[lagster]

Originally Posted by Martee

For some time I have argued with myself regarding this statement, TGM is a catalog, not a method or style. It has been said many times in defense of the book, etc. Granted the book first 11 chapters are in fact a catalog, a description, etc. but none really meat the definition of a style or method. Now Chapter 12 provides two stroke patterns (Hitting/12-1 and Swinging/12-2) which define a golf stroke style. Take 12-5-3, the method defined, how to teach either of those patterns. In addition, throughout chapters 2 - 10 there are a number of drills and exercises to support Chapter 12. TGM would in fact meet the standard definition of method and style regarding the golf stroke. The application of the method and style is the bare bones, it does need the flesh and approach added to make it a polished product as well as personalized to both the instructor and student learning style and method of instruction. A lot of golfers often have trouble understanding the difference between 'position' and 'alignment'. Explain the bent right wrist or flat left wrist, they see that as a position. The understanding of alignments often lack relationships and appear to be positions. How it is actually taught and learned, Tom Stickney wrote an article a while back regarding the kinds of teachers and to more less the extent how golfers learn. http://web.archive.org/web/200303121...r/stik0302.htm IMO TGM has more than some give it credit for....

I totally agree Martee.
I have always said that TGM is more than a catalog. Many claim the book is just a reference catalog. I think people who only see a catalog have narrow insight to the book. It is both a catalog and a system. Homer included two classics strokes- 12-1-1 and 12-2-0. Study TGM with Yoda and try to say you just learned the catalog portion of the book.

and...

Alignment golf sets the stroke in motion. The problem with (fixed) position golf is that it lacks the connection of the dots. There is so much between each position. It is like presenting a Broadway play using every third line of the script.

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Good posts by everyone!!

What about the learning styles? I think that the reason many are afraid of TGM is because in their mind it is something that is learned in segments, positions, alignments, or whatever term one might choose to call them. Some people simply want to think of their swing as an entire motion at all times. They are probably the so called non-mechanical, "FEEL" players.

Now... many things are usually learned in segments. Typing, dancing, musical instruments, etc.. Among these, there are those rare people that teach themselves to type, can dance from observation and mimicking, and can play musical instruments by ear(they don't even read music).

How would you handle this type of person if they wanted a little TGMizing?