Would it be possible for you to give a brief breakdown (point form is fine) what you would tell a hitter to do to be successful (ie. how to take your grip, set up, backswing, weighttransfer, downswing, through swing). There are so many idiosyncrasies to hitting that differ from swinging (ie. hip slide on downswing) it's easy to take the pieces you get and become a switter. Layman's terms would be ideal. Thank you.
Unfortunately, don't have the little yellow book, plus I was hoping to hear what they tell the students that come to see them ( I am assuming that they use a different vocabulary than when they are talking to fellow TGM devotees.
Unfortunately, don't have the little yellow book, plus I was hoping to hear what they tell the students that come to see them ( I am assuming that they use a different vocabulary than when they are talking to fellow TGM devotees.
Bendet2 I am not singling you or anyone out with my remarks. This is a general observation of past experiences from past posts.
It is a shame some have no interest in buying, owning, or reading The Golfing Machine. Many say the book is a complicated read and I can agree with that early impression, which I believe this is the reason some don’t buy or/and read it. This stigma that it has some unworldly vernacular that takes years of practice to understand is getting old.
Homer in his GENIUS assigned one meaning to a word so everyone knows exactly what is being discussed. No confusion. Homer said that the terms have a fixed relationship with each other and when understood will tie them all together to see the big picture- Homer’s big picture. Heck, the lingo that bathes computers is far more complicated than anything Mr. Kelley borrowed from Mr. Webster. And I don’t hear people nagging the industry about that. College text books, vocational manuals, a hobby interest, or even Irish authors, each have a vocabulary of their own. This is no different.
I know from experience that Lynn is solid on teaching what Homer wrote the way Homer wrote it. Homer told Lynn’s class, “The only thing I ask and I think this is absolutely imperative that you stick to the terminology. Explain it with any number of words that you have but don’t replace it with those words.”
The vernacular is the Genius. And easier to understand than Joyce.
1-B SIMPLICITY Treating a complex subject or action as though it were simple, multiples its complexity because of the difficulty in systematizing missing and unknown factors or elements. Demanding that golf instruction be kept simple does not make it simple--only incomplete and ineffective. Unless this is recognized, golf remains a vague, frustrating, infuriating form of exertion. "Simplicity" buffs may find Chapter 5-0 a sufficiency.
DG
funny you bring up 1-B Simplicity DG- I have been in the process of writing something about this. Talk about busting my bubble - hahaha
I agree with not over-simplifying...but surely it wouldn't hurt to give him a brief overview in layman's terms.
That's his choice...if he still doesn't get it then he can get the book, no?
I have been around TGM longer than you I think Bendet (been at it about- we'll say- a little over half a year)...I think?!...ur new basically right?
So keep in mind that I have had to sort out all this TGM stuff too...but now I understand it (most of it! lol...there's lots)...and it's great...wouldn't do it any other way. What more could you ask for than a pretty damn good understanding of the golf swing, right?...most people never come close to knowing much of anything useful or connected in any way...maybe some fundamental things, sensations, observations. A few tips here and there.
And BTW you CAN put this stuff to use. Anyone who raves that you are gonna fill your head with crap never got to the point where they fully sorted out the info. that was handed to them...it takes a while to sort out but c'mon- do it right. All this is is a guidebook for tweaking and developing a swing properly. Once you get the knowledge, you groove it in and put it to work like any other swing...the difference is that when it's fully functional you know why. When it's broken- you know why.
I've gone through times of confusion with and w/o TGM...but with TGM I know there is always light at the end of the tunnel...and that the tunnel is more or less straight(ish- straightish )...and that I'll learn a hell of a lot (that I can actually put to use) along the way.
Not running in circles anymore.
I can see nothing but positives with this. The only "if", as far as I'm concerned, is if you want to sort through it or not. It's worth it though. 100%.
Well said Birdie Man
By the way, I like your Jimmy Hendrix photo! I once played golf with Jimmy's brother Leon, after the round I needed a ride- so we hopped in his 1960 Chevy Van and drove off in the sunset- while Leon relaxed with his substance of choice.
Hi Bendet2, Go to the Gallery and watch Ted Fort hit and study the pics and Yoda's narrative. See an AI ASAP. They can instruct in real-world terms OR TGM terms. Difficult to go it alone. Oh yeah---buy the book.
Have a good one, pshr
Wow, I seemed to have touched a nerve here. First off, I love Lynn's and Brian's and Chuck's forums and what they are trying to do, i.e. helping people play better golf. I also hate when these threads degenerate into mud slinging affairs. In another post Ted Fort wrote something to the effect that he is the "king of Anologies", why would an instructor say that, probably because he found that there is a difference between information and knowledge and that for some students he had to use different vocabulary to teach them. Now to keep this from getting too personal, thanks for the useful feedback all, a simple "You really should buy the book because, it's great" would have sufficed (I have ordered it). Thanks again for the constructive feedback.
a simple "You really should buy the book because, it's great" would have sufficed (I have ordered it)
But would it be as clear as to why you should buy the book? We all tried to explain beyond the “just get the book”rant.
Ted and all other AIs use many different words and drills and gadgets (if they like) to explain Golfing Machine concepts, but as Homer asked for, in the end, the terms cannot be replaced. That would cloud the fog lifting. It pays to stick with ones that are second nature and add as you know more.
Bendet,
Don't take those replies that personally.... I think we all have the same initial impression (at least those of us who aren't inclined towards physics and geometry... or overly analytic)... the book requires some work to get through AND that work takes some initial investment in time. However, anyone who has gone through much "traditional" instruction will quickly recognize the truth in what Homer had to say about simplicity. I have had lessons from some well known teachers and I was never able to reconcile the differences in both language and actual instruction I recieved. I got the book about 7 months ago and it took about 2 months of reading in the recommended fashion and referring to it for it to make sense. I was fortunate to spend 4 hours with Ted Fort right after that and he could explain concepts I was familiar with from the book, but didn't really understand.... this helped a great deal, not to mention that Ted is a great gentleman and a fine teacher. Finally, the forum gets me a step closer each day. TGM is beautifully consistent and it works. But the golf swing is not a simple, intuitive motion so it becomes very hard to summarize accurately. The further I get into this, the more I realize there is no 'classic comic book' approach to the golf swing. Do it right....read the book, see an AI if possible and follow along with the forum.
Having said that, I'm a new hitter.... and after 6 months of hitting I find the following areas to be the places I consistently have to work on.
1. Impact fix.... you'd think something like address would be pretty easy to make a habit, but I'm constantly slipping and getting my right forearm too high ....Monday I had 15 gir, tues. I had 9.... impact fix was the issue.
2. Going to top and not end. This is a sure 'fore left' for me, as the right shoulder starts to spin out on the downswing if I go to end.
3. Accelerating too fast at the start of the downswing.... I keep trying to see Ted's gradually accelerating swing before I swing(btw...someone mentioned Ted's dartfish analysis and the notes by Yoda are very helpful alongside the stills in that analysis)
Additionally, I need to keep working on my impact alignments..... Keeping the shafts forward lean until past low point. I do the impact bag drills and the dowel drills.
Trust me, TGM will work for every golfer, a claim that 'traditional' instruction would have trouble making. It is a journey and while it may seem to be a long journey at times, it will get you to your destination. Read the book, stick to it and try to avoid short cuts, it only makes it harder.....2 steps forward, one step back and we get there.
)...and that I'll learn a hell of a lot (that I can actually put to use) along the way. 
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