thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU.

[O.B.Left]

Hello LBG

I'm a long time reader, first time poster. I am writing to relate to
you the events and results of my full day lesson with Lynn Blake this
past March.

First a word of thanks to all the contributors to LBG who have helped
me so much in my effort to understand The Golf Machine. Still a work
in progress of course. The book, obtuse thought it is, is made much
more clear through the discussion board and videos on the site. Thank
you, Thank You, THANK YOU.

I am nearing 50, a golfer for 38 years. I was a 3 handicap by the age
of 17 and now go between 1 and the plus side of things. Ive always
been somewhat curious about technique. Being Canadian, I have whiled
away the winter nights reading the latest instruction books only to
emerge in the spring at best only somewhat changed. My studies and
handicap place me very much in the "the more you know, the more you
realize you dont know" group. Something I always found frustrating.
There had to be some universal rules or laws and if so they must be
attainable, usable. The old stuff just didnt stand the test of time.

And so it was, that last fall, I started to study LBG after linking
into the site to check out the Hogan Palm Beach home movie. After a
full winters worth of the search function, LBG videos and indoor range
work, I emerged in Florida in March of '07. Armed with a solid 12-5
and a full days lesson with Lynn to look forward to.

The short version of my lesson would have me say that he delivered, as
promised and then some. Power and precision. With out question my game
is more powerful and my monitoring of it more precise.

The long version is far to long to retell here. I have 21 full pages
of point form notes and diagrams, the writing of which took longer
than the actual lesson. Most of which is probably of no use to anyone
other than me. My problems being different than yours.

So to the mid ground. Please allow me to anticipate a few concerns or
questions you may have in regards to a full day lesson with Lynn
Blake.

To those who think TGM too confusing ....................I agree. But
Lynn is a master communicator who can take the book's most applicable
sections and make them clear for you. He will diagnose your needs and
give you the corresponding knowledge and the skill to precisely monitor
your own compliance and progress. You wont leave with a full
understanding of the book but you will leave with a better
understanding of what sections and variations are best suited for you.
Even masterful diagnostics are useless if they cant be properly
communicated and Lynn is truly blessed in both regards.

To those who are afraid of "method" teachers...........fear not Lynn
Blake. While a good portion of the morning of was spent on core
concepts that most people would probably benefit from, the majority of
the day dealt with me and my bad habits. Things I have tackled for
years and with numerous teachers. Lynn's observations were not
dissimilar from other teachers but his diagnosis and correction
following some experimentation with subtle changes in my action blew me
away. I have always taken it back a little outside a little under the
plane. I have always gone back and forth on the amount of left forearm
rotation needed. No more. He found me in need of a lagging takeaway.
He found my right hip to be stuck. A variation not recommended for
everybody but for me a little gem and a path to an on plane takeaway.
How much rotation? No more and no less than is necessary to be on
plane. "Here just look". Lynn is not a method teacher. Some of the
apparatus he appeared with never made it out the golf cart. Id venture
to say that my lesson was 50 to 75% unique to me given my swing needs.

To those who cant imagine spending that much money on a golf lesson but
are considering buying new clubs, shoes etc ........... with all due
respect, you have it backwards. Lynn made my clubs feel like a
different set. I am now saving for a trip to Atlanta to see him
again. Those new clubs are still looking good though, perhaps they are
cheaper in Georgia.

To those who cant imagine spending a full day (and I mean full) with
one guy getting a golf lesson..........ya, I know. I cant spend that
long with myself without having a drink or watching tv or whatever.
Lynn is very much of a people person. You are in for an experience of a
golftime. Perhaps the most enthusiastic person I have ever met. He
truly delighted in my progress. Near the end of the day he was still
running around slapping his hands, yelling things like "ya, thats it,
POW " etc, etc. Our day started early and ended late with us by the
parking lot, lit by the last of the headlights leaving the club, some
dowels still in hand, a summation and goodbyes..........I wanted to go
with him. Like a kid wanting to run away with the circus as it left
town. I never had lunch with Hogan in Texas but I had a burger with
Lynn at Orange County National and I will never forget it. His
stories, reflections and advice to me, priceless.

As for results. Several days after my lesson and after my wife would
let me take to the course again I managed 13 holes of golf. More
practice than play, in that my head was on the method rather than
results. That night Lynn called to see how things where going, full
service this guy is. I told him I'd played 13 before Id run out of
light and hit them longer and straighter than normal, some weird stuff
etc etc. After hanging up I added up my score and realized I was 2
under par......I had no idea. This was at Saranoa in the Sarasota
area.......a fairly easy track ....but this was my first time out in 4
months.

My other rounds down south were mixed as I was getting use to a new
stance, routine etc etc ------again more on course practice than play.
Trying to turn it all into a feel. My good shots were strangely
powerful though, my action smooth. The ball flight wind defying. You
can really feel it when you are on plane or closer to it.

