Approach to studying TGM.

I've been reading the book for a while now. I'm learning a good deal about the golf swing. And I feel my game is improving. My bad days are getting less bad, and my good days are getting better... from a golfing perspective.

To my question though.
I've been reading, but I'm not sure I can say I've been studying.
I'm not really sure how to go at it. I've been reading List #1, #2... and re-reading again, and again...and again.

This forum especially has been a gold mine for me...(along with the Alignment Golf Dvd) There are not many questions that I couldn't find the answer to using the search function. And not forgetting a bunch of very helpful members that answered my newbie questions in my Swing problems thread. Just awesome.

But what I would like to know is, how do YOU study the book? How do you Approach it?

I know there isn't a "the WAY". I know it's individual, but, maybe my question could help me find my way.

My approach right now, is trying to memorize key parts, and where I can find them in the book, and briefly what these parts are trying to say. This isn't studying as in understanding them. But, my hopes are that with this memo'ing, it will be easier for me to connect the dots... so to speak.


Chris.

Hi Christian,

A workable approach for learning the book is to participate here with the book by your side, and read the book in parallel. There's a lot to learn and a long journey. Enjoy.

The best approach for learning the motions is to seek a TGM or Alignment Golf instructor.

Originally Posted by Christian I've been reading the book for a while now. I'm learning a good deal about the golf swing. And I feel my game is improving. My bad days are getting less bad, and my good days are getting better... from a golfing perspective.

To my question though.
I've been reading, but I'm not sure I can say I've been studying.
I'm not really sure how to go at it. I've been reading List #1, #2... and re-reading again, and again...and again.

This forum especially has been a gold mine for me...(along with the Alignment Golf Dvd) There are not many questions that I couldn't find the answer to using the search function. And not forgetting a bunch of very helpful members that answered my newbie questions in my Swing problems thread. Just awesome.

But what I would like to know is, how do YOU study the book? How do you Approach it?

I know there isn't a "the WAY". I know it's individual, but, maybe my question could help me find my way.

My approach right now, is trying to memorize key parts, and where I can find them in the book, and briefly what these parts are trying to say. This isn't studying as in understanding them. But, my hopes are that with this memo'ing, it will be easier for me to connect the dots... so to speak.


Chris.

First thing I would suggest is . . . DEFINE YOUR MISSION . . .

Is your intent to "learn the dang book"?

Is your intent to "be a better golfer"?

Or both?

I'd say the DVD's are probably the best approach. You need to understand the CORE concepts. Once you understand the core concepts then you will really start to see how things work . . . you'll appreciate how brilliant Homer was. But some of the things in the book I'd have hard time thinking anybody could get without some handholding. For example the Flying Wedges. Defined in Chapter 6 . . . but without someone/video SHOWING you . . . I don't see how many people could just flesh it out on his description.

If I had to say how to approach it . . . wear those dvd's out . . . read the book in small bursts while you're on the can or whatever . . . I read it from cover to cover generally. The critical stuff to understand first is . . .

Plane and Circle Geometry . . . there are some great pics out here of Lynn's ground school papers on yellow legal pad paper . . amazing stuff. Absolutely KEY concepts. Learn about the importance of the clubFACE and the path's relation to the clubface . . . and how the ball flies . . .what causes the axis that the ball spins on to tilt and thus curve.


Learn about the Flail . . . the Flail is HUGE . . . Rhythm . . . surface speed via EXTENSION of the primary lever . . . ON PLANE HAMMERING . . . no garbage about "holding angles" . . . hinge at the left wrist or strap hinge . . . no rusty hinges . . . freakin' well oiled hinges that let the club FLY OUT . . Sling OUT down out and forward on plane . . . SLUNG out by the pivot (massive rotor) . . . DRIVEN OUT by the right arm . . . EXTEND THAT RADIUS IN RHYTHM!!! All the speed of the extension of the lever transferred into the ball via the #3 accumulator.

Understand the hand motions and wrist motions . . . feed your mind what your hands have to do . . . to make the club move on plane . . . down out and forward . . . slowly . . . define this in your mind . . . but don't make the mistake of making it your "procedure" . . . a sequenced release is a DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCEDURE . . . not the procedure itself . . not your procedure. Learn how it works . . but learning HOW is different from applying. You can't be playing golf thinking "now I'm uncocking . . . now I'm rolling" . . . too fast. But it will help your mind to know it.

Apply these concepts to the associated planes . . . hold the club on a horizontal plane . . .what do your hands have to do to hold the shaft on that horizontal plane . . . get the feel slow . . . swing it fast . . . two hands . . right hand only . . . left hand only. hammer on a vertical plane . . . lever extension is a vertical motion . . . #2 uncocked via cf/pivot or right triceps extending the right elbow . . . but it still works like a flail regardless of the mechanism that extends it. The loading is entirely different. Learn about how your flail has to work with your particular grip type (vertical left hand or turned left hand) . . .

The Endless Belt . . the physics of the hand path and delivery path . . . great stuff . . .

