The Mailbag
 

Here's an email I just received from a new student. Clarence Williams made wonderful progress during our two hours together. Just as important, he has been able to take it to the course.

Lynn,

I just wanted to give you some feedback on how I have been progressing since our practice session on Feb 17th in Marietta.

I practiced the fundamentals on the evening of the 17th and played 9 holes the next day. I shot a 2 over par and hit all 7 fairways. I am at least 2 clubs longer now.

I practiced the next week and played 9 holes on Feb 25.I shot a 3 over and only missed one fairway.

I played on Feb 27th at course where I have not broken 94 in over 2 years and shot an 83 hitting 10 fairways and 6 greens. I am hitting it as long as the college guys now and still have more to go.

Thanks so very much for helping me get back on track.

I will contact you later this week to set up another practice session when I get a better feel for my schedule.

Clarence

Good for you, Clarence. It's always great to see the difference this information can make in the games of those who seek and apply it.

:salut:

What was so wrong with his swing that it took 2 full hours on the lesson tee? :)

I know people who need a lot more than 2 hours... :naughty:

Clarence drops 11 strokes per round following a two hour lesson and is able to take it to the course not only the following day, but weeks later.

This is not the result of learning how to swing a club or learning how to swing harder. Alignments. Learning to swing the club effectively. :)

Miracle Men
 

Clarence is in his mid-to-late thirties with a stocky, athletic build. He estimated his handicap at about 16, but said he had been better when he was younger.

Clarence had an outside-in stroke with tons of Steering. As a result, his iron shots were thin, weak and right. His drives started right -- way right :shock: -- then curved further right. One of the reasons his scores were so high is because he would hit several tee shots completely out of play each round. Despite his athleticism and obvious strength, his drives were so mis-hit that they carried less than 200 yards.

His Address alignments needed a lot of work, so we began there. Everything was set for his outside-in path across the line. (We align according to our Motion, not to the Target!) His shoulders were set well left, and his right arm was 'high' (well above left). It was also straight (not bent at the elbow). From this mis-aligned Address, it was virtually impossible for him to achieve the correct Impact alignments.

There were some Grip issues. His right hand was Turned, and he needed additional left hand grip pressure throughout the Stroke.

He had no concept of the Plane Line or how to Trace it (in both directions). We worked on his Extensor Action for more width and structure. I showed him how to use his now correctly set right arm to achieve all this.

His foot and leg action needed serious attention: they were almost immobile on the Backstroke. I call this condition "cement legs". As a result, his right hip was not functioning properly, and there was no way the Hands and Club could take their required route. We did MacDonald Drills to train his Pivot and coordinate its Components.

Through the ball, Clarence was Steering like crazy. There was no Arms-Club Overtaking action through the ball and no Finish Swivel. All this resulted in a choked-off, 'chicken wing' Finish.

We built Clarence's new Stroke from the ground up, correcting each 'wobbly point' along the way. One by one, I gave him the correct conceptions and alignments and showed him how to integrate them into his swing. There was a lot for him to understand and coordinate: New Address alignments, Grip, improved Pivot Component action, a stronger Drag Loading action in Start Down, a free-wheeling Overtaking through Impact (of the Body by the Arms and the Arms by the Club), and an "Arrow through the Ears" Finish. But, once the pieces were in place and coordinated into a Three Station (Address, Top, Finish) Total Motion, the results were immediate and miraculous.

It's what I do.

:cool:

:mrgreen:

When Clarence left, his iron shots were crisp and well-struck with a decisive, downward blow. His divots were now straight down the Target Line (instead of well left as they had been before). His drives were carrying at least 50-75 yards further. For the last half hour of his lesson, virtually all his shots were either dead straight or had a slight draw. As I said . . . miraculous. Except it wasn't miracles, it was mechanics.

In about 90 minutes, Clarence had gone from "can't" to "can". He was a great student who worked diligently and did everything I asked him to do. It was fun to watch and fun to be a part of.

I do love what I do.

Yes indeed.

:salut:

Two hours to rebuild his swing? Whoa. A record. AND he remembers.

Wow, that's a G.A.L.F. Lesson. :)

Geometrically Aligned Linear Force?

Im going galfing next week in Florida actually. Anyone near South Beach who wants a game drop me a pm. Anyone who knows how to get on Seminole please please please drop me a pm.

Lynn that lesson is a treasure, thank you. Clarence's problems with the game are not uncommon. Far from it. Ive saved it to my ever expanding LBG file.

I had the opportunity to spend an hour and a half with Lynn today at Rick Murphy's. We worked like dogs, let me tell you! Building on what Rick and I have been working on, Lynn was able to get me to free up my swing and get me to "swing" again. I have watched the videos, read the posts, etc, but let me tell you- there is no substitute for Lynn in person. I learned a lot, and know that now Rick and I are going to get me rocketing forward with my game.
I must add this. I have been working with Rick Murphy for 4 months or so. When Lynn was coming I asked Rick if I could set up a lesson with Lynn. "Of course" was Rick's position. Rick encouraged it, supported it, and facilitated it. I feel extremely fortunate to have a teacher like Rick. If I was Rick I would have said, "Why do you need Lynn? You have me." None of that with Rick. It sure feels good to have Rick and Lynn both working to make me a better player. Thanks Rick and Lynn. True professionals both.

