Note to any newcomers, this is just a Trail Arm Drill for now, from Tom's Simplest Swing Course here. And newcomers can follow some of my ongoing saga in the latest post from the Video Analysis Room.
That said, I do mean Holy sh#*, that expletive, and not Holy sh#*k, the other unmentionable expletive around here. Because first of all, following @Nocona Colt Abernathy 's analysis not to forget about turning the body in these drills. And then next, a suggestion to look over some of @Tom Saguto 's videos on how the downswing really works ( https://saguto.golf/courses/1436366/lectures/33006445 ), especially his emphasis on 'getting the lead arm off the chest' in the downswing, like here:
... I realized there was a 'check' position I could apply to the Trail Arm Drill, while bringing the arm down in the loaded backswing, making sure the body was still stacked in the full turn:
At this point I "gave up", trusting all the comments - including @danny , @joey puvel , @Gerry_Lager , @James Flood and others - and just turned towards the target, forgetting about everything else, leading to this:
I can say this without any doubt, I have never in my life hit a golf shot like this before. Not with with the full contact that I felt, the power potential in-store, so automatically and without any thinking or mico-managing it. And then 4 out of 5 in a row, just like it. Sure, some miss-hits and even the old unmentionable a couple times, but otherwise consistent and pretty reliable. Also with a 6-iron, after I got a few swings out of the way to get used to the longer heavier club, with similar KFC results. Of course there's plenty to work on, in the stance, the 'punch' arm extension, bringing in the lead arm correctly, etc before a full swing appears. But I'm a convert now, not just a skeptically desperate outsider :) - this is exactly what I was trying to get to from stepping onto Tom's "S&T Express