Two best training aids ever:
 

Besides the dowels (which we will always just assume as awesome ;)) are:

1) any kind of plane laser

2) a tac-tic to monitor the FLW

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You really don't need anything other than those two combined with your dowel work to become an UNBELIEVABLE ballstriker, and when i say UNBELIEVABLE i really mean it.

You'll soon start to realize what "tour compression" is and what it's like hitting ball in front of a crowd at the range i promise :D

How do you use the laser. Where do I read about how to?
Thanks.

TGM training aids
 

Check out Mark Evershed's website at www.t-g-s.com for a set of training aids with the TGM golfer in mind. Mark studied with TGM instructor Tom Tomasello.

DG

WRIST FIRM
 

Jim -

Are you familiar with a product called "WristFirm"? It's not cheap but I got one a while back. It keeps your left wrist firm, and thus enables you to keep the right wrist bent. Now what happens when I take it off in a month or two, I don't know. I know I'm not there yet and when I do more than chips, etc., the wrists all fall apart - with it off. Instead of just clicking, it keeps the wrist firm. So . . . maybe one could start with the "wristfirm" and move to the "tac-tic" and then move to nothing???

I can tell you it really works on keeping the left wrist firm. I hit about 100 chip shots today and it's impossible for the left wrist to bend . . . and hence the right wrist stays bent. Been using about 2-3 weeks.

http://www.WRISTFIRM.COM


Dave

Tac-Tic Thoughts
 

Jim,

The Tac-Tic has helped many golfers overcome the biggest alignment disruption in Golf...the Bent Left Wrist through Impact. Could you share with our readers exactly what it is and your own experience with it? Thanks!

WOW...that wristfirm thing looks like it could be very dangerous to hit balls with. I'm not sure how it functions (mechanically) but i'd be afraid of injuring something.

Yoda:

www.tac-tic.com

It is a very simple small device that doesn't lie and lets you know whether you have that FLW or not. You can't fool it. Brian Manzella had me work with one when i went to see him. We worked on keeping it flat all the way throughout the swing.

My left wrist was bent and i kept the face very open through impact so i swung WAAY left to compensate. So once i learned to a proper FLW and hit the ball down/out i didn't have enough swivel. So i practiced with it until i could consistently hit ball after ball without the left wrist flattening.

This really helped me learn clubFACE control and now i don't keep the left wrist flat throughout the entire swing as it does put a lot of pressure on the left arm.

Also i think this is one of the best aids to learn how to really control your wedge shots. I've noticed that the steeper the swing gets the easier it is to sneak in double cocking and a bent left wrist. The MINUTE you do that your distance control just goes OUT THE WINDOW. All of a sudden your normal 90-100 sand wedge shot becomes 80 and you're like WTF?

---

As far as the plane lasers, there is a video of Chuck demonstrating it on his website in the video section. You can simple tape two flashlights together (back to back) and make sure that one of the lights always points at the plane line unless you are parallel to it. This will really get you "on plane." However it is my opinion you don't need to follow it to the "T." At first it will help you learn where to be but i've sinced move my backswing a little off where the laser should be pointing BUT the reason i did is it put ME in the position that allowed me the EASIEST WAY TO DRIVE THE RIGHT SHOULDER DOWNPLANE which is where it alllll matters!

Yoda, how'd i do? :D

"Hey Now -- What's That Sound?!"
 

You did great, Jim. Thanks!

I bought a Wrist Tac-Tic at the PGA Merchandise Show and one for the Left Elbow as well. With the Elbow version, the 'click' indicates a loss of Extensor Action. I'm looking forward to seeing students apply both very soon!

i GUARRANTEE you it is the best investment since your dowels

I agree with Jim about the use of tac-tic. I currently have the elbow one and have ordered the wrist version. They are pretty simple training devices, but IMO, simple is the way to go. I have more training devices than ole Tin Cup could store in his RV. I used to think that was the way to go before I recently discovered TGM.

One thing I discovered about training devices is that they don't in themselves fix anything. You can't expect to start working with something and all the sudden wake up with an incredible swing. The "generic" type swing aids just have never helped me.

I have found they are only useful if you are working on 1 particular thing, like having a flat left wrist. Then they can provide useful feedback during your practise sessions. I think the simpler to use the better...