The entire length of the clubshaft lays on the inclined plane . . . where does the club "enter" your body on the way down . . .where does it "exit" your body on the way thru? Are you matching "on plane" . . have you shifted? . . . this is what it means to have a simple and efficient golf swing . . this is how you look at a whacko motion furyk/trevino/hoch/freddy and appreciate what is going on.

You have a guide book and a catalog . . . it's not easy . . . really understand the dvd stuff and the book will come to life . . .

A solid and worthy No. 4000. Congratulations.

Now that I have some motions to work on, I'm taking it easy with the book. I feel I don't have to read it. I might read some more if I want to, but I'm not pressing myself any more.

Originally Posted by 12 piece bucket First thing I would suggest is . . . DEFINE YOUR MISSION . . .

Is your intent to "learn the dang book"?

Is your intent to "be a better golfer"?

Or both?

I'd say the DVD's are probably the best approach. You need to understand the CORE concepts. Once you understand the core concepts then you will really start to see how things work . . . you'll appreciate how brilliant Homer was. But some of the things in the book I'd have hard time thinking anybody could get without some handholding. For example the Flying Wedges. Defined in Chapter 6 . . . but without someone/video SHOWING you . . . I don't see how many people could just flesh it out on his description.

If I had to say how to approach it . . . wear those dvd's out . . . read the book in small bursts while you're on the can or whatever . . . I read it from cover to cover generally. The critical stuff to understand first is . . .

Plane and Circle Geometry . . . there are some great pics out here of Lynn's ground school papers on yellow legal pad paper . . amazing stuff. Absolutely KEY concepts. Learn about the importance of the clubFACE and the path's relation to the clubface . . . and how the ball flies . . .what causes the axis that the ball spins on to tilt and thus curve.


Learn about the Flail . . . the Flail is HUGE . . . Rhythm . . . surface speed via EXTENSION of the primary lever . . . ON PLANE HAMMERING . . . no garbage about "holding angles" . . . hinge at the left wrist or strap hinge . . . no rusty hinges . . . freakin' well oiled hinges that let the club FLY OUT . . Sling OUT down out and forward on plane . . . SLUNG out by the pivot (massive rotor) . . . DRIVEN OUT by the right arm . . . EXTEND THAT RADIUS IN RHYTHM!!! All the speed of the extension of the lever transferred into the ball via the #3 accumulator.

Understand the hand motions and wrist motions . . . feed your mind what your hands have to do . . . to make the club move on plane . . . down out and forward . . . slowly . . . define this in your mind . . . but don't make the mistake of making it your "procedure" . . . a sequenced release is a DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCEDURE . . . not the procedure itself . . not your procedure. Learn how it works . . but learning HOW is different from applying. You can't be playing golf thinking "now I'm uncocking . . . now I'm rolling" . . . too fast. But it will help your mind to know it.

Apply these concepts to the associated planes . . . hold the club on a horizontal plane . . .what do your hands have to do to hold the shaft on that horizontal plane . . . get the feel slow . . . swing it fast . . . two hands . . right hand only . . . left hand only. hammer on a vertical plane . . . lever extension is a vertical motion . . . #2 uncocked via cf/pivot or right triceps extending the right elbow . . . but it still works like a flail regardless of the mechanism that extends it. The loading is entirely different. Learn about how your flail has to work with your particular grip type (vertical left hand or turned left hand) . . .

The Endless Belt . . the physics of the hand path and delivery path . . . great stuff . . .

The entire length of the clubshaft lays on the inclined plane . . . where does the club "enter" your body on the way down . . .where does it "exit" your body on the way thru? Are you matching "on plane" . . have you shifted? . . . this is what it means to have a simple and efficient golf swing . . this is how you look at a whacko motion furyk/trevino/hoch/freddy and appreciate what is going on.

You have a guide book and a catalog . . . it's not easy . . . really understand the dvd stuff and the book will come to life . . .

Christian,
Understand that Bucket is posting from a mental institution - supported by the fact that he has over 4000 posts on this site - and is banned from generally all other golf forum websites. I'd suggest telling him "great ideas!" and then move on - you don't want to see him in your backyard peering through the window - trust me.

I use the book as a reference. I see my teacher from time to time. I practice with the Tour Striker. I do a lot of basic motion with and without golf balls. I also use tennis balls.
I have a Pure Ball Striker, a TALY and a Tour Striker. I have Alignment Golf videos that I get something from every time I look at them and it is often.
I hang out here way too much and I try to play as much golf as I can to put my learning into practice.
The book, though, is a reference--a very important reference.

Originally Posted by JerryG I use the book as a reference. I see my teacher from time to time. I practice with the Tour Striker. I do a lot of basic motion with and without golf balls. I also use tennis balls.
I have a Pure Ball Striker, a TALY and a Tour Striker. I have Alignment Golf videos that I get something from every time I look at them and it is often.
I hang out here way too much and I try to play as much golf as I can to put my learning into practice.
The book, though, is a reference--a very important reference.

I saved 12 Piece Bucket's post, wonderful stuff. That will be the focus of my study for the winter.

Kevin

Originally Posted by Mike O Christian,
Understand that Bucket is posting from a mental institution - supported by the fact that he has over 4000 posts on this site - and is banned from generally all other golf forum websites. I'd suggest telling him "great ideas!" and then move on - you don't want to see him in your backyard peering through the window - trust me.

