Learning and Applying TGM w/disabilities by a 21 hcp.

[innercityteacher]

Great story Patrick, thanks. So those birds you saw were really mosquitos?


"Keep it come'n on , keep it......." K. C. and the sunshine band ladies and gentlemen.

Though I cannot tell why it was exactly that those stage managers, the Fates, put me down for this shabby part of a whaling voyage, when others were set down for magnificent parts in high tragedies, and short and easy parts in genteel comedies, and jolly parts in farces - though I cannot tell why this was exactly; yet, now that I recall all the circumstances, I think I can see a little into the springs and motives which being cunningly presented to me under various disguises, induced me to set about performing the part I did, besides cajoling me into the delusion that it was a choice resulting from my own unbiased freewill and discriminating judgment. ("Moby Dick" pp. 5-6)


Why did the Fates induce me to come to Minnesota and to trust these two seemingly fine men, Kevin and Gerry, and those they represented (Mssrs. Kelly and Blake), to inspect my mind for golf and my friendship? Would part of my stay and study be tragedy, subtle comedy, or even farce?


By reason of these things, then, the whaling voyage was welcome; the great flood-gates of the wonder-world swung open, and in the wild conceits that swayed me to my purpose, two and two there floated into my inmost soul, endless processions of the whale, and, mid most of them all, one grand hooded phantom, like a snow hill in the air. ("Moby Dick)

My trip was welcome for lots of reasons but chief among all the reasons I had was the Plane and most importantly, my ability to keep all my clubs and swings on the Plane, using all my bio-mechanical abilities and finding the necessary combination of components to stay on Plane.

On my first day, Sunday, Kevin revealed that I was getting lost on my right side, my feet were not flared to allow freer Pivot, my ball position was 6" too far back, my head swayed, and my version of driving the Primary Lever was most likely, Throway.

On Monday, I had an excellent playing lesson on the toughest course I ever played, the Donald Ross designed White Bear Yacht Club. For almost 6 hours, Kevin and Gerry gently but firmly reminded me of my foibles and I was able to observe Gerry and K.S. put on a TGM clinic. All the while Kevin would be explaining to me what I did incorrectly, and ask me how I thought I could achieve the goals of starting at Impact Fix and getting back to that position with a minimum of compensations.

When I messed up on Monday, the mistake was clear. I would get over and stay over my right side. That would cause my head to move, my balance to change and the OTT's (over the tops) to re-appear. If that was my only lesson, the trip would've been worth it.

On Tuesday, though, with Kevin training many of the golfers of the North Central Plains, I was in the capable hands of the fine high-school golf coach, JerryG. Jerry had once been a 2 hcp. and competed in state-wide and regional competitions (with K.S. who could still kick a lot of golfers around, physically and golf skill wise. I'm sure K.S. has a negigible hcp.).

On the first three holes of a new course, I was 9 over. Exhaustion from the first day combined with lesson overload of my tiny brain left me lost. But Jerry had the answer. "Get to your left side and stay there." I had been using the swing key of "Impact Fix, nose on ball, rotate and shoulder up," but it was not resulting in finding my way back to my left side.

I agreed with Jerry in the decision to plant my left heel firmly, to assure getting over on my left side. On the next thirteen holes, I was 8 over! Again, TGM had identified the Plane as the goal, and provided through Jerry, the possible components to use to reach that goal.

I was left with a few questions, though.

Why would a shoulder bump (to replace my left hip bump which I cannot feel) work so well on such a tough course, yet not on a course with a more "Parkland" type layout? Was it just fatigue? Why was I still getting lost on my right side with my drives? On the last two drives I made, I simply pulled the ball 45 degrees to the left having planted on my left heel so strongly.

Again, Jerry had the answer that Kevin had wondered aloud earlier on Monday. "Didn't I need to brace my right knee in?" and today, Jerry actually made me do the old drill of placing a golf ball on the outside of the left foot.

We played Kevin's Green Haven course, today, from the tips. Lots of slope, long holes, deep rough and uhmm, sand. I was fatigued and forgot on some tee shots to set my right knee brace. (I know this is a response to a left hip bump for normal leg lengths, but my back leg is extra long and I really need to set it on purpose.) Every hole at Green Haven, and I mean every hole offers a 2 club elevation to get to the green with bunkers on the front.

In the old days, with my sweeping hook, I ignored bunkers and played around them, in front of them and behind them. Now, though, I could hit straight at the pin!

I added one or sometimes even two clubs to my distances. Guess what? The bunkers at Green Haven are really long and deep. As a matter of fact, the elevation of the greens, the length of the bunkers, and the size of the bunkers helped me have the longest day "at the beach" I had ever experienced! That was the bad news.

The good news was that I was no longer playing for the hook/draw and was aiming straight, and hitting straight at the pin! I was also long enough to get into trouble! More "strategerie" needed on the courses and probably a new hot driver and souped up new model three wood, too!