The tac-tic elbow is great for working on making sure you have extensor action. I have always had a problem with my left arm breaking down at the top of the backswing. When I first got the elbow tac-tic it would click if this happened. The only problem is it is very difficult to "will yourself" to keep your left arm straight. Once I discovered TGM and extensor action it has become much easier to keep my left arm straight by not focusing on it, but instead focus on the right arm. By applying PP1 and using the visual from the book that the right arm wants to straighten (extensor action) it applies the necessary pressure to keep my left arm straight at the top, through impact and all the way to the follow through.

I think by using the dowels with the impact bag, and using the tac-tic wrist thing at the range, I will be able to make equal process with having the long sought after FLW....

Keith

Lynn,

Do they still sell the tic-tac with the Ben Doyle instruction tape? Needless to say, Ben uses the tic-tac in many different ways. I'll bring it along in April if you don't have it. I'll watch it tonight and report on what he does with it.


Another point: I feel that the right bent wrist is responsible for the flat left wrist and not the other way around. If I remember, Ben used the tac on his right hand to have an audio sense of the right bending.

mike

Swing Aids -- Sense And Nonsense
 

Right on, Keith.

Only when the correct Mechanic and its precision Alignments have been identified can you successfully Translate that Mechanic to its Feel Equivalent (Chapter 3). This is Homer Kelley's Star System of Golf: "Let Mechanics produce and Feel reproduce" (1-J).

Ideally, this Component Translation is accomplished under the trained eye of a competent Instructor. However, in lieu of that Instructor -- or in addition to that Instructor -- there are a handful of useful 'feedback' tools that will assist in the correct Translation.

Unfortunately, there are also many such devices that do not deliver the promised goods. Worse yet, they often do deliver the promised goods, but the goods don't work and are often counterproductive! At the 2005 PGA Merchandise Show this past week, I saw plenty of both types.

It occurs to me that it would make a terrific little video just to demonstrate some of these things: To explain what they purport to do and then show why that purpose is just so much nonsense. It would be kind of an Andy Rooney 60 Minutes thing. The problem with the idea is that, once the manufacturers got wind of my purpose, a demo product would suddenly be in short supply!

Re: "Hey Now -- What's That Sound?!"
 

Yoda HELP!!!!
I am now confused about the flat left wrist! As a swinger, in reading my book, specifically 4-D-1 about the double wristcock, 10-18-B. it looks like to me tha the left wrist is not flat on the top. The book also states that it is limited to True centrifugal force swings. If this is the case would the tic tac not be a good aid to someone who swings like this?

Ben Doyle's Tac-Tic Techniques
 

Nobody knows more about Ben Doyle's teaching techniques than one of our own Professional Contributors, Brian Manzella. A PGA member since 1989, Brian has been in golf's teaching crucible for the past 22 years. His results-oriented teaching earned him recognition in 2003 as the PGA Kentucky Section Teacher of the Year. He is also an Authorized Instructor of The Golfing Machine and holds its highest designation, Doctor, Golf Stroke Engineering (GSED).

Brian, could you help us out a bit here with regards to Ben's use of the Tac-Tic? And any tips of your own would also be appreciated.

Thanks!

Ben Doyle appears in the VHS tape that accompanies the Tac-Tic training aid. I will post info about how Ben uses Tac-Tic when I view the tape, hopefully tonight or tomorrow.

Re: Ben Doyle's Tac-Tic Techniques
 

:wink:

Bentley J. Doyle LOVES the tac-tic.

So do I.

The ability to KNOW you HAVE or HAVE NOT changed your address hands into IMPACT HANDS on the backswing, or that you have taken your impact hands from the top and 'un-twisted' them into address hands on the way to imapct is what Ben uses the device for.

...and I do too!

has anyone used this? what are your thoughts?



http://t-g-s.com/devices/pwrClick.html

Power Click
 

I can't really visualize by the picture how the Power Click is supposed to work. I am assuming it's something like the TacTic and the end goal is the same.

The TacTic seems to have a proven track record and does come with a little video (Ben Doyle is one of peole on the tape). I use WristFirm, TacTic, and nothing in my daily workout -- The WristFirm prevents my wrist from bending, the TacTic alerts me if my wrist bends and I'm own my own on the last one.

