TGM and Playing
 

What do you Golfing Machine guys that can REALLY play think about when you are actually playing the game? We kick a lot of mechanical, alignment, physics, etc. out here. Do you guys leave all that at the keyboard when you go to play? Do you just turn on the "automatic pilot" and play with what you have that day? Have a small check list or swing key? Do you get focused on the target and try to trust the mechanics?

Curious Bucket.

You have to have a certain level of trust in your swing's reliability to be able to really take it to the course and let it happen.

I have been practicing a lot...have had a range membership for 3 years (the entire time- 1095 days) on top of my course membership.

In my opinion, there is no other way to develop your swing if you want to actually be able to take your swing to the course and fulfill your full potential...unless you're one of those lucky, gifted, freak-weirdos who was actually born with a golf swing (the majority of us have to do it the hard way...natural athlete or not).

As for going on automatic...read The Double Connexxion by Carey Mumford. Awesome, awesome book man. Really is very detailed, unique, groundbreaking stuff... http://clearkeygolf.com/director.htm
Read some of the articles on his site to get a taste. There's great stuff in the 'GolfBlog' section as well as the "Archives" section.

Actually teaches you to manage your anxiety...gives methods and explains the whole process in detail. Nothing is generalized.

I have always been a technical player and methodical guy in general...TGM is a gift from God as far as I'm concerned. Knowledge is power.

-Paul

Thoughts about playing
 

It's okay to have a couple items on your mechanical checklist as part of being as prepared as possible in your set-up. Two maybe three at most. You then need to clear your mind of all the mechanics using some type of trigger or pneumonic device, a word or phrase that relaxes you and lets your body know you're ready to let it fly. It is now time to allow mechanics to produce and feel reproduce. TArget, target, target... :roll:

I found this post of great interest to me because I am very serious about constantly improving my golf swing and my ability to play at a high level of competition. I am just as passionate about helping my students understand THEIR swings and ultimately improve them and their scoring ability.
I have been fortunate to be successful playing at every level from junior golf to professional, yet never understood the inconsistencies from round to round in my ball striking. That is until I really got deep into The Golfing Machine. The AIs I work with/for are Danny Elkins and Chris Asbell at the Georgia Golf Center and it is truly a privilege to work with them on a daily basis as we work with students and ourselves.
Probably the one thing that Chris and I work on constantly is creating the proper "FEEL' from the proper "MECHANICS", and trust me your feel will change but the mechanics will not.
I recently had my most successful year of competitive professional golf thanks to The Golfing Machine and Chris Asbell. Now when I play golf I use my pre-shot routine to precisely create the exact mechanics required for the shot at hand, create it in practice, and then pull the trigger trying to re-create the feel I just created in practice. The target is only a part of the address routine and is only used to grade my results. Because of this I no longer worry about where the trouble is or what may happen if I miss a shot. By focusing on the Mechanics I have produced a much better Feel for the game. Do not let anyone tell you can't play by mechanics because "mechanics produce and feel reproduces".

For executing every shot, at the range or on the course, a practice swing or the real shot, I do my best to focus on "the way (intention) I move the club" rather than the ball behavior. the target, the hazard, the score, the .................................... .

Another Solid Player Posting
 

Congratulations on this first post, golfgnome. Keep'em coming! Also, if my hunch is correct, the jewel in your 'most successful year' included winning the Georgia Section PGA Championship.Am I right on?

Nothing can get past the mind of a Jedi. You are correct Yoda, it is I.

Learning From The Best
 

Thought so I did! 8)

And what a fine competitive year it was, Jeff. Folks, here is more proof positive that "this stuff works." What a privilege to learn from great teachers who are also great players!

Re: TGM and Playing
 

One more point I thought of that fits into this:

"Learn feel from mechanics."

Good idea on the course I think. Try getting the feel (from mechanics) during your practice swings...then keep loose and feel-oriented and take that to the ball.

Learning And Doing
 

There is learning to tie your shoelaces...

And there is tying your shoelaces.

There is learning to drive a stick-shift car...

And there is driving a stick-shift car.

There is learning to Swing a golf Club...

And there is Swinging a Golf Club.