I guess this is some kind of affectionate buddy talk that has gone on for a long time. But for an outsider it looks more like harassment, but if that's the way you entertain each other, who am I to comment on it? But it seems very strange...

Originally Posted by airair I guess this is some kind of affectionate buddy talk that has gone on for a long time. But for an outsider it looks more like harassment, but if that's the way you entertain each other, who am I to comment on it? But it seems very strange...

Airair,
You're not understanding something - HE IS POSTING FROM A MENTAL INSTITUTION! You may hear different rumors - but trust me. I stand by my post - as completely solid advice and fact based.

Originally Posted by Mike O Airair,
You're not understanding something - HE IS POSTING FROM A MENTAL INSTITUTION! You may hear different rumors - but trust me. I stand by my post - as completely solid advice and fact based.

Whatever works for you guys, is fine by me.

Originally Posted by Mike O Christian,
Understand that Bucket is posting from a mental institution - supported by the fact that he has over 4000 posts on this site - and is banned from generally all other golf forum websites. I'd suggest telling him "great ideas!" and then move on - you don't want to see him in your backyard peering through the window - trust me.

Michael . . . . I got your voicemail . . . AND NO . . . you ABSOLUTELY CANNOT mail your underwear with the giant doodee stains in them back because they are defective . . . . remember you tried to do that with the turkey baster you got at the after Thanksgiving sale . . . now just settle down and watch your Gary Coleman videos . . . the nurse will be in with your Flinstones soon.

That was post # 4002 Ladies and Gentlemen and you were there. Might wanta save that to your external hard drive for safe keeping.

Originally Posted by 12 piece bucket Michael . . . . I got your voicemail . . . AND NO . . . you ABSOLUTELY CANNOT mail your underwear with the giant doodee stains in them back because they are defective . . . . remember you tried to do that with the turkey baster you got at the after Thanksgiving sale . . . now just settle down and watch your Gary Coleman videos . . . the nurse will be in with your Flinstones soon.

Very, very funny!

Originally Posted by 12 piece bucket First thing I would suggest is . . . DEFINE YOUR MISSION . . .

Is your intent to "learn the dang book"?

Is your intent to "be a better golfer"?

Or both?

I'd say the DVD's are probably the best approach. You need to understand the CORE concepts. Once you understand the core concepts then you will really start to see how things work . . . you'll appreciate how brilliant Homer was. But some of the things in the book I'd have hard time thinking anybody could get without some handholding. For example the Flying Wedges. Defined in Chapter 6 . . . but without someone/video SHOWING you . . . I don't see how many people could just flesh it out on his description.

If I had to say how to approach it . . . wear those dvd's out . . . read the book in small bursts while you're on the can or whatever . . . I read it from cover to cover generally. The critical stuff to understand first is . . .

Plane and Circle Geometry . . . there are some great pics out here of Lynn's ground school papers on yellow legal pad paper . . amazing stuff. Absolutely KEY concepts. Learn about the importance of the clubFACE and the path's relation to the clubface . . . and how the ball flies . . .what causes the axis that the ball spins on to tilt and thus curve.


Learn about the Flail . . . the Flail is HUGE . . . Rhythm . . . surface speed via EXTENSION of the primary lever . . . ON PLANE HAMMERING . . . no garbage about "holding angles" . . . hinge at the left wrist or strap hinge . . . no rusty hinges . . . freakin' well oiled hinges that let the club FLY OUT . . Sling OUT down out and forward on plane . . . SLUNG out by the pivot (massive rotor) . . . DRIVEN OUT by the right arm . . . EXTEND THAT RADIUS IN RHYTHM!!! All the speed of the extension of the lever transferred into the ball via the #3 accumulator.

Understand the hand motions and wrist motions . . . feed your mind what your hands have to do . . . to make the club move on plane . . . down out and forward . . . slowly . . . define this in your mind . . . but don't make the mistake of making it your "procedure" . . . a sequenced release is a DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCEDURE . . . not the procedure itself . . not your procedure. Learn how it works . . but learning HOW is different from applying. You can't be playing golf thinking "now I'm uncocking . . . now I'm rolling" . . . too fast. But it will help your mind to know it.

Apply these concepts to the associated planes . . . hold the club on a horizontal plane . . .what do your hands have to do to hold the shaft on that horizontal plane . . . get the feel slow . . . swing it fast . . . two hands . . right hand only . . . left hand only. hammer on a vertical plane . . . lever extension is a vertical motion . . . #2 uncocked via cf/pivot or right triceps extending the right elbow . . . but it still works like a flail regardless of the mechanism that extends it. The loading is entirely different. Learn about how your flail has to work with your particular grip type (vertical left hand or turned left hand) . . .

The Endless Belt . . the physics of the hand path and delivery path . . . great stuff . . .

The entire length of the clubshaft lays on the inclined plane . . . where does the club "enter" your body on the way down . . .where does it "exit" your body on the way thru? Are you matching "on plane" . . have you shifted? . . . this is what it means to have a simple and efficient golf swing . . this is how you look at a whacko motion furyk/trevino/hoch/freddy and appreciate what is going on.

You have a guide book and a catalog . . . it's not easy . . . really understand the dvd stuff and the book will come to life . . .

I am new to the forum and interested in learning more. I would like the DVD "Alignment Golf" but see there will be a new release sometime soon (?) - "Alignment Golf 11". I can't find a release date so don't know whether to just order "Alignment Golf". Any suggestions?

Get the first Alignment Golf. You'll be glad you did. I have no idea what will be in the new glitzy HD treatmeant, but I am sure it will complement and add to the first one.
Kind of like how I probably wouldn't spend a lot of time in the New Testament without putting in my time with the Old Testament first.

Just ordered so that means Alignment 11 will probably be released next week! Anyway, really looking forward to it's arrival.

Originally Posted by JerryG Get the first Alignment Golf. You'll be glad you did. I have no idea what will be in the new glitzy HD treatmeant, but I am sure it will complement and add to the first one.
Kind of like how I probably wouldn't spend a lot of time in the New Testament without putting in my time with the Old Testament first.

You little zealot! And here I was cursing a blue-streak in MN just to help you feel like you were back in the army!


ICT

Originally Posted by JerryG Get the first Alignment Golf. You'll be glad you did. I have no idea what will be in the new glitzy HD treatmeant, but I am sure it will complement and add to the first one.
Kind of like how I probably wouldn't spend a lot of time in the New Testament without putting in my time with the Old Testament first.

I received Alignment Golf and was really disappointed. Seemed to go all over the place and not very well organized. In fact, I sent several emails requesting my $$ back and/or keeping my money and I would return Alignment Golf and apply the $$ to Alignment Golf 11. Much to my disappointed I never got a reply.

Really did expect more for the price.

Originally Posted by Christian I've been reading, but I'm not sure I can say I've been studying.
I'm not really sure how to go at it. I've been reading List #1, #2... and re-reading again, and again...and again.

But what I would like to know is, how do YOU study the book? How do you Approach it?

I know there isn't a "the WAY". I know it's individual, but, maybe my question could help me find my way.

Chris.

There is a "Way". The Golfing Machine Way. Using Alignments rather than Positions. Using Hinge Action rather than a Swivel. Power Accumulators and Pressure to meter out distance, etc., etc.

You're in a learning phase. Flying Wedges. Power Accumulation, Loading, Storage, Delivery and Release. Hinge Action: So hard to understand, so easy/simple to use. That was a life altering experience for me. It took more than 25 years. I know. I'm not the smartest pencil in the box. But WoW. Now 10-2-B makes total sense. The Bent Right Wrist makes total sense.

I study the Book with a Golf Club in hand. Standing with a Dowel, 2 Dowels, Rackets, Ping Pong paddles, Look, Look, Look. "I don't care what you're doing as long as you know why". Plane Boards, Mirrors.

Turn to 7-19. Try everything your reading. Drive it, drag it, Float Load it.

Magic of the Right Forearm....Why does the Left Wrist Cock without cocking your right wrist when your right arm is raised? Try to figure it out.

I think that 50% of your Practice is like this. The other 50% is done at the practice facility.

With this Website and the Book, you should learn everything you want to know in a few months. (ok, maybe 4). You should be scoring in the mid 70's by next Spring.

Originally Posted by Daryl There is a "Way". The Golfing Machine Way. Using Alignments rather than Positions. Using Hinge Action rather than a Swivel. Power Accumulators and Pressure to meter out distance, etc., etc.

You're in a learning phase. Flying Wedges. Power Accumulation, Loading, Storage, Delivery and Release. Hinge Action: So hard to understand, so easy/simple to use. That was a life altering experience for me. It took more than 25 years. I know. I'm not the smartest pencil in the box. But WoW. Now 10-2-B makes total sense. The Bent Right Wrist makes total sense.

I study the Book with a Golf Club in hand. Standing with a Dowel, 2 Dowels, Rackets, Ping Pong paddles, Look, Look, Look. "I don't care what you're doing as long as you know why". Plane Boards, Mirrors.

Turn to 7-19. Try everything your reading. Drive it, drag it, Float Load it.

Magic of the Right Forearm....Why does the Left Wrist Cock without cocking your right wrist when your right arm is raised? Try to figure it out.

I think that 50% of your Practice is like this. The other 50% is done at the practice facility.

With this Website and the Book, you should learn everything you want to know in a few months. (ok, maybe 4). You should be scoring in the mid 70's by next Spring.

Give yourself short term and long term goals. Perhaps a goal could be to consistently shoot in the low 90's (just suggesting), from April to June 1st. Let's say you usually shoot 100, so your goal is to drop 10 strokes off your average score. Then you'd look up Basic Motion and discover that it is a simple little chip shot. If you made 10 great chip shots a round, and left the ball within 3 feet of the hole, you'd save yourself 10 - 12 strokes maybe more! (TGM book, Alignment I DVD, LBG.com search) (score 90)

Longer pitches and wedges are Acquired motion shots. Did you know that some pros just use acquired motion to manage their game? AM might help you shave another 8 shots off your game in June. (Same resources) (score 82)

What about when your on the green? Maybe you are like me and throw away 8 strokes a round by simply trying to make birdie putts from too far away and missing the comeback putt. Use those same sources in July to shave off 8 more strokes. (Same resources)(score 74) and so on.

