Confession of a former Golf Digest follower (long)

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Edorf72

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Confession of a former Golf Digest follower...

I have been playing golf for 3 years (currently 16.3hcp). I am a resident in Trondheim, Norway where we basically have 4-5

months of golf season (soon to end unfortunately).

For the previous 2 years I have been a Golf Digest follower, buying golf magazines (GD in particular) mostly because they promise to cure and fix my golf swing faults on the front cover. I had no result whatsoever from buying these magazines, they probably made things worse since I was trying different fixes every month. You live you learn...

Still looking for the "truth" I found brianmanzella.com in June this year (actually from looking at oneplanegolfswing.com, comparing Singh and Toms), reqognizing the pictures of David Toms from a Golf Digest articel ("The swing of the future"). I have later read Brian's take on the comparison.

Since then I have been lurking the forum, reading articles and posts with great joy (Brian, Yoda, diggerdog, jim_068, redgoat, EdZ, and many others contribute a great deal). I have downloaded the manzellashorts 1 through 6. I have watched all of them several times, but my work the last few months has evolved mostly from nr. 5 (Confession of a former flipper). The best 10 dollars I have ever spent by a factor of 1000... I am missing the Never slive again video since this one is only on DVD, but would like to get my hands on it.

I have had the information from the COAFF video "incubating in my coconut" during practice for a while now, and yesterday it finally "clicked". (I have had some "clicks" previously also, but this one is resulting in my first post on the forum). Yesterday evening, right before dark, I made som pitches with a SW from about 30-40 yards with an effortless accuracy I haven't even been close to before. What a joy I felt, I can't even begin to describe it. I was chipping and pitching it close to the pin for an hour and a half in the rain and dark ("until the cows come home", manzellashort #6), feeling like the happiest person in the world... I can't even begin to express my gratitude for the existence of the manzellashort #5. Thank you, Brian!!! I whish you all the best.

What did just "click" yesterday?
- The Manzella grip and mid-hands (been working on that for a while, "it takes some doing, but I promise you...").
- Float loading. "It is easier to move to a position than to hold the position", totally makes sense.
- Flat left wrist (been working on that for a while also). Float loading to a flat left wrist and then starting the downswing.
- What felt like thrust of a straight right arm (followthrough).
- Experimenting with both STT (shoulderturn takeaway) and RFT (right forearm takeaway). Yesterday I had RFT on the chipping, and STT on the pitching, because that is what feel the easiest.
- By no means a tight grip/tense hands.
- A feel of taking the club more to "the outside".
- Last but not least, educated hands (aiming point). "Learn where your hands need to be".

For those of you who has not seen the COAFF-video a lot of the quotes won't make any sense. My advise: Download it, Watch it and pay attention to the "it takes some doing"-part, because you probably won't get it over night.

Who would have tought that you could create your best golfing experience ever by exploring a website? I am now a Manzella follower... I imagine what could be done if I met the guy in person...

I ordered the yellow book over a month ago at Amazon but they just notified me that it won't happen... I will check elsewhere.
 
Jamma

Jamma

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Hmm...one question to you... are you a mind-reader of some kind?? ...or how on earth were you able to put MY feelings into words so precisely?? I mean that's just about what I've noticed/experienced since found this forum. And BTW, I'm a 16,3hcp, and have played golf for 3 years now ;).
 
rwh

rwh

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quote:Originally posted by Edorf72


I ordered the yellow book over a month ago at Amazon but they just notified me that it won't happen... I will check elsewhere.
Click to expand...

You can go to Ben Doyle's website -- bendoylegolf.com -- and order the book. From the Home Page, click on "Products".
 
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Edorf72

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Hmmm..., Jamma, either there are a lot of us out there, or 16.3 must be a lucky number...

Thanks for the pointers on where to get the yellow book. I will check into it immediately.

I feel like taking on a single digit handicapper in a chipping contest any day (a bit cocky, but I've struck gold here).

