Before I begin, I will tell you that this likely will NOT be a short thread, so while I will try my best to keep from rambling, I can't promise anything. So, if you don't like to read, go on to the next topic!!
I had my first lesson with Brian yesterday in Baton Rouge. Of course, with my luck, after a week of temperatures in the 80's, it was about overcast, windy and about 60, but once you get warmed up, you don't notice the weather.
To start with, I'm a pretty decent player...scoring average this year of 73.5 and occasionally I can break 70. Nnormally a balky putter/short game is the culprit, but my long game generally holds up. However, over the past couple of months, my ball striking has become atrocious, some sort of OTT move, coupled with a hold on at impact so as not to pull/hook it off the course. So, much to Brian's dismay (after realizing I was the one on the range he had to work with), we got started.
After initial filming, where Brian noticed my little "flip" at the bottom, he began explaining wedding ring down and several other drills designed to "de-chicken wing" and "de-flip" my impact position. Of course, since it takes awhile to get through my thick skull, he went through different explanations, feels, thoughts, etc before I started to make what were a few decent moves. (By the way, I want it said now that I could be responsible for a new drill, so if it shows up on video or otherwise, you will know it came from my inability to grasp an otherwise simple concept)
As we progressed, I began to realize that nothing had been said about my grip, stance, backswing, nothing...all the other areas I felt like I clearly had to have something wrong with. As I would ask questions about these areas, Brian would 1) cover his ears or 2) tell me that worrying about all that was MY responsibility. Finally, however, he said something like "okay, if you need to hear it (which I DID), your backswing is fine". As a result, for 2 hours we worked on nothing but left arm rotation at impact and getting my left arm "against the movie screens", and my left wrist more toward the ground at my "pose" position, which was primarily a 3/4 finish. I tried a few full shots, but it didn't take long for Brian to tell me to go back to the shorter swings, not to mention that I was likely going to endanger the others on the range.
After I FINALLY started ONE ball to the right and drew it back to the target (which was my assignment), Brian got out of there FAST, likely wondering what he had gotten himself into (actually that shot seemed to coincide with the time being up, that's how long it took me to do one correctly). However, I can say one thing with confidence that despite my thick head and disgust for my lack of progress, he DID really like my irons (TM 2006 MB's), which he will be receiving shortly from TM.
Since I'm rambling, I will now come to the point of this thread. I went to Baton Rouge certain that I was doing who knew how many things wrong, but ended up working on just one thing. As I write this, I still am having a little difficulty getting my arms around the whole experience. I would have never guessed that I would only work on ONE thing, which would result in shallower divots that actually pointed at my target. I was prepared to have Brian drawing lines all over the place showing all the spots where I was out of position, etc, but at least for this lesson, it was ONE simple fix. Now, I certainly don't have this mastered by any means, and who knows maybe a second lesson would result in Brian pointing out several other things that he figured he better not mess with yesterday...I don't know, and while it may not be that simple for some of you reading this post, perhaps a word of advice, maybe stop looking for so many things to correct and simplify the process...it could just be the answer!!
Overall, I had a great experience, and it was well worth the money...after I work on this awhile, I'm sure I will go back for another lesson and let Brian marvel at how well I'm doing...well that or either watch him shake his head and get back in the car, but hopefully the former. So, if any of you are thinking of arranging a lesson, don't delay, you won't regret it.
I had my first lesson with Brian yesterday in Baton Rouge. Of course, with my luck, after a week of temperatures in the 80's, it was about overcast, windy and about 60, but once you get warmed up, you don't notice the weather.
To start with, I'm a pretty decent player...scoring average this year of 73.5 and occasionally I can break 70. Nnormally a balky putter/short game is the culprit, but my long game generally holds up. However, over the past couple of months, my ball striking has become atrocious, some sort of OTT move, coupled with a hold on at impact so as not to pull/hook it off the course. So, much to Brian's dismay (after realizing I was the one on the range he had to work with), we got started.
After initial filming, where Brian noticed my little "flip" at the bottom, he began explaining wedding ring down and several other drills designed to "de-chicken wing" and "de-flip" my impact position. Of course, since it takes awhile to get through my thick skull, he went through different explanations, feels, thoughts, etc before I started to make what were a few decent moves. (By the way, I want it said now that I could be responsible for a new drill, so if it shows up on video or otherwise, you will know it came from my inability to grasp an otherwise simple concept)
As we progressed, I began to realize that nothing had been said about my grip, stance, backswing, nothing...all the other areas I felt like I clearly had to have something wrong with. As I would ask questions about these areas, Brian would 1) cover his ears or 2) tell me that worrying about all that was MY responsibility. Finally, however, he said something like "okay, if you need to hear it (which I DID), your backswing is fine". As a result, for 2 hours we worked on nothing but left arm rotation at impact and getting my left arm "against the movie screens", and my left wrist more toward the ground at my "pose" position, which was primarily a 3/4 finish. I tried a few full shots, but it didn't take long for Brian to tell me to go back to the shorter swings, not to mention that I was likely going to endanger the others on the range.
After I FINALLY started ONE ball to the right and drew it back to the target (which was my assignment), Brian got out of there FAST, likely wondering what he had gotten himself into (actually that shot seemed to coincide with the time being up, that's how long it took me to do one correctly). However, I can say one thing with confidence that despite my thick head and disgust for my lack of progress, he DID really like my irons (TM 2006 MB's), which he will be receiving shortly from TM.
Since I'm rambling, I will now come to the point of this thread. I went to Baton Rouge certain that I was doing who knew how many things wrong, but ended up working on just one thing. As I write this, I still am having a little difficulty getting my arms around the whole experience. I would have never guessed that I would only work on ONE thing, which would result in shallower divots that actually pointed at my target. I was prepared to have Brian drawing lines all over the place showing all the spots where I was out of position, etc, but at least for this lesson, it was ONE simple fix. Now, I certainly don't have this mastered by any means, and who knows maybe a second lesson would result in Brian pointing out several other things that he figured he better not mess with yesterday...I don't know, and while it may not be that simple for some of you reading this post, perhaps a word of advice, maybe stop looking for so many things to correct and simplify the process...it could just be the answer!!
Overall, I had a great experience, and it was well worth the money...after I work on this awhile, I'm sure I will go back for another lesson and let Brian marvel at how well I'm doing...well that or either watch him shake his head and get back in the car, but hopefully the former. So, if any of you are thinking of arranging a lesson, don't delay, you won't regret it.
Last edited:
