"AWESOME experience in South FL" with Dan Malizia

[innercityteacher]

O.B. Left, one of the great seekers, thinkers, and writers on LBG, has made an important point. One I fear is lost on most of us (as it was on me until I carefully re-read his post).

He states, "...as you take the BALL [emphasis mine] back along the Arc of Approach...". He did not say the CLUB!

To think that the golfer 'manipulates' the Hands during the Stoke is one of the Great Misconceptions of TGM. (There are many.) O.B.'s post assumes you know this, but long experience tells me you do not.

ALL 'Hand Manipulation' -- Hands to Handle/Clubface -- occurs when the Grip is taken in Fix (7-8; 8-2; 2-J-1) with the BALL in the desired location (Up Plane [back in Stance] or Down Plane [forward] for the Stoke intended. It does not take place dynamically during the Stroke.

Pre-empting the next question, Hinge Actions -- there are three, each the direct responsibility of the Hands -- are not 'Manipulations'. Instead, they are 10th Component Variations that maintain their respective identities despite any Left Wrist-to-Clubface alterations assumed at Fix.

While shooting a 46 and Hitting on a front 9, yesterday, I was concentrating on driving my right elbow from 7 to 1 through the ball cross-line. Despite going 5/3/5 on the first three holes, I realized I wasn't in control of the ball (Lynn's sand/putting/chipping lessons let me hit a pin from the sand and drain two long putts).

There is so much power in the hitting motion! I use it for my sand, chips and pitches. But it is terrifying, as you all know, not knowing where the ball is going with a driver, hybrid or even a 9 iron. And on the front 9 yesterday, I kept searching for the correct ball position but fighting my hands, my right wrist was not staying bent! Sometimes I'd shape a hybrid with a little draw right on line to a pin. Sometimes, I'd bomb a drive (280 yards down a slot in the fairway) but then hook a 9 iron (1.5 club elevation), it just never occurred to me that the ball position and hand position are directly related!

So I sort of wimped out and opened my club face and kept swinging to keep the ball fading back to the middle (and gave up at least 30 yards). And I shot a 40.

I feel like I can shoot par swinging but I can shoot lower than par with a hitting stroke. This tip will help me be a better swinger and hitter.

ICT

[Yoda]

Lynn,
Wanted to follow up since our lesson. I have been following the drills. Let me tell you, WOW, what a difference in my ball striking- I am hitting my dirver LOOOOONNGGG, and of course much straighter. I want to thank you for making the understanding and action of the swing much simpler than I have ever had!

I want to come back down- Perhaps in the Fall, give myself 8 weeks or so of drilling---
thanks Man- what a difference!

Mark Moxley

[innercityteacher]

Lynn,
Wanted to follow up since our lesson. I have been following the drills. Let me tell you, WOW, what a difference in my ball striking- I am hitting my dirver LOOOOONNGGG, and of course much straighter. I want to thank you for making the understanding and action of the swing much simpler than I have ever had!

I want to come back down- Perhaps in the Fall, give myself 8 weeks or so of drilling---
thanks Man- what a difference!

Mark Moxley

Lynn, I finally really figured out the "pointing at a cup and reaching for it" analogy for Hitting!

I am pursuing the Atkins diet and have lost 7 pounds now in about 10 days and had a crisis on the course yesterday! I couldn't find my pot belly to hurl it into my swing. I also have been fatigued by my body starting the changeover from burning carbs to burning protein. I was lost without a clue!

So I dragged myself to the range today and thought about how much lighter I feel and started to move my feet and knees!

Before I knew it I was cracking some 240'sh yard range ball drives concentrating on moving my knees to the ball and vertically un-cocking my left wrist and my aim was solid.

I was overjoyed and so I overdid it with two large buckets (about 200 balls)! As I neared the end of the second batch I really got tired and was soaked with the Mid-Atlantic humidity. I thought about reaching for the cup or in this case, the ball. I teed one up, RFT'd, and stretched out my right forearm and hand to the ball.

250 yards and straight down to the end of the range with a big 'whoosh!!!" LMAO!

The remaining 20 balls went the same way with hybrids, wedges, and irons as well as the driver! I pulled out a scuffed NXT S from Saturday and put it into the woods past the 250 marker on the fly!

Sometimes, I am very dense but sometimes, I'm not!!!

Thanks Lynn for the diet tips!

ICT

[Yoda]

Hey Lynn,

Played today and hit balls. The only thing I concentrated on was the
bend in my left arm in line with the shaft. Remember I'm left handed.
It felt like when I took the club back I only bent my left arm and no
wrist cock. I also felt my club face was probably closed at the top.
I hi the ball great. It's the most compression I've ever had. I didn't
move my right wrist any to cock.
I must have been doing something right. No thought of legs or hips,
just take it back like that and rip it.
Anyway, just giving you a report.
Thanks

Alan Silverblatt