Two hours with the Man

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Leek

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I spent 2 hours with Brian the other day. Is Brian as good as advertised? No, he is much better in person. He knows what you need to do, he knows more ways to get you to do them than you can imagine. Brian worked damn hard to find ways to get me to correctly perform the proper actions to get me to execute some of the imperatives he and TGM teach. Poor Brian narrowly avoided getting konked in the "coconut" more than once.

As I reflect on the first in a series of many lessons, I realize I had fallen victim to two things:
As Brian said, the mind is in the hands, and my body adapted to a few weaknesses my hands created.
I had clearly fallen victim to "pop golf instruction."

Additionally, as a big bonus Brian cleared up a few questions around the short game for me, since HE decided to give me a little extra time. The dividend I got was immediate in chipping and putting!

As I practiced yesterday, Brian's instruction became much clearer and I am beginning to understand what I must do to move to a much more efficient, more accurate and powerful swing. The drills are effective and frankly outstanding. I get the feeling my next lesson will bring even more clarity.
If you get the opportunity to spend time with this guy, do it. Do it NOW. Do it often! The value Brian offers is far greater than I imagined.
 
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Brian Manzella

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:)

Thanks Lee.

Reading your very nice review was a great way to start my day. :)

The important "lesson" to be learned from Lee's lesson, was that if you don't make a backswing that is RIGHT FOR YOU, you have ZERO chance to produce good impact alignments.

Lee has a great chance now! :cool:
 
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Leek

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Just an update. The lesson was way better than I realized. I let Brian's thoughts and suggestions percolate in my "coconut" since Friday. I kept trying to learn:

Get the club on plane
Approach the ball from a little inside the straight line plane
Flat left wrist at the top and at impact (What the heck, all the way to the finish)
Swivel finish

Of course, if this isn't enough I added a release bottoming out about 4" past impact!

I visited Ben Doyle's site, tried the lawnmower pull (extensor action). Of course Brian was right, not enough to get on plane. Kept thinking, kept working on the flat left wrist too. Last night, after an exhausting business trip to NYC, I went in the family room at 1:00 am. Something clicked- pull the lawnmower cord and twist away, lift voila- I'm in the position Brian showed me over and over and over again (he IS a patient man).

Then, downswing pivot with a little (and I mean little) trigger delay (More work to do!), a little release (downcock not flip), suddenly some swivel happens on the follow through. So excited I can hardly sleep.

I get up early and go to the range before work (6:30 am). Get 500 balls and do a drill. Place alignment sticks on the ground (I haven't forgotten to square the hips Brian). Practice the backswing 4 times. Hit a ball with a half swing.

First ball- FAT and chucky like a good candy bar. Next one, a little better. Better and better. After about 100 range balls, I up the ante. 4 practice backswings checking the hands and club at the top (flat left wrist, left forearm and club face all on the same plane), then a 3/4 swing punch shot. 100 more balls doing this. They begin with great compression and a slight, tight draw. I'm carrying punched 7 irons longet than a full 7 iron was Sunday. Keep working, concentrate on a "snap release" Uh Oh the hooks, big time (I mean 30 yard benders). Slow down a little, hit the ball at half speed.The ball flight tightens up. The whole time I can hear Brian's instructions in my "coconut" . 100 more with the 4 practice backswings before each one. Now for the big one- FULL swings, full speed. What a mess! Brian, what do I do? I hear Brian in my lesson, "Get the tilt, move those hips and tailbone forward", so I slow down and work on that on each full swing. Ball is really compressing. Finish the 500 and go to work.

A buddy calls around 4:00 pm. Hey man, let's play a few holes at 5:00. I'm like, I can't take this to the course yet, but being a golf whore, I go.

First hole, practice getting the club on plane once or twice. Swing- CRACK ball flies in a penetrating little draw a full 40 yards past my normal drive. Instead of a 3 iron or hybrid approach, I have a 7 iron? Hook it a little long and left. Get up and down (Flipper chip/pitch to 2 feet).

Next, another long drive for me. Poor approach and trouble. Next a par 3 that would normally call for a 5 iron with no wind, but the wind is howling in our face. My buddy hits a hybrid (I think 19 degree) pin high. I hit a 5 iron inside of him.

To make a long story short, 3 birdies in 9. An unbelievable up & down (ball down in a divot where I must have a clean contact, no problem, flipper chip that spins out and leaves a tap in) and a 36 (even par).

Bottom line- I won't always have days like today, but what other golf pro can take a guy with bad fundamentals, and I mean BAD. Spend 2 hours with them, improve their accuracy, add 1-2 clubs to their irons and 30-40 consistent yards to their driver?

As Brian Manzella knows, I have been to some pretty famous golf instructors, I mean guys who teach PGA and LPGA TOUR players, are listed in Golf and Golf Digest top 10. Brian taught me more in two hours than one "Top 10" guy taught in a long series of lessons.

Now here is the thing, I don't have any of the things I need to improve ingrained yet. This is the beginning. I know I am not a scratch player and may never be one. I do know that what I already learned will improve (any fool that will hit 500 balls with a purpose will improve). What will my game be like after 5 more lessons with Brian? I can only imagine. Whatever you've heard, he's really better than that. He gave me so much information it's like he is still in that lesson days later.
 
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puttmad

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I just worry about your logevity Leek...

500 balls before breakfast and yo'll be looking as old as Vijay in no time....:D
 
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eric54

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Wish i could spend a few hours with Brian but bit tricky when in the UK. Hopefully he can help me over the phone.

Good to hear your experience Leek
 
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tourdeep

tourdeep

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the chosen one...

"CRACK ball flies in a penetrating little draw a full 40 yards past my normal drive.".

welcome to the Manzella matrix...!


"Finish the 500 and go to work"
you are a golfing machine!
 
L

Leek

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tourdeep said:
"CRACK ball flies in a penetrating little draw a full 40 yards past my normal drive.".

welcome to the Manzella matrix...!


"Finish the 500 and go to work"
you are a golfing machine!
Click to expand...

Thanks Deep. Not a Golfing Machine, just tired of being a 13 HDCPer and committed to doing the work to get better.
 
tbarbertab

tbarbertab

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Leek said:
Whatever you've heard, he's really better than that.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more. I've been to see Brian twice now, and I finally feel like I know what's going on with my golf swing. He's so much better than anyone I've worked with before that it's scary. Thanks Brian!! See you next time....
 
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