[okie]

I'm responding to 3putt's post. My comments are in bold.

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I'm new to TGM and enjoying every minute of this forum. I'm hoping to get some help to get over a rough spot so I don't get bogged down and frustrated too early in the process.

Welcome to the best website in golfdom. Getting bogged down means that you have to allow the incubator to humm for a while! Keep at it if you like precision and power!

The book is organized in such a way that concepts are revisited multiple times. Often times, these "revisits" don't always seem consistent, or at least I don't leave with the same interpretation each time. One in particular - the inclined plane - I just can't seem to get my head around. Here is a sampling of what I read, and what I perceive as mixed messages:

Make sure that you read the preface. Homer Kelley recommends several ways to tackle the book, ignore at your own peril!


2-F The full length of the club shaft remains unwaveringly on the face of this inclined plane - waggle to follow-through

Read the last paragraph of 2-F. Make sure you know what “on plane” is. This is one of the most disputed aspects of golf…hence your plane confusion!


7-6 club shaft must start its journey on the plane of its address. It may or may not move to other planes as it travels

There are five identified planes 10-6-A, B,C,D,E. Although the angles are different the baseline of the plane does not change. Check out the animations in The Gallery for a visual on that.


7-7 ...it is not always possible or advisable to adhere to a single inclined plane classification throughout the entire stroke

Some people like to shift plane angles. Hogan had a double shift 10-7-C (elbow--turned shoulder---elbow…2 shifts)


10-6b any plane angle shift is very hazardous
immediately followed by 10-7a thru h which documents plane angle shift variations (i guess they can't be that hazardous after all!)

Turned shoulder plane with zero shift I think is the gateway to economic golf i.e. fewest moving parts, but psychological needs must be met!

So in these snippets, I get mixed messages - sometimes I read stick on one inclined plane....any shift is hazardous. Other reference rationalize (and even recommend) plane angle shifts. Evidently, I am not reading these in the proper context (after all, TGM has withstood alot greater scrutiny than mine) Would someone care to offer where I have gone wrong on my interpretation?


You may have missed the “Big Picture” of the book. It in no way will support THE WAY antics, but it is there to help develop an effective MY WAY. Homer Kelley was a gentleman and seldom let the cat out of the bag as to his pet favorites. Lynn Blake knows! There are 144 catalogued “correct” ways to do 24 components. 10 trillion options. 50% hitting, 50% swinging. Your stroke pattern is in there somewhere, in fact working through the variations within the 24 components you will identify things like your current knee action etc. The point is to eliminate component that come with baggage i.e. the need for compensating moves

This is what has worked for me. I have read every word that Yoda has written on this site, especially his posts organized according to the chapters of the book. I have watched all of the stuff in the gallery multiple times. Let’s put it this way I feel like I know the people featured in these video clips! My all time favorites are:

1. Dowels and Wedges
2. Hinge Action 1&2
3. The Tom Tomasello vids are a great primer (he had a knack for breaking it down)

I have benefited from many of the posters. There are some epic posters here! One in particular! Knowledge with levity! My mistake was lurking for as long as I did. Post! post! post!


Good luck, this site will treat you right!