And all those guys telling me to stick to a conventional putting stroke for chipping (no wrist action, setup from impact position, flat left wrist)... Float loading my chips (midhands setup, manzella neutral grip) to bent right wrist was the incubator for my effortless pitching. I will go on to a fuller swing from here. Educating your hands is a lot easier if you start out with chipping. Pay attention in the video where Brian is talking about dragging the club back... I whish someone showed me chipping like this the first time a held a golf club.

Sorry, I'll stop now, I am just exited...
 
birdie_man

birdie_man

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Hehe good to hear some success man. I thought "Confessions/Flipper" was great too.

I think hitting pitches might just be the best way to experiment with things in a golf swing....I was in my backyard for a good hour 1/2 the past few nights working on things. It's good cause it simplifies the swing and takes over-swinging, etc. out of the equation. Not to mention you're working on your pitching game, but influencing your full swing at the same time.

I like hitting divots too- it's amazing- when you hit a divot, even w/o a ball, you can tell whether it was a good swing or not.

quote:Yesterday I had RFT on the chipping, and STT on the pitching, because that is what feel the easiest.
Click to expand...

After much experimenting, I feel the same way BTW. Rocking the shoulders might be the simplest thing to do....produces the best results for me with short game. I like taking it away with both hands with my full swing tho.

quote:A feel of taking the club more to "the outside".
Click to expand...

Be careful with this one. You can take it "MORE outside"....but be careful with ACTUALLY taking it "outside." It's one way to do it...you just won't be tracing a straight plane line throughout your swing. Keep the Flashlight Drills in mind.
 
birdie_man

birdie_man

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BTW stay away from GD! Evil! (crosses fingers to make sign of cross)

Going from tip to tip is no good....especially when the swing tips are so useless...
 
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Edorf72

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Birdie_man, I am taking it away with my hands for my full swing as well. In my full swing I am struggling with an over the top move causing divots pointing left of target (pointing straight during practice swing of course...). Fortuneately I see some light at the end of the tunnel due to my improved chipping and pitching. As you state, the good thing about working on your pitching is it will pay off on your full swing as well. Main problem with OTT move is some pulled shots. Usually I hit a fade. I cannot hit a draw for my life, but I think this is due to more neutral grip and trying to maintain flat left wrist through impact. Oh well, lots of work still needed on my full swing. I love working on my short game so a lot of pitching will hopefully help...

Thanks for the tip regarding a straight plane line, birdie_man.
 
rbaumgolf

rbaumgolf

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Try that same pitching technique with the rest of your clubs - you will notice how far the shot goes without changing anything.
 
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Edorf72

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rbaumgolf, thanks for the advise, if I can use the same technique for my irons I will be doing backflips for a month... In the video Brians talks about David Toms asking him "why he doesn't use that shot all the time". Same thing or...?
I am working on getting more length on my wedge shots with this effortless pitching technique. I am improving yard by yard, but at a certain point I might ruin the shot because my brain tells my body "you need more power to reach that length with that short backswing". It has been three days since it "clicked" and I have been enjoying myself around the practice green like never before. My latest experience is regarding the power generated by a flat left wrist and the straightening of the left arm (or at least what I think is a flat left wrist). I can hit a 50 yard SW with hardly any effort at all. Not that it should impress anybody, but it is accurate and I am not forcing the club like I used to. Keep also in mind that my full SW swing a week ago probably ended up a bit short of 70 yards, if I didn't duff or blade it.

Man, am I glad I found this website....
 
rbaumgolf

rbaumgolf

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I have gone through the same experience. FRom 100 yards in my game has improved greatly relying on the "pivot" (thanks Ben). I'm still fighting my mind on longer clubs - it is fun though hitting those deadly pitches/chips. I shot an 80 the other day and only hit 2 fairways.
 
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Edorf72

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I will trade a good short game within 100 yards for a 300 yard drive any day...

rbaumgolf, you are thanking Ben (Ben Doyle I assume) for your "pivot" and I can relate to that. Not from Ben, but from Brian's COAFF. I have watched a video lesson given by Ben Doyle trying to teach a guy "educated hands" (my summary of what I think he was doing). In every aspect of teaching you would try to teach somebody the basics. Basic would be chipping. I feel that I have learned "educated hands" from chipping, which is kind of weird isn't it..?. Mid -hands setup, dragging the club back along the grass, no tension in the hands/wrists, change of direction setting my wrists, chopping the grass on the way back, RFT as a way of taking the club back. How would that be for a Golf Digest article...? Or on a second thought, don't make it public because I almost regard it as a secret...at least I won't tell the guys I will be playing against next saturday...

