T.G.M. testimonial
 

I just wanted to share an email I received from a teaching pro in Charlottesville, VA. I was searching for a TGM guy near my house that I could work with some. I had sent him an email, and this was his response. I thought it said alot for TGM.
"Steve,

I’m sorry for the delay. I didn’t want to rush my response.

First of all, welcome to Virginia. I have been here for ten years…transplanted from Texas. Virginia is a great state and I’m proud to call it my home. I have been a PGA member since 1993. My father was a PGA golf professional so I grew up in the business. I’m proud of my association but I have never learned anything about the golf stroke from the PGA. What I have learned has come from Mr. Kelley and all the wonderful Authorized Instructors- Ben Doyle, Lynn Blake (Yoda), Chuck Evans, Joe Daniels and Brian Manzella.

I first learned of The Golfing Machine in 1982- the year Bobby Clampett lead after two rounds of the British Open. I will never forget the interviews- he was using terms that I didn’t understand. I purchased the book and have been studying it ever since. Two years ago I had an opportunity to attend a seminar hosted by Ron Gring (G.S.E.D.). After the seminar I asked him how he was able to become an A.I. He gave me Chuck Evan’s contact information which ultimately lead to my association with Joe Daniels. In February of this year I attended and passed Level I of the G.S.E.B. I will complete Level II as soon as I am able- four children and a full time job take a lot of my free time. My goal is to become a G.S.E.D.

Yes, I do teach using TGM principles- nothing else makes sense. I would love to get together to see if there is anything I can do to help you with your journey."

I think the truth is finally getting out!!

I love the line "I never learned anything about the golf stroke from the PGA." I haven't met this man, but he obviously is on the right path, and has been for some time. Great news for the golfers in his area!

Cool stuff man.

So, are you gonna see him for lessons?

who
 

Did I miss something? Who is the AI?

His name is Eric McGraw and he teaches out of Keswick club at Monticello, just outside of Charlottesville, VA. He sounds like a good guy, I am going to try and meet him next week for a session, then we'll just go from there.

Hi,

Eric Mcgraw and me had the opportunity to attend the GSEB classes at Bonita in Jan this year with a great bunch of guys. I came all the way from India to do the GSEB. Let me tell you something about Eric.

Erik was the most intrensic student in the class. EVERY, I repeat EVERY detail that could be thrashed out in the TGM for the class 1, was, by Eric. We had sessions where Joe Daniels and he would clear out his thoughts and doubts for an hour at a time with us guys just totally silent. Eric was the disector, He would open out every component and clear the fog to the fullest. Gave Joe Daniels a real workout with his knowledge too.

Unfortunately he had to leave after the Level 1 class but he went away with it all. He had questions from all of TGM and I am sure he has what it takes to be a vey competent AI
.
Eric is a wonderful person and we shared a wonderful time at Bonita. You will only be at the greatest advantage in learning from him and needless to say will immensly enjoy your golf with him.

If any of u guys from the Bonita class are in this forum -- holler in . I would love to hear from you.

Vikram GSEB

Whoa...an AI from India. Cool man.

Thanks for the insight Vikram, I look forward to meeting Eric.

That would be a real "Guru" then? :D

Thats Right fellas!!! The only AI in India

Came half way around the world to incubate learn and execute TGM in India. Started out as a coach and Instructor two and a half years ago. Came across TGM on the internet six months later, the lights kinda flashed in the computer, ordered the book, read it, had to know more, visited the USA and did the GSEB, came back and started working with an ametuer student ranked 19th on the merit list in India through a reference, Got him to 11th within 3 months. Guys heard about me and the DAM BROKE LOOSE( No one knew about TGM though but saw what happenned when the guy shot a 6 under. No.14 called in and started working with me. Six months down the line he's now at no.2 representing India in all Am tourneys in SE Asia. Had a total of 7 wins and 11 top ten finishes among my 40 odd students in a year in various catagories. Now also teach the youngest pro aged 16 in India. Possibly the youngest in the world( turned pro at 15). The kid shoots par like a breeze. Needs some mental work though!