A TGM session with Yoda is essential if you want to advance. I'm frugal, independent, stubborn and cynical about most things claiming to be great so I held off on visiting Yoda because I didn't want to be screwed by another set of false promises. So, I wasted the cost to see him on 30 bad rounds of golf trying to do it myself. (I was bright enough to go see some TGM fellas in MN and I have an official TGM instructor which helps too.)

So, I don't know your situation but if your budget for golf in a season is about $3000 you could also approach this in another way. I don't know where you're living or flying from, but maybe:
1/3 Personal training in Cuscowilla
1/3 TGM/DVD / training-aids/video recording/ -work on the range
1/3 playing this great game trying to shoot par or better

Anyway....you have some decisions to make bout your level of interest/time/resources etc. We will be here to answer your questions. I would recommend reading through the book three times just to get an idea of some of the basics of TGM without a club and to see what you understand and what is foreign.

I say Daryl has a dry sense of humor because making a lot of changes in 6 months has caused me to hit the wall 3 or 4 times. Intellectually, I get most things but the bio-mechanical changes for mastery of new skills takes time. So, in 7 months I went down 10 strokes on my hcp. index. It'd been faster if I saw Yoda, I believe.

ICT

Originally Posted by Daryl There is a "Way". The Golfing Machine Way. Using Alignments rather than Positions. Using Hinge Action rather than a Swivel. Power Accumulators and Pressure to meter out distance, etc., etc.

You're in a learning phase. Flying Wedges. Power Accumulation, Loading, Storage, Delivery and Release. Hinge Action: So hard to understand, so easy/simple to use. That was a life altering experience for me. It took more than 25 years. I know. I'm not the smartest pencil in the box. But WoW. Now 10-2-B makes total sense. The Bent Right Wrist makes total sense.

I study the Book with a Golf Club in hand. Standing with a Dowel, 2 Dowels, Rackets, Ping Pong paddles, Look, Look, Look. "I don't care what you're doing as long as you know why". Plane Boards, Mirrors.

Turn to 7-19. Try everything your reading. Drive it, drag it, Float Load it.

Magic of the Right Forearm....Why does the Left Wrist Cock without cocking your right wrist when your right arm is raised? Try to figure it out.

I think that 50% of your Practice is like this. The other 50% is done at the practice facility.

With this Website and the Book, you should learn everything you want to know in a few months. (ok, maybe 4). You should be scoring in the mid 70's by next Spring.

Great stuff Daryl. I'm going to add your ideas to my winter curriculum as well.

Thanks,
Kevin

Wow, great replies, I didn't expect this many great suggestions and ideas .

BerntR I wish I could... Participate I mean. I'm trying, but right now it's mostly me asking questions. I guess that is participating in a way though...

12PB, awesome reply. Exactly what I was looking for.
What can I say... just wicked!

Those questions, even though they're probably there for "rhetorical" purposes, I think it's important for me to write the answers down. I might as well do it in this post.

My mission... my mission is, to understand the golf swing. How it works and why.. And in the future be able to explain that to someone else. And that I can't do, before I truly understand, in my humblest opinion.

In the end, I guess this boils down to being a better golfer. I can't do one, without the doing the other. Not saying others can't.. but I can't. I need to understand what I'm doing, and why I'm doing it.

I know I've only played for 1½ season. But, my goal is "simple". Get my HCP down to a low single digit, and be able to play at that HCP consistently. I want to improve, be as good as its possible for me to be. I think that would cover my long term goals.




JerryG I've been considering the Pure ball striker. Since you mention it, I guess you would recommend it?

Daryl another great post. As with buckets post, this is one I will go back to and read many times, I'm sure.

I want to take the opportunity to say this. I love your illustrations seen around on the forum. They've helped me tremendously.


Innercityteacher more great ideas! Saving this one as well for future reading.

I'd love to visit Yoda, however. It's not so much the budget, as it is the lack of time that prevents me from doing this. I can't even find the time to go see an AI here in Sweden any time soon, because of work.. work, work and work!

Oh on a side note, me being me, I left my 7th edition on an air plane yesterday.. and have given my 6th away to my father in-law. Will have to order a new copy. It's a pain though. Nothing to read on the Sunday, nor Thursday flight! Hopefully, the person that got Seat 2C on flight SK015 after me yesterday, is right now becoming addicted to TGM...

Anyway, thanks ALL of you guys for helping out!
Wonderful!

Originally Posted by Christian I've been reading the book for a while now. I'm learning a good deal about the golf swing. And I feel my game is improving. My bad days are getting less bad, and my good days are getting better... from a golfing perspective.

To my question though.
I've been reading, but I'm not sure I can say I've been studying.
I'm not really sure how to go at it. I've been reading List #1, #2... and re-reading again, and again...and again.

This forum especially has been a gold mine for me...(along with the Alignment Golf Dvd) There are not many questions that I couldn't find the answer to using the search function. And not forgetting a bunch of very helpful members that answered my newbie questions in my Swing problems thread. Just awesome.

