My Swing Critiqued Part X

Here's the final installment of this series. Over the next few weeks I will be posting videos with drills which should address Gregg's concerns.

Click on the images below to enlarge and read the comments





Here's his summary



To contact Gregg Mchatton you can email him at: the_hat@thevine.net

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89 Open Championship Greg Norman

The Best all around player of my generation.




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Sergio vs Padraig

Enjoy,



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My Swing Critiqued Part IX

Follow through

(Click on the images below to enlarge and read comments)

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My Swing Critiqued Part VIII

The "Moment of Truth"...... Impact!

(Above left you'll see what we call the "Line of Compression", Homer Kelley defined this as the principle to golf)

Below We have Ben Doyle explaining this concept to us:

Click on the images below to enlarge and read the comments.





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My Swing Critiqued Part VII

Here's Part 7..... Release

Click on the images below to enlarge and read the comments:







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My Swing Critiqued Part VI A

Before I go into the swing I'd like to welcome our latest follower, Ray Mcloughlin. Welcome aboard Ray!!!

If you'd like to become a follower of Gotham Golf Blog go HERE

Now back to the swing:

I'm really not that far off. Okay so Bobby Schaeffer and Gregg himself, have me by a lot. I'm almost there with Lynn Blake, Mike Maves and Ben Doyle.

Ben Doyle

Bobby Schaeffer

Lynn Blake

Gregg McHatton

Mike Maves (aka Sevam 1)


Me

Here's what it would look like if I re-lagged

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Weekend Round up 5-23-10

Okay so we are now convinced that the future of Golf is in good hands.

• 16 year old Jordan Spieth finishes T16 at the Byron Nelson

• 16 year old Grayson Murray made the cut and finished T-53 on the Nationwide Tour

• 17 year old Matteo Manasero finished T-17 at the BMW PGA Championship

• 22 year old Jason Day wins at the Byron
  

Go Get em Guys!

Congratulations to the "Secret's in the Dirt" Boys on Elk's performance this week end, although he faded at the end, he showed flashes.

It was interesting to watch the stark contrast between Elk's smooth rhythmic motion and Day's apparent over-acceleration. It haunted Mr. Day everyday on the 18th. hole and almost cost him the Tournament.

Congratulations to the Guys at Lynn Blake Golf. A couple of the guys from Mr. Blake's stable lit it up this weekend.

• Brian Gay shot a final round 63 to lead in the clubhouse at the Byron Nelson

• John Riegger won the Nationwide Tour's Rex Hospital Classic

Congratulations to Chris Erwin who shot 59 at NGA Hooters Tour ADI Classic.

It seems to me that Heath Slocum is quietly becoming one of the most consistent Ball Strikers on tour. I know I said that Tiger doesn't need a Coach, but if there's anybody out there who can help Tiger technically (Billy Harmon would help him emotionally) it's Mark Blackburn.

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Phil vs Tiger Part 2

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Phil vs Tiger Part 1

Hopefully we can get to see this type of play again



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My Swing Critiqued Part VI

(Click on the image below to enlarge and read the comments)






As you can see above Blobman has the "Arrow out of the quiver" Look. I don't. Although I think I have as much accumulator lag as most tour players.


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My Swing Critiqued Part V

Now that my Tiger rant is over, we can return to our regularly scheduled programming. (BTW I should probably proof read this stuff before I post it, not after ;o))

As Gregg says, "Here's where the Rubber meets the Road". Blobman fights the urge to do anything with his hands and I don't.

