Mr. Kelley and the Touring Pro's Swing
 

Redgoat,

This is my first post to you. Straightaway, let me say "Thank you!"
for your wonderful contribution to this site and to those of us who are
totally consumed by Golf Strokes That Work and how to 'make it happen'
for ourselves.

To put this discussion on its proper playing field, let me say that the
neophyte Homer Kelley, searching for answers, would be -- and was -- the
first to look to the model of the day's best players.

"If I had an idea, and it was obvious that the best players were doing
something that would conflict with that idea -- then that idea was
immediately on probation."

He found great enjoyment -- and education -- in the Strokes of the day's best
players. He especially admired Trevino's Downward Motion -- "You've got
to help him get the Club out of the ground." And the "Arnie Palmer
Finish," the result of the above Plane Drive Out of the Angle of
Approach procedure. And the enigma of analyzing the Nicklaus Stroke:
"It's different with every sequence."

But, as his research became more and more codified, what 'they' did became
less and less useful.

Except as a measure against his own Standard of Perfection.

Tour BM#82
 

Redgoat,


This is my first post to you. Straightaway, let me say "Thank you!"
for your wonderful contribution to this site and to those of us who are
totally consumed by Golf Strokes That Work and how to 'make it happen' for
ourselves.



Yoda,

Your welcome.

It is an interesting topic isn't it? Should you try to study the best players
in the world to find the combinations that are actually working on the
highest level, or should you dismiss them because they are human beings, not
machines, and are always flawed.

I am not saying that one direction is more correct, just that when a player
is standing in front of me wanting to take there game as far as possible, how
should I attack? From the it has to be perfect perspective or it has to work.


As an example, there are players I work with that are much more effective
slightly laid off, others that are more effective slightly across the line,
both line up perfectly approaching the ball. If it works consistently, just
do it.

This is not a criticism of TGM, in fact, learning the many variations was
very enlightening for me. However, I think it is easy to become fixated on a
specific combination as a teacher, ie. flat left wrist at the top, when it
may not be the best solution for the student standing in front of you.

I guess my point is that what I learn constantly from tour players is that
the compensations must be understood and managed, but are sometimes a
neccessity for that particular player. While the swing may not be ideal in a
labroratory setting, it is how it works under the gun that is critical to me.

Redgoat

We are in 100 per cent agreement. I can even hear Homer Kelley saying,
"Kee-rect!" :oops: