Influence of TGM in golf instruction
 

John Dunigan from www.golfbetterproductions.com is a golf instructor in PA. He has a couple of books and videos and he is an instructor that I respect. There aren't a great many instructors that I respect, but John is one. John worked with Mike Bender, who worked with Mac, who worked with Tom Tomasello, who's great instuction Lynn has posted for us. I had John take a look at the 'Alignments' section because I saw very, very similar concepts between that segment and John's instruction. Here is the e-mail John sent back to me:

Matt,

That video was nearly verbatim what I like to see, and I thought I was
unique. An old musician friend said to me once that, "there's nothing new
under the sun."

Frankly, I'm super busy already, but might give the site a try if I have the
time. I warn you now, I teach much more along the lines of the application
of the club to the ball, than "how" to do it. There's a big difference in
the student's retention and success, although some times, I have no choice
but to teach "how to."

Thanks very much,

John

John Dunigan
PGA Master Teaching Professional
The Golf Better Center
111 Thompson Rd.
Kennett Square, Pa. 19348
610 925 3804
Director of Instruction
Hartefeld National GC
1 Hartefeld Drive
Avondale, Pa. 19311
610 268 8800

So, I guess my point is that TGM is 'alive and well' whether by an AI or not. It's influence is too deep to be restricted to Authorized Instructors. If you like what Tomasello says and want to learn his stroke pattern, you may want to give one of John's books a try. You will find similarities.

I sent John a video of my swing a couple of years ago for a video lesson. You are right, he is an excellent instructor who teaches on sound principles. He does advocate a double shift, with a return to the shaft plane as soon as possible on the downswing. I was just beginning to dig into the golf swing at that time, and John's books helped me a lot.

I have run across several USGTF instructors who advocate the double shift, to listen to them it sound almost like what John advocates. I beleive the USGFT has a standard instruction method and though I haven't seen their manual, what these guys were saying sounded as though it was John's method.

He has some interesting drills to support his swing method.

I've got John's book and it is good reading. I'm pretty sure he actually teaches releasing the right arm from the top saying the angle will hold anyway. He's big on the hands and arms pushing the club back and down behind at transition with no turn of the body until it reaches the plane line again then the arms and club pull the body thru in a hands controlled pivot motion. Hem uses the stretched left arm vs extensor action of TGM. John is a real gentleman and has helped many amateurs rid themselves of their slice due to his explanation of the club moving back and down to the plane BEFORE the turn occurs.

Chuck Cook and Martin Hall are also big TGM fans. I'm sure Chuck was trained, if Martin wasn't he hovered right around it.

As well as Hebron of course. I myself am waiting and praying for a Yoda book or DVD :)

Helping Hands
 

Martin Hall was a student in the Secrets of The Golfing Machine Workshop that Chuck Evans and I conducted at the PGA TOUR Academy in St. Augustine, Florida last April. He was there all three days and was an active participant in the discussions.

Interesting to see John Dunigan's name show up---I found his site several years ago and read his book and purchased his video---very much "borrows" from TGM. In fact, 2 weeks ago I emailed him and mentioned that a lot of what he teaches is TGM based. He sent a very nice reply and indicated he had read the book numerous times, studies it quite often, and essentially bases his teaching on it---sort of a home-schooled AI.

In regards to the post by JohnThomas1, Chuck Cook is a GSED and Martin Hall is a GSEM. When I bought Ben Doyle's video a couple of years ago he includes some of the letters Martin Hall wrote him thanking him for his instruction as well as commenting on the videos Ben rents that show him giving lessons to students. Mike Hebron is a GSED. AND-I don't want to ruin a surprise, but I took a lesson from Yoda recently and asked about plans for a DVD or a more "user friendly" version of Mr. Kelley's book, and he said......sorry, have to head for the hospital.
Dr. Dave