MacDonald Drills and Basic Motion

[rprevost]

In the almost-a-year since I had my lesson with Yoda, I have played my most consistent golf ever. I attribute it to monitoring my alignments and learning to swing my arms independently of my body as per MacDonald Drill No. 5 (I think). I am now trying to integrate the MacDonald drill with my Basic Motion practice, and I wanted to make sure that I was doing it correctly. When I move the club 18" in the backstroke to 18" in the forward stroke, I try to feel my arms moving independently of my body (as a swinger). I also use the drill on the course to ingrain the feel that I am swinging the club.

[O.B.Left]

Id say that for a shot that short you only want to use one accumulator. That is
to say that either you are hitting and using the right arm and straightening right elbow actively and solely or swinging and using the pivot solely to extend the right arm which is passive.

Acquired motion would see some McDonald drill 5 and 6 relevance in my opinion however. The pivot and arms, though co-ordinated, would be going different ways and doing different things.

[8cork]

We worked these drills as a group at Falcons Fire, and they have been a tremendous help to me. I had worked so hard on tracing and monitoring my hands, I had completely ignored my pivot. Lynn was quick to point that wobble out. Lynn, if you remember you sent me a home shot video that was a tremendous help. It was the one with your dog playing tug o war in the background. Not sure if it is on the website. I do the drills now while swinging a weed cutter, its a good workout.

[Yoda]

We worked these drills as a group at Falcons Fire, and they have been a tremendous help to me. I had worked so hard on tracing and monitoring my hands, I had completely ignored my pivot. Lynn was quick to point that wobble out. Lynn, if you remember you sent me a home shot video that was a tremendous help. It was the one with your dog playing tug o war in the background. Not sure if it is on the website. I do the drills now while swinging a weed cutter, its a good workout.

I remember, 8cork. That was a fun little video to do -- I never posted it -- especially demonstrating lag pressure with the help of a pit bull! I am considering producing another for the site.

[golfbulldog]

Yoda, your post explaining all the pitfalls of these exercises was perfect!

Sometimes your words read like a "pop-up" book - so illustrative! Thanks!

The MacDonald exercises would make a special edition "pay per view" download video classic!

I would love to hear your thoughts about his words on page 41 of my copy...

"There is a remarkable analogy between the way in which a woodsman swingas an axe and the manner in which an expert golfer strikes a golf ball....

... The movement, (sic) is really a picking up with the right arm and bearing down with the left arm"

Thanks again.

PS. you can't be a real instructor unless you develop a real accent ...did you hear Bob Torrance interviewed!... A uncompromising Scot who has not had media training...thank God!!

[Burner]

PS. you can't be a real instructor unless you develop a real accent ...did you hear Bob Torrance interviewed!... A uncompromising Scot who has not had media training...thank God!!

I did and didn't understand a word of it! Is there a transcript available anywhere?

[alex_chung]

I did and didn't understand a word of it! Is there a transcript available anywhere?

I don't know what you guys are talking about...I understood him perfectly
Since I have not been able to play at all this year, I have been looking at and doing the MacDonald drills quite a lot to help improve the swing.
Alex

[Yoda]

Yoda, your post explaining all the pitfalls of these exercises was perfect!

Sometimes your words read like a "pop-up" book - so illustrative! Thanks!

The MacDonald exercises would make a special edition "pay per view" download video classic!

Thanks, golfbulldog. Now I'm getting inspired!