "out to right field." Ever. I'd always come more or less down the line (probably out to in) and kind of slapped the ball toward the hole. Anyway, even with my ferociously imperfect version of "hitting," I could see light at the end of the tunnel, just based on the shots that did come off as planned. Naturally, I have loads of questions, and if you graciously take the time to answer any of them, try to give me plain english COMBINED with the book (if you must use the book)- because I'm lost as far as the book goes (for example, I just learned that rolling your arms is the "swivel" -----because BlackJackNY translated the term for me!!). Also- think of the answering of my inane queries as helping all of the other total TGM novices out there- and I'll bet our numbers are growing. Believe me when I say that I will make a treck to see Ted at the swamp this summer- but until then, I'm gonna ask my childlike questions and hope some kind soul takes mercy on my ignorance. So here goes...
1) The grip- should it be in the PALM of my left hand? And how about the right- should it be in the fingers of the right? Because I think I remember someone saying "in the cup of the right," which for me is impossible- in order for me to have the middle of my right hand heel pad pressing down on the bottom of my left thumb pad, the grip's gotta be in my right FINGERS. The only way to have it in the "cup" of my RIGHT hand would be if my hand was twice as large as it is. Unless I'm missing something, which I probably am. Also- tight or loose? And should I be pressing pp1 and trying to keep my right wrist bent throughout the entire swing?
2) Stance: err toward the narrower side of things or the wider side of things?
3) Ball Position: err toward forward or backward? Err toward standing closer to it or farther from it?
4) Shaft: "in line with the right forearm at address"- what does that mean? I know this may sound realy stupid, but does "in line" mean literally as if the shaft and my right forearm form one straight, unbroken stick? If so, then, for me at least, this necessitates my dropping the right elbow down a couple of inches in order to achieve this, which feels really unnatural and convoluted.
5) Takeaway: STRAIGHT back (meaning clubface looking at the ball as long as possible) or what? When I do this, it seems as though I have to almost re-route the club back behind me and to the indide (after getting to the top) in order to hit from the inside and down-and out. I know this is an awful explanation so let me put it another way- straight back feels like a steep plane, which isn't a problem in and of itself, but then I'm hitting out to right field, so my kind-of straighter/steeper plane must now change to a new, more back-and-inside-and-behind-me one, in order that I may come from there into the inside, bottom left quadrant of the ball. What am I missing? Again, sorry for the horribly phrased question(s)- I'm doing my best. Another thing- what does Right Forearm Pickup mean, exactly? Lift the club "up" immediately or pull it straight back with the right forearm AND THEN move up? Or some combination?
5) Maintaining the FLW/BRW: all the way past the ball? My God- how?
6) Target: Since I'm coming from the inside out, shouldn't my "target line" be an inch or so outside of the top right hand corner of the ball? I mean, my clubface obviously points toward my real target (the flag, or whatever), but shouldn't I be concentrating on "right field," including looking out there before I swing? After all, isn't that where I'm trying to go, directionally, with the club? Aren't I trying to hit down and out on a more or less 45* angle to the actual, desired, intended line of flight?
7) Hips: Bumping toward right field to begin the downswing, or no? And if yes- is there anyway I can forget about them and concentrate solely on my upper body (hands, forearm, whatever)- because everytime I add some lower body downswing trigger, I mess something else up/forget something I'm supposed to do. Can I "forget" about my lower body or do I need to consciously do something? Also, how much should my hips turn on the backswing?
Practicing in my living room: what should I be doing initially?
That's it for now. I apologize for the length of this post. Any help anyone can give me would be GREATLY appreciated.
WOW! Aren't you full of questions??!! First of all, welcome to the journey. Remember, it's not a destination. Some of these are very general and I'll answer them as such. I hope it helps.
"The grip- should it be in the PALM of my left hand?"
Yes.
"And how about the right- should it be in the fingers of the right?"
The pad of the first joint of the first finger (#3 pressure point) should be on the aft side of the shaft, and the left thumb should fit in the cup of the right hand. If holding a wooden dowel with only the right hand, it would fit in the cup.
"Also- tight or loose?"
Your hands are clamps. You don't want loose clamps.
"And should I be pressing pp1 and trying to keep my right wrist bent throughout the entire swing?"
For a hitter starting at impact address, yes. It starts bent and stays bent (frozen).
"Stance: err toward the narrower side of things or the wider side of things?"
Both: Driver=wide, SW=narrow
"Ball Position: err toward forward or backward?"
SW=middle, Driver=forward
"Err toward standing closer to it or farther from it?"
It depends on who you are. I've seen exaggerations of both. Get the alignments of the hands and arms right and I'll bet you'll be the right distance away. DO NOT "let the arms hang comfortably."
"Shaft: "in line with the right forearm at address"- what does that mean? I know this may sound really stupid, but does "in line" mean literally as if the shaft and my right forearm form one straight, unbroken stick? If so, then, for me at least, this necessitates my dropping the right elbow down a couple of inches in order to achieve this, which feels really unnatural and convoluted."
Maybe unnatural compared to your 'normal'. It would be a perfectly straight line until you add wrist bend, but it's still on the same plane.
"Takeaway: STRAIGHT back (meaning clubface looking at the ball as long as possible) or what? When I do this, it seems as though I have to almost re-route the club back behind me and to the inside (after getting to the top) in order to hit from the inside and down-and out. I know this is an awful explanation so let me put it another way- straight back feels like a steep plane, which isn't a problem in and of itself, but then I'm hitting out to right field, so my kind-of straighter/steeper plane must now change to a new, more back-and-inside-and-behind-me one, in order that I may come from there into the inside, bottom left quadrant of the ball. What am I missing? Again, sorry for the horribly phrased question(s)- I'm doing my best."