I don't think I would be afraid to take a chance on it. It looks like good competition for the TacTic. Maybe you'll find somone who has tried it. But no one ever confessed to using the WristFirm. Having used for a month or so I would still buy as it doesn't have the negatives folk have talked about with devices that try to keep the right wrist bent, such as unable to feel pressure points, etc.

I hope you get more feedback.

Dave

Evershed Devices
 

I have seen Evershed use the Power Click on Video....it looks like it should help develop the flat left wrist and bent right wrist feel and condition at impact....Mark has developed a whole integrated system with his training aids, video and book....it's definitely worth looking into....his material is all TGM based.


DG

Re: Evershed Devices
 

I agree with Deleware Golf on the Power Click's purpose and Mark's training aids. Once your wrists (flat left/bent right...flying wedges) are in position, the device will be in the "clicked" position. Then throughout your swing (startup to follow thru) you are trying to maintain (...trying, as in my case...) your flying wedges and never hear the device unclick. If you hear it unclick before (especially) impact, then your flying wedges have broken down. ie....flipping your wrist....I'm sure somebody else could add to this and put it into TGM terms. I'm still at times grasping for the correct terminology...any help is welcomed.

Ratt65

POWER CLICK - BENT RIGHT WRIST
 

I did a little research on the PowerClick. I found out that it fits on the RIGHT HAND (for right handers) and it clicks and unclicks. It clicks once the right wrist is bent and unclicks should it bend.

This individual maintains and teaches that his right wrist remains bent all the way thru the swing. This is a question I had raised earlier, asking if the right wrist is to remain bent all the way thru to finish. Evershed (?) maintains that his does indeed remain bent.

The impression and information I had received was that the right wrist could not remain bent all the way thru the swing.

Obviously a bit of confusion here . . .

Can anyone shed a little? Is there manipulation here or what?

Dave

Hard to pick the two best, but I'd have to throw in the figure 8 strap and an impact bag as contenders, with the swing fan and tac tic up near the top as well.

I am about to get a plane laser. Is the Butch Harmon one good enough or are there alternatives out there?

Thanks.

lasers
 

for lasers I believe you will get the best bang for your buck from:

http://www.golfjustlikethepros.com/

Clyde's products are recommended and used by a number of TGM instructors including Chuck Evans

take a look at his Dual Track as well.

Chris

Clyde makes a "decent" product but not a great one imo. My lasers weren't working very well after receiving them and the plane laser that traces from the butt actually doesn't trace from the butt. It traces a few inches inside the butt which makes traces a straight plane line a little more difficult because using his lasers you are more upright because its more inside.

I will say he offered to replace my lasers and i was just too lazy to send them back, so he does stand behind his products.

I am going to say that the butch harmon laser system is much better for a couple reasons:

its more sturdy
plane laser clamps onto the butt, not inside
the sweetspot laser is closer to the sweet spot
it comes with a nice mat to trace a straight line
laser doubles as a putting laser
nice carrying case
not really much more money

You can pick them up off of ebay for about $50 if you do a search you'll find some people selling them for $49.95 BIN

Got the Harmon plane laser now. My grips are midsize so I am not able to fit it on those. Have to use another club when practicing with the laser, but I can live with that.

Tip regarding the butt laser: I put two chairs chairs 2 feet apart & put the shaft across both backrests. Laser dot on a wall some 8 yards away. Turning the shaft I noticed that the dot on the wall made a pretty big circle, maybe a yard in diameter. Nudging the butt laser slightly I was able to make that circle a LOT smaller. If I hadn't done it I guess the butt laser would have been off by maybe an inch at the top. Now its not.

I wish the instruction video would have been longer, but my first experiences are very promising.

Tic Tac for right wrist?
 

I don't own a tic-tac, never seen one, nor know how it operates. Is it possible to get a tic tac to help maintian the right forearm flying wedge? Prevent the right wrist from cocking? Having a tic-tac to monitor the level right wrist could be simple enough, but more sophisticated technology would probably be needed to monitor the club in line with the right forearm and level right wrist.

Re: Tic Tac for right wrist?
 

Take the tac-tic and put it on your right wrist. Just want to say, this isn't a cocky response but just an honest one. You can put it on the right wrist as well.

OR

Greg Norman's "secret" was made for the right wrist.

---

However both pose the problem that it WILL NOT monitor a cocked right wrist.

