[golfbulldog]

How would you help this guy?

I see this little puzzle as an exercise in translating "classic teaching gems" into TGM components and then realising how incompatible they are!! Here goes...

He sets up like Tiger Woods with his head UP

Diagnosis
TGM does not say that much about address except to establish radius (2-J-1) and hence head position at impact fix. Keeping head at Tiger's high position will, and does , lead to bobbing (3-F-7-C).

Treatment

Explain impact fix and establish radius and body angles.

He grips it like Hogan... as seen in his last book

Diagnosis

Grip has two aspects - "hand to hand " ( 10-1 ) and "hands to plane" ( 10-2).

Hogan used Vardon style grip (10-1-A) - "hand to hand". I guess he used weak double action ( 10-2-C) "hands to plane" alignment. Left wrist is vertical, right wrist looks rolled, and he certainly bends right wrist and cocks left wrist... but does he cock right wrist?? Is this really a triple action grip?

Treatment

It depends on his ball flight. If slicing then needs a stronger grip

He takes it back low and slow

Diagnosis

Initial movement should be on plane - up, back and inwards( remaining on plane) - if using right forearm pickup. This seems to be Homer's preferred takeaway to avoid shoulder turn initiated takeaway which goes "under plane" and will need plane shift to get close to TSP. The worry about "low" is that it can lead to off plane movement because there is not enough "up". "Slow" has bearing on tempo for the swing . There is some research on time of backswing being a consistent ratio to time of downswing ( not sure where i read it... but if slow going back don't be Nick Price going down!!

Treatment

Teach about plane. Establish what tempo is appropriate for this player. One of the few areas that i believe natural tendencies do have a roll to play.

As he nears the Top he "reaches for the sky," like Jack Nicklaus book says

Diagnosis

If "reach for the sky" is the right arm trying to straighten and gives extensor aaction (6-B-1-D) then good. If it means elevate the hands off plane then bad.

Treatment

Depends on what this player is really doing rather than what they think they are doing!!

This hybrid monster is setting up to bob, plane shift, probably apply extensor action, slow swing( if tempo even) or very irregular tempo hack ( if downswing speed does not match takeaway) and probably slice . But then thats what you get if you listen to the "classic golfing gems" passed on down the years!!

Here are the others for somebody else to think about!!

He starts down by turning his hips hard, and diving his right elbow in front of his right hip... like in Hogan's book

As he does this he makes sure he drives his SQUARE clubface into the BACK of the ball

He makes sure his head is glued down until the ball is well
down the fairway, as he continues to drive his club towards the TARGET

He makes sure he is CONNECTED under his left arm during this entire procedure

He then makes a nice, pretty finish