Fort Knocks -- The Gold Standard

Mr. Fort is a Pure Hitter.

Originally Posted by rwh I had the chance to work a little with Ted Fort (YodasLuke). To say he is a Hitter would be like saying a Rolls Royce is a car. Mr. Fort is The Reference for the Pure Hitter.

Others have suggested that Hitters aren't as long as Swingers. Nonsense. Mr. Fort can hit a pitching wedge farther with one arm than most people can hit an 8 iron with two arms. I saw it.

From now on, I'm calling him Fort Knocks.

Ted is a great guy, he knows what he's talking about and he is an excellent teacher. If you are anywhere near Marietta, Georgia, I recommend you book a lesson with Fort Knocks.

I absolutely, whole-heartily concur!

Ted worked with me quite a bit and methodically constructed my hitting stroke. He is a great teacher and can really demonstrate the stroke.

I hope we can get some front view videos up on the site soon. You will all be amazed at the short stroke that delivers huge amounts of power - and really, really straight. I was amazed at his forward-leaning clubshaft well past impact.

I'll pile on..... I was on Ted's lesson tee, when he grabbed a random driver to hit a few. He smoothed a few into the next zipcode. He had a midlaunch trajectory, but the ball refused to fall out of the sky. It just carried and carried.

Some high speed stills I took of him indicated the driver was a flex or 2 soft for him. He had so much clubhead lag pressure, the head barely had time to get through the ball and I'm sure it was delofted. But he impacted the ball so hard, the spin gave the ball some lift and endless carry. He must leave the observer with their mouth hanging open when he uses his own driver.

Then I met one of Ted's students, who had taken just a handful of lessons from Ted. I believe Ted is going to do a Lesson Tee article around this student, so I won't steal any thunder. I'll just leave it to say, I chuckled as I watched his student hit a few. For a number of reasons, it was one of those "You have to be kidding me" chuckles. Ted is very, very, very good at what he does.

All of you guys were great to meet. I really enjoyed seeing each of you progress throughout the day. I also appreciate the ability to get my daily fix in knocking the stripes off a ball. I LOVE to teach, but sometimes you just want to jump in there and kill it.

This guy is all class, the only thing i don't like about Australia is that these guys aren't readily accessible. Pure class Yoda, Ted and Brian among others. Ted's stroke is also amazing to watch from footage i've seen.

A couple of questions for Ted if he comes back in.

What are the differences between your stroke and chapter 12 basic patern for hitting?

From my readings in here i think it was two things. You use a four barrel stroke, of which you have very certainly mastered. Would this be a logical progression (At least to try) for those who have the chapter 12 hit performing well and would like to try for that extra step (Distance)?

The second difference i think was that you start from impact fix, but Homer definitely mentions it as being "especially useful for hitting". I wonder whether he may have even listed it in the basic pattern in future editions. He definitely liked it


Thanks guys


John

Originally Posted by JohnThomas1 This guy is all class, the only thing i don't like about Australia is that these guys aren't readily accessible. Pure class Yoda, Ted and Brian among others. Ted's stroke is also amazing to watch from footage i've seen.

A couple of questions for Ted if he comes back in.

What are the differences between your stroke and chapter 12 basic patern for hitting?

From my readings in here i think it was two things. You use a four barrel stroke, of which you have very certainly mastered. Would this be a logical progression (At least to try) for those who have the chapter 12 hit performing well and would like to try for that extra step (Distance)?

The second difference i think was that you start from impact fix, but Homer definitely mentions it as being "especially useful for hitting". I wonder whether he may have even listed it in the basic pattern in future editions. He definitely liked it


Thanks guys


John

John, I do start at impact fix or impact address 10-9-B. On page 162, Homer said it was especially useful for hitting.

I am 10-4-D, four barrel hitting.

10-5-D, open-open. The open stance affects the length of the pivot.

INSIDE INFORMATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10-14-B, slide. ******I got this in two different places.************
This is changed in Homer's notes for the seventh edition for both 12-1 and 12-2. Additionally, in the tapes from one of the master's classes, he encouraged the slide for anyone (hitting or swinging) that was trying to trace a straight line. Anyone trying to trace the visual equivalent, the arc of approach, needs to have plenty of balls in the bag. You'll need them.

Ted I NEED to see your Hit face on

Pretty Please

Thanks heaps Ted, as per usual. Are you saying that the slide probably would have figured in both his basic patterns for the 7th edition?

Originally Posted by Theodan I'll pile on..... I was on Ted's lesson tee, when he grabbed a random driver to hit a few. He smoothed a few into the next zipcode. He had a midlaunch trajectory, but the ball refused to fall out of the sky. It just carried and carried. .

Theodan, That was what impressed me most about Ted's ball striking. It didn't appear at first that the ball was hit that hard..... the ball didn't seem to leave the tee at a blinding speed..... but the son of a gun just wouldn't fall to the ground. It just keeps on going and going....kinda like the energizer bunny.

Originally Posted by JohnThomas1 Thanks heaps Ted, as per usual. Are you saying that the slide probably would have figured in both his basic patterns for the 7th edition?

Most certainly. It is to be in the seventh edition for BOTH patterns.

Originally Posted by nevermind Ted I NEED to see your Hit face on

Pretty Please

Yoda has it and it will be posted soon, I'm sure.

Originally Posted by YodasLuke Additionally, in the tapes from one of the master's classes, he encouraged the slide for anyone (hitting or swinging) that was trying to trace a straight line. Anyone trying to trace the visual equivalent, the arc of approach, needs to have plenty of balls in the bag. You'll need them.

What do you mean Ted? What's the difference? Are you talking about tracing a straight plane line as in the Flashlight Drill...or are you talking about the visual 'clubhead blur' as you take it back?

I always get this mixed up.