My Primary beef with TGM
- Thread starter Ringer
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self-mastery
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In every other ball sport that we play, our mind is centered on the ball and not the stroke. In tennis and baseball we keep our eyes on the ball and let the stroke/ swing happen. I could be wrong.....
All divots are to be taken 'down and out' per diagram 1L because you have not yet reached the low point (exception of low point and impact point being the same)... and swinging towards the target with mistaken ideas of in to in (the golf digest way) is just basically steering....
Because of this - you must concentrate on the inside aft quadrant of the ball.... down and out .. not the target
Make the motion to send the ball towards the target... do not steer...
Because of this - you must concentrate on the inside aft quadrant of the ball.... down and out .. not the target
Make the motion to send the ball towards the target... do not steer...
Seems I remember this as a Hogan quote! Approx.
"I look/stare at the ball till it stops looking back!"
That said, I have met many good ball strikers who claim not to focus on the ball. Others state the opposite.
Possibly a person with the perfect swing needs no eye contact?
Looking at the ball whether the ball or the inside quadrant of the ball, I think would help a persons stability, less sway, etc., but "Looking at the ball", needs to operationally defined.
Many interpret as staring, freezing, over the ball. Lots of restricted swings and bad shots.
Define focus re. the ball?
Great question, Ringer! I have been involved in shooting sports and have had bouts of target panic. I don't know if your familiar with target panic, but, its a slight (subconsious) flinch before you pull the trigger. You are more prone to this if you have a certain type personality. So, for me, I can't get too focused on the Ball, or the green. Low point or aiming point work for me, as they are less finite and somewhat dynamic.
Brian Manzella
Administrator
Make a motion...the motion makes the shot....
Bcoak, Dave Stockton never stops moving that putter. He aligns the putter in front of the ball, as he lifts it up to put it behind the ball, it bumbs the turf and goes. Very dynamic. When we putt, we tend to get kind of static, at that point it gets hard to pull the trigger, so our first move back is jerky and quick.
Iowagolfpr
New
Ben Hogan said that he lost sight of the ball "somewhere in the downswing." Harvey Penick said that he told the student to "keep their eyes on a spot on the ball", if the students was thinking too much. He said that "keep you eye on the ball" was a useless thought that helped prevent too much consious thinking during the swing.
rwh
New
Steve,
I don't believe Mr. Kelley advocated mental focus on the ball. To control the three functions of the club, he said to focus on the hands:
The Hands are the "Command Post" for all Feel processing. As the Stroke proceeds, they dictate to the Feet as certainly as they dictate to the Club. No Negative (Off Course) Feedback can get to-or from-the Clubhead except through the Hands. Regardless of the amount of technical know-how and practice, uneducated Hands can nullify it all and never even be suspected. Monitor all three elements of the Club (1-L) by way of the Hands-never directly. The Hands are much easier to Monitor than the Clubhead because their travel is so much more even and slower (2-K-6). The first step in this Educational Process is "Look, Look, Look" per 3-B. If you feel your game isn't reflecting your understanding of Alignments-STOP MONITORING THE CLUBFACE INSTEAD OF YOUR HANDS.
Also, you like to say: "The Ball is merely a landmark on the way to your finish." I think Mr. Kelley's agrees with that in large part. First, he only assigned three Stations to the swing: Address, Top and Finish. He wanted you to make a total motion and not worry about Impact. This is how he said it: "Make no adjustment during the Stroke, for-or because of-Impact. NEVER EVER. That is "Hacking at the Ball" and produces only "Hackers."
Occasional practice while focusing on the back of the Ball and the area immediately behind it can be useful. When your Head moves, you are able to see more 'under the Ball.' That is a major benefit of using the Head as the fixed Pivot Center (as opposed to the 'point between the shoulders').
Do this in drill a few times, deliberately moving your Head and seeing the 'change in scenery.' Then, keep your Head Stationary and notice the 'no change.' Take the same idea to the practice tee as well. You don't need to spend a lot of time with this, just enough to get it into your Computer.
This is a simple idea, but it is amazing how quickly the habit becomes subconscious. Then, when you do move your Head in actual play, you instantly know it, even if you haven't thought about this idea for weeks or months. Best of all, you know it in time to stop your Stroke and start over.
And that's a good thing.
Do this in drill a few times, deliberately moving your Head and seeing the 'change in scenery.' Then, keep your Head Stationary and notice the 'no change.' Take the same idea to the practice tee as well. You don't need to spend a lot of time with this, just enough to get it into your Computer.
This is a simple idea, but it is amazing how quickly the habit becomes subconscious. Then, when you do move your Head in actual play, you instantly know it, even if you haven't thought about this idea for weeks or months. Best of all, you know it in time to stop your Stroke and start over.
And that's a good thing.
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