Tic tac and strong grips
 

I'm wondering how the tic-tac works if you have a strong left hand? A strong grip will tend to cup the left wrist at the top and Yoda says that this is OK.

Does the tic-tac work with strong grips?

Yes...the small little cup that happens with strong grips won't make the tac-tic "click" unless you have it REALLY REALLY TIGHT to where the slightest cup makes it click. You can leave it a little more comfortable and adjust the strap so it is on the "Edge" of clicking but won't.

DDL I dont believe the tic tac can let you know if you cock the right wrist :(

Not just flailing arround
 

Yoda turned me on to this. I think it can help anyone that uses it. Make yourself a Golfer's Flail as pictured in 2-K#4 &#5 on page 34. The Golfer's Flail is a Mr. Kelley concepts as opposed to the Standard Flail.

My Flail, however, ends where the swivel (as pictured) begins, at the left elbow. I also put a large screw in it that does not let the secondary lever move past the level (4-B-1) position, allowing for the feel of the Rhythm #3 Accumulator. It really helps. I incorportate it into almost all of my lessons. After all the number one alignment is the flat left wrist (Law of the Flail 2-K).

The Never-Fail Flail
 

The Instructor can only inform and explain. It is the Student who must absorb and apply. Good job, Drew!

Re: Not just flailing arround
 

Cool! OK man for a construction neophite . . .

How exactly did you construct this bad boy? I am a stoopid.

Regards,

B

Figure 8 strap
 

EDZ

Could you explain what the figure 8 helps fix in the golf swing.

Thanks

Dave

Gets you on plane

greatly improves pivot and zone 1 components

shows the proper hands to body relationship (more massive impact, 'connection', what Percy Boomer calls the difference between good ball strikers and great ones)

shows the correct rate of clubface closing (gets you away from swivel as a hinge action)

shows proper startup swivel

The primary benefits are for a swingers pattern

Like to know that too and PureSwing at RoverGolf
 

I would like to know more about the figure 8 strap but I can guess it is used to somehow tie the arms together for practice. On another note on FLW. I have a Tac-Tic and love it. I have used it a great deal but had some trouble hearing it sometimes (driving around in Tanks hearing loss). Anyway, I looked around and found the PureSwing at RoverGolf and love it as much or maybe more. It is a club that allows you to feel a FLW through an extension on the butt of the club. Go to RoverGolf and give it a look. No I don't own RoverGolf. I purchased the PowerAngle Pro and then decided about a month or so later to get the others and the owner gave me the package deal (when he didn't have to). Nice folks and fast service.

Also, I do have the plane lasers from Clyde and had some trouble with the lasers too. Emailed him and he sent two new lasers in less than 3 days with no problem.

EdZ


I tried the 8 and really love it. One of the things devices like this I don't totally understand is It forcing me to do the right things for feel or in reality I should at address position my elbows tightlly close together to get the same results?

Dave

I like this one too
 

I like the Momentus Power Hitter too. I received it as a gift and really like that you can feel lag pressure more using a real golf swing (unlike speed stik0. You can also use it to hit balls on the range which is great (see ball flight and work on strength). Only drawback is that it takes a while to build up to hitting the recommended 20 balls. I have the 310 which my wife thought I could use (at 5 ft. 11 inches and 189 pounds).

On the upside, I don't use a glove anymore and my drives have increased about 20 yards. Of course, I now have a power draw versus my old fade but who is complaining.

By the way, I have dowels, tac-tic, impact bag, and lasers. Love them all.

Lasers
 

I fashioned a home-made style laser club, let me know what you guys think of it. Initial feeling is really good.

First I drilled a hole in the grip cap to accept a pen style laser pointer, the interference fit holds it in place and holds down the button.

Second, I've lashed another laser pointer on top of the shaft just below the grip and shimmed it so the beam aims directly at the sweet spot about 1/4" in front of the leading edge.

From there I just trace both beams along a carpet edge as a straight line.

The first couple swings were very interesting. I had a good sense of plane line tracing already from using the dowels but I never realized where the grip cap was pointing during the takeaway and after the finish swivel. Puts the shaft in a more upright plane when I monitor the cap end along the straight line.

I want to know if you guys see anythig detrimental to this type of set-up or any suggestions to improve it. I'm unsure if the laser should point at the sweet spot or closer to the shaft.

CW