(Click on the image below to enlarge and read the comments)

Tiger Woods 3

If I were to give Tiger Woods a lesson, I'd try to get him to soften up his swing a bit.
--Gregg Mchatton 2006
For the rest of the interview go Here

"Like most Professional Golfers I have a tendency to remember my poor shots a shade more vividly than the good ones-- the one or two per round, seldom more, which come off exactly as I intend they should."
Ben Hogan

"I figure I hit a really good shot once every 10 years. "
Gregg McHatton

Now Tiger is fresh out of rehab (without the benefit of anonymity), he pops up a couple of 3woods, misses a cut, withdraws from a tournament and the Golf world is up in arms.
By his own account Ben Hogan only hit one or two good shots per round, yet he is bestowed the Title of the best ball striker that ever lived. I believe when Tiger is on his game (which is more often than not), he hits 2 or more good shots per round (as defined by Hogan above). Tiger is an astute student of Golf History, he knows Hogan's story inside-out. I believe he would like nothing more than to take credit for rebuilding his swing on his own. Hogan was and Tiger is a tinkerer, that is, they are always experimenting and tweeking their swings in search of optimum efficiency. As I said earlier, Tiger has won majors with three different swings. The point I want to make here is that Tiger clearly understands the mechanics of his golf swing and if left to his own devices will figure it out easily. I think people are giving the swing coach too much credit and too much blame.

When people are in recovery they mark their milestones with coins awarded when they reach a certain goal, usually reflecting time related abstinence. On these coins are written the sage advice given to Hamlet by Lord Polonius, "To thine own self be true". I live by those words every day. This brings me to Tom Watson's criticism of Tiger's on-course behavior.
I pay to watch Tiger at his best, emotional reaction is part of the game. Tiger became who he is by seeking perfection not by settling for mediocrity. If he stops being true to who he is and starts "people pleasing", he is in a whole heep of trouble, because he is going to be criticized for dam near everything he does, right or wrong from now on. If he reacts and tries to accommodate the pundits, he's toast. HE MUST STAY TRUE TO WHO HE IS AND NOT TRY TO BE SOMEONE ELSE!

Now let's say Tiger decided he wanted an instructor, the name that comes to everybody's mind is Sean Foley. I'd kind of agree with that choice, given Mr. Foley's track record and his location (Orange County National, a stone's throw away from Isleworth).

My choice would be Billy Harmon (Butch's brother). You see, Tiger's swing is the least of his worries. He needs people around him who genuinely care about him getting his life back together, people who can help him work through all the turmoil his life has become. Not all these Johnny come lately Bozos who claim to have the answers. Once all the pieces are in place, he can go back to focusing on his swing. Here's what Billy told Golf.com:

"I haven't been asked, and I don't think I'm going to be asked, but if Tiger did ask, the coolest thing about it would be to have the opportunity to try to help him get his life back together," Harmon said in an hour-long telephone interview. "That's what interests me. If I could help him with recovery — and he's talked about being in recovery, from what I don't know — that's the greatest thing I could do. It's what I do. I've been a recovering alcoholic for 17 years and five months now. Recovery informs my teaching. I start with the premise that the student admits he has a problem and wants to get better. And as the student improves, it's not the teacher who looks good. It's the student."

Tiger's known Bill Harmon for years. He surely knows that Bill is one-of-a-kind. (Find another teacher who talks that way, and who is so open.) As a teacher, Bill is looking at the whole person, and if Tiger is not comfortable with that, he'd never want Bill as his teacher anyhow.

He needs Billy, not so much for his knowledge of the golf swing, but for the moral support which he can provide. Just so that he doesn't have to feel like he's alone.

I personally would like to see him soften up and return to this type of stroke pattern:

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Tiger Woods 2

It seems like these pundits believe no one understands Ball Flight Laws and all that's associated with them. I think that they can rest assured that Tiger has hit enough balls already in his lifetime to be able to sort these types of things out himself.
What I would suggest to Tiger is to dig it out of the dirt. Neither Hogan, Trevino nor Norman had the benefit of the modern technology available to Tiger. Unbeknown to the internet pundits, Tiger has had access to launch monitors before they became the "in thing". In fact in the Haney project, I believe I saw Hank fitting Ray Romano on Trackman. I'm sure they have Trackman and other sophisticated equipment at "The Oven" (Nike Golf's R&D Lab) where Tiger is king. In fact if Tiger wanted to use Trackman, I guarantee you he'd have one at his door first thing in the morning, along with as many technicians as he wanted; of course this would all arrive free of charge or the people at Trackman may even pay him.

