[Yoda]

Children love INVENTING, especially while PLAYING.
Maybe Seve's short game genius was learned while inventing and playing rather than WORKING at his short game.
Subconsciously rather than consciously.

This pertains to my persistance with this subject. Can we get to a masters level short game (Yes, TGM Masters level), without a step by step approach. Is a 'subconscious' approach quicker, better, the same.

Sometimes, other 'methods' are derided. What do you guys think are the benefits of Seve's approach v/s TGM approach? Are they combatible? Different?

What are your thoughts on Seve, V.J? From a playing and teaching standpoint you have proven your excellence and understanding with TGM. Have you studied Seve? Is it (his approach) incombatible with TGM?

Cheers,

I see no real difference in the way Seve learned to play versus other 'naturals' such as Bobby Jones and Sam Snead. Each learned a few basics -- grip, stance, and steady head -- and most of all, to 'swing the hands.' And each had effective models to imitate. Seve and Sam had their older brothers, and Bobby Jones had Stewart Maiden. Their natural action allowed them to sense early on the 'lag and drag' of centrifugal force and to swing 'through the ball' without breaking down the left wrist. If you can feel this, you can develop a fine game with little reliance on mechanics. If you can't, there are not enough mechanics in the world to get the job done.

Along the way, these Chosen Ones learned by trial and error to manipulate the feel of centrifugal 'throw-out' action to produce a variety of releases and pressures to control clubhead acceleration. And also, through more countless hours of experiementation, to sense through their hands minute differentiations in the clubface alignment and layback and the effects on ball behavior.

The end result of all this is that they learned to control the golf club -- face, head and shaft -- with their hands. That is the job of learning golf. Yes, it can be done -- more or less -- by 'feel' alone. But the sure way is to introduce precision mechanics to the process.

Ask Ben Hogan.