The Drama's Done. Why then here does any one step forth? - Because one did survive the wreck. ("Moby Dick, Epilogue")

The Plane...the Plane...it's the Plane! I have survived my lack of skill and disabilities with the help of this forum and my friends from it and TGM. In a funny way we have all set out to capture our "whale" the golf "Plane," and because of Mr. Blake and Mr. Kelly and TGM, we have all survived and will survive the wreckage of our old swings, to begin a better golfing adventure.

Thanks Kevin, Jerry, K.S. OB, Daryl, Yoda, and Mr. Kelly! We will have more great adventures searching for the Plane in the future!

Patrick

[O.B.Left]

Dude , Mobby Dick this year .............next year you visit Bucket..........Conrad, Heart of Darkness.

"This is the End.......my only friend the End".

[innercityteacher]

Dude , Mobby Dick this year .............next year you visit Bucket..........Conrad, Heart of Darkness.

"This is the End.......my only friend the End".

Another view of Bucket......

But as for Queequeg - why, Queequeg sat there among them - at the head of the table, too, it so chanced; as cool as an icicle. To be sure I cannot say much for his breeding. His greatest admirer could not have cordially justified his bringing his harpoon into breakfast with him, and using it there without ceremony; reaching over the table with it, to the imminent jeopardy of many heads, and grappling the beefsteaks towards him. But that was certainly very coolly done by him, and every

Instead of one, two or three harpoons, we have 14.

one knows that in most people's estimation, to do anything coolly is to do it genteelly.

I have never met Bucket, OB, Daryl, of Yoda or.... but they all seem "genteel" in their responses.

We will not speak of all Queequeg's peculiarities here; how he eschewed coffee and hot rolls, and applied his undivided attention to beefsteaks, done rare. Enough, that when breakfast was over he withdrew like the rest into the public room, lighted his tomahawk-pipe, and was sitting there quietly digesting and smoking with his inseparable hat on, when I sallied out for a stroll.


I will not speak of Bucket's peculiarities. I will leave that for others...his undivided attention to drumsticks..with his hat on...does Bucket wear a golfing hat?

Patrick

[innercityteacher]

Great story Patrick, thanks. So those birds you saw were really mosquitos?


"Keep it come'n on , keep it......." K. C. and the sunshine band ladies and gentlemen.

In our last day in MN, I had a chance to put some of the many things I learned into practice. Gerry let me lose on his local golf course, a par 72, "Emerald Green."

My swing thoughts were a jumble. "Stay on plane, stay left, brace my back right foor, keep my nose or sternum over the ball, lift the front shoulder to come down, plant the front heel, or drive the primary lever."

I shot a 46 on an easy front nine.

"Simplify. Impact Fix, Stay on plane, Nose over the ball." I shot my first 39.

When I met back up with Gerry on the range, he was finishing teaching a junior class. I told him how I was snap hooking my drives and longer clubs. "Trace the baseline of plane with pp # 1 or 3, Delivery Hand Path, Hula-Hula."

235 yard drives or so, down the middle.

I intend to see Yoda personally, some day. What is amazing to me is how insightful three guys are who have spent time being trained by Yoda namely, Kevin Carter, Gerry and K.S.

I'm in TN now visiting my dad and we played a course "Stone Henge" which is a par 72, slope 130, in the foothills of eastern TN. I got stuck in my old habit of bending my long irons and driver to the left. I was using Impact Fix, Hula-Hula and RFT. Shot a 46 on the front side. UGH!

"Impact Fix, HH, RFT, Trace Baseline of the plane, ball off left heel." Shot a 40 missing lots of putts and was 1 under for a four hole stretch!

Guess what my swing thought will be tomorrow?

Thanks guys!

Patrick

[innercityteacher]

Dude , Mobby Dick this year .............next year you visit Bucket..........Conrad, Heart of Darkness.

"This is the End.......my only friend the End".

I really "like" "Heart of Darkness," OB. Your talk of the "end" got me thinking with a club about Hula-Hula and what Jerry and Kevin showed me and Daryl's fine diagrams awhule back of hip movements and Ted Fort and Yoda...anyway....

I stood on the tile floor here at the hotel and set up with my front leg flared out (YEAH BABY!!!!) (KC/JG). I then hula'd and my left foot was flat on the ground and my artificial hip felt strong. So IF,HH,RFT to shoulder,EA and the weight stays inside the edge of my right foot, and I plant my left foot flat and my left hip fires my wedges, shoulders, and right hip through along with the club head, fast!!! Both hips face the target and my thumb is in my left ear!

When I over swing, I get lost on my right side. If I hula and feel the correct mechanics and repeat the hula once my RFT is done, the club rips through and I finished balanced AT THE END.

Impact is not a station.

Thanks guys!

Patrick

[JerryG]

It is just as exciting to see your progress through this blog as it is to experience my own.
Way to go Patrick!
Nudge the carriage.

[innercityteacher]

It is just as exciting to see your progress through this blog as it is to experience my own.
Way to go Patrick!
Nudge the carriage.

Easier course today, Rating 69.1 slope 125, 42/39.

The big insight was watching Yoda and Ted Fort going to shoulder level. Foot flare lets me step through and whole right side drives Primary Lever. The more rigid my Impact Fix, the farther the ball goes!

Gerry can still out drive me though, no problem. I have problems still bending my irons a bit right, yet. Ideas?


Pat

[KevCarter]

Easier course today, Rating 69.1 slope 125, 42/39.

The big insight was watching Yoda and Ted Fort going to shoulder level. Foot flare lets me step through and whole right side drives Primary Lever. The more rigid my Impact Fix, the farther the ball goes!

Gerry can still out drive me though, no problem. I have problems still bending my irons a bit right, yet. Ideas?


Pat

Nice job Patrick. I can't wait to see the I finally broke 80 post. I'll bet it's sooner than you think!!!

Kevin

[JerryG]

I'm with you Lefty. Heck, he was pretty close at EG last week. Patrick's constant gain in knowledge of this stuff is astounding. I love this thread and look for it every day.

[innercityteacher]

I'm with you Lefty. Heck, he was pretty close at EG last week. Patrick's constant gain in knowledge of this stuff is astounding. I love this thread and look for it every day.

13.8
HCP INDEX
Effective
8/19/2010


I shot my first 40 on my home course, today, with no birdies. And then, because I could, I shot another 40 for my first 80, ever!

In celebration of this event, I am starting the new, Cuscowilla Golf Club Beer Fund (hereafter, CGCBF). CGCBF + $18

How it happened. Thanks to the MN MAFIA (Mother and Father's Instructional Association), KevCarter and JerryG, I was enlightened.

Flare left or front foot
Weight forward ala Yoda
Impact Fix (w/Hula)
Frozen Bent Right Wrist
Nose over ball
RFT
Trace BLP (baseline of the plane)
Step through all the way left (Hips face target powering strike)


My dad is 74 and plays with a hockey-like slap shot. After shooting some pretty low scores with him TN, on some hilly courses I have never seen (86,83), my dad asked me to show him why I had improved so much.

Get a mark about a foot in front of the ball at the target
Flared left foor
Impact Fix (Weight left)
Right forearm on plane
Frozen Bent Right Wrist
RFT
Trace BLP
Step through with left thumb in left ear/hips look parallel to BLP/Target line (Pivot)

With 9 holes to play before getting on the airplane, we decided that he would get a playing lesson (much like I was given by the MN fellas). After 3 hours in the hotel room the night before, and one hour on the range, we had a patterm he could use:

Get target line/BLP
Place Right forearm on plane behind ball
Practice (Hold arms at chest, horiz. check grip, FBRW)
Bend
Trace BLP with RF
Step through (Pivot)

My dad shot one over for the fist three holes before getting sore. He was not use to finishing on his left side. He went back to slapping across the back of the ball. We narrowed his stance a lot! We shortened the trace to waist high! We made the trace very slow and we made the Pivot very slow and smooth.

The remaining seven holes saw my dad hit lots of good shots as he was mostly green side in regulation. He plays from the gold tees, His chips were very good, too. He kept repeating a certain expletive written first by London police (according to the story) after arresting a man who was patronizing a prostitute for unlawful carnal knowledge). The phrase was Un---------believable! I gave him my copy of Alignment I.

I watched the Ted Fort video a lot last night. I used it to remind me of the MN guys instruction.

Get BLP/target line
Left foot flared w/ball at heel club behind ball
Adjust back foot depending on club
Hands mid-body Impact Fix
Rehearse horiz. arms with frozen BRW over ball
Trace BLP to Shoulder (using RF to trace while BRW is frozen)
Pivot (stick thumb in left ear)

I made myself do it every time! I realized in MN, with the guys' help, my alignments were psychologically damaged by constantly drawing/hooking the ball.

Early in the round, I was talking myself out of my line with each practice swing. So I stopped practice swinging! I kept hitting pin high to the right fringe but EA helped my chips get within 3-4 feet each time. I got a mark put my club down behind the ball, froze the BRW at chest level, and traced the RF back and through as I Pivoted.


The elbow putting stroke worked like a charm.

I realized something else, too. I can drive the right arm down it's own angle as the frozen BRW stays out of the way. Now, this might be old stuff for all of you, but I used it for the first time to compress the heck out of a sand wedge. I aimed further ahead of the ball and instead of 70 yards of carry and 10 yards of roll, I carried the ball 100 yards over water.

Is this Aiming Point ahead of my irons how pros make an 8 iron fly 190 yards?

The only two double boogies I made today, came because I drove my ball through the fairways. One drive was almost 280 yards including roll. Time to embrace driving easier holes with a 3 wood or 2 hybrid, or, even cooler, my 4 iron!

Anyway,I can't thank everyone enough for the fun and enjoyment you have helped me get out of this great game!

Patrick