Sounds like they were made from the same mold. Great job everybody!!! :salut:

View From My Side Of the Plane Line
 

Okay, wasn't expecting this. Thanks Tom.

Since we're now in "open kimono" mode, I'll share this PM I sent Tom after my arrival back in Cuscowilla tonight:

Tom,

I so enjoyed our time together today. You were a joy to work with. You had zero Address issues (body, arms or hands). Can't tell you how rare that is for me! Obviously, you and Rick have done substantial work here.

Happily, I quickly discovered that you had total physical 'access' and could 'do' whatever it was I asked you to do. My job just got a lot easier!

Moreover, you wanted to learn and offered no resistance to my suggestions. Your spirit told me we could 'give it a go' -- that you would not judge our work by the next swing -- and that the risk (of my own credibility and ultimate goal for you) was therefore minimal. On that foundation, we established the requisite Student-Teacher relationship. Thanks for that.

:salut:

During our preliminary discussion, you told me you felt "way in and then over the top". As a result, you had developed a persistent fade that was costing you a lot of distance. You had done a ton of work in a number of areas -- all worthwhile -- but something was missing.

After watching you mmake nunerous swings for about ten minutes -- first with an 8-iron, then a 6-iron, and finally a driver -- here's what I saw we needed to do:

First, a static alignment: a more forward Ball Position, especially with the driver. You needed to position your Centered Head 'behind' the Ball. Then, unlock your lower body (Zone #1 / Body Control). Left Heel lift and Right Hip Turn are key here. (We could not have made the progress we did had you not already spent considerable time learning to keep your Head centered and stationary.)

Second, unlock your Flail (Zone #2 / Power Control). This included a freedom of Arm Swing and the correct "wrinkling" -- :-) -- of the Left Wrist. On both sides of the Swing: the Top and the Finish (goal posts!).

Finally, achieve On Plane right forearm and Lag Pressure Point tracing through Impact. Here, we rotated your Plane Line slightly to the right to encourage the feel of in-to-out Right Forearm "underhand pitch, motion, and feel" (Zone #3 / Direction).

You were magnificent, Tom. Especially in today's cold, windy, and less than ideal conditions. Watching that golf ball start slightly right, then turn hard and hold its line into that strong left-to-right crosswind made my day.

:happy3:

I'm now back all safe and sound at Cuscowilla. Would love to have you here at some point. Long game. Short game. Mental game.

"This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship".

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:salut:

Lynn , wrinkling of the left wrist? You mean the Flat left wrist is not literally flat? Its got some bend and wrinkles to it at Top, given a "normal" slightly turned left hand grip at Address, which cocks , UP and therefor bends a bit in the process? All while the Pivot turns IN. The Hands and PIvot going two different ways?

Hmmm so the left arm isnt on plane at top given that bend? What the duce?


This took me some time to see, it aint easy, "no it aint easy". But once you get it... it'll be easy. Honestly.

I am not going anywhere else, done.

The Not-So-Flat Flat Left Wrist
 

I know the conumdrum to which you refer, O.B., and I agree and understand. We'll leave that one alone for now.

:)

For the rest of us . . .

The Left Wristcock "wrinkles" to which I refer occur at the base of the thumb, not at the back of the hand. Unless, of course, your left hand is Turned on the Club, e.g., the 'strong' grip of Freddie Couples. In which case you will have both a Wrist Bend and a Wrist Cock, i.e., a Double Wrist Cock. This condition is especially noticeable at the Top of the Stroke.

The Flat Left Wrist concept is one of an In Line Left Arm and Clubshaft at Impact. The Flat condition can be either visual or geometric. If the Left Hand is Vertical ("Neutral") in the Grip (and therefore Vertical at Impact), the Left Arm-Clubshaft unit will be in-line and the Left Wrist will be visually Flat.

If the Left Wrist is Turned ("Strong") in the Grip (and therefore Turned at Impact), it may appear to have a slight Bend. Nevertheless, as long as the Left Arm and Clubshaft remain in line, then the principle has been satisfied, and the Wrist is considered geometrically Flat.


:salut:

Talked to Yoda today about drag the wet mop and my progress. On the phone he reiterated the need to clear the right hip (a movement I had became sloppy with). Went out to play and used that Reigger forward press and turned that right hip out of the way. Thru in some flail and a some gorgeous shots ensued. Heck, even hit some good pitches! We talked about level left wrist and light lag pressure to loft the ball. It works. Thanks, Lynn, for your time today!

Phone Mates
 

You're welcome, Tom. Always here to help!

:salut: