Getting fired. Writing a book. Asking for help.

[Leftjab]

Hi guys,

I’m going to find myself with a bunch of free time on my hands b/c I’m about to get sh*t canned from my job. I’ve decided to quit life for a while and indulge my newfound golf obsession by writing a book about the golf swing from a chronological perspective (think Darwin: Origin of Species). As fellow swing junkies I was hoping some of you might chime in and share your picks of people who you think merit consideration for their contribution in the evolution of the golf swing. I think we all agree that Manz’s work on the science of the swing merits consideration as maybe the latest meaningful contributor on this scale.

BTW, The working title (so far) is: The Swing Kings, but that could change in slurp of single malt.

Cheers,

 

[BrendanC]

Like the project.

I remember reading that Ben Crenshaw has a big interest in this subject - would he do an interview? I'd say so.

 

[Leftjab]

thanks. my neighbor's wife is crenshaw's wife's sister. (if that makes sense?)

 

[BrendanC]

Sure it does....

While I'm at it, do you intend to look at swings/theories from around the world?

Usual suspects like Scotland, England and Australia obviously key but South America, Sweden, Ireland and the ongoing boom in Asia are also v.interesting.

Christy O'Connor Senior and Junior (they were cousins - not father and son)

Senior: Himself - YouTube (as a young man at 0:10, as a much older man round 1:10)

Junior: Christy O'Connor - Ryder Cup 1989 - 2 Iron - YouTube (famous 2iron v Fred Couples at the Belfry 0:50)

Jimmy Bruen (amazing swing, and a great video piece as well): Jimmy Bruen - YouTube

The weirdest swing in golf? Maybe Eamon D'Arcy's: Eamon Darcy Swing - YouTube

 

[Leftjab]

i'm rather piecing a framework together at the moment, but my inclination for inclusion (onto what is shaping up to be a timeline of sorts) centers around whom was thinking what about the golf swing -when were they first thinking it, teaching it or performing it, and what was the logic behind the reasoning, and hopefully what the key takeaways for today's golfer are... regardless of country of origin, taste in women or preference of dram.

 

[OLIVER1]

I'm looking forward to seeing your Darwin Evolution of Man chart. I wondering which famous teachers' heads will be cut and pasted on the golfing versions of primate and Cro-Magnon...

 

[BrendanC]

Sounds good.

I guess for me the story of the golfswing is like wine - in the past, there were many interesting swings, with each shaped by the philosophy and terrain each player grew up on.

Now.....it's all f*cking MERLOT.

 

[mjstrong]

John Jacobs and his contribution of teaching via focusing on ball flight?

 

[94monarch]

A few names I would look at, from the old times (not going back to Morris and Robertson) I would start with Seymour Dunn, Stuart Maiden, Ernst Jones and EM Prain as well as Percy Boomer. Then I would move into Harvey Penick, Claude Harmon, Manuel De La Torre, maybe Eddie Merrins, Bob Torrance and John Jacobs and certainly Homer Kelly. Then in a more modern era You could get into Jimmy Ballard, Toski and Flick (Square to square stuff) and keeping with the GD staff dont forget Davis Love Jr. and or Jack Lumpkin. Then move into Leadbetter, Haney, Mclean, Hardy, and Mac. Lastly I would do a arrival of the science era where you look at Manzellas work on the science of it all as well as the TPI stuff Phillips and Rose are doing with body training and junior golf training at the TPI Junior academy. If I can help get you in contact with any of the living ones just PM me. I know a few of them but know how you can get to almost all of them.

 

[Leftjab]

well done, thanks for the input. i may just take you up on that offer.

 

[94monarch]

I knew I would think of a few later. Shelby Futch (great GD and Hardy resource), Ben Doyle (duh, how did I miss that), Bob Rotella and possibly Utley and Pelz and Stockton if you want short game stuff. I'm sure I forgot other obvious ones. Its a broad subject, almost limitless. You coluld look at Bennett & Plummer with S&T, or others like Mike Adams, Don Trahan, Mike Hebron, Lynn Blake, Rob Akins and/or young teachers like Kevin Smeltz, Robert Baker, Gary Gilchrist, Brian Mogg. All have their good points. Again, its a broad subject.

 

[mjstrong]

You could even go a little deeper into the Psychology side with Gio Valiente, Deepak Chopra, and I would also include Lynn Mariott and Pia Nielsen with their different take on overall instruction.