See where TGM has got me?

Dont have time to breathe the moment I am seen at the range.

Should be coming back for the GSEM classes the moment I am eligble.

Sure I am proud to be the TGM GURU in India. Its taught me more than I could have hoped to learn any place else on the planet. LOTS MORE TO LEARN though!!!!. You guys have been AWESOME!!!

Vikram

That's just amazing Vikram and a true testimony to TGM. Some questions if i may

Do you find yourself teaching mainly hitting or swinging and what style are these proteges of yours mainly employing?

From another post of yours i think you teach hitting from impact fix?


Thanks mate and congrats :)

Yeah!

Thanks John. I am happy at what I am doing and the way I am doing it.. Really enjoy teaching TGM principles because i beleive in them. Theres no groping in the dark here. Identify the components that need work and cement their correct execution relentlessly.

The game of golf, i have learnt is so dependent on correct rhythm, that it becomes the first component for me to tackle in all cases. It takes a while to drill it into the hackers but the results are amazing when they realize what its all about. Thats what I attack first ( Of course if the player is erring in these areas which normally is the case) In many cases improvement is almost immedeate with rhythm correction. MOST guys are trying to hit it farther than their bodies and minds can handle and frustratingly for them with faulty impact alignments which gets worse as the more balls they hit. They all know what rhythm is but somehow cant transmit it to the swing - they need education.Train the body to execute and swing within physical and mental parameters and 15 min later the reaction is" Geez I didnt know that I could hit it that far with that slow a swing" . Actually all that changes is the pace of the swing but the clubhead is travelling at almost the same speed if not more due to timed release of the power accumalators. But the feeling the player gets is that he's swinging slower whereas he is actually giving the loading and unloading procedures their required time to load and release by swinging from the feet. The timing improves the balance is better and the swing centre is much better controlled------- Better shots!!
At least i can be proud that in my knowledge over a 1000 more persons now know where the shaft needs to be at impact for it to be effective - because that is somewhere near the number of persons I have taught and I have had to tell each one.

Secondly and most surprisingly, 99% of my students when they first came to me had no clue as to how the club is designed to be used. Their education into the game had obviously been misdirected, maybe not knowingly, but thats the sad and bitter truth of the majority of golfers who could have been...... . If the computer hasnt been fed the right information to begin with how can it print out the correct result. There could be a host of reasons why they dont swing it that well but the three essentials and three imperatives, if indoctrined into their computer early in the teaching process makes the difference between a hacker for life and a respectable golfer within a year of starting golf.

Better players have most of their components in place and here lies the capability of the instructor as to adhere to the material in chapter of samenesses and differences and of course what I have mentioned in capitals below ...TOUCH....

Normally John , I refrain from changing the swing pattern (Hitting or swinging) of any player. They have what they've got and I build on their strengths with the essentials and imperatives because some of those is what they come to me to adjust and repair. Most of my good player students are swingers but thats just a draw of the lot.

I am a very staunch believer and very particular about the Pivot components execution, SECOND TO THE HANDS which controls it , as it is the basis of maintaining balance in the swing and it is the most important factor to successful execution of the stroke . You could have majority of the components in place, but without a balanced machine????!!!! Forget it.

I am only a GSEB and I have a lot more learning to do, but I am giving the other teaching pros here a run for their money -- Just because I am sure I have a clearer understanding of how the swing works or should work. And TGM has taught me to become better than them in KNOWING WHAT TO TOUCH AND HOW MUCH TO TOUCH, as opposed to the tip of the day teaching methods that they employ. Therefore, consequentially I communicate with the student that much more efficiently, effectively and productively. Its ALL in there John - ALL TGM. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Sorry if I've strayed off the subject on a tangent blowing my own trumpet - but I guess thats the way it is. Its a great feeling , so, why not share it?????