Several weeks later the courses opened up north and I ventured out to
Hidden Lakes in Burlington Ontario. Summer home to Moe Norman. Late
March. Cold and windy. Greens as grassy as a fairway. 69 with 4
three putts. My ball striking, particularly with my irons, was as good
as ever if not better ---and Ive been playing a long time. Knocking
down the sticks with knock downs, punches. Rusty as all get out and
playing as well as ever. Strange. At my lesson Lynn had asked me what
my objectives were, I told him that " I only want to be able to hit the
ball like a couple of guys from back home". Lynn smiled and said "Let
me guess....Moe Norman and George Knudson". I wrote Lynn to tell him
that my objectives were already realized (to as close as Ill get
anyways) that day at Moe's old course. Eagle on a par five with a 75
yard sand wedge finding the cup. What had been fleeting was now
merely a matter of compliance or so it seemed.

My play since then has ranged from great to mixed.......hey Lynns good
but he's not God. There is still the same old idiot at the controls
after all. But my scores are better, my short game transformed by the
12-5 work and my ball flight piercing (when I want it to be). I feel
like I have far greater variety of shots at the ready, both around the
green and on approach shots. Still working on shaping my drives. Im
addicted to hinging. Horizontal, vertical, angled. Cut lob, little
runner. Chip, pitch, punch, punch with swivel. Golf is really fun
again.

I guess I may be accused of being a fan of Lynn's and therefore
somewhat biased in my opinion. This may be true. But I have come by it
honestly. I have no vested interest other than a self interest in my
own obsessive golf pursuits. Lynn has given me more than he promised.
More than power and precision (I would have been happy with that
alone). He has given me a day of his time, a diagnosis derived from a
life time of his experience and a hope for a brighter golfing tomorrow
courtesy of TGM. Touch wood.

There is a set of rules which when complied with gives you the results
you are looking for. A tangible cause and effect relationship. An end
to the insanity of trial and error golf. The insane defined as golfers
expecting a variety of results from the same methodology.

I should also say that as confounding as the book may be there is some
relief in knowing that once a concept is finally grasped it is over.
As in ......that's it......nothing
more.....finite..........finis.......the end.

Hello LBG. Please add one more nut to your collection of nut bars and
call me, O.B. Left.

[dcg1952]

One of the best reviews I have ever read on this site. Enjoyed reading it and congratulations on your success.

[Burner]

Wow!

[neil]

I had the same experience -but not the same handicap....YET!

[noproblemos]

Thanks for the story OBLeft.

[plgolfer]

Thanks for sharing. That must have been golf instruction nirvanaaaa!

[Yoda]

Thank you, OB, for posting about our time together. The first few pitch shots I saw you hit told me that considerable work had already been done, and I was delighted when you told me you had learned much of that technique from our site.

Your love of the game was evident from the start, and you were a true joy to work with. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of helping you improve your game.

[rangebal3]

I'm brand new to the site and am very excited about the excellent instruction content in the gallery section. My pursuit of ball striking improvement has probably detoured as far away from "the truth" that is probably possible and still get the ball in the air going somewhere near the target. My swing has been analogous to a Rubic's Cube, i.e. change one component that affects the other and end up with a zero sum game.

Anyway, TGM sure looks like a vehicle to take away alot of my confusion and provide me a "blueprint" for constructing a better swing. I will be much more satisfied as a golfer if my poor shots become a function of not exercising the correct swing mechanics versus where I've been for too long; not having a clear understanding of what to do. As a result, I feel like I've discovered gold and appreciate your willingness to provide this content for free allowing me the best chance I think I will have to improve and enjoy golf even more. You are to be commended for your generosity. I hit balls at noon today, and am pretty excited about the results. Thank you.

[Yoda]

...I feel like I've discovered gold and appreciate your willingness to provide this content for free allowing me the best chance I think I will have to improve and enjoy golf even more. You are to be commended for your generosity.

Thanks, rangebal3. Given our current -- -- constraints of time and money, we've done our best to deliver content that will help you improve your game. As far as commending me for my generosity, I appreciate your compliment but am reminded of what Bobby Jones said when commended for 'not cheating.' Said he...

"You might as well commend me for not robbing banks."

Well, that's the way I feel about teaching.

I really have little choice in the matter...

It's what I am compelled to do.

[O.B.Left]

It has been a few months now and as I re read this I feal I should make a small correction to the above.

I am not addicted to hinging. I am merely a frequent hinger, especially green side. Not a binge hinger or an over hinger.

I am however now addicted to lag. If you havent already, try to find some and when you do sustain it through impact. But be careful. That stuff does some wierd things to your game. Suddenly the ball flies straight and far without any extra effort. Almost less effort it seems. Then that little voice says "wow, imagine if you took all that lag AND added some effort...imagine how far the thing would go then..." Thats when the problems start.

I cant find it all the time but it seems to be the missing ingrediant when Im playing poorly. The better I play the more I seem to sustain it through impact. Or at least that the way it seems right now.

Another new thing for me courtesy of LBG is the natural draw that comes with swinging the driver. I think I had unknowingly gotten into switting a little fade out there at the expense of some distance. The natural horizontal hinging that comes with swinging has given me back my draw without any excessive wrist rolling or swive that can lead to a hook.

Thanks again

O.B.Left