Report from the range. 1st time hitting balls in forever

[jim_0068]

Well

It's been FOREVER since i've played any golf and almost as long since i hit any balls and last few times out i've been having some issues:

straight fades
inconsistent contact
low shots

Kinda sounds like me LOL.

Last time i went to see Manzella i kinda settled on the Never hook again pattern which is basically the turning shoulder plane. However lately that hasn't been working. So i spent the time at the range hitting A LOT OF BALLS and experiementing with A LOT of patterns:

The twist away pattern
Never Hook Again pattern
Tomasello right arm pattern
Doyle Pattern
And some of my own that i've created along the way..

And the winner was.................
















The Tomasello pattern that is on the site here. Can anyone explain to me why this works for me? I've gone from using the Twist Away pattern almost 2 years ago to the Never Hook Again pattern about 6 months ago and now i've settled on this.

If i use any other pattern i get:

good contact
solid compression
low ballflight
basically a fade

--------------

In all honestly the ONLY THING that feels different is the takeaway (full sweep loading action) and the "fire the right arm."

The "Feel" is almost like throwaway but as long as i keep pivoting (as he says in the video by clearing that left hip) i don't throw it away. Almost impossible.

Any explanations?

[EdZ]

Over acceleration is often a problem that is related to poor rhythm.

When you are 'throwing' and 'clearing' at your fullest, your rhythm is better. In a nutshell, you've kept your hands and chest in the proper relationship through impact by speeding up your arms. You could also do the opposite, slow down your lower body and keep your previous arm speed - another perspective on how to balance the forces in the swing.

If you are hitting a low fade with real compression and 'solid' downward contact, it sounds like it is possible you have shafts that are too stiff for your load/unload? Or that you have over done the forward leaning shaft through impact (which few can do, but it can be very tough to play well from there). Alternately, you may simply be on a very steep plane.

Doing slow motion swings and letting gravity help with your tempo can have positive effects.

[jim_0068]

If you are hitting a low fade with real compression and 'solid' downward contact, it sounds like it is possible you have shafts that are too stiff for your load/unload? Or that you have over done the forward leaning shaft through impact (which few can do, but it can be very tough to play well from there). Alternately, you may simply be on a very steep plane.

Tomasello style, high/long/straight

Other style, low/fade/inconsistent

So it isn't an equiptment issue. It's a swing issue

i like to make sure i "hit down" so i can at times overdo the foward lean. Probably why Manzella had me have such a foward ball position when i see him. Also i do come in too steep but that is usually the result of a bad takeaway or just trying to save the shot.

I think the tomasello way just allows me to not "hold onto" the accumulator angle so long and allows me to not have so much foward lean which results in better contact and a higher flight.

[birdie_man]

What exactly is the Tomasello pattern now?

Is it in one of his vids?

[jim_0068]

Honestly, there are only 2 things that i "Feel" i'm doing different than the Never Hook Again pattern:

1) the takeway
2) the release point

Watch Tomasello vids on the hands and on power.

Other than that, everything else is the same

[phillygolf]

Well



The twist away pattern
Never Hook Again pattern
Tomasello right arm pattern
Doyle Pattern

Not sure about the patterns. But maybe you should try......

12-1-0 or 12-2-0

If you are hitting low fades with no throwaway - maybe you are supinating your left wrist, not sure.

But one thing I am for sure is - and all do respect to Mr Manzella, Mr Doyle and Mr Tomasello, Lord knows they are all respected teachers and certainly have done their part to forge ahead TGM....but...

Mr Kelley recommended 12-1-0, 12-2-0.

Maybe a try there?

Aw...come on....give it a shot, what do you think?

[brianmanzella]

With all due respect to Mr. Manzella....which would be me....the Never SLICE Again Pattern and The Never Hook Again Pattern are only FIX IT PATTERNS in most cases.

Now, Jimmy can certainly do one one the more orthodox patterns.

But if anyone thinks he would have played better in the short term....or would be able to PERFORM one of the orthodox patterns now—BETTER—is high or just doesn't know any better.

Just my water-logged opinion, of course

[SwingNorthtoSouth]

Water logged or not, we value your opinion just the same.

Just thinking of water logged as a swing feel. That heavy feeling through the ball.......................

Thanks Brian!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jim_0068]

I figured out why it works for me and brian will confirm:

I have a takeaway that tends to go outside, OFTEN. However i like to do the RFP. And if you're not careful you can easily take it to the outside on the takeaway. Also, I have a problem of getting outside the plane line during the backswing instead of staying on the line or slightly inside it. My takeaways that i tried to fix it were a true shoulder turn takeaway which i didn't like and a modified STT that utilizes a RFP pickup as well. However the takeaway that Tomasello suggests just works for me.

What allows me to take it back on plane in the backswing is the full sweep loading action that tomasello suggests.

I've been to the range 2 more times and it just really helps ME.

[Martee]

With all due respect to Mr. Manzella....which would be me....the Never SLICE Again Pattern and The Never Hook Again Pattern are only FIX IT PATTERNS in most cases.

Now, Jimmy can certainly do one one the more orthodox patterns.

But if anyone thinks he would have played better in the short term....or would be able to PERFORM one of the orthodox patterns now—BETTER—is high or just doesn't know any better.

Just my water-logged opinion, of course

That is an interesting comment, I was under a bit of a different impression, yes these were fixes but were patterns to achieve, if that makes sense, kind of like a particular method or style to learn, etc.

I wonder how many others misunderstood that?

But from reported comments they do seem to work for some...

Best of luck Brian, sounds like it will be a while till things settle down for you, glad to hear all is well. Good Golfing...