But what I would like to know is, how do YOU study the book? How do you Approach it?

I know there isn't a "the WAY". I know it's individual, but, maybe my question could help me find my way.

My approach right now, is trying to memorize key parts, and where I can find them in the book, and briefly what these parts are trying to say. This isn't studying as in understanding them. But, my hopes are that with this memo'ing, it will be easier for me to connect the dots... so to speak.


Chris.

HOW TO STUDY TGM

First of all, TGM is NOT a method. It is merely a catalog of the things that happen in a golf swing and the things that should be in a effective golf swing.

The foundations of the book are the primary concepts per 1-L: "the Hinge Action (2-G) of an Angular Motion (2-K) operating on an Inclined Plane (2-F)"

The golf swing has 24 components (from putt to drive) and they each have a varying number of variations. Chapter 7 and 10

The golf swing passes through 12 sections. Chapter 8

The motion that makes up the golf stroke can be divided into 3 zones. Chapter 9

There are 20 points through which every swing must comply with in order to produce a geometrically correct swing. All these 20 points can be represented by a geometric figure. 1-L-1 to 21

The science of the book is laid out in Chapter 2.

Chapter 3 shows you the correct way to build your golf stroke.

Chapter 4 talks about Wrist Positions

Chapter 5 talks about Monitoring

Chapter 6 talks about the Power Package

Chapter 11 is a summary of the variations and outlines what are and are not compatible.

Chapter 12 contains zero compensation beginner stroke patterns for both hitting and swinging. It also contains a curriculum with which to begin learning G.O.L.F.

Chapter 13 speaks about non-interchangeable components

Chapter 14 talks about the role of the human mind in golf.

Should you study TGM with professional help? In the timeless words of Mr. Kelly: "Preferable with. Advisedly with! Imploredly with!!!"

You need to memorize the book if you really want to understand it.

Originally Posted by Yoda Welcome back, Justin. Been missin' ya!

Stick around a while. We enjoy your company and your insights!

Thanks for the welcome home... Hope to be of assistance!

Originally Posted by comdpa HOW TO STUDY TGM

First of all, TGM is NOT a method. It is merely a catalog of the things that happen in a golf swing and the things that should be in a effective golf swing.

The foundations of the book are the primary concepts per 1-L: "the Hinge Action (2-G) of an Angular Motion (2-K) operating on an Inclined Plane (2-F)"

The golf swing has 24 components (from putt to drive) and they each have a varying number of variations. Chapter 7 and 10

The golf swing passes through 12 sections. Chapter 8

The motion that makes up the golf stroke can be divided into 3 zones. Chapter 9

There are 20 points through which every swing must comply with in order to produce a geometrically correct swing. All these 20 points can be represented by a geometric figure. 1-L-1 to 21

The science of the book is laid out in Chapter 2.

Chapter 3 shows you the correct way to build your golf stroke.

Chapter 4 talks about Wrist Positions

Chapter 5 talks about Monitoring

Chapter 6 talks about the Power Package

Chapter 11 is a summary of the variations and outlines what are and are not compatible.

Chapter 12 contains zero compensation beginner stroke patterns for both hitting and swinging. It also contains a curriculum with which to begin learning G.O.L.F.

Chapter 13 speaks about non-interchangeable components

Chapter 14 talks about the role of the human mind in golf.

Should you study TGM with professional help? In the timeless words of Mr. Kelly: "Preferable with. Advisedly with! Imploredly with!!!"

You need to memorize the book if you really want to understand it.

Nice overview.
Do you also have tips regarding in which order these chapters should be read?

Originally Posted by airair Nice overview.
Do you also have tips regarding in which order these chapters should be read?

Yes, the order is laid out in my post. I believe it is very important to first get an overview of TGM before delving into the details. Remember the devil is in the details!

Below are excerpts from observations over the years...I did think of compiling it into an e-book when the observations got more substantial. I have entitled it "The Disciplined Golfer" because I believe the mastery of the golf swing is akin to mastering a skill like playing the piano and requires discipline to a process of learning. I welcome your thoughts.

The Disciplined Golfer

Golf is deceptively simple, or so it seems. The ball is not in motion like a football. You neither have to worry about someone wrestling you to the ground nor does the equipment require Herculean strength to manipulate. Why then do we have so many problems with the golf ball?

This manual was written to address the disparity between the perceived ease and actual difficulty of golf. The truth of the matter is that golf is both easy and difficult.

Today, we have more knowledge of the golf swing today than centuries past, yet a visit to the range will show that the problems that plagued our golfing brothers of yesteryear still infect the enthusiasts that take up the game each year. If knowledge equals power, we should be better. Yet, that isn’t the case. The key is being objective with information and judge it against a quantifiable benchmark.

Each new comer to the sport will be infected with well meaning advice from friends who can barely hit the ball efficiently. Old saws like “keep your left arm straight” and “keep your head down” are the usual suspects.

Should such simplistic advice were to be the “be all and end all” of a golfer’s problems, then golfers should have no problems playing to a decent level (below 80s).

