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I began seriously studying TGM one year ago by attending the Secrets of the Golfing Machine Workshop in St. Augustine put on by Lynn, Chuck Evans and Randy Sparks. Since then I have had lessons from Brian Manzella, Chuck Evans, Lynn Blake and Ted Fort.

I'm giving myself a grade of "B minus", actually a pretty good grade considering that one year ago I couldn't execute a single Imperative and held the record for the most plane shifts.

My progress has been directly tied to my ability to execute the Three Imperatives. I wish I could offer a "super secret the pros use to shoot under par that you can learn in your car in four minutes without ever swinging a club", but it just doesn't work that way. If you can't keep your left wrist flat (clubface control) or keep a straight plane line (clubshaft control) or establish and sustain lag (clubhead control) -- I don't think you'll progress very quickly. I couldn't.

I have only recently started to progress because it has taken me almost a year to both understand and learn to execute the Three Imperatives. I was still looking for the "four minute" cure -- wanting to "jump ahead" and get into the good stuff, but falling back because of a failure to understand that the ability to execute the three Imperatives IS the "good stuff".

A big thanks to Lynn, Ted, Chuck and Brian for your dedication to helping those of us who would follow the Yellow Book Road. You guys are awesome.

For me it has been about 8 months of Yellow Book study. I look forward to being able to convert all the mechanical thoughts into feel. I think only then will I be playing up to my true ability.