TGM and Me
 

Long time forum member, infrequent poster, but I wanted to post regarding my visit to the swamp last week and my overall experience after discovering LBG and TGM a few years ago. I fluctuate between a mid teen-low 20s index, hoping to change that.

I spent two half days with Lynn in Atlanta last week, and the experience was nothing short of transformative in my understanding and grasp of the concepts in that crazy little book. I will start by saying that I have had tons of lessons from every type of teacher imaginable, and I don't think anyone has turned on as many light bulbs for me as Lynn has.

We worked for four hours each day (two days) on everything from basic, acquired and total motion, sand wedge to driver, short game around the green, bunker play, and putting. Many, many lights went on of concepts that I was struggling with from reading the book and posts, and even watching the videos.

And the sound! The sound of a well struck golf shot coming from my club! Just awesome!

The attached thumbnails are video captures from before I ever heard of TGM (January '06, red shirt) and from after my first day with Lynn on Thursday (shorts). So while not all of the changes are from last week, I can assure you that the swing I showed up with at the swamp wasn't too far off from that old swing. The thumbnails in order (if this all works) are:

half way back old / now
Attachment 1758 Attachment 1759

half way down old / now
Attachment 1760 Attachment 1761

impact old / now
Attachment 1762 Attachment 1763

As you can see in the old photos, zero lower body action in the old pics, (still pretty guilty of that one), zero lag (didn't know what it was, never heard of it from other instructors) and forward hands at impact? Don't think so.

Work remains to be done. I still have the worst top of the backswing position on the planet, but I now have a roadmap and understanding of what to change and how to change it. If you are wondering if this TGM stuff is for real, it is, and if you can make a trek to the swamp and spend some time with Lynn, do it!

Thanks again Lynn for all of your hospitality, encouragement, and shared wisdom. I am looking forward to golf season like I haven't in a while.

Brian

Changed Alignments=Changed Golf Stroke
 

Thanks for posting, Brian. It was a special two days for me, too, and I appreciate your comments.

We need to put up the down-the-line video of the most telling of all your changes. Namely, your On Plane Start Down combined with your Left Wrist Release Trigger in the Downstroke. It was absolutely astounding to watch your Clubhead trace down the Plane Line (from the Top) instead of out-and-over the Plane as you had built into your swing.

Regarding the new effots, you were able to add this new Feel to your Total Motion by focusing on the Motion itself, i.e., Pull toward the Baseline and Throwout (from the Left Wrist).

You're on your way now. Keep up the good work, and call with any questions.

Lynn,

Thanks. BTW, I was remiss in not excluding Drew Chapman (Drewitgolf) from the previous ineffective instruction I had received. Drew has been very helpful as well, and is a big reason I showed up with a good understanding of the FLW, BRW!

Here are the sequences Lynn was referring to.

Top old / now
Attachment 1775 Attachment 1776

This is what I was referring to regarding my ugly top position. We worked hard on this but for some reason my brain takes the club there at the top. Biggest job this year to change that.

Here's half way down old / now
Attachment 1777 Attachment 1778

As Lynn says, the understanding of the proper on-plane release and throw is what created this position, in fact all of the positions, even from my severely off plane top position. So instead of thinking position golf, the dynamic motion and feel has put me in many of the correct positions.

first post ever on here but low teens to twenty index?? i don't wanna mess with you

Not sure I catch your drift there, deadwood.

bmctigue,
It looks like you are much flatter at the top. Can you or someone explain the on-plane release and throw. What are you throwing? Thanks.

Impact Alignments -- Goal Achieved!
 

The 'Now' Impact Photo in post #1 above tells the tale: GEORGEOUS Impact alignments. Centered action; bent Right Arm; Left Arm and Clubshaft in-line; and Hands leading 'through the ball'. What's not to like? Nothing!

:salut:

Ben, can you put up that photo here as a 'stand-alone' in this post? Thanks!

Stuts,

Trust me, that top position is NOT something we worked on, but something my incubator won't let go of for some reason. That I got back to impact in reasonably good alignments at all is a tribute to the work we did to uncock on plane and roll in to impact. This felt to me like I was uncocking behind me, but in fact it was just on plane, something I had not been too familiar with before.

I'll try to explain what I mean by throw, but others (Lynn) feel free to chime in and correct me. When I say a "throw," from the top we brought the club down with the butt moving towards the plane line. (on plane) Once the weight of the club and the unwinding pivot started to uncock the left wrist, Lynn said "just let it go, that's what it wants to do anyway." So the motion (swinging) becomes very much a "throw" out of the club on plane. The left wrist is uncocking, and as we've all heard, and it's true, it can't uncock and bend at the same time. So if it is uncocking on plane, and the pivot is working correctly, the roll really just happens. Now all of the hammering posts Bucket has put up make a lot more sense to me!

I will say again, that the time with Lynn working on these concepts has made all the difference as I read the forum, the book, watch the videos, whatever. I have a lot of new mechanics to engrain to feel, but it's coming. Some of the shots I am hitting now I am thrilled with. Still miss plenty, and still struggle with the driver, but it's coming.

bmctigue,

You are not alone. Artistry takes time. In fact, for those of normal ability, time properly applied is the differentiating element.

Brian Gay and I began our work in February 2006. We worked a number of times, some at his club; some at The Swamp; and some on Tour. Along the way, we hammered down all sorts of questions and conceptions on the phone.

In 2007, we worked twelve times. Those twelve were not for an hour or so, but for at least a day or so (and sometimes more). We started in the desert the first week in January (prior to the Sony in Hawaii) and ended the last week of December at his home club, the Golden Bear Club at Keane's Point, in Windemere, Florida, as we once again prepared for Hawaii and the upcoming 2008 season.

He won that year (Mayakoba) and has won two more times since (Verizon Heritage and St. Jude) In the interim, we have only talked on the phone and worked on Tour.

Seems to have worked!

seems a good place to ask this question.

Brian, you spent two days with Yoda (something I am envious of), do you feel that you can retain what you worked on during those two days or have you scheduled further sessions?

Yoda, once someone has spent this sort of time with you, what do you recommend practice wise. I know you have previously talked of keeping a journal etc. Are you more in favour of plenty of shorter sessions when practicing or longer sessions spaced apart? To clarify, is it better to hit 60 balls 5 times a week than 150 balls twice a week?

Looking forward to Glasgow

:salut: