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The Lunatic Fringe
It's no surprise that TGM is viewed by the rest of the golfing community as the "lunatic fringe". For instructors who know better, TGM is the biggest single threat to their business because:
1.) They can't dispute anything about it, other than the writing style.
2.) They are overwhelmed by it's complexity, so they don't attempt to try and understand it.
It's part and parcel of the thread Lynn started on being the "Irrepressible Revolutionary" and as such, TGM has earned it's rightful place in the public stage.
There is a lot of work to do to translate Homers work for the simplicty buffs and it presents a huge opportunity. But there are also problems internally because even GSED's get some of the basics wrong. For instance, I watched a commercial video of a GSED recently who prescribed the sweetspot turning around the hosel, and let's not even discuss Hitting. So there are challenges internally and externally, but that's why this forum and website exist. To clear the fog, to make the messages more understandable, and most of all to help bring power and precision to everyone's game.
I don't post much on other forums, but when there is significant fog showing up and TGM is associated with it, I'll jump in with both feet and attempt to help change the weather. Problems occur when book references are thrown around to validate a concept. Book references are great on this site because we are students. But for the rest of the world it's a turnoff to golfers, and a threat to instructors who don't have much exposure to Homer.
Many liken TGM to a cult and according to the definition, they are right. But they don't acknowledge that they to are part of a cult and probably aren't even aware of it. See (5) below.
Merriam Webster Definition -
Main Entry: cult
Pronunciation: 'k<
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate -- more at WHEEL
1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents
4 : a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator
5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion.
Do cults become mainstream? There are many, many examples. Everyone has a belief system concerning the golfswing. For some it's Hogan, for others Moe Norman, the rest of the world is looking to tour players and their associated instructors as holding the keys.
Regardless of where you hang your hat, there is a belief system involved and any time that belief system is threatened, there will be resistance to change. I think Ted is doing a terrific job in dispelling perceptions about TGM that other instructors are throwing about. If left unanswered, TGM will remain in the dark ages, and the lunatic fringe will never do an about-face to reverse the order on the public stage.
It will start here, then with tour players willing to endorse TGM, then on the Golf Channel, then in mainstream publications, then on forums, then in books/DVD's, etc. On and on, "probably endlessly" and not necessarily in that order.
Bagger
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