Take another golfer and prescribe scientifically correct information as part of an improvement program, and his fate won’t be very much different from the new comer described above. Why?

The two golfers above though they differed in knowledge, they were united in a lack of understanding of themselves. Proper information plus a proper understanding of self is like sodium and chloride together - they produce something beneficial. Apart from each other, they are deadly.

Most of us cede control and ascribe our golfing weakness to elements outside of ourselves and control. The magic bullet is not some secret technique, being stronger or even practicing more. The barrier that prevents us from becoming as good as we are capable of lies within.

I am not referring to golf psychology where one pictures the shot before pulling the trigger or deep breathing techniques to conquer stress etc.

You can visualize all you care for, but if you have faulty mechanics, the shots are just not going to happen. If you are 70 yrs old, visualize all you want, you won’t be airmailing your tee shots 300 yards. Visualization must be tempered with a realistic assessment of one’s capability.

What I am referring to is an understanding of how you work. I will be outlining:

1) Beliefs and their impact on perception
2) The role of information and knowledge
3) The relationship between mental know how and physical execution.
4) A process to bridge the gap.

Once you accept responsibility for your improvement and not ascribe it to external forces, understand and apply these 4 principles, then the game that you once thought easy will become easy and you can improve as much as you want to.

Match Play Magic

The key to winning golf especially match play is to have zero expectations.
By zero expectations, I don’t mean to say that one should have a careless attitude about everything.

You ought to have expectations about what you are personal capability, your composure, shot selection - things you are able to control.

What you ought to have zero expectations about are things without your control. Some examples of these things are wind strength, direction, the distance your opponent smashes his drives, whether or not he is able to make his putt; and if you play in tournaments - whether the referee rules to or away from your favor.

If one gets excited (happy or angry) with things outside of one’s control, it can only lead to one’s emotions to the subject to the whims of others (human or otherwise). Sure, you may be able to catch lightning in a bottle twice, but sooner or later the law of probabilities will catch up with you.

After you have assimilated the sections teaching you how to learn, improve as much as you desire; and having a game plan, the next step would be to master yourself, specifically your emotions.

Emotion is defined as a feeling; of anger, peace, courage or fear.

Having a zero expectation about things outside your control is very beneficial. When you have the mindset that anything can happen on the golf course, you cease to have any unrealistic or imagined expectations.

An example of these are, your opponent fluffing a tap in putt and your opponent double bogeying the entire back nine.

If you do not have any expectations, you then cease to have any emotions when things go for or against you. When your opponent does miss a short putt, you do not get excited. When you opponent makes a 60 footer, you do not get excited. When you are able to keep your emotions on an even keel, then you retain control over yourself. Positive or negative excitement causes your adrenal glands to pump adrenaline into your system. An “adrenalized” state can be recognized by a state of short shallow breaths, shaking hands and feet among others.

Instead of the usual antidote of taking deep breaths and focusing on something else other than the match at hand, wouldn’t it be easier on the golfer had the adrenaline not been pumped in the first place? We all know how effective deep breathing is on the course.

The number one killer of match play games is fear. Fear stems from a situation of not knowing what might happen in the future. If you know what will happen in the next minute, then how can you fear? On the other hand, if you know that what will happen next is out of your control and you expect anything to happen, then what is there to fear or defend against? Why fear or worry about what you cannot do anything about?

What should you do then in a match play?

1. Be evenly matched up - which means either squaring off with a person of the same playing ability or taking strokes off a better opponent. Pride leads to a man’s fall.
2. Be clear about your own golfing abilities; of the distance you are able to achieve, the shots you are able to hit etc. Once you have taken stock of these, you are then able to calculate percentages into the shots at hand. Again this is described in preceding sections about your personal game plan.

You should only hit high percentage shots even though this may be nothing more than a 10 meter punch from under the trees to set up a bogey play. In the long run, if you have a solid game plan that requires you to hit your high percentage shots, you will save more shots in the long run and hopefully win more matches.

3. Be non-expectant about the things outside of your control. Some of the worse students I have had used to admit to playing “Hail Mary” golf; that is keep doing what he wants to do instead of what he needs to do and hope and pray things go their way.

Such an attitude reflects cessation of control and without control; you will not be in control emotionally to stick to your game plan and let your percentages work in your favor.

Instead of allowing the situation to cause you to react, read the situation for what it is, adjust your game plan accordingly, all the while making sure the percentages still remain in your favor.

The Practice Swing vs the Real Swing

One of the most frustrating things a golfer can be told is that he has a great practice swing but his score sucks. If you have been in this game long enough, you would surely have heard something along those lines.

Intuitively most golfers assume that their practice swing equals their actual swing; after all they sure feel the same. Well not really. You see quite a few variables change when you actually want to hit the ball for real.

Being Ball Bound

You become ball bound and want to get into positions rather than go through positions
What you feel is not what you are doing
Force of habit comes into play when you exceed your threshold speed.

The golf swing is a series of positions that can be broken down by relating the golf shaft and the left arm in relation to the base of the plane or what some people most commonly refer to as the target line.