I am a rookie at the game of golf, but I've put my mind into revealing some of the secrets of the game. TGM is a very good way in my opinion, or might I say Brian's shorts (videos). My father never built me a putting green in the back yard, but I take great pleasure in the game even though I started playing at age past 30. Hopefully I won't offend anybody at a really skilled level in this forum. If so, tell me, and I will still walk away with a grin on my face. It took me a while to get the nerve to post here...

edorf72, edorf my first name spelled backwards. I lived in Utah for two years, all my american friends called me Steve (Frode being too hard to pronounce).
 
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6bee1dee

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quote:Originally posted by birdie_man

BTW stay away from GD! Evil! (crosses fingers to make sign of cross)

Going from tip to tip is no good....especially when the swing tips are so useless...
Click to expand...

You can read any advice from Chuck Cook, Tom Ness, both TGMers and Johnny Miller, who has a lot of TGM in him.

The dirty little secret about magazine articles is how little input the name 'talent' has in the writing of the copy. The editor always has the last word.
 
birdie_man

birdie_man

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Edorf...

From my experience, one of the best ways (if not THE best way) to develop lag is to hit divots...I'd try Brian's divot drill (from "Confessions/Flipper").

Honestly....find a spot somewhere where you can do this until you get it down.

I used to do this manically and then found Brian's drill, which is even better....my backyard looks like a driving range now BTW :)...but I've got lag! hehe

I can hit 300 yard drives and I STILL do this.

It's funny....the impact of really ramming that club into the ground and maintaining your lag/flat left wrist gives you such a feeling of power....I find hitting a divot almost as satisfying as crushing a golf ball. Almost. :) You can pretty much start to tell, just by hitting a divot, whether or not it was a good swing.

Give it a shot, once you start feeling that lag you'll never go back.

-Paul
 
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6bee1dee

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quote:Originally posted by birdie_man

Really.

I didn't know that...

And they pretty much just want to sell mags eh.
Click to expand...

Sales are everything.

The talent (hank, butch, Lead) are asked (required) to do covers, the topic and concept is mulled over with an editor. Some make the cover some become inside pieces. A writer talks with the 'talent' instructor about the 'story', recorded interviews are brought back and constructed into a draft. It is edited down to fit the assigned pages. Photos are picked, copy block is written from the article. The talent proof reads the story and nods yes. The 'talent' does his real work on the day the photos are shot and pretty much is out of the process after that. There is a trust that the writer and talent are on the same page and information wise, are. But an editor always has the last word on what they want to sale the story with.
 
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6bee1dee

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Yoda just mentioned that he loves the feel of dragging the mop through impact. A weekend with Ben and we all want to be heavy with the mop. Lag is the secret and not hard to align. Lag is more than the wrist angle.
 
J

Jim Kobylinski

Super Moderator
Instead of just hitting divots with no ball....hit shots OUT OF DIVOTS.

Just don't do "full shots" as you can injure yourself. Half shots and punch shots will be fine.

This is one of brian's favorite drills and it is in the flipper video as well
 
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Edorf72

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quote:Originally posted by birdie_man

From my experience, one of the best ways (if not THE best way) to develop lag is to hit divots...I'd try Brian's divot drill (from "Confessions/Flipper").
Click to expand...

After watching the Confessions/Flipper video the first time I went out doing the divot drill. It made me realize a few things about hitting down on the ball with a flat left wrist, hands forward, but for some reason I didn't continue doing the drill. However, now that I have seen some light by experiencing "effortless piching", I think I will do more divot drills. My take on the "effortless pitching" is that I have been working on my pivot.
And, birdie_man, according to Brian you should do the divot drill in your neighbour's back yard..:). Let me also express my gratitude for all the replies on this post. Thanks guys!

Edorf72
 
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