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Which Teaching Method?
I am keen to put in some hard practice over the winter months, to get ready for next year, I am relatively new to the game. What is the best golf swing methodology to learn? For example, Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter, and all the rest. Does anyone know what other ones are out there? Are there schools out there for each of them? Which is the best method?
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Re: Which Teaching Method?
Wow...just the first lesson I ran into this quote:
"THE GOLF ACTION IS BASED UPON A FREE SWING OF THE HANDS AND ARMS INDEPENDENT OF THE BODY. The body in fact has nothing to do with propelling (cause the movement of) the hands and arms at any time.
A correct swing is based upon a free swing of the hands and arms. A bad swing is based upon body propulsion - an action in which the hands and arms are set in motion by body movement. There is a profound difference between these two types of action. Try to understand this concept right away. The sooner you grasp its meaning the better for you. "
Not sure what he rest of the site says, and there might be something worth while there, but I just couldn't continue to read on having to disagree with this first statment. Gave me chills.
Not only does the body's rotation create a centrufugal force that propells the arms around it's plane with effortless power, it is essential to creating the basic whip affect that creates increased energy the faster you can rotate the body about it's axis.
I might read on later just for entertainment purposes....which I just did and found this:
"The Most Common Problem In Golf
All poor players, without exception, start the downswing by turning the shoulders first, while the feet remain static. This, of course, throws the club out of line from the top, and any possibility of a correct downswing is instantly ruined
In fact, in a correct downswing, the body should unwind from the feet…….up. This means that the feet and legs should come into play first with the shoulders unwinding last! In other words, the shoulder line must never run ahead of the hip line in the downswing.
THIS CORRECT DOWNSWING IS ACHIEVED BY PROPER LEG ACTION IN THE SWING, and this exercise shows you how to acquire good foot and leg action…
THIS EXERCISE CAN TRANSFORM YOUR GOLF ALMOST IMMEDIATELY!"
This I agree with. He of corse contradicts himself in his previous statement, so I would definatly read with caution.Comment
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Re: Which Teaching Method?
I agree Greg. It's a little difficult to follow off the top, but the mechanical parts of the lessons seem bang-on. The concept that the swing is arm-actuated has actually helped my golf swing - my right side plays a much lesser role now, and my casting and out to in swing path are all but gone.
It's still a worthwhile read (IMO) for someone educating themselves about the golf swing.Comment
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Re: Which Teaching Method?
I have used the Mike Austin Method for 5 years now. There has been a recent revision to this swing in the hand and arm motion. The method in my opinion is head and shoulders above everything taught today. It is a underhanded baseball pitching motion first done by Harry Vardon. It has been revised into a very dynamic swing. I think so highly of the new hand and arm motion I am spending my winter making the swing change for next season.
The difference in this and the traditional swing is like aa baseball pitcher and batter. A batter crosses his arms over hoping to make good contact andgood direction, misses are generally left and right. In Mike Austins swing method, the wrists hinge in a horzontal fashion and turn under the thumb in a conical action. Misses are generally longer or shorter but extremely accurate as far as line. I have brought my irons on the target centerline more consistantly and the release is more powerful than a traditional release.
For more information, go to www.aperfectswing.com.
This is not a shill, and I am not affiliated with the company producing the material. Gandolf is aware of the material as he bought a copy. I just bring this to the table as another swing method.
GBComment
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Re: Which Teaching Method?
The Irish have a long history of individual swings, Eamon Darcy springs easily to mind. This problem with these people is that they disappear without trace so-to-speak because they find it difficult to remain consistant.Originally posted by Golfbald
The modern swing is broken down into basic components to try and illiminate these inconsistancies. It may be different in America but over here in England not many people have heard of Austin. However, most British golfers have heard of great pros like Palmer, Hogan and such, who have developed and promoted their own learning courses to help people swing in a basic, repetative and consistant manner.
Having said that, I know today's pros have been to see Austin so there must be something in it. What I think we'll see is the pros taking the thinking from both swing styles rather than going the whole hog. After all how many championships did Austin win compared to modern swingers like Nicklaus, Palmer, Hogan, Els and the rest?
PaulComment
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Re: Which Teaching Method?
Hi Golfbald,
What was the recent revision on swing?, when did it happen? Did Austin make the change and if so what were his reasoning? I am interested as to why change was made after he had made such indepth research into the swing originally. I like the principals of the swing and am interested.
Thank you
Originally posted by GolfbaldComment
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Re: Which Teaching Method?