These positions are not meant to be arrived at but rather to be passed through. What this means is that you do not consciously try to reach and stop at those positions. It means that
in your practice sessions, you have already identified these positions as well as the transitory moves from position to position. It also means that you have “blended” all these feels into one fluid motion. Then the only thing left to do is to start and finish the swing with the ball merely getting in the way.

Feeling Vs Reality

At the risk of kicking a dead horse, I reiterate again one of the most important concepts in learning golf: make sure you are doing what you feel / think you are doing. Simplistically, make sure you are eating what you think you are eating. Beef and lamb may look the same but they sure taste very different!

Threshold Speed

Threshold speed is the speed where a motion becomes dictated by habit. Remember the flight or fight syndrome where in an emergency, your instincts take over? Well, in the same way, when you subject your golf swing past a certain speed, changes become all but impossible to make. Ever had a lesson where no matter how hard you tried to follow your pro’s instruction, it couldn’t be done? That’s a violation of the threshold speed concept there.

When you started learning how to write, did you do it at full speed?
When you started learning how to cycle, did you do a Lance Armstrong?

Below are three drills that address the three hurdles outlined above:

Hold and Feel Drill
Go to the correct positions in the swing in front of the mirror and allow your brain to associate what it sees with what your body feels. Work your way up from the impact then 1st to the 9th position. When you are sure what you see is what you feel, test yourself!

Move and Feel Drill
This drill is designed to be worked with 2 positions. If you are working with say, position 1 and 2, you want to start with startup and then move to 1 and then 2. Again this drill is to be done in front of a mirror for the purpose of association. Instead of identifying the feels of the different positions, this time identify the feels of the transitions from position to position.

Slo-Mo Drill
This drill is to be done once you are confident that the feels for the positions and transitions have been identified and that you are ready to incorporate it into the full swing.

Again, assuming an integration of positions 1 and 2; start directly from startup to 1 and then 2 and then to impact with a ball. Disregard the quality of the strike at the start. When your body learns the correct motion, impact quality will come.

The principle here is Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demand or SAID. Its useless trying to groove your practice swing as you are not going to practice swing your way around the golf course!

What we are doing here is imposing on your body a specific demand to build neuromuscular pathways for a certain move - slowly but surely.

The Real Secret of Golf

Most golfers eschew good, hard and correct practice and instead indulge themselves in the age old quest for the Holy Grail - the secret of golf.

People thought that Ben Hogan - revered as the greatest ball striker of all time - had a secret that explained his phenomenal striking ability. Much has been debated about this. Some claim that it was his cupped left wrist at the top that allowed Mr. Hogan to “release” his hands as hard as he wanted without hooking the ball.

Still others claim that it was his unusual hip action on his backswing that resembled a reverse pivot that allowed him to make a strong move into the ball on his downswing.

Mr. Hogan was not the only one whom the masses thought were hiding a secret. Scores have also been written about Tiger Woods’ whiplash hip action as the key to smashing 300 yard drives. Sergio Garcia’s “buggy whip” swing action was the key to increasing distance. Homer Kelley said the secret was “clubhead lag”. They may all be true.

If you are the prototypical average golfer who watches The Golf Channel and reads Golf Digest occasionally, then you can testify to seeing at least one article which claims to have finally unlocked the secret code to better golf.

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” - Alvin Toffler, Futurist

The real secret to golf in my opinion is the ability to learn, unlearn and relearn.
There can be no progress in one’s golf swing without the ability to do these three things.
These three things are truly the key to learning the secrets of golf, now that’s some food for thought.

Originally Posted by BerntR Think I'm gonna get me some of that Alignment Golf.

Right now.

You already have the DVD, right?

Not yet, but soon.

Originally Posted by BerntR Not yet, but soon.

Better late than never

No wonder you've just passed me in number of posts ...

... but I'll do my best ...

to stay ahead until christmas

Originally Posted by Etzwane I think I can understand what you're saying. For how long have you been studying the book?
I started at the beginning of this year and got rather confused. I'm sure that if at that time I'd watched AG, I would have been confused too. But I found LBG, watched the videos here and learned from the discussion in the forum and then bought the AG DVD. There are tons of gems to be found there. I'm still digging to unearth them but I would have been able to do much about it six months ago.

Little did I know about TGM/Homer until Lynn came to our Summit 2006 in Sweden.

After his and Hennings presentation, I wished them "good luck" - this was tooooo complicated..

but I went home, started to read and, for me most important, watch all his videos(downloaded so I could re-watch whenever I wanted) and started to see things that made sense.

As Lynn says at 4,57 min into this clip
http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/index.p...oel-Class.html

" Toto....Look where we are...!"

Later that year I got Joe Daniels to come over to Sweden and conduct a GSEB class....
Only 3 persons attended....

During the pre-study to the class, I dont know how many times the book got thrown at the wall. My wife.... well lets say she wasn't pleased. But I found consolation and encouragement here.

I even asked Lynn for some guidance. his reply can be found here
http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/forum/thread3491.html

Thank you Lynn!

Originally Posted by BerntR to stay ahead until christmas

May the best man win..

Originally Posted by Amen Corner I even asked Lynn for some guidance. his reply can be found here
http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/forum/thread3491.html

Thank you Lynn!

Did you manage to memorize all this?