The cubface opens and closes. Don't keep it square.
"Another thing- what does Right Forearm Pickup mean, exactly? Lift the club "up" immediately or pull it straight back with the right forearm AND THEN move up? Or some combination?"
The body pivot (horizontal rotation) along with the bending of the right elbow (vertical lifting) creates an angled plane. It's not around then up, and it's not up then around, it's up and around simultaneously.
"Maintaining the FLW/BRW: all the way past the ball? My God- how?"
Pressure
"Target: Since I'm coming from the inside out, shouldn't my "target line" be an inch or so outside of the top right hand corner of the ball? I mean, my clubface obviously points toward my real target (the flag, or whatever), but shouldn't I be concentrating on "right field," including looking out there before I swing? After all, isn't that where I'm trying to go, directionally, with the club? Aren't I trying to hit down and out on a more or less 45* angle to the actual, desired, intended line of flight?"
See the geometry of the circle that Yoda drew for 12piece. It's in 12piece's room. You need to see the three dimensional geometry of the circle.
"Hips: Bumping toward right field to begin the downswing, or no?"
It depends on your delivery line.
"And if yes- is there anyway I can forget about them and concentrate solely on my upper body (hands, forearm, whatever)- because every time I add some lower body downswing trigger, I mess something else up/forget something I'm supposed to do. Can I "forget" about my lower body or do I need to consciously do something?"
9-1; "Emphatically, Hands are not educated until they control the Pivot."
"Also, how much should my hips turn on the backswing?"
Enough to get the right shoulder on plane.
"Practicing in my living room: what should I be doing initially?"
Get an impact bag and some dowels. Get the address alignments and learn impact fix.
Hacker,
Read what Ted has written, and incubate! So much of what we learn needs to soak in. I have spent this winter going thru old posts and copying and pasting what I thought were appropriate were for a hitter. Last week I finally got my first range session in in 2 months, and I was smoking the ball. Even hit 5 3 woods off the deck on a stright line, and I can never do that! Anyway, assimilate, learn, and be patient. It'll come. And, if you want to play a round this spring, let me know!
Thanks to both of you guys.
BlackJack- you've helped me on GEA, greatly.
Ted- brother, I'm the guy (twan55 on GEA) who had to go to Berlin this summer for work and therefore missed the Long Island sessions and was distraught about it. I'm coming to see you, come hell or highwater, this summer (if possible, in June).
I hope you guys realize that just by applying and doing MAYBE one thing correctly, I hit some shots the other day that I personally have never hit in my five years of playing. Honest. I believe in the book. Dukenasty's posts did it for me.
All of you guys are patient as all get out with guys like me, and I appreciate it. I'm trying to decipher the book, but it's hard, and I DO NOT WANT TO INGRAINE THE WRONG THINGS. That scares me more than anything else.
Two last questions, to you or anybody else...
-what would you say is the most common mistake beginning hitters make, i.e., what should I ESPECIALLY try to avoid?
-Is Brian Manzella's "Confessions of a former flipper" CD a good buy?
Once again, thanks.
-what would you say is the most common mistake beginning hitters make, i.e., what should I ESPECIALLY try to avoid?
Trying to Hit too hard and being too rigid or 'wooden'. Remember that tremendous energy can be consumed in trying to offset conflicting alignments, without ever achieving your full speed potential.
Originally Posted by hopefulhacker
-Is Brian Manzella's "Confessions of a former flipper" CD a good buy?
Yes, it's a good buy. It's Swinging based, so make sure you filter out the relevant information.
I have been a convert for a while now and would highly recommend the following to get you on the right track:
1. Look at all the video here....first and download them for future looks too. Yoda has a DVD coming so be on the look out, I expect it will be at the top of my list.
2. I highly recommend videos from Manzella's site especially former flipper and building blocks (which is new). The building blocks is great since it starts with grip and moves on to chips, pitches and full swing info.
3. I also love Bobby Schaeffer videos from OHP, especially the one on illusions and the one that discusses the full swing (Ultimate Power swing....title off but close).
4. And finally, if that is not enough, I like the DVD from Chuck Evans but if you do the above, you have it all anyway.
Hope this help. Good luck.
I too was like you (20 plus years) of slices, and no divot. Fixed both in about a month of hitting chips and pitches, working on impact bag, dowels, flashlights, and tennis racquets (search on this site for how to do drills).
Keys for me were getting a true neutral grip, setting flying wedges, and aiming point with hands.
We are similar in size and build (I do hit it a bit further, lifted weights as a youngster) but now kill the ball off the tee (260-280) and my irons are much, much better with low boring trajectory. Still have some fat shots (too much lateral slide) and do hit off line sometimes (used to lining up for slice) but all in all, much, much, much better after 8 months. I did spend a month or two just hitting chips and pitches with my 7, 8, 9, PW, Lob and Sand Wedges before I moved to a full swing and/or my woods. Lucky for me, I am in Texas so the weather is great almost the entire year.
Good luck. By the way, I don't make money from anyone on any site but am passing on what worked for me. Also, these are all for swingers (which I am) but much is the same (accumulators, etc).
__________________
Kevin
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Thomas Edison knew 1800 ways not to build a light bulb.
I'm coming to see you, come hell or highwater, this summer (if possible, in June).
Why wait until June, hopefulhacker? Come and see us at Old Waverly on April 21-23! You will learn in a truly magical environment from Ted, V.J., Tony and me, four Instructors totally dedicated to helping you improve your Game.
Jumpstart your summer season. Throw all those 'can't' reasons into the bin and reach for the 'can.'
Practicing in my living room: what should I be doing initially?
Hybrid Mode
