Re: Canadian Wanna be Golfer

I just saw Neil's last post and as I just said in my last post, I believe the natural position is that the elbow indents face forward (if for some people only a bit).

What is natural and relaxed is good to me.

The open right elbow will allow the joint to more easily fold and point down in the backswing, whereas I find that it would fly up and back, when it is rotated inwards. This would lead to inconsistency and also a power leak.

Ted

Re: Canadian Wanna be Golfer

Hi Jo,

Here is the Tom Bertram video I was thinking about, which shows the arm and elbow positions of Hogan.



Here is one of Hogan.



This is only to show the forward inside of elbow position. Do not use this and mix it with the 4MM concept.

Ted

Re: Canadian Wanna be Golfer

Thanks Ted..
I am going to golf outside of Calgary on Sunday..I am so nervous.. trying to remember my change is one thing but I haven't had a chance to practise any chipping...this messes me up real bad...Never did learn how to stand or swing properly on a chip. I am going to read over your earlier posts to me and see if it helps
I am going for the swing analysis at Callaway in Calgary on Saturday at 2 pm..looking forward to it... My nephew wants us to golf on our way home on Sunday ...yikes

Re: Canadian Wanna be Golfer

Hi Jo,

Relax Jo, don't get too wrapped up in little things like locking up your arms in order to have them pointing out.

I figure that most people's natural tendency is to have the elbows at least slightly pointing out at a relaxed address. That is OK, Don't lock them up by forcing them to point out further. That will come, and in the meantime, it's not going to ruin the swing. For me, I have to force, to point them inwards.

One of the best lessons, I took from a pro was in chipping. It was totally controversial, but it was amazing. It looks awful, but I think it makes all the right things happen. What I also liked it eliminated a lot of thinking about what to do, when to do and the like. Here it is.

With your feet fairly close together, face the landing area with your body (note that is the landing area, not necessarily the hole, when there is a break). The ball will be to your side about even with your feet, so shuffle towards the ball so your clubface comfortably addresses behind the ball. Just make a normal chipping stroke with your shoulder and arms. For short chips, as you normally would do, the wrists are kept frozen. For longer chips and when you need a bit higher shot, use the wrist cock, again as you would normally do.

I think the reason this works is it ensures your hands will lead the clubhead, and they will not flip.

If you are really tied up with your chipping, this may be worth doing. Try the action indoors for a start.

Gotta go, golfing tomorrow.

Keep well,

Ted

Re: Canadian Wanna be Golfer

Thanks Ted
I will work on your chipping advice today off the range mats. Also have to work on "relax" part of my practicing
Thanks so much for your support.
Have a great game !!

Take care
Jo

Re: Canadian Wanna be Golfer

Hi Jo,

I just wanted to clarify that having the feet point at the landing area is good for the drills, if it's more comfortable for you in actual play, you can adjust the feet alignment more open.

The method does work. After my lesson with the pro and I had practiced this technique for a period, the pro asked how it was going for me. I told him it was the best thing since sliced bread. He then asked, if I noticed a difference in my overall iron game. I said him honestly that my iron play had unexpectedly improved greatly. He said that he thought it would from this action. As I said earlier, I think it's just the ingraining of the feeling and action of the hands leading the clubhead on a downward strike and the left wrist being flat, which applies to all iron play.

Ted

Re: Canadian Wanna be Golfer

Good to know Ted...Thank you very much for your help..I sure need it. I want this year to be a year of improvement after years of struggle. I have had it with struggling
Something has to start working and I now have faith with your help and everyone on this forum always willing to help I think this may be it

I received my four magic move book about 20 minutes ago. I am anxious to get into reading it !! The first 60 pages are the same alright but a total of 187 pages so I have some good reading ahead.....

When I run into problems reading this book (as understanding just what they are trying to portray ) I will have to bother everyone here to guide me through...I don't want to be a pest but I think I will need a lot more help

How was the game ??

Jo

Re: Canadian Wanna be Golfer

Hi Jo,

This is my second time out this year. It was a course we never played before. We've had some very cold windy days this month, the night time temps are below freezing, with sharp winds. It was a cold winter, so the frost got deep and while letting go, the grounds are still extremely wet. The conditions of the greens are really bad. The earlier cold weather in the Fall and this Spring did not allow the greens to recover from the October aerations, so the they are not very good. There are frost delays every morning. A week ago there was snow and sleet.

So, that's my setting for excuses. Actually, not having practiced at all, I was comfortable in just stepping up to my first tee shot and drilling it down the middle. That's the beauty of the 4MM, IMO. Mind you, "drilling it" for a 69 year old guy with 4 layers of clothing has to be considered in context, it means straight or slight draw, and consistently if not solid. Basically, very solid shots all around, though I pulled a few (overactive bottom hand from not making a full shoulder turn, and just lifting with my arms). Very good chipping. The balls were plugging and hopping back on the fairways. We did not keep score, but I had quite a few pars (4 footers were gimme's, because the greens were so bad), one birdee, and a some doubles and a triple.

Thank goodness, it's warming up, so the old body could start to come out of hibernation.

Ted

Re: Canadian Wanna be Golfer

Hi Jo,

Sorry, but I think it's important to add this note re the chipping. I believe this method will make this happen automatically, but watch for it.

You will notice that the triangle formed by the arms and the shoulder will move in total synch and "be connected" with the torso as you turn back and through. Even though the inverted triangle is slightly ascew (back) from the front of the chest, because the ball is position in back in the stance, the triangle will stay in front of the turning body. You can feel the turning and connection deep in the belly.

Today, I hit several pitches from 20 - 30 yards with this method, by incorporating the wrist cock, as well as the usual chips with frozen wrists from 5 feet or so off the green, with good results.

Ted

Re: Canadian Wanna be Golfer

..Sounds like it was quite a challenge out there today...Nevertheless I bet you loved it !!

If we play on Sunday I suspect our conditions will be much the same..We had a horrible winter and it still refuses to let go. Our last snow was a storm on Tuesday..What a terrible wind and snow storm..still melting today but think my course opens on Saturday any way..

Calgary is further south but I think their courses are as bad as ours..The temp greens are always fun...Play winter rules...two putt max.

But all in all you had a pretty decent game...I wish I could have those scores

Later
Jo