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mgranato

mgranato

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Hello to all.
I heard about TGM on another site a couple days ago. I asked a couple questions, and the guy suggested I "check out Manzella on YouTube", so here I am.

I'm currently "trying" to play with the Hardy 1 plane swing, but I'm having some issues with the whole process. I'm 6'5" (235 lbs), my index is +2, a former college basketball player, but I've recently herniated a disc in my lower back. The back injury is why I've been trying to convert to the 1 plane swing. However, I'm noticing that the "ideal" swing model is not even close to how his students play and swing. (I catch hell for bringing this up on their site.) I'm finding it quite unnatural to try to swing like someone who was 5'7" (Hogan). I'm bending over 48* at address (which makes me feel 5'7"), and I still hear that I'm not turning in the "zone". I have tons of respect for Jim Hardy, but I'm not sure the 1 plane swing is built for my body size and type. My index was established with a more "upright" flowing type action, but the reverse K position was putting lots of pressure on my lower back.

All that being said, I love the idea of fitting the swing to what I have and do naturally, but my main goal is to be able to swing with a little pain as possible. Is that possible with the TGM? If so, what's the best way to start learning it's fundamentals?
 
Erik_K

Erik_K

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mgranato said:
Hello to all.
I heard about TGM on another site a couple days ago. I asked a couple questions, and the guy suggested I "check out Manzella on YouTube", so here I am.

I'm currently "trying" to play with the Hardy 1 plane swing, but I'm having some issues with the whole process. I'm 6'5" (235 lbs), my index is +2, a former college basketball player, but I've recently herniated a disc in my lower back. The back injury is why I've been trying to convert to the 1 plane swing. However, I'm noticing that the "ideal" swing model is not even close to how his students play and swing. (I catch hell for bringing this up on their site.) I'm finding it quite unnatural to try to swing like someone who was 5'7" (Hogan). I'm bending over 48* at address (which makes me feel 5'7"), and I still hear that I'm not turning in the "zone". I have tons of respect for Jim Hardy, but I'm not sure the 1 plane swing is built for my body size and type. My index was established with a more "upright" flowing type action, but the reverse K position was putting lots of pressure on my lower back.

All that being said, I love the idea of fitting the swing to what I have and do naturally, but my main goal is to be able to swing with a little pain as possible. Is that possible with the TGM? If so, what's the best way to start learning it's fundamentals?
Click to expand...

You can absolutely swing pain free. I don't find the principles of TGM to be hard on the back in any way. Being that tall and having to bend over as much as you say would indeed put strain on your back. I am 6' tall and have the same problem when I practice putting. I can putt for hours on end, but only with frequent breaks to give my back a rest.

Best way to learn the fundamentals:

1) Start checking this site weekly. Post and ask questions.

2) Call Brian.

3) See if there are any AIs in your area. If not, see step 2.

Welcome aboard!
 
mgranato

mgranato

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Mr Inconsistent said:
Being 6'5" and bending over a lot while swinging doesn't sound like a very good recipe for your back.
Click to expand...

The whole idea with the 1 plane deal is to keep the body centered without any heavy tilting one way or the other. The theory sounded good, but I'm finding the reality is quite a bit different (without Gumby type flexibility).

What is an "AI"? I've also seen the term "Hardy/Kool-Aid swing", what does the "Kool-Aid" part mean? Is there someplace (here or elsewhere) where I can get a good baseline understanding of the fundamentals of TGM - possibly a summarized overview?
 
mgranato

mgranato

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Thanks!
My ball flight with the irons is fairly high and straight, my misses with the full swing will fall to the right at the flight's end, and the misses with 3/4 shots will go in the opposite direction. The driver is pretty much the same, but the course I play requires more draws than fades, so I'll wind up turning it over more than cutting it. I have more "misses" with the irons than I do with the driver. I'm sure that always hitting from a dead level lie and off a tee has something to do with it, but the comfort level in my iron setup is not the same as with my driver (especially from more awkward lies).

I feel most comfortable when I play like I'm tall. When I get too "small" tension creeps into the swing, and my motions are limited and tight. As I'm sure it is with everyone, I play best from a comfortable setup - and lately that's been more elusive to find.
 
B

Brian Manzella

Administrator
START HERE.

At address, this is the model for tall golfers.

I drew some lines to illustrate the key relationships.

Copy it. ;)

millerdtl1.jpg
 
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mgranato

mgranato

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Should the blue line be the same for all clubs (pointing at the belt buckle)? What does the red line represent?

Are there any tall "setup models" currently playing on tour, Ernie, Vijay, etc?

Here's a link to some photos from last week, my latest attempt at the 1 plane swing. This feels very bent over. http://web.mac.com/granato/iWeb/Golf Site/Welcome.html

PS - Brian, I haven't heard an accent like that since college, one of my teammates/roommates was from Houma - great to hear it again.:)
 
S

shootin4par

New
Ringer said:
What's with the red line from his eyes to the ball?
Click to expand...
to show that he is looking straight out of the eye sockets, that coincides with the flat line on the back of the neck that is pretty much parallel to the ground. If the neck was on the same angle as the spine then that would raise the eye line up. and as brian has stated, you will get to that neck and eye line at impact so might as well set it at address so you dont have to find it during the swing
 
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