What makes a Good Golfer GOOD!

[Brian Manzella]

Clubface control.

Period.

"Whoa Stallion, what do you mean clubface control? You mean Hinge Action?"

Well, sort of.

What I mean is this:

Most golfers are FLIP slicers—I put 'em at 84% of golfers—and slicers slice because they have an overly open clubface. They flip because either they have no clue, or they are trying to straighten out the slice. Pick one. Or two.

Then there are the leakage Hookers, the one's with a little flip and a right-to-left ball flight—this accounts for about 13% of golfers.

These guys and gals either flip and "anti-swivel" (kind of a chicken wing) to CATCH the closing clubface, or flip it TO turn it over.

So, to review: Group A - Slicers, Group B - Leakage Hookers = 97% of golfers

There is a 2% group of golfers who hook it or slice it (OR BOTH) uncontrollably and don't flip. They have SERIOUS clubface issues.

The world is full of this 2% group. It includes everybody in golf who is strong enough to hit it further than Fred Funk and can "putt it in the ocean" but couldn't "make it" even with a SUPER FLAT left wrist and some amount of snap in the swing.

That leaves 1%.

They all hit it where they are looking, and either win the club championship every other year, or if they can putt, win tournaments.

If they are "the best putter in their state" (<<famous Don Villavaso quote), then they PLAY ON THE PGA Tour!

...as this thread develops, I will expand on these ideas and suggest things that can be done to fix the problem.

 

[Jared Willerson]

The flat left wrist controls the clubface right? Is there a grip problem with a lot of the 2%'ers? Or do a lot of them not know how to trace a straight line?

I know in my own swing I have a super flat wrist, but don't have a lot of snap in my swing, I wish I could hit it as far as Fred Funk. Can't wait to hear other ideas.

 

[shootin4par]

out of curiosity, what percentage of people do you think stay in there spine angle, have a good pivot?

 

[Brian Manzella]

Funny you should ask...

At the First GOLFING MACHINE Summit in December of last year in Alabama—where I was honored to be a presenter—I said this brilliant little statement of STONE FACT (I will adjust it slightly for the internet):

If I "put up" all the versions of Brian Manzella Golf Swings that are known to exist on video, you would see MULTIPLE patterns. Pure swinging, Pure Hitting, Switting, Very bent over high hands, Very bent over low hands, Higher hands than anyone plays with, Erect addresses, hooks, fades, slices, low ball, high ball, etc. Fat Brian, Skinny Brian and every Brian in between.

At least two dozen very different looking swings.

All you internet experts out there, all you AI's, former AI's, Hardy One-planers, Mandrin, Tongzilla, from all four corners of the world:

"Pick the pattern that shot 59 twice, The one that was 26-under par for one week, the one that had the top 10 tournament finishes, the one that once went 100+ holes without a double bogey.

Come on, PICK IT"

Ok, you get the picture.

And after all of that, it would be easy—

PICK THE ugliest ONE!!!

Oh Neil, and all you tush line worriers out there:

I moved all over dodge spine angle wise on the backswing.

But I could REALLY play.


A lesson for all of us.

But why???


I traced a PERFECT plane line. I had forward lean and lag pressure—but never too much lean. I had ULTIMATE clubface control.

But, the internet "experts", have torn it up.

 

[birdie_man]

So which swing would that be? Do you have it on the net?

Cause I remember you mentioning that you played your best golf ever with a closed stance and I think Angled Hinging.

...

K I've got some questions Brian:

1. You said CHIII is one of many very good players who has great clubhead/shaft control (def. great head control) but not so good FACE control.....you said you could fix him easy....man....he's not even in the 1%? Or are u talking another percentile all together that you could put him in if you fixed him?

2. You've said Tom is different from David TomS because of clubface control....which you said is essentially "natural ability." But you also said Tom (Bartlett) is the straightest long hitter you've ever seen.....30 yards longer than anyone who hits it as straight if I remember right.....what gives?

 

[birdie_man]

BTW I don't worry about "the tush line" much either....

 

[shootin4par]

Bman,
In the road of life to understand the golf swing, some people are further along then others and you are further along then most. All I am trying to do is get further along that road. I come here because I realize who is further along the road. In trying to figure this golf swing thing out will i catch up with you, close the gap by a lot, close the gap by a little, or fall further behind? Outcome yet to be detirmined but I dont think I have the time to devote to put in the hours you have, so my objective is to close the gap some, not catch up. So while I stumble and look off into the bushes, weeds and gutters, sit back to laugh and chuckle meanwhile remembering you were here as well. as a golf swing mentor continue to shout out the wisdom so it penetrates the bushes and trees we are stuck behind, know what I mean

 

[Tom Bartlett]

So which swing would that be? Do you have it on the net?

Cause I remember you mentioning that you played your best golf ever with a closed stance and I think Angled Hinging.

...

K I've got some questions Brian:

You've said Tom is different from David TomS because of clubface control....which you said is essentially "natural ability." But you also said Tom (Bartlett) is the straightest long hitter you've ever seen.....30 yards longer than anyone who hits it as straight if I remember right.....what gives?

I had said I disagreed with Brian's assessment in that thread. I kept my stats in all the tournaments I played in and would routinely hit 15 to 18 greens in regulation and shoot 70, 71,72 and sometimes higher. My putting and wedge game sucked! And, I didn't realize how much until I started practicing and playing with Tommy Moore.