Vikram

That's a superb post Vikram, and it is easy to see why you are having such great success. Keep up the good work and we may just one day see one of your students in the news or on our tv's. Keep up the great work :)

Thanks John and I hope so too!

Vik

Cool
 

Vik,

Thanks for being part of our little corner of TGM here on the net! Hope so see many more posts from you in the future.

Trig

Can you elaborate on how you get your students to re-program their computer with "rhythm correction"?

Good question.

Because most people are trying to hit it much farther than they actually can the startdown is invaribly too quick to allow the pivot components to get into proper place and in sequence.


I ask them to address the ball with a very narrow stance, picture a child on a swing with their eyes shut and move the club head at the same speed as they think the child would move. They get the picture right away. You see, the child swinging is a slow movement the image can be easily related to. I think every adult as a child has experienced a swing and has had fun while on one so the picture is the easiest to assimilate.

If not then imagine a huge clubhead and a child sitting on it. you dont want the child to get left behind either way, whether you are swinging back or forward. You should be able to keep him sitting on that clubhead and make him swing like a normal swing.

Simple questions like where will the child be almost motionless?? At the end of the backswing for sure. Where will he be moving the fastest? At the bottom of the swing of course. You dont want him to be left behind in the downswing so how would you swing down?? Smoothly I guess. Ask for a replication of action (Mechanics) to what sensation it produces ( Feel) and you get an unhurried start up smooth transition and sustained accelleration. "Let mechanics produce and feel reproduce." HK.
The moment the thought of a child is pictured every thing becomes rhythmic from fear not to hurt the little being from falling off. Thats how i try and put it through and beleive me it works, always . Build up the tempo from there and within ten minuites you got flow, rhythm and gradual accelleration. All you need is a stationary post and you have a swing on which you can build.

Another thing that really works is the water bottle drill where I make them swing a 1/4 full of water bottle, cap up at address, from start to finish without the water being allowed to touch the cap anytime in the swing. Ive managed to attatch one to an old shaft so its quite like the real feel one should get. If you follow the bottle with your eyes in a back and forth continous motion for three or four fairly slow swings and are succeeding in keeping the water from hitting the cap, shift the focus to the hands for the next four swings. You'll be presently surprised at the way the hands behave - The way they should.



Its a different thing if I see the same student swinging at his normal hasty fashion two days later at the range. Thats a seperate issue altogether, Its called mental INdiscipline and impatientce. Hugely rampant and the most highly practiced element in the ametuer golfing world..

Vikram

Great posts Vikram.

ahahahah- :submit: :submit: :submit:

"Why isn't this damn thing working!?!?!"

Water bottle drill
 

Hi:

The water bottle drill sounds great. The cap remains pointing upwards towads the sky all the way to the end of the backswing, correct? If so, that requires a very smooth and slow downswing, which is the point, correct?

Bye

Not Quite correct. The bottle must NOT cross the parallel to the ground clubshaft position at the top. preferably a little short of that. It'll make sure that your swing is one CONTINOUS motion. If you stop the swing the water will come to the cap. Simple principle of sustained centrifugal accelleration. Dont forget you create centrifugal force in the backswing too. The secret is to maintain it through the swing uninterrupted.

Consider that the bottle is standing normally on the ground. Pick it up with both hands as while gripping a club. Swing away without letting the water touch the cap. Use one hand at a time if you want to.

Vikram

Water Bottle Drill
 

Vikram

Do you advocate using the water bottle filled 1/4 water and try without the cap? Instant feedback!

Also where did you attach the bottle to the shaft? Near the hands, in the middle, or at the end to simulate a clubhead? Or does it matter?

Thanks much.

PChandler

Thanks, I think I get it now. The cap represents the butt end of the club and the cap will point at the plane line at some point in the backswing, correct?

Bye