O.K. guys, allow me to introduce myself. I am a 38 year old male, 6'1, 180, right handed, in pretty good shape, who discovered TGM via the GEA website, and am now a convert. I first played golf 5 years ago, and fell in love with it. I shoot in the 90s.. I hit my driver about 220, my seven iron about 135 carry, 10 roll, pitching wedge 100 carry on the button. My distances have always been pathetic, because I could never compress the ball, rarely took divots and would always hit line drives; in fact the only clubs I ever hit somewhat high are my pw and sw. Pretty sad, I know- I just wanted to give you a little background so you can see what you're dealing with- your garden variety sucky golfer. Anyway, I bought the Little Yellow Book and have been reading posts on here for a month now. I want to learn to hit, and last week I went out in freezing Brooklyn and dropped some balls (had the local dogtrack all to myself) and tried the "hitting" swing (or at least my inept/newbie version of what I think it might be). I thought about nothing but trying to drive pp1 down and out at the ball (yes, I know- it should be PAST the ball, but we're talking baby steps here) and gentlemen, VIOLA- I started hitting high draws FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE! Now granted, I fatted a ton of balls, and also hit some of my "low line drive" draws, but the point is that SOME of the shots came off better than I'd EVER hit an iron in my life. Which makes sense, because I'd never, ever, ever tried to hit the ball "out to right field." Ever. I'd always come more or less down the line (probably out to in) and kind of slapped the ball toward the hole. Anyway, even with my ferociously imperfect version of "hitting," I could see light at the end of the tunnel, just based on the shots that did come off as planned. Naturally, I have loads of questions, and if you graciously take the time to answer any of them, try to give me plain english COMBINED with the book (if you must use the book)- because I'm lost as far as the book goes (for example, I just learned that rolling your arms is the "swivel" -----because BlackJackNY translated the term for me!!). Also- think of the answering of my inane queries as helping all of the other total TGM novices out there- and I'll bet our numbers are growing. Believe me when I say that I will make a treck to see Ted at the swamp this summer- but until then, I'm gonna ask my childlike questions and hope some kind soul takes mercy on my ignorance. So here goes...
1) The grip- should it be in the PALM of my left hand? And how about the right- should it be in the fingers of the right? Because I think I remember someone saying "in the cup of the right," which for me is impossible- in order for me to have the middle of my right hand heel pad pressing down on the bottom of my left thumb pad, the grip's gotta be in my right FINGERS. The only way to have it in the "cup" of my RIGHT hand would be if my hand was twice as large as it is. Unless I'm missing something, which I probably am. Also- tight or loose? And should I be pressing pp1 and trying to keep my right wrist bent throughout the entire swing?
2) Stance: err toward the narrower side of things or the wider side of things?
3) Ball Position: err toward forward or backward? Err toward standing closer to it or farther from it?
4) Shaft: "in line with the right forearm at address"- what does that mean? I know this may sound realy stupid, but does "in line" mean literally as if the shaft and my right forearm form one straight, unbroken stick? If so, then, for me at least, this necessitates my dropping the right elbow down a couple of inches in order to achieve this, which feels really unnatural and convoluted.
5) Takeaway: STRAIGHT back (meaning clubface looking at the ball as long as possible) or what? When I do this, it seems as though I have to almost re-route the club back behind me and to the indide (after getting to the top) in order to hit from the inside and down-and out. I know this is an awful explanation so let me put it another way- straight back feels like a steep plane, which isn't a problem in and of itself, but then I'm hitting out to right field, so my kind-of straighter/steeper plane must now change to a new, more back-and-inside-and-behind-me one, in order that I may come from there into the inside, bottom left quadrant of the ball. What am I missing? Again, sorry for the horribly phrased question(s)- I'm doing my best. Another thing- what does Right Forearm Pickup mean, exactly? Lift the club "up" immediately or pull it straight back with the right forearm AND THEN move up? Or some combination?
5) Maintaining the FLW/BRW: all the way past the ball? My God- how?
6) Target: Since I'm coming from the inside out, shouldn't my "target line" be an inch or so outside of the top right hand corner of the ball? I mean, my clubface obviously points toward my real target (the flag, or whatever), but shouldn't I be concentrating on "right field," including looking out there before I swing? After all, isn't that where I'm trying to go, directionally, with the club? Aren't I trying to hit down and out on a more or less 45* angle to the actual, desired, intended line of flight?
7) Hips: Bumping toward right field to begin the downswing, or no? And if yes- is there anyway I can forget about them and concentrate solely on my upper body (hands, forearm, whatever)- because everytime I add some lower body downswing trigger, I mess something else up/forget something I'm supposed to do. Can I "forget" about my lower body or do I need to consciously do something? Also, how much should my hips turn on the backswing?
Practicing in my living room: what should I be doing initially?
That's it for now. I apologize for the length of this post. Any help anyone can give me would be GREATLY appreciated.
Practicing in my living room: what should I be doing initially?
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