Where to begin? PLEASE HELP

Good morning all,

I am new here and have been playing golf for 20 years. I started around 20 years old and I am sorry I didn't start sooner. I have tried almost every method/system out there and I mean almost every one. I read a lot and spend way too much time studying how to groove a better golf swing. I have not read the little yellow book and have been told that it is way too technical and I would get more confused. It is definitely intimidating. I do like what I have seen here though. I think this may be my long lost answer.
Here is my question, where do I begin? Do I need the book? I see there are there videos to purchase and watch and I ask where should I start? Which would be the most helpful to get going in the right direction.
I apologize as this has probably been asked before but I am lost and a bit overwhelmed. If someone (hopefully Yoda himself) can give me direction as to where to start, I would forever be grateful.

Thank you

Scott,

The book is tough, but very important. Get the book and take it in small bits and pieces. Start with Mr. Kelley's recommended approach to how to read it which is in the first part of the book. You may not start getting anything meaningful out of it for quite sometime, but if you stick with it patiently it will start making sense along with what you learn by reading this website.

The best way to start is with video. Start with YODA'S free videos here in the gallery. Watch the Colin Neeman series, that will keep you busy. When you are done with those, buy the Alignment Golf dvds in the premium section. The best learning tool for TGM ever done.

Also, to get started right away with improving your swing the TGM way, I really like Bobby Clampett's book The Impact Zone. It's not 100% in line with YODA, but it's a great start.

TGM is not an easy road, but it's a VERY rewarding one if you stick with it.

Kevin

Originally Posted by scottcuban Good morning all,

I am new here and have been playing golf for 20 years. I started around 20 years old and I am sorry I didn't start sooner. I have tried almost every method/system out there and I mean almost every one. I read a lot and spend way too much time studying how to groove a better golf swing. I have not read the little yellow book and have been told that it is way too technical and I would get more confused. It is definitely intimidating. I do like what I have seen here though. I think this may be my long lost answer.
Here is my question, where do I begin? Do I need the book? I see there are there videos to purchase and watch and I ask where should I start? Which would be the most helpful to get going in the right direction.
I apologize as this has probably been asked before but I am lost and a bit overwhelmed. If someone (hopefully Yoda himself) can give me direction as to where to start, I would forever be grateful.

Thank you

Originally Posted by scottcuban Good morning all,

I am new here and have been playing golf for 20 years. I started around 20 years old and I am sorry I didn't start sooner. I have tried almost every method/system out there and I mean almost every one. I read a lot and spend way too much time studying how to groove a better golf swing. I have not read the little yellow book and have been told that it is way too technical and I would get more confused. It is definitely intimidating. I do like what I have seen here though. I think this may be my long lost answer.
Here is my question, where do I begin? Do I need the book? I see there are there videos to purchase and watch and I ask where should I start? Which would be the most helpful to get going in the right direction.
I apologize as this has probably been asked before but I am lost and a bit overwhelmed. If someone (hopefully Yoda himself) can give me direction as to where to start, I would forever be grateful.

Thank you

1. Watch all the free stuff on this site . . . .
2. Look at all the pictures on this site . . . .
3. Get in a bunker . . . put a line in the sand vertical to your stance line bewteen your feet where the ball would be . . . learn to take sand divots on the left side of that line
3a. make sure your left wrist is flat and right wrist is bent thru the ball when you are taking your proper side of the line divots in front of the ball
3b. Once you can do that learn to hit hard punch shots and verify that you kept your left wrist flat and right wrist bent
4. Stick you head on a wall or in a door jam . . . learn what your body has to do to make a pivot to keep your head from moving around . . .
5. Find a long straight line and learn to be on plane . . . lowest end of the club points at the "plane" line and club is parallel to the plane line when its parallel to the ground. Also keep in mind the entire shaft also LAYS on the face of the plane so if you can get some video of your motion down the line check to see if your club is doing anything wacky from approximately waist high down to waist high through the ball.
6. get a mop or wrap a towel around the head of your club . . . drag from about 3 feet behind your right foot on the ground simulating the thru stroke . . . . learn to feel "lag pressure" and what it means to keep your wrist bent and the clubhead trailing.
7. Take some video and load it here . . . .you'll get good advice

Great post Bucket!