When going through crisis, the hardest place to be is inside your own head. Ben Hogan escaped from the world by cocooning himself on the practice range. He found a place where all he needed to worry about was trajectory, shape and impact. Tiger is going to need a place similar to that. The only difference between Tiger and Hogan is that Tiger doesn't have to rely solely on divots and ball flight. Tiger has the resources to build a state of the art training/practice facility, something with every bell and whistle ever imaginable. A place where he can find solace and peace, a place where he can be one with the ball. Where he can swing without a care in the world, just like when he was a kid:



And BTW he really is that Good:




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Tiger Woods

I'm going to interrupt the swing analysis to share my views on Tiger's predicament.

All this internet chatter about Tiger Woods is getting annoying. Let's get the record straight.
"The last thing Tiger needs right now is a swing coach". Tiger's going through some serious personal issues and trying to blame his poor play on mechanics is pathetic.
What I find ironic, is that some of these individuals actually think they have the answer. Tiger should take a page from Trevino's book and never take a lesson from some one who can't beat him at least once.

We're talking the best player in the world, THE GUY WHO LAPS THE FIELD WITH HIS "D GAME". Perhaps the most athletic specimen ever to play this game. Somebody who has hit millions of Balls "Dead Solid perfect" in practice and hundreds of Balls "Dead Solid Perfect" in the heat of competition (including major championships at the toughest venues in the world). Why should he listen to anybody? This guy has also won major championships with 3 different swings. So maybe these self proclaimed internet swing gurus, should get their head out of their behind and shut up. I guess every body needs some material from time to time, regardless of how ridiculous it is.

His goal while working with Haney was to be able to "Own His swing". Well the only way he's going to own his swing, is the same way those before him owned their swings---By iteration.

Only three people in the history of Golf have "Owned their swings", Hogan, Moe Norman and arguably Lee Trevino.

Tiger was born with a Silver Spoon but he has a tough road ahead of him. He needs to listen to this interview of Mr. hogan.

(Just an aside, Listen carefully to what he says at about 5:09 in the interview, we will come back to this when I continue the "Power Golf Hogan " series.)

To Be Continued.

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The Great Collapse Part 2

Hard to watch, I know. Curtis Strange's commentary says it all.



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The Great Collapse Part 1

It hurts to re-watch this. I used to love to listen to the late Bob Rossburg's candid assesments.



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My Swing Critiqued Part IV

Click on the Image Below to enlarge and read his comments

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My Swing Critiqued Part III

(Click on the image below to enlarge and read Gregg's comments)

Next Part Tomorrow

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My Swing Critiqued Part II

Here's My swing again

(Click on the image below to enlarge)

Part 3 Tomorrow

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My Swing Critiqued part 1

Here's my swing again.

Here's the first part of Gregg "The Hat" McHatton's critique of it. Gregg uses his Blobman model as a comparison.

(CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO ENLARGE AND READ HIS COMMENTS)

The above screen shot is from a Beta version of a software Gregg is Developing.

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Swing Update.

Here's an update of my swing. Special Thanks to John Connelly PGA, for filming me.

My thoughts were to try to get a little more radial type of release.

Over the next few days I will have a more thorough analysis done by someone more competent than me.

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Seve Part 2

Some more Seve.



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Seve Part 1

Enjoy (No words needed)

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Golf Hips

What Powers the Golf Swing? I say your center's work, which is predominately your hips. In an efficient golf swing, the hips pull the shoulders which in turn pull the arms and which in turn pull the clubhead. The Hips travel at 2mph, the shoulders at 8mph, the hands at 15mph and the club head at 90-100 mph. It's all rotational physics.

Here's Gregg McHatton with an explanation:

The above video is an excerpt from Gregg's "Distance and Maximum Power"

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Rory McIlroy, it's "In the Hips"

• I guess The new Messiah has arrived, I believe that Rory's 62 at Quail Hollow was much more significant than Ryo's 58.

• Rory's 62 was shot at a course which has U.S. Open type potential.

• The Field at Quail Hollow was much stronger, including the Top players in the World Ranking
  
  

• Rory stared down Mickelson and capped it all off by draining a 40+ foot putt for birdie.

Rory's golf swing is an example of Pivot Driven Power. If you look closely you'll note that Rory has a rare personal idiosyncrasy in his pivot. He has what we call a "double hip fire motion". His hips unwind aggressively from the top of the swing, they then pause briefly, recoil and re-fire. Is he aware of this? Probably not, and that's a good thing in my opinion.

Here's how Sports Illustrated's Michael Bamberger described it:

"A computer model of his swing at the Titleist facility — in which his body appeared as a stick-figure X-ray, his joints marked with lighted dots — revealed something that astonished the company's swing doctors. At the start of McIlroy's downswing, his left hip spins violently counterclockwise, as it does for every elite, long-hitting player. But then, and only with the driver, McIlroy makes a funky move you could not teach. A moment before impact his left hip suddenly changes direction and jerks back, clockwise, and then rotates again, this time even more powerfully than the first. It's like some mad fusion golf experiment, and McIlroy, wise man, pays it little mind. But that extra thrust explains why McIlroy — 5' 11" in cleats and 160 pounds — is one of the longest hitters in the game."

You probably couldn't notice this with the naked eye , however if you watch his driver swing in super slo-mo you'll be able to discern it.
Here are some slow motion swings, notice the difference between the Driver swing and the Iron swing

As Gregg McHatton says "The real work starts at impact". Rory is applying additional "Pivot Thrust" and maintaining the ball on the clubface longer, this translates into "Impulse Momentum"

Here's a quick review of this concept.

The above video is a cut from "Perfect Results" available from OHP Direct.

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The Hips

Here's Gregg Mchatton's Blobman swing model. WATCH THE HIPS!






Here's a great video explanation of the role of the hips.



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Alvaro Quiros

With all this talk this week about the "Young Guns", etc. I think we might be overlooking one person who probably is in the best position to move to toward the top of the World Rankings. His playoff victory this weekend was the fourth of his young career. He is the longest hitter on any Pro Tour and if he can harness that power, "Look Out"!
He's what I consider a "Modern Marvel", Alvaro probably has the most efficient motion I've ever seen. I can't think of a more powerfully compact swing out there today. He also has the charisma to become an international fan favorite.

Here's his Bio from Wikipedia:
Álvaro Quirós García (born 21 January 1983) is a Spanish professional golfer.

Quirós was born in Guadiaro, Province of Cádiz. He turned professional in 2004.

Quirós played on the Challenge Tour in 2006, winning one tournament, and went on to earn his place on the European Tour for the 2007 season by finishing in the top 35 at final qualifying school. He won the first European Tour event he entered as a European Tour card-holder at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, played in South Africa.[1]

Quirós claimed his second European Tour win at the 2008 Portugal Masters, where he finished with birdies at both 17 and 18 on Sunday, to win by three strokes over Paul Lawrie.[2] He ended the season ranked 25th on the final Order of Merit. In January 2009, he won his third European Tour title, at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, which moved him into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time.[3] He ended the season ranked 20th on the inaugural Race to Dubai.

Quirós is noted for his length off the tee, and was the longest driver on the European Tour in 2006, 2007 and 2008, averaging nearly 310 yards.[4]

Here's a look at his Golf Swing, notice how compact his motion is and how much lag he generates.
It is definitely a thing of beauty.