Garcia,
The earlier Austin swing, the one Mike Austin and Mike Dunaway used during Mike's playing days and Austin and Dunaway's Long Drive careers is at www.peacerivergolf.com. It is a more traditional hand and arm motion, in that it involves a crossover, but is done with a throwing motion from the top and a compound pivot. The shaft is on plane during the entire swing. Powerful motion when done correctly. The compound pivot is the most efficient use of the lower body. Power to motion use of the levers, I had this checked out at Louisiana State Medical Center.
The new hand and arm motion like it's lower body counter part is upper body efficiancy. The clubface is kept on plane vice the shaft. The swing is accomplished through leverage, I'll explain in a minute. Benefits: less energy to create more swing speed, it doesn't abuse the body like the traditional swing because it is using each body lever as it was designed to be used. It's not compounding the movement in any one joint (lever).
I'll give you an example to explain it. Take a door and swing it shut from the door knob side, it takes alot of motion to shut it the arm motion is long and the door travels as fast as the arm moves. Now, shut the door from the hinge side, it will have a little resistance to get it started, it then picks up speed rapidly the door slams shut with power. Why?, it is done with leverage. That is the concept behind this swing.
The major benefit is this, with the traditional swing the crossover of the arm causes one to miss left and right of the target. In the MA swing method misses are forward and backward, but on line. Accuracy is greatly improved. I'm not going to tell anyone you can't slice or hook. If you do the swing incorrectly you will. Maintenance once this is learned is less, chipping and pitching is very accurate.
To answer your question, this swing change Mike made 12 years ago completes Mike's quest to find the most efficient golf swing ever devised. No hype, I've had this thing checked out with doctor's that have been in sports medicine for 30 years. It's been compared to joint and muscle efficiency models, it passed the test.
I have been using the Secrets of the longest hitter, tape/dvd in my teaching for 3 years, it has all the fundementals of tha Austin Method, the Kill the Ball book/dvd has the new arm method. Done in this order, I think anyone would benefit and have a game they can easily maintain and play some fine golf with.
GolfBaldComment
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Re: Which Teaching Method?
I also know Gandolf has the material and has been trying it. I hope he will post with some thoughts.
GBComment
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Re: Which Teaching Method?
Ok, dammit, now I'm intrigued and hooked. Is there any free info on this method, or any instruction to get a feel for this swing?
How far does it deviate from the traditional golf swing?Comment
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Re: Which Teaching Method?
Lowpost,
Mike's earlier swing the one he used before the stroke at age 82 can be found at www.peacerivergolf.com. It is more along the lines of the traditional swing. It is a step by step DVD that walks you through the swing. Best material for learning or improving a golf swing, I'll explain why at the end.
Mike in his research has discovered a better upper body motion that keeps the clubFACE on plane for the entire swing and uses leverage to create force. The Secrets arm motion was great, this one blew me away and I don't impress easily. That wasn't a typo, CLUBFACE ON PLANE. You don't have to square it up to the ball. The pre release copy can be had at www.aperfectswing.com. The information is complete but the text and video will be polished for public release. 12 years of work has gone into the additional material. Don't be alarmed by who's name is on the book, this is Mike's swing. Dan wrote the book because of the stroke Mike can't.
This body of work has been 70 years in the making. Mike has been researching the golf swing for 70 years, he has a doctorate in Kinesiology, degrees in mechanical engineering, psycology, and physics with 2 years of medical school for the sole purpose of finding the most efficient way to hit the ball. If you have any questions, please post in the Non-traditional swing thread.
Ya know where to find me if ya have a question,
Michael StankewiczComment
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Re: Which Teaching Method?
Response to GreggJ.
Not necessarily. I believe he is saying that the correct sequence of lower body action at the start of the downswing will bring the shoulders into a position where the arms and hands ( and of course, club) can swing fast and free through the ball impact area. He is not saying the lower body is providing the power.Comment
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Re: Which Teaching Method?
Can I answer that one?!
Cos golf never changes! And neither do the arguments!Comment
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Re: Which Teaching Method?
If a member trawls around, maybe searches for one thing and finds another old thread that interests him then why not reply - threads don't expire do they? After all the active forum membership changes over time and new opinions are formed. On this one I'd merely check out the number of successful pro golfers that King coached before I put down his teaching as wrong. There's still more than one way to skin a cat u know.Comment
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Re: Which Teaching Method?
Teaching method. That's something that makes me curious about Hogan. What was his method? What fad did he follow? My guess is whatever the hottest player was doing when he came up.
There's MORAD, DOCF, LagPressure, S&T, etc. Where the heck is the Hogan method hiding?Comment
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