Oh boy...

[Matt10]

I haven't played with a buddy of mine in a long time - the last time he played with me I was so hooked on AJ Bonar's teachings: http://www.golf-tuition-online.com/g...lf-really.html

He came into town today and remembered that that was how I played back then - I told him I've given that up for a while now. Supposedly I gave him a hard time back when we played last year, so this time he bets me that I won't break 90 using AJ Bonar's technique. I told him I had already broken 80 last month using various techniques, in particular shortening the backswing. He wouldn't have it, I had to use AJ's teachings. The bet was if I didn't break 90, he would get $100 and if I broke 90 I would get a $ 100 - I decided to up the anti by betting if I broke 80 that he would owe me $200.

To make a long story short, I sit here with $280 cash, why the extra $80? Because I not only broke 80, I shot a 68 (2 under par)...my best ever score - I still dont' believe it...and what's worst I can't believe it was done using AJ Bonar's method again.

My irons were crisp and the drives were straight. My shortgame was fairly decent - chipped in for a birdie.

Just when I thought I had built a solid swing, I find that there is another one out there, that might be better. AJ's technique goes against pretty much anything I've ever heard about how to swing - there's no weight shift, no inside out focus, no shoulder turn - just hit the white ball for a homerun...

I'm going to see if I can find the AJ Truth About Golf DVD somewhere, it just can't be this easy - can it?

[BrianW]

Re: Oh boy...

The $200 bet probably did most of it.

[Robert O' Keeffe]

Re: Oh boy...

Well done on winning your bet and a fantastic score. personally I think the AJ bonnar method is probably the worst technique I have ever witnessed. To me he is making easy money from his book of instruction and whatever else he has on the market. I dont see any pros using this technique. That says enough for me

[Matt10]

Re: Oh boy...

It's probably true that he is making money off of the system - but it's a system that seems to be working. I'm going to try and post a video later, comparing my two swings. What I do notice using AJ's swing, that on the downsing I'm in perfect position of Greg's RH Drill - it's like the backswing of having my palm face me at all times makes my left arm straight on the downswing and the right hand cupped...

[jamesh]

Re: Oh boy...

[quote=Matt10]I haven't played with a buddy of mine in a long time - the last time he played with me I was so hooked on AJ Bonar's teachings: http://www.golf-tuition-online.com/g...lf-really.html

He came into town today and remembered that that was how I played back then - I told him I've given that up for a while now. Supposedly I gave him a hard time back when we played last year, so this time he bets me that I won't break 90 using AJ Bonar's technique. I told him I had already broken 80 last month using various techniques, in particular shortening the backswing. He wouldn't have it, I had to use AJ's teachings.

Way to go – there has to be more going on there than Aj’s Video. You probably have a lot of natural ability. Respectfully, I posted here a while ago that AJ’s Video was without question the worst golf video I have ever seen. I usually watch a golf video on my computer and type points in my word processor so I can go over them later. I sat for over 10 minutes while he talked about the planets, card tricks and I thought – u know this is deliberate – he is stretching it out so it will be longer than one or two videos. Did you notice that he was hitting off of a very elevated hill – there is a reason for that. When I started golfing I didn’t shift my weight either – I had lessons to remedy it – just because u can do it, doesn’t mean you should.

I found Jin McLean’s videos, the eight step swing and the other one on Ben Hogan to be substantive.

Best of luck with your game!

[Matt10]

Re: Oh boy...

Way to go – there has to be more going on there than Aj’s Video. You probably have a lot of natural ability. Respectfully, I posted here a while ago that AJ’s Video was without question the worst golf video I have ever seen. I usually watch a golf video on my computer and type points in my word processor so I can go over them later. I sat for over 10 minutes while he talked about the planets, card tricks and I thought – u know this is deliberate – he is stretching it out so it will be longer than one or two videos. Did you notice that he was hitting off of a very elevated hill – there is a reason for that. When I started golfing I didn’t shift my weight either – I had lessons to remedy it – just because u can do it, doesn’t mean you should.

I found Jin McLean’s videos, the eight step swing and the other one on Ben Hogan to be substantive.

Best of luck with your game!

Thanks James.

I'd like to say it's natural ability - but I remember when I started this game that I figured I would just rely on my 'natural' athleticism, I was a slicing machine. I remember when I first tried AJ's method that I felt dumb swinging that way, it wasn't traditional - but the ball flight was acceptable.

I'm sticking with this method of swinging - my scores are dropping and I don't have anything in my mind other than 'hit the ball'. AJ may distribute his videos in an attempt to scam people - but that is just various opinions. If I can hit the ball the exact same distance that I did with the traditional method using AJs method - which am I going to take?

The one with only 3 guidelines:

The club is a tool.
Use the remote drill (right palm facing you the entire time)
Hammer the nail (ball) in/through.

...or a swing that requires 8 steps to achieve one desire...(I'm not going to write it all down)

Above you say 'just because you can, doesn't mean you should' regarding lack of weight shift. If you hit your target regardless of weight shift - then you should do what works for you and that means you can do whatever you want. In AJ's method all I have to focus on is keeping soft hands and tension free arms, then just hit the ball.

I don't know if AJ is deliberate or not with his talking about the planets and card tricks. I do remember reading an interview that AJ's mother was a scientist and that he was a big philosophy buff. I believe the concept was derived to support something so drastically new that the golfing world has never seen before, there had to be a baseline and since AJ likes to talk - that's what he did. At first I fast forwarded through alot of it, wanted to see some ball hitting, but the second time I actually sat down and listened to what he had to say. He spoke about how in Scotland all the clubs that were used were the same, until some guy decided to create the idea of loft, I thought that was a pretty interesting story - something I hadn't known about.

All in all, it al boils down to what works for you - I find myself enjoying the way I play this way. I'm more relaxed and I have no worries about where the ball shouldn't go. James, I hope I didn't come off disrespectful - I just think this method is approached with closed minds half the time. Good luck with your game as well and take care.

Btw,I played another round today, no betting this time, and shot a +2, 72 - the wind was playing tricks on me and two bad chips on the 4th and 12th hole cost me to save par. Other than that I hit 9/12 fairways and only 3 putted twice.