I had the pleasure to listen to Yoda at theSwedish PGA Summit last March. It was really an "eye-opener" for me, and I hope also for other collegues of mine. I´m at the moment on my second lap on the book, following Mr Homers instructions in the preface. I am also receiving very good help from Swedens first GSEM, Henning Lundstrom.
So what do I want.
Well, Yoda, you had the opportunity to listen to the mentalguys at the summit.( Think Different ) Did you learn/catch some new ideas that you could use on your students, like Brian?
After reading the book the first time, there is not much about the mental game. Ok I know about 14-0.
Here is how I work:
Every time I introduce new mechanicalinfo to my pupil, they will have to make praticeswings, because its only then they can focus on what they are trying to achieve and how it should feel. Every time they have a ball in front of them - they have a purpuse - the target. So the target should be in their minds.
How do you work with Brian?
Sorry for the long post and if there is any malspelling.
Yoda, Brian seems to have good extensor action during his swing but at one point at address you said " straighten that left arm" or something like that. Is this trying to use the extensor action of right arm from the adjusted address position to straighten the left arm?
I think I have read one of your posts where you say that extensor action is one of your keys at adjusted address before your motion begins. Is this a key to help set your radius ? remove any slack in the left arm?
I hope that Brian's hard work pays off, it can not be easy looking for the breakthrough that allows you to reach your real potential. If TGM is to regain / attain its status as orthodox instruction it is going to take somebody like Brian to transform their game, then the "pop" golf instructors will see the light and the golfing masses will finally start to make a better swing rather than buy a bigger club! Good luck to you both!!
great stuff!!!!
couldnt help noticing on the DTL the knee action from straightish too bent at transition too straightish at impact.
also, at front view, how the clubhead rides differently up and down...you dont see right elbow going up but clearly can coming down, plane shift? wristcock lag? both? just elbow bend? could someone expand on this? thank you!
Okay, first of all, the cswing shots need to go into the gallery. Secondly, I am shocked at how "closed" Brian's hips are at impact. It looks like he just "bumps" them parallel to the plane on his downswing, and fires. In so many shots of pros that you see at impact, their hips are wide open. I need a way to incorporate Brian's move into my swing. Anyone got something for me?
Here is how I work:
Every time I introduce new mechanicalinfo to my pupil, they will have to make praticeswings, because its only then they can focus on what they are trying to achieve and how it should feel. Every time they have a ball in front of them - they have a purpuse - the target. So the target should be in their minds.
Comment: What students fail to understand is that in order to undergo a swing change they have to be prepared to miss the ball completely. Time and time again.
Humans have an insatiable hunger for positive feedback. If the positive feedback is abscent they have a choice. Either a quick-fix (hand manipulation) to see the ball fly again
or
learn from the experience and move the frickin ball.
Since Brian is not that far off and possess Educated Hands I tend to think that he is not as concerned about where the ball goes as he is to establish good mechanics.
But I am curious to hear Yodas answer.
__________________
When James Durham recorded 94 at the Old Course at St Andrews in 1767, he set a course record that lasted 86 years. Golf: A curious sport whose object is to put a very small ball in a very small hole with implements ill desiged for the purpose - Sir Winston Churchill
Was on the phone earlier this evening with PGA TOUR player Brian Gay, and I congratulated him on his recent fine play. The conversation went something like this...
Brian: Well, thanks there, Yoda. This TGM stuff is making a lot of sense, and I'll admit I have been hitting the ball better. Just haven't been making the putts.
Yoda: Brian, I must share something with you.
Brian: What's that, Green Thing?
Yoda: The latest stats are out and the jig is up: With an average of 27.37 Putts per Round, you now are officially ranked the #1 Putter on the PGA TOUR.
Brian: Really!
Yoda: Yep. 520 putts divided by 19 rounds equals 27.27 per round. Can't argue with the math.
Brian: Well, yeah, but that's just because I'm a good scrambler. How about my Putts per Green in Regulation?
Yoda: More bad news, Brian. At 1.677 per GIR, you're #2 in that category. And that 4th round at the Chrysler? The number was 1.429. You didn't miss anything under 10 feet. Outside that distance, you made one-third from 10-15 feet, half from 15-20 feet and two-thirds from 20-25 feet. Let's face facts, Brian: You're a good putter. You've made 75 birdies so far this year, one for every third green you've hit. That's better than David Toms, Davis Love, Stuart Appleby and Sergio Garcia, to name a few.