I hope you don't mind if you see me use some of that in the future for similar questions? Very well done Sir!

Kevin

Originally Posted by 12 piece bucket 1. Watch all the free stuff on this site . . . .
2. Look at all the pictures on this site . . . .
3. Get in a bunker . . . put a line in the sand vertical to your stance line bewteen your feet where the ball would be . . . learn to take sand divots on the left side of that line
3a. make sure your left wrist is flat and right wrist is bent thru the ball when you are taking your proper side of the line divots in front of the ball
3b. Once you can do that learn to hit hard punch shots and verify that you kept your left wrist flat and right wrist bent
4. Stick you head on a wall or in a door jam . . . learn what your body has to do to make a pivot to keep your head from moving around . . .
5. Find a long straight line and learn to be on plane . . . lowest end of the club points at the "plane" line and club is parallel to the plane line when its parallel to the ground. Also keep in mind the entire shaft also LAYS on the face of the plane so if you can get some video of your motion down the line check to see if your club is doing anything wacky from approximately waist high down to waist high through the ball.
6. get a mop or wrap a towel around the head of your club . . . drag from about 3 feet behind your right foot on the ground simulating the thru stroke . . . . learn to feel "lag pressure" and what it means to keep your wrist bent and the clubhead trailing.
7. Take some video and load it here . . . .you'll get good advice

Thank you both for the help. I have been looking at the free stuff and would purchase the premium stuff but I just want to do it a productive order.

Originally Posted by scottcuban Thank you both for the help. I have been looking at the free stuff and would purchase the premium stuff but I just want to do it a productive order.

TGM is most certainly a "journey" . . . . one thing you want to define is WHERE you intend to go prior to your embarking down the Yellow Brick Road . . . . the road CAN BE (doesn't have to) rough, difficult, and include dead ends seemingly at times.

So you need to define what your destination is . . .

a. do you want to learn/conceptualize the items that will make you a better ball striker?
b. do you want to "learn the book"? TGM is a puzzle with tons and tons of mixed up pieces . . . seemingly with no outside or corner pieces at first . . . are you putting the whole puzzle together? Or are you gonna just get enough pieces together that you can tell a set of eyeballs from a set of boobies . . .
c. do you wanna teach it . . .

Originally Posted by 12 piece bucket TGM is most certainly a "journey" . . . . one thing you want to define is WHERE you intend to go prior to your embarking down the Yellow Brick Road . . . . the road CAN BE (doesn't have to) rough, difficult, and include dead ends seemingly at times.

So you need to define what your destination is . . .

a. do you want to learn/conceptualize the items that will make you a better ball striker?
b. do you want to "learn the book"? TGM is a puzzle with tons and tons of mixed up pieces . . . seemingly with no outside or corner pieces at first . . . are you putting the whole puzzle together? Or are you gonna just get enough pieces together that you can tell a set of eyeballs from a set of boobies . . .
c. do you wanna teach it . . .

]

Well, I guess my primary focus is being a better ball striker nad enjoying this game a little more. I don't expect to be Nicklaus and I don't even expect to become scratch, but I do hope that a single digit handicap is possible. When (if) I get there, then I may strive for more.
I don't need to be a GSED and I don't need to become a teacher but it would not be nice to have a better grasp of things and be able to diagnose and correct problems that may arise. I am realistic at this point in my life. I'm 40, not super athletic but not a spaz either. I played sports growing up, (baseball, hockey, and a little touch tackle) and I was average to pretty good, never a superstar. I am setting my expectations low and hoping for the best. I hope this is the correct path?
Either way, thank you for the assistance.