Former Flipper and the Unhurdlable Hurdle

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Jono

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I viewed Brian's Former Flipper video along with the other shorts a few days ago, and tried some of Brian's teachings at the driving range.

I focussed on trying to emulate Brian's shot over the "unhurdlable hurdle", using my golf bag as the hurdle. I couldn't make a backswing from the address position, so I preset my wrists and then took the hands up to about chest height (what felt like half backswing). Made sure I had a full wristcock and the "twist away". From there, I just tried to get over the hurdle, make solid contact with the ball, and finish with the clubhead still under the hands. At first, I blocked a couple out to the right, but soon I got the hang of it. The left wrist felt really ARCHED through impact and I started taking nice divots and got a boring trajectory. I was hitting the 8 iron, which I normally hit about 150 - 155 yards with a full swing. With this half swing, I was getting around 145 yards. I then took the hands up to about shoulder height, still only about three quarter backswing, and instead of the clubhead finishing below the hands, and let the momentum of the club swivel it up to finish position. However, I retained the feel of the arched left wrist through impact. I was hitting 160 yards quite comfortably with this compact swing with a trajectory that was significantly lower than my previous full shots. Very nice. Had very good directional and distance control. I'm not sure whether this similar drill will work for the woods as well, but the improvement in the 8 iron shot was impressive.

I'm going to see if I can make a "hurdle" that will allow me to make a normal backswing as well. I'm thinking something similar to the Inside Approach device. Something that will allow the clubhead to go under the hurdle on the backswing and then over it on the downswing. Does anybody here have the Inside Approach device? Do you think it would work as the hurdle?

Anyway, I'm very excited after a couple of range sessions with the 8 iron and the hurdle drill. I hope after a month or so, I can also say that I'm a FORMER flipper. Thanks to Brian for making the video.
 
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MizunoJoe

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It's much easier to do this with the short irons because of the steepness of the plane. The long irons require being able to clear the hurdle with a flatter shaft angle. Ideally you would use an "inside approach" in it's normal position plus a modified hurdle that would allow you to make a normal BS under it.
 
J

Jono

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Thanks MJ. It's working great for the 8 iron, that's for sure. I'll gradually work up to the longer clubs and see how the drill lends itself to the shallower plane of the long irons and woods.

Hmmm ... swinging with BOTH the hurdle and the Inside Approach? That might be an idea for a new training aid. What about a version of the Inside Approach that has an "L" shaped foam bit? One arm of the L would serve the regular purpose, and the other arm perpendicular to it can serve as the hurdle ... :) Seriously though, if I can get hold of an Inside Approach, I might try your idea for the longer clubs.
 
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cdog

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You can make your own inside approach for just few bucks, theres instructions easily found on the net.
 
EdStraker

EdStraker

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quote:Originally posted by Jono

I viewed Brian's Former Flipper video along with the other shorts a few days ago, and tried some of Brian's teachings at the driving range.

I focussed on trying to emulate Brian's shot over the "unhurdlable hurdle", using my golf bag as the hurdle. I couldn't make a backswing from the address position, so I preset my wrists and then took the hands up to about chest height (what felt like half backswing). Made sure I had a full wristcock and the "twist away". From there, I just tried to get over the hurdle, make solid contact with the ball, and finish with the clubhead still under the hands. At first, I blocked a couple out to the right, but soon I got the hang of it. The left wrist felt really ARCHED through impact and I started taking nice divots and got a boring trajectory. I was hitting the 8 iron, which I normally hit about 150 - 155 yards with a full swing. With this half swing, I was getting around 145 yards. I then took the hands up to about shoulder height, still only about three quarter backswing, and instead of the clubhead finishing below the hands, and let the momentum of the club swivel it up to finish position. However, I retained the feel of the arched left wrist through impact. I was hitting 160 yards quite comfortably with this compact swing with a trajectory that was significantly lower than my previous full shots. Very nice. Had very good directional and distance control. I'm not sure whether this similar drill will work for the woods as well, but the improvement in the 8 iron shot was impressive.
Click to expand...

A big benefit if you do this drill is you will get the "heavy" feeling on the downswing and will feel the club against the #3 pressure point.
 
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ej20

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Jimmy Demaret was a master at arching the left wrist and delofting.He could hit some full shots that got no higher than 3 feet off the ground.He was no flipper for sure.He was almost unbeatable in windy conditions.
 
J

Jono

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quote:Originally posted by ej20

Jimmy Demaret was a master at arching the left wrist and delofting.He could hit some full shots that got no higher than 3 feet off the ground.He was no flipper for sure.He was almost unbeatable in windy conditions.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I can see how this would be great in the wind, but I think it would work as a "stock shot" in still conditions as well. So much control and no loss of distance even with what seems like a partial swing. I think when Tiger learned to play the Stinger shot, his coach asked him "Why don't you hit more of those on the course?"
 
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hardpan

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Hi Jono! It would seem that TGM hitting would be the logical conclusion to SA (imo)...been at it for a few months...made the mistake of ordering the downloadable CofFF and then realized my puny dial up would take approx. 3yrs 2mos 5days and 22 minutes to download...waiting on the DVD!...from your posts, I'd say we're on about the same page :)
 
C

cdog

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Jono, this is a great place, i followed Brian over from FGI, it's my main golf resource.
I still look in Single axis though to see if there is a good topic to read.
 
J

Jono

New
quote:Originally posted by cdog

Jono, this is a great place, i followed Brian over from FGI, it's my main golf resource.
I still look in Single axis though to see if there is a good topic to read.
Click to expand...

I go and have a look at the SA forum time to time as well. Unfortunately, it seems like I have been put on a filtering list over there. The owner edited my posts (and deleted some of them) without contacting me first. When I tried to ask the him what was going on, he edited those posts too ... Seems like the SA forum has become the Peter Dillard forum ... Oh well ...

Since I have gone back to conventional golf, I have started looking at TGM again and currently in the process of looking for a TGM instructor. Brian's short videos are great but I would love some one on one instruction.
 
J

Jono

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quote:Originally posted by rbaumgolf

Is this hurdle drill similar to the "coke Machine" drill in "Former Flipper"
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Just before he talks about the Coke Machine, he hits a ball with the blue sponge plane board as the hurdle. (about 22 minutes into the video)
 
J

Jono

New
quote:Originally posted by hardpan


Hi Jono! It would seem that TGM hitting would be the logical conclusion to SA (imo)...been at it for a few months...made the mistake of ordering the downloadable CofFF and then realized my puny dial up would take approx. 3yrs 2mos 5days and 22 minutes to download...waiting on the DVD!...from your posts, I'd say we're on about the same page :)
Click to expand...

Hardpan! Man, it's great to see you here as well. Still working at Golfsmith?

Time to upgrade your dialup, HP ... ;)

Good luck with the video and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.
 
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