Games November 2022 - In Closing...

[games]

Apparently, dissenting opinion on new PLMs is frowned upon in this establishment, so after a two week exile, I have returned.  Just in time to let everyone know I'm heading to Houston for the @MonteScheinblum clinic with Hal Sutton, Chase Cooper @lv_2_hack, and Chris @Schnee!!!

 

I'm looking at this as a bit of a system reset.  Monte's No Turn Cast model has helped my brain understand a proper downswing.  Now, I want to ingrain a physical swing to go with it.  I'm open to changing anything and everything.  Clinic is in a week.  I am so jacked!  

[Precis1on]

Jealous that you get to go. I may sub out the Chicago clinic to go to Houston next year if they do it again. 

[games]

On 10/9/2021 at 11:17 AM, Precis1on said:

Jealous that you get to go. I may sub out the Chicago clinic to go to Houston next year if they do it again. 

Loved meeting and working with you at the Chicago clinics.  Saw you got your own sim room started for some winter training.  Fantastic!  Mark said your game is solid, too!

[games]

This trip is getting real!  For me, this is a bucket list item.  I'm not into bucket list courses, and play basic equipment.  Instruction with Monte is worth splurging on.  Add WRX regulars like Chris and Chase to the mix, it's just plain exciting.  I'm in my mid 50s and I feel like it's 11pm on Christmas Eve!

 

For those just getting here:  I am a hack who should be better.  I have excellent hand-eye coordination (former competitive bowler) and really good natural flexibility.  Never had decent golf instruction until I met Monte.  My driver speed is low 90s, and my 6-iron is around 82 now. What I call "NTC 2020" changed my view of the swing and it's time to reset.  My swing models are @Schnee, Brian Smock, and Darren Clarke.   As Monte says time to "Hulk Smash."

[Precis1on]

45 minutes ago, games said:

Loved meeting and working with you at the Chicago clinics.  Saw you got your own sim room started for some winter training.  Fantastic!  Mark said your game is solid, too!

This is the first winter in a long time that I’m committing to working in the off-season. Will probably get a virtual with Monte to understand the data my Quad is giving me. 

[Schnee]

3 hours ago, games said:

This trip is getting real!  For me, this is a bucket list item.  I'm not into bucket list courses, and play basic equipment.  Instruction with Monte is worth splurging on.  Add WRX regulars like Chris and Chase to the mix, it's just plain exciting.  I'm in my mid 50s and I feel like it's 11pm on Christmas Eve!

 

For those just getting here:  I am a hack who should be better.  I have excellent hand-eye coordination (former competitive bowler) and really good natural flexibility.  Never had decent golf instruction until I met Monte.  My driver speed is low 90s, and my 6-iron is around 82 now. What I call "NTC 2020" changed my view of the swing and it's time to reset.  My swing models are @Schnee, Brian Smock, and Darren Clarke.   As Monte says time to "Hulk Smash."

Looking forward to having you down here in Houston. The weather is supposed to be awesome this weekend, should be a great time. 

[games]

What a great first day!  My personal highlight was @lv_2_hack telling me in my swing analysis in front of the full group that my problem was LOFT.

 

Chase was quick, but not too quick, to add he didn’t mean the acronym.  Lol.  Seriously he meant I am delofting the club with bowed wrist at the top.  Wants me to feel a cupped position at the top and just finish in a vertical stack as I tend to reverse C.  Monte added I need to retain more side bend longer into the swing.  
 

Hal Sutton gave a sermon on learning how to play golf today.  Probably 90 minutes, and all were riveted.  A true, sincere, gentleman who just “dug it out of the dirt”.  He didnt call out Bryson by name, but said future tour success will be had by those who can blend art and science.
 

 

Edited October 16, 2021 by games

[sethdavidsdad]

On 10/16/2021 at 6:45 PM, games said:

What a great first day!  My personal highlight was @lv_2_hack telling me in my swing analysis in front of the full group that my problem was LOFT.

 

Chase was quick, but not too quick, to add he didn’t mean the acronym.  Lol.  Seriously he meant I am delofting the club with bowed wrist at the top.  Wants me to feel a cupped position at the top and just finish in a vertical stack as I tend to reverse C.  Monte added I need to retain more side bend longer into the swing.  
 

Hal Sutton gave a sermon on learning how to play golf today.  Probably 90 minutes, and all were riveted.  A true, sincere, gentleman who just “dug it out of the dirt”.  He didnt call out Bryson by name, but said future tour success will be had by those who can blend art and science.
 

 

Share some before and afters interested to see results. 

[games]

My goodness.  Where do I start? Let's go with facilities and the format...

 

The Hal Sutton Golf Academy is the most well outfitted indoor facility I've seen.

The main hitting area consists of an open area with a row of four hitting stations, three equipped with Uneekor units, and one with a GC Quad.

The putting green next to the open bay is a PuttView.  I've never seen anything like it.  Set a ball down in certain spot on the green, and a light showing you the line to the hole appears.  (Think of the "shiny path" on the scene on the green at the end of Bagger Vance.)

There are two private bays near the club fitting and repair area, both Uneekor.  (I was really impressed with the accuracy of the Uneekor units, in general.)

Near the lobby is Hal's "office" which is really a combination trophy room and TrackMan bay.  He keeps the set including the "right club" which I got to hold.

Their main single lesson bay is state of the art, with TrackMan and SwingCatalyst platform.

There are a few pix of their place on their site at www.halsuttongolf.com

 

Then, format:

Day 1, as I mentioned previously, was identification of individual swing flaws and discussion on how to fix.  @MonteScheinblum was his usual talkative self, that got @lv_2_hack (Chase Cooper) going.  They discussed each student's swing for 10-15 minutes.  

Throughout the three day event, time and again, two world class instructors would identify the same core flaw, yet prescribe different ways to correct it.

We got to listen to Hal speak, and you just need to stop and listen.  This man loves golf.  You can tell he is passionate, reverent and grateful to the game.

 

Day 2 was a gift from Hal.  18 holes at Houston Oaks CC, where Hal is a member!!!  Really nice.  As in " @games don't belong here" nice.  Basically, a wide-open resort course, with towering 100-year-old oak trees everywhere.

The day started with us shuttling to the back of the course to an irons only range and a short game practice area.  Monte demonstrated his "Use the Bounce" short game philosophy and bunker play.  (Over the three days, I realized Monte talking and Chase demonstrating was just golden.)  After short game, it was time to tee off!  Basically, each group got a 12-hole playing lesson (six with Chase and six with Monte).  Monte's got some new, useful short game shots that he shared.  Also, Monte's instruction on hitting low punches to avoid trees was informative and entertaining.  Monte hit a ball that calling it a "stinger" would make it sound higher than it really was.  Maybe 18 inches off the ground?  I don't ever recall seeing a ball so low go so far so fast.  It's good to see Monte healthy again.

 

At this point, I'll interject with some props to Chase, who I didn't know, but got to know over the three days.  Chase is a really good player, a great instructor, and an even better person.  You can tell Chase WANTS you to do better.  He almost makes you feel bad for not wanting to do better yourself!  He's so passionate and so knowledgeable.  It was my privilege to get to know Chase.

 

Also, for me, it was a privilege to finally meet @Schnee now on the staff at Hal Sutton Golf!  Chris is back to scratch.  I love watching Chris swing, he really moves it for a big man with such free arms.   And, by the way, Chris can teach in his own right.  He's got Chase's positivity but Monte's lighthearted approach.  And, you can tell he's soaked up his time with Monte and Chase in the knowledge department.  He wasn't technically a "teacher" in this trip, but Monte made it clear that if he or Chase weren't around, to go find Chris.  Even if my game doesn't improve, I made a new friend.         

 

Day 3 we were back at the Academy.  The first 90 minutes were spent generally discussing how good coaches coach and how players need to practice.  (Monte and Chase got on a roll.)  The next four hours were spent back at individual stations working out our flaws.  And, just like that, the clinic was over!

 

I'll detail my individual stuff in the next post I make.  If anyone has any questions about the facility, or the overall experience, I'd be happy to answer.

[games]

During this outing, there was a moment of "Somewhere Des Moines is missing an idiot." 

 

On Day 3, we're working on our flaws, and I'm in a bay, and @MonteScheinblum walks up and says "Show me what you're working on.  Hit a 50-yard shot."  My brain gets busy going through my 102-point checklist (normally 100 points, with two fixes recently added).  I step up, execute both things I was working on (which of course in my mind were done perfectly).  I look at Monte like a dog waiting for a pat on the head, and he goes "Now try to hit it 50 yards."  (I DGAF what Monte thought.  I was pleased with my 150-yard effort.  LOL)  Step up again, go through my mental checklist and swing again.  Look back at Monte who at this point is ready to throttle me because I again forgot to slow down (it wasn't in my checklist) and hit that one 140 yards.  To prevent injury to myself, I quick hit a third one slow, dribbled it out 35 yards and Monte says "that's better, keep working at that speed" and then walks away muttering something unintelligible...  

[MonteScheinblum]

LOL

 

I would protest the description of my actions, but I can’t.

Edited October 22, 2021 by MonteScheinblum

[johnrobison]

I'm pretty sure Monte hears unintelligible thoughts in his own head. I wouldn't give the muttering a second thought.

[games]

My major problems are thin shots, pulls, and lack of distance.  The diagnosis:  Lead wrist is too bowed.  Evidence:  Uneekor captured me hitting shots as much as 10 degrees toe down.  Tape shows an awkward release, elbows separate.

 

Basically, I am tasked with two things:

1. At the top, feel my lead wrist is cupped (not bowed);

2. Engage the trail hand earlier in the downswing to feel like it's overtaking the left hand earlier.  Monte gave me a Broom Force drill to work with.

 

My interpretation:  No Turn Cast has me coming more from the inside, but my trail arm isn't activating Cast B.  (I'm lefty playing golf right-handed and my RH is really weak.)  I think Broom Force is going to help in this regard.  Good offseason / winter work.

[games]

On 10/22/2021 at 6:04 PM, johnrobison said:

I'm pretty sure Monte hears unintelligible thoughts in his own head. I wouldn't give the muttering a second thought.

I'd like to think he wasn't muttering at me, but pretty sure I deserved it if he was.  LOL!

[MonteScheinblum]

41 minutes ago, games said:

I'd like to think he wasn't muttering at me, but pretty sure I deserved it if he was.  LOL!

I was probably in trouble with the ex-wife.

[Hawkeye77]

On 10/9/2021 at 6:29 AM, games said:

Apparently, dissenting opinion on new PLMs is frowned upon in this establishment, so after a two week exile, I have returned.  Just in time to let everyone know I'm heading to Houston for the @MonteScheinblum clinic with Hal Sutton, Chase Cooper @lv_2_hack, and Chris @Schnee!!!

 

I'm looking at this as a bit of a system reset.  Monte's No Turn Cast model has helped my brain understand a proper downswing.  Now, I want to ingrain a physical swing to go with it.  I'm open to changing anything and everything.  Clinic is in a week.  I am so jacked!  

LOL, seemed like someone was pretty busy around that time - another member of the same club here and not alone, haha, a variety of things not violating forum rules were getting some good folks around here some time off.  Sorry to hear it, but moving on . . .

 

More excited to read about this!  I was so close to pulling the trigger, but just too late in the season for me and a conflict with some things needing attention at work - now I wish I'd gone.  My other reservation was what I expected to be the mostly indoors aspect of it, which really held me back with my elbow issue, still should have gone! We'll just have to get out in 2022 - looking forward to hearing all about it!

 

 

[games]

2 hours ago, Hawkeye77 said:

LOL, seemed like someone was pretty busy around that time - another member of the same club here and not alone, haha, a variety of things not violating forum rules were getting some good folks around here some time off.  Sorry to hear it, but moving on . . .

 

More excited to read about this!  I was so close to pulling the trigger, but just too late in the season for me and a conflict with some things needing attention at work - now I wish I'd gone.  My other reservation was what I expected to be the mostly indoors aspect of it, which really held me back with my elbow issue, still should have gone! We'll just have to get out in 2022 - looking forward to hearing all about it!

 

 

 

And, all this time, without you replying, I figured I had done something to honk you off!

 

It was truly a neat experience with Chase and Monte giving different ways to achieve the same end result. 

 

For me, getting to play a round with @Schnee got me to see how a bigger guy can flat out move the ball.  Chase had me cup my trail wrist to help shallow and deliver the club.  A weird feeling.  Then, about two weeks ago, Chase released an IG video about low-speed amateurs who bow the lead wrist to their detriment.  I definitely resembled that remark...

[games]

Just returned from playing and practicing in PHX.  Not the best video, but this is my driver swing, now.  A couple of months working on Chase's feel of an extended or cupped (not bowed / flexed) left wrist at the top.  And, working on Monte's sledgehammer drill from Broom Force.  For me, I'm thrilled with the exit position of the driver which is lower than usual, due to greatly reduced amount of goat violation. which had me in an awkward chicken wing look, which is still there but reduced due to the lower exit.  Starting to look like a golf swing...

 

 

[games]

Iron video from same session:

 

 

[Hawkeye77]

Boom!

[games]

11 hours ago, Chainlinks said:

3 great guys, enjoy the clinic and tell Schnee to ease up on the hamburgers 

I'm in no position to tell a scratch or a plus what to do. Nor in a position to advise anyone on diet.

 

Chris moves the ball out of his own hard work and talent. 

 

I was a competitive bowler who learned from watching a guy that was easily 50+ pounds overweight.  He has more USBC Eagles than I do. 

 

I learned from that great bowler to be inquistive and not judgmental,  30 years before Ted Lasso came on the air.  So if your post is a shot at Chris, I'd respectfully ask you to delete it out of respect for this thread.  Chris has game and I have no clue who you are.

Edited February 26, 2022 by games

[games]

Sorry for the bad videos everyone.  Also, I apologize for having to take trash out on this thread.  But I have some AWESOME news on my swing.  I like taking a local lesson now and then.  Not real picky.  Usually once a year.   After coming back from PHX I wanted someone to watch, record, and comment on what I'm working on.

 

Well, today, I carried an 8-iron 167 yards. 

Legit sim setup.   Blew my mind.  I've been watching too many "The Big Short" videos.  BUT I AM JACKED TO THE t****!  (And for those in the "lay off the burgers crowd":  GFY.)

 

I need to be shallow with all clubs.   As in, feel like the club is wrapping behind my waist on the backswing shallow. 

Gap wedge, 8 iron, 6 iron, 4 iron, driver. 

As the Rock says IT DOESN'T MATTER what club it is.  

 

The pro (Jacob) I worked with loves swing theory and follows several instructors via YouTube.

He laughed after watching me hit steep 8 irons for 25 minutes, then saw my driver and said "Why the f--- don't you swing your f---ing 8-iron that way?"  So I will.

 

Apparently, I attract instructors that don't mince words...  He also said I need to bend my irons back to standard, pronto.  It might be time for a fitting anyway...

[games]

Jacked!

Edited February 26, 2022 by games
No one cares what equipment I play.

[games]

35 years ago, I had to teach myself to throw a bowling ball 5 mph faster. A full summer of daily practice did it.  The battle wasn’t as much a physical limitation.  It was convincing my mind to allow me to throw faster.  
 

Last week, I started the Stack program, doing baseline and the first foundation workout.  After the workout, I picked up my driver and was able to get three dry swings over 100 mph, with 104 being highest.  My normal swing with ball is 93.  That afternoon, took my irons to get bent back to normal and checked out some new drivers.  The LM clocked one of my swings at 98 with a nice draw! 

 

 

[leekgolf]

@gamesThanks for posting this thread and staying with it. It's inspirational. 

I'm jealous you can afford all of these trips and concentrated instruction.

 

Keep it up and please keep sharing!

[games]

2 minutes ago, leekgolf said:

@gamesThanks for posting this thread and staying with it. It's inspirational. 

I'm jealous you can afford all of these trips and concentrated instruction.

 

Keep it up and please keep sharing!

Appreciate your kind words.  I am blessed.  I spread out the good instruction to pretty much once a year.  October with Monte, Chris, Chase and Hal was close to a bucket list item for me.

[games]

Mentioned Stack system.  This is after baseline and two foundation workouts.

 

[games]

Many of you know I'm "all in" on golf instruction and fitting experiences.  I got to take a great trip to visit @MonteScheinblum, @lv_2_hack, @Schnee and the great Hal Sutton.  I've done many different fittings over the years, including a couple at Club Champion.  About 5-6 years ago, I did a RoboGolfPro session which was really neat, and will do it again being more conscious about "the feel" the robot is creating.

 

But, far and away, the fitting experience I had yesterday blew me away AND NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT IT ON GOLFWRX.  So, I'll be the first.  Have to leave for the day, but will report back with details.

[games]

 

I decided to put my review in the equipment section, as it is more on topic than it is here in the instruction section.  Click the link above to check out the full review!

Edited April 4, 2022 by games
Moved review to Equipment Forum.

[games]

Looking back, Jeremy, Chase and Monte all threw out Alex Noren pre-shot rehearsal as a model.  In geek speak, it’s just P6 club position with P7 body turn. Saturday indoor session, I practiced just that. No NTC or other things.  Just wedges and irons to feel it. Hmm… Let’s hit driver with this….

 

FEEL is I hit the ball with lower body. Passive arms and hands felt a block right of Limbaugh.   Little off the heel… 90 mph tops.  

 

Sim I was on showed sweet little push draw.  Then I look at Mevo+ club speed. WTF?

 

98.9 mph

I’m 93-94 warmed up.