Brian: Okay, I guess I shouldn't be complaining about my putting. But, seriously, I do seem to be missing more lately.
Yoda: Brian, please. You shot 30 on the back nine Sunday on your way to a 66. Passed a lot of fine TOUR folk on your way to the pay window, too. You don't do that without making putts. But...I know your problem.
Brian: What's that?
Yoda: Did you look at your GIR stats at the Chrysler Tuscon?
Brian: Not yet. I got in from Tuscon about 1:30 AM, logged onto LBG to check the latest, then hit the sack.
Yoda: You're sitting down, right?
Brian: Of course, I'm in the car headed to Doral.
Yoda: Good. At Tuscon, you averaged 14 greens per round. The final round was even better, 77.8 percent.
Brian: Really! My average last year was 62.3 percent.
Yoda: That was last year, Brian...last year.
Brian: So, I'm hitting more greens, and that makes me feel like I'm missing more putts, even though I'm making more than anybody else?
Yoda: Something like that. But it gets worse.
Brian: Whazzupp?
Yoda: Your Driving stats.
Brian: Naah, I'm short.
Yoda: Not any more. Your 4th round average was 316 yards.
Brian: Really! You know, now that you mention it, I have been hitting it further.
Yoda: Yes you have, and that has had more than a little something to do with the four eagles you've made on the 5-pars this year. Not to mention last week's double eagle at the Nissan, the first on the PGA TOUR this year. But...I have more bad news.
Brian: I can hardly wait.
Yoda: You hit 85.7 percent of the fairways.
Brian: Really!
Yoda: Yeah, it's a nightmare: You're long and straight off the tee. You hit a ton of greens. And statistically, you're the best putter on the PGA TOUR.
Brian: Hmmm...that's pretty interesting stuff there, Yoda. I've been out here eight years. Maybe things are starting to turn my way.
Yoda: It's you, Brian. You've put in the time. You've done the work. Now comes the reward.
Brian: Hey, gotta go, Green Thing...I'm turning into the parking lot and the Blue Monster's waiting. Anything else I should be doing?
Yoda: Deltoid exercises, Brian. You gotta start working the delts. Those trophies are heavy. And you never want the guys behind the cameras see you sweat.
Excellent post Yoda....
Not necessarily because it's Brian Gay, PGA Tour Player (though that does add to the it!)....
And not because, as his teacher, you have sliced and diced his pertinent statistics, which obviously displays a true interest in his improvement...
No sir.
Know why (in my opinion at least)?
Psychology.
No Maslow. No (thank God) Freud. Nope. Just the plain old facts (or is it Plane ole facts).
Yes sir.
You have taken, backed with real life statistics, what he perceives (the operative word) to be a weakness and educated him on what he is really doing - versus the perception he may have, and hopefully he can use that as a spring board to reach his goals/dreams, etc.
And that, my friend, is what separates the mens from the boys (from both a teaching and playing perspective)!!!!!!!! Great stuff!
Brian Gay made six -- double bogey -- on his first hole at this week's Byron Nelson.
He followed it with a birdie.
But two more bogies followed and he turned in 37 -- three-over on the Par 34 front side of the very tough Cottonwood Valley Golf Club. The PGA TOUR is the Land of the Meateaters, and three-over after the first nine holes can make for a short week.
Gut-check time.
Birdies on the 11th and 14th followed. And then the eagle three on the par five 16th.
37-32 = 69.
Another 69 followed on Friday and then 68 today.
In a field that began with 144 of the best players in the world and starting with double bogey six, Brian goes into the final round tied for 18th.
When we began our day together in Atlanta on Monday, I asked him what he was working on.
"Same things."
"What do you like best about what we've done?"
"It's simple."
Doesn't sound much like The Golfing Machine, does it?
Good luck tomorrow, Brian. You've earned your spurs, and you've waited your turn.
Im thinking of putting a bet on him to win a major next year after these new alignments really get ingrained into his subconcious.... I think it will be alot better odds than the bookmakers are giving....
Im thinking of putting a bet on him to win a major next year after these new alignments really get ingrained into his subconcious.... I think it will be alot better odds than the bookmakers are giving....
Next year,Mathew?
How about next month!
Winged Foot.
The United States Open Championship at Winged Foot.
You've made 75 birdies so far this year, one for every third green you've hit. That's better than David Toms, Davis Love, Stuart Appleby and Sergio Garcia, to name a few. 
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