 

[Brian Manzella]

Bman,
In the road of life to understand the golf swing, some people are further along then others and you are further along then most. All I am trying to do is get further along that road. I come here because I realize who is further along the road. In trying to figure this golf swing thing out will i catch up with you, close the gap by a lot, close the gap by a little, or fall further behind? Outcome yet to be detirmined but I dont think I have the time to devote to put in the hours you have, so my objective is to close the gap some, not catch up. So while I stumble and look off into the bushes, weeds and gutters, sit back to laugh and chuckle meanwhile remembering you were here as well. as a golf swing mentor continue to shout out the wisdom so it penetrates the bushes and trees we are stuck behind, know what I mean

I have been ask by many to continue to shout, but for now...I'll just talk loud.

 

[Brian Manzella]

Answers...

I had said I disagreed with Brian's assessment in that thread. I kept my stats in all the tournaments I played in and would routinely hit 15 to 18 greens in regulation and shoot 70, 71,72 and sometimes higher. My putting and wedge game sucked! And, I didn't realize how much until I started practicing and playing with Tommy Moore.

Tom is not in any of the afore mentioned groups.

Tom can still hit it better than 95% of the PGA Tour players. Without practicing or playing.

He is very correct about the short game differences between him and Tommy.

If they could have played as a team....Tom from 100yards+, Tommy inside 100...they would have been a Top 5 player.

So which swing would that be? Do you have it on the net?

Cause I remember you mentioning that you played your best golf ever with a closed stance and I think Angled Hinging.

It is NOT on the net anywhere. Leo Tongzilla would make fun of me.

You said CHIII is one of many very good players who has great clubhead/shaft control (def. great head control) but not so good FACE control.....you said you could fix him easy....man....he's not even in the 1%? Or are u talking another percentile all together that you could put him in if you fixed him?

I would love to help him.

But he may miss the Manzella-Train. He might be gone before I take over the tour.

 

[shootin4par]

I have been ask by many to continue to shout, but for now...I'll just talk loud.

shout out loud, just dont scream

 

[cdog]

Basically Brian said he had command of the 3 imperatives.

 

[Brian Manzella]

And BTW...

Basically Brian said he had command of the 3 imperatives.

Basically, cDOG is correct.

 

[TYORKE1]

I am missing something with the point of this post , there are so many factors other than ball striking to make a lasting tour player. Retief and Westwood chickened winged for years but there are great players. Putitng is the formost , nerves is second,wedge play third and ball striking forth. Also the ability to hit the corrrect shot and read the situation is another key attribute. I find it amazing when I hear a tour player hits 7 fairways , 10 greens and shoots 67, I am a plus handicap and this does not happen to me. When I am in the 60's I hit 16 greens and almost all the fariways. The reason golf is so great is the continual stride to get better in all aspects of the game . TIM

 

[Brian Manzella]

I am missing something with the point of this post , there are so many factors other than ball striking to make a lasting tour player. Retief and Westwood chickened winged for years but there are great players. Putitng is the formost , nerves is second,wedge play third and ball striking forth. Also the ability to hit the corrrect shot and read the situation is another key attribute. I find it amazing when I hear a tour player hits 7 fairways , 10 greens and shoots 67, I am a plus handicap and this does not happen to me. When I am in the 60's I hit 16 greens and almost all the fariways. The reason golf is so great is the continual stride to get better in all aspects of the game . TIM

I meant the SWING part.

Obviously, PUTTING is King. SHORT GAME is Queen, and without NERVES you teach for a living.

 

[TYORKE1]

I got ya big fella, TIM

 

[self-mastery]

There are a variety of factors that touring pro's have. I think the most important thing is to have mastery over your particular method of playing the game.

 

[Mr Inconsistent]

Clubface control.

Period.

"Whoa Stallion, what do you mean clubface control? You mean Hinge Action?"

Well, sort of.

What I mean is this:

Most golfers are FLIP slicers—I put 'em at 84% of golfers—and slicers slice because they have an overly open clubface. They flip because either they have no clue, or they are trying to straighten out the slice. Pick one. Or two.

Then there are the leakage Hookers, the one's with a little flip and a right-to-left ball flight—this accounts for about 13% of golfers.

These guys and gals either flip and "anti-swivel" (kind of a chicken wing) to CATCH the closing clubface, or flip it TO turn it over.

So, to review: Group A - Slicers, Group B - Leakage Hookers = 97% of golfers

There is a 2% group of golfers who hook it or slice it (OR BOTH) uncontrollably and don't flip. They have SERIOUS clubface issues.

The world is full of this 2% group. It includes everybody in golf who is strong enough to hit it further than Fred Funk and can "putt it in the ocean" but couldn't "make it" even with a SUPER FLAT left wrist and some amount of snap in the swing.

That leaves 1%.

They all hit it where they are looking, and either win the club championship every other year, or if they can putt, win tournaments.

If they are "the best putter in their state" (<<famous Don Villavaso quote), then they PLAY ON THE PGA Tour!

...as this thread develops, I will expand on these ideas and suggest things that can be done to fix the problem.

I was looking forward to you expanding on what can be done to get great clubface control. I think I might be a leakage hooker, I hit hooks and block it right.

 

[borisinpa]

With the help of Brian Manzella's videos, I've gone from a hooking flipper to a member of the 2% group. My hooking v. slicing is not totally random though. The longer the club the more likely I am to slice.

I've got NSA 2.0 on order so hopefully that will help me straighten things out.

 

[daniell]

Yah. I can relate to the 2% group. But how do I be more consistent and get rid of my serious clubface problems?