Close Encounters Tape - A Lesson With Lynn

[MizunoJoe]

I'm with you Frank. I think MJ is challenging Yoda into something we both know is bogus.

Lynn's job is to unlock the yellow book, something he has done marvelously close to two years now. Having been to two workshops with Lynn I still marvel at how he teaches the hands through the brain as he explains The Golfing Machine concepts before heading to the practice range.

I got to watch Ben, Lynn, Brian and Ted teach in Canton- each are different in approach (a wonderful thing btw) but each are at the top of my short list of talent.

Maybe Lynn is not the instructional guru via video that MJ needs. I suggest then, buying a video from Brian or renting a tape from Ben and asking him for a beginner.

Why didn't this post get deleted along with my reply?

As I pointed out originally, I don't really "need" it, because I can already keep the clubhead below my hands.

[Bagger Lance]

You want it, MJ? Okay, you got it!

Get ready to que it up, Bagger. It's comin' your way today.

lb

Tis the season!

[12 piece bucket]

I would have him grip down on the shaft of a mid-iron and secure the grip to the inside of the left forearm with a velcro strap. Have him hit pitch shots with the pivot only, making sure he doesn't push with the right tricep. After he gets the hang of it, have him hit little pitch shots off the ground with a driver, gripping it normally.

Cool. The strap thing would be pretty much intensive therapy. Why hitting driver pitches of the deck? I like the sound of this one. I'm gonna try that.

Thanks man!

Bucket

[MizunoJoe]

Cool. The strap thing would be pretty much intensive therapy. Why hitting driver pitches of the deck? I like the sound of this one. I'm gonna try that.

Thanks man!

Bucket

The driver is the "test" to see if you REALLY got it. The longer the club, the more the tendency to revert to flipping and you can't hit a little chip by timing a flip with a driver - you'll usually chunk it or else hit it too far.

[Yoda]

Joe,

I'm truly interested in what you would prescribe for the guy in Ben's video. I ask because I truly would like to know. I know that you have issue with "hands controlling" the pivot.

I would have him grip down on the shaft of a mid-iron and secure the grip to the inside of the left forearm with a velcro strap. Have him hit pitch shots with the pivot only, making sure he doesn't push with the right tricep. After he gets the hang of it, have him hit little pitch shots off the ground with a driver, gripping it normally.

Go back to the video and you will find that the Flat Left Wrist is not the problem. In fact, the student exhibits a good intellectual and physical command of that alignment.

Instead, the problem is an exaggerated Axis Tilt during the Start Down and Downstroke. He achieves this over-tilting of his spine (back and away from the Ball) by dropping his Right Shoulder severely Under Plane. This misalignment, in turn, is achieved by allowing his Head to drop back and down -- he Sways and he Bobs. The result is obvious: He continually hits 'up' on the Ball -- Scooping -- all the while doing a yeoman's job of maintaining a Flat Left Wrist.

In fact, he apparently has absolutely no sense of the correct Three-Dimensional Impact Geometry (Down, Out and Forward), much less how to achieve it. Thus, the cure is not more work on the Flat Left Wrist, but on teaching him (1) how the Body Pivot works in the correct Start Down; (2) how his Head should be positioned at Address; and (3) how to maintain that Head Position from Address to the end of the Follow-Through (Both Arms Straight position).

In other words, this student has Pivot and Stationary Head problems (Zone #1), not a Flat Left Wrist problem (Zones #2 and #3), and they must be treated accordingly.

[Bagger Lance]

Why didn't this post get deleted along with my reply?

As I pointed out originally, I don't really "need" it, because I can already keep the clubhead below my hands.

Joe,

Nobody on our end deleted it. Takes a lot to get Sheriff Bagger riled up and I usually send a PM if something needs to be addressed in a post. As long as things don't get personal, all is good.

I've said it before, we value your contributions and in some cases, it helps bring out the best in us.

[12 piece bucket]

Go back to the video and you will find that the Flat Left Wrist is not the problem. In fact, the student exhibits a good intellectual and physical command of that alignment.

Instead, the problem is an exaggerated Axis Tilt during the Start Down and Downstroke. He achieves this over-tilting of his spine (back and away from the Ball) by dropping his Right Shoulder severely Under Plane. This misalignment, in turn, is achieved by allowing his Head to drop back and down -- he Sways and he Bobs. The result is obvious: He continually hits 'up' on the Ball -- Scooping -- all the while doing a yeoman's job of maintaining a Flat Left Wrist.

In fact, he apparently has absolutely no sense of the correct Three-Dimensional Impact Geometry (Down, Out and Forward), much less how to achieve it. Thus, the cure is not more work on the Flat Left Wrist, but on teaching him (1) how the Body Pivot works in the correct Start Down; (2) how his Head should be positioned at Address; and (3) how to maintain that Head Position from Address to the end of the Follow-Through (Both Arms Straight position).

In other words, this student has Pivot and Stationary Head problems (Zone #1), not a Flat Left Wrist problem (Zones #2 and #3), and they must be treated accordingly.

Lynn,

You are precisely on point as always. I went back an reviewed. That guy had a very perverted idea of axis tilt. It was even present at address. Then from the top his left shoulder shot straight up in the air. With that pivot he had no chance of achieving any DOWNARD dimension. Even though his left wrist was flat. Zone 2 and Zone 3 can only be as good as Zone 1.

Very nice analysis. It's like EC says, "Just stand there and take it up with the Right Forearm."

Thanks!

Bucket

[YodasLuke]

But how about taking a life-long hack "flipper" and showing us, step by step, how you turn him into the "flattest left wrist" in golf?

Yoda doesn't need my help, but I'd be willing to take that challenge. In fact, I did it last week. I had a new student that was THE worst chipper of the ball I'd EVER seen. He had a flat left wrist to follow-through when he left. I regret that I took no 'before' footage; I could have sent it to Ripley's. The motion he made was worse than devastating. After I helped him, I begged him to repeat how he did it when we started the day, so I could capture it on tape. Sadly, for me, he couldn't. He was fantastic when he left and was just as suprised as I was to see such a transformation. I've seen people get much better in a lesson, but this was one for Candid Camera. I thought someone was hiding in the bushes, waiting to jump out with a camera. I thought Yoda had surely set me up. When you ask a student to hit a 5 foot chip and the club finishes above his head, I'd challenge anyone to keep from belly laughing.
Long story short...it can be done.

[YodasLuke]

I am 70 yrs old and have been a low single digit player for over 50 yrs. I have played and socialized with the very best professionals and amateurs in the world. I have had instructions from U.S. open winners to teaching only pro's.

I took lessons from Luke at "the swamp". I paid for the 5 lesson plan, took 2 and have not returned in 6 months. I learned so much in those 2 lessons that one morning, plus what I learn on LynnBlakeGolf.com that I don't feel the need to go back.

Last week I viewed the "close encounters-a lesson with Lynn. It is without a doubt the finest piece of golf instruction i have ever benefited from. I have no special allegience to Lynn B. or Ted Fort, as I hardly know them. But, I feel indebted to them for what I have learned from LynnBlakeGolf.com. They could make a lot more money for themselves without out these free lessons on tape. They are a proven quality now and worth paying for!

Thank you, Frank. We truly appreciate your kind words.

[EdZ]

A wonderful series Lynn - great stuff!

hinge action with an open hand
hinge action with a fist

A classic! - EdZ