Batting for a High Average...or just hype.

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Brian Manzella

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I have been doing a lot of Manzella Academy Schools and Tour Stops lately, and the reviews have been pretty good.

For the most part—they always are.

Why?

Because I can teach pretty much as good as I say I can. I certainly don't "bat" a 1000, but I fix and help most people get much better, and they get every bit of their money's worth. They then report what they experienced here (and other places).

Also, sales of my Videos are all way up, and the reviews on those are very good as well. "Flipper" and "Never Slice Again" are always being talked up very positively arounb the web, but obviously, on here as well.

Why?

Because,
  1. I know what I am talking about 99% of the time.
  2. I have a pretty good way of making things understandable.
  3. I also have about 10 times more camera presense than the average "troubleshooter."
I take no credit for 2 & 3, except that my work for the Tourist Network is really good for my TV chops and I work at that a bit. I was basically born to be on stage, and with the parents I was blessed with, I couldn't help but having the gift of gab and storytelling.

I did study hard for 25 years on #1. ;)

This forum has had 62,963 posts as of this writing, with a boatload of good—and free—information. It is jammed with all sorts of free video answers. People get better just coming on this place.

A gentleman that took a 2 hour Tour Stop session with me today, really makes a good pass at it, and credits reading the site to get to where he was.

Then, folks like that talk me up on here and other places.

Whew!

So what?

So this place is starting to sound like some of those places that ARE 90% hype.

This forum and I are constantly knocked lots of places for criticism of other teachers. I really wish I never had to do it. But, there is more fluff in the Golf biz than almost anywhere else, and someone had to at least tell the truth some of the time. To be brutally honest, if it is really junk, or someone is really just not being very nice, shouldn't someone point it out. Believe you me, my best friends are the first to tell me I am wrong, or barking up the wrong tree. My nickname with the "guys" is T.G., short for "The Goat."

Heaven forbid that some of these guys that have appeared in dozens of MAJOR magazine articles, been on the golf channel, been mentioned on TV 1000 times, need ME to pat their backs. Give me one Golf Digest cover story, and I'll buy an island.

Folks, I have seen them ALL teach. Some are OK, some are good. But, it is a fact that most "name" teachers are VERY overrated. Do you want me to sugar coat it? Do you want my forum memebers who have been to these folks to lie and say they had a great experience?

That's just not what this site and I am about.

I tone my REAL FEELINGS down about 50% on this forum as a rule. When i do go on a full rip, trust me folks, that person MORE than deserved it.

Some folks just attract a cult following. I really don't think I am one of them, and here is why:

The Cult-ists make sure that they preach to their followers that THEY have ALL the answers and everyone else is 100% wrong. Even if NO ONE in golf history ever swung like they teach.

I just don't do that. I know I don't have all the answers, but I have a lot of answers, maybe more than anyone. Some folks will do great with other pros or methods, I don't discount that, I just try to figure out what the other guy did better, then figure out how to top 'em.

I didn't "walk the line" when I was a young teacher trying to pay my car note, and I do DAMN little selling on here.

I have a pretty big mouth, but trust me again, all I am doing is just BALANCING OUT all the NON-HYPE I have gotten for 25 years.

Folks who ask me to sign an autograph for their little girl who "watches me on TV," or folks that come up to me in parking lots semi-"Star Struck" make me feel so humble, that I not only blush, I'd make you blush.

If you want a 24 hr a day channel to hype YOUR favorite teacher, and that fav ain't me, you are in the wrong place.

But your are welcome to stay around and learn from me and the members on this site anyway.

:)

Peace.
 
cmartingolf

cmartingolf

New
You are doing a great job BM. I for one am on the plus side of the hdcp scale, run a Country Club, think I provide a pretty darn good lesson and normally pop by this site on a daily basis....why? Because you've helped me!

thanks.
 
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holeout

New
Very very well said Brian. The proof is in the pudding. My dad is still amazed at the way you teach and went about the lesson we had. And he is NOT easily impressed.

It's not often one could say they made a 7 hour drive, each way, to see a guy to work on a golf swing for 3 hours. Even less common is afterwards, having no doubt they'd come back and do it again. Without hesitation.
 
birdie_man

birdie_man

New
Some folks just attract a cult following. I really don't think I am one of them, and here is why:
Click to expand...

You also don't try to buddy up (or more) to everyone who you think will preach for you. You more or less try to stick to business: making people better at golf.
 
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thinkin2

New
I know that I seldom, make that hardly ever, post but I come here and read and find answers to questions all the time. I guess when the time comes I will post more but I really appreciate this site. It has cleared up lots of things for me. I don't know of any place that offers more free video demonstrations than here. You are very good at what you do, Brian. As far as your "big mouth" (your statement, not mine), what's wrong with confidence? If you don't have confidence in yourself, who will? Thanks for a great place to learn.
Jerry
 
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thinkin2

New
"Confessions Of A Former Flipper" is something I go back and watch a lot. I always get something from it. I just ordered "Never Slice Again". So many good reviews and my game is in a slump right now because of a two month layoff. I figure now is a good time to get back on track and I'm sure this new dvd is all that everyone says it is. Can't wait to study it.
Jerry
 
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joeparr

New
Name me ONE teacher in the world who will give his home phone and cell phone to a stranger and say call me any time even if its late. I once called him on his cell phone while he was with a client at dinner and he still had a few minutes to help me out. Brian your a mans man, thanks for not being a phoney...joe
 
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Vicious Circle

New
I've been lurking here for awhile but this thread compelled me to post. At first I felt some of the discussions here and the colour bordered on obnoxious and rude at times, probably because other places I visited on the web tend to be less spirited by comparison. I don't feel that way anymore. The more I read here and elsewhere, the better this place gets. Its hard to recognise the fluff until you have seen the real deal.

Thanks for this place - it rules!
 
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Leek

New
It ain't hype. My personal story is pretty simple. My job involves some travel and has allowed me to take several series of lessons from a number of highly regarded instructors: One top rated guy in Denver (near the airport), a couple of top rated guys in Central Florida and another highly thought of guy in South Florida. While some years ago, my handicap hovered around 5-6, for the last 10 years it has been between 12-15.

I started reading these forums (and misinterprested almost everything I read). I didn't improve. I resolved to go to Brian. I had a lesson in May and a lesson in June, each for two hours. I want to return and set more up, but due to some family situations have been unable to return.

My first lesson was a sort of NSA type lesson plus some putting. My second was a sort of NHA lesson plus some chipping and pitching. Funny thing happened- I started hitting the ball much straighter. Then I began to gain distance. My short game improved. I started getting more confident.

Some examples: old 150 carry club, 7 iron; new 150 carry club- between an 8 and a 9 iron.

April driver carry- 220-235, July 240-250

Fairways hit- April average 6-7, July average just over 11

GIR- April 6+, July 12+
Putts per round- April 34+, July 31+ (with more GIRS)


My handicap just dropped to 4. I am hoping Brian can keep me on the path to a lower one on down to zero or below.

The kicker? I am 53 years old!

So the real question is, "Why is Brian so effective?" Almost everyone knows what a good golf swing looks like. They all know the different positions we need to pass through to be successful. What's different about Brian Manzella?

I think I figured it out and there are three major components:

1. Brian doesn't teach a system. Brian knows what is imperative and what is "style". He understands that each of us have different strengths and weaknesses and builds his students' swings around those, while getting them to execute the imperatives.

2. Brian has an amazing ability to find a way to get his students executing whatever he is teaching them. Most teachers have a few ways to communicate a concept. Brain never ran out of different ways to get me to execute, and believe it when I tell you, I am sure I treid both his repertoire and his patience.

3. Brian is extremely open to new ideas. He tests them and either validates them or invalidates them. Once that is done, he converts that knowledge into useable wisdom, meaning he can then work to communicate his results to his students- if they are appropriate for that student.
 
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Ringer

New
BM, I appreciate what you do for people and I am trying hard to learn from all sources I can. I take a lot of convincing though as most anyone can tell you. I never accepted, "Because I said so" from my mother and I d**n sure won't accept it from a golf instructor. That all being said, you have taken time to talk to me and explain things that are not technical at all. You'd attempted to help me understand the business and THAT is not a common trait among fellow instructors. They are generally territorial, and brutally narcisistic. Although at times you come off egotistical I have learned that it is not ego, but rather determination.

The golf instruction world is way too political. I have been saying for years that I prefer to work as a team with my peers...but I can only do that if I trust them. Unfortunately most of my "peers" are opportunistic glory hounds so they don't get any referrals. I'm still keeping an open mind to you though. Unfortunately I am at a disadvantage in that I have never actually seen you teach and all I have to go by are our little phone conversations and what I see you post, and on video. I hope to get an opportunity to see first hand what you do. I know that will be the day I will know for certain if I can trust you with a student, or look upon you with the same skepticism I do for all my other peers.

That all said, I think you do wonders for a lot of people. You get them better and you get the better right away from the sound of it. And for that I give you lots of credit.
 
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