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Interview with Richie3Jack

Today we're going to get to know a little about popular Blogger and golf aficionado Rich Hunt aka Richie3jack. Rich is an avid student of the game and as you'll hear is somebody who is gone through some trials and tribulations and has kept on trucking. I kind of admire that type of person.
Rich has done a lot of research into the inner workings of the Golf swing and has been willing to share his findings with us freely. I for one, am very appreciative of his efforts.

Here's our little chat:



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1991 US Open Payne Stewart Part 2 &3

Here are parts 2 and 3, I always liked Scott Simpson's swing. I thought he came to epitomize the "connection principle", it's a shame he unraveled on that last par 3. In those days I hated Payne Stewart, today I look back on what Payne accomplished and I've really come to admire him. He could have easily won 4 U.S. Opens had Lee Janzen not gotten some fortunate breaks at Baltusrol and Olympic. RIP Mr. Stewart, you've given us some wonderful memories.






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The Rules----- again

In this day and age where people are being constantly diagnosed as adhd (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), it seems like the Pro tours are not exempt. In fact they are probably just like anything else, a microcosm of the real world.
Today we were able to kinda re-live the "Wie incident", via David Peoples.
David hit his ball out of the water, but the ball never cleared the margin of the hazard (aka the red line). Peoples proceeded to fan his club in the water in an attempt to clean it off. The only problem with his actions was that his ball was still in the hazard, thus he is deemed to have grounded his club in a hazard. Since the ball landed in the same hazard and not another nearby, he is deemed to have violated rule 13-4 b. He will more than likely incur a 2 stroke penalty. Michelle Wie and Graham McDowell were also deemed to have violated rule 13-4b. Brian Davis at the Harbor Town actually violated rule 13-4c.
I've always approached a shot from a hazard as if I'm walking on egg shells, you have to wonder what's going through a Professional's head when they commit careless mistakes that wind up costing them a few grand.
I wouldn't expect that from someone like Peoples--a veteran of both tours, but it just goes to show that no one is immune from carelessness. Graham McDowell and Brian Davis erred in the course of making the stroke, so that becomes more understandable. I won't even get into the Wie situation again.

The par putt in the video actually became a Double Bogey as a result of the 2 stroke penalty.

Anyway here's Rule 13-4, for those who are interested.

13-4. Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions
Except as provided in the Rules, before making a stroke at a ball that is in a hazard (whether a bunker or a water hazard) or that, having been lifted from a hazard, may be dropped or placed in the hazard, the player must not:

a. Test the condition of the hazard or any similar hazard;
b. Touch the ground in the hazard or water in the water hazard with his hand or a club; or
c. Touch or move a loose impediment lying in or touching the hazard.

Exceptions:

1. Provided nothing is done that constitutes testing the condition of the hazard or improves the lie of the ball, there is no penalty if the player (a) touches the ground or loose impediments in any hazard or water in a water hazard as a result of or to prevent falling, in removing an obstruction, in measuring or in marking the position of, retrieving, lifting, placing or replacing a ball under any Rule or (b) places his clubs in a hazard.

2. After making the stroke, if the ball is still in the hazard or has been lifted from the hazard and may be dropped or placed in the hazard, the player may smooth sand or soil in the hazard, provided nothing is done to breach Rule 13-2 with respect to his next stroke. If the ball is outside the hazard after the stroke, the player may smooth sand or soil in the hazard without restriction.

3. If the player makes a stroke from a hazard and the ball comes to rest in another hazard, Rule 13-4a does not apply to any subsequent actions taken in the hazard from which the stroke was made.

Note: At any time, including at address or in the backward movement for the stroke, the player may touch, with a club or otherwise, any obstruction, any construction declared by the Committee to be an integral part of the course or any grass, bush, tree or other growing thing.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.


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1991 US Open Payne Stewart Part 1

Here's some highlights from the 1991 US Open, I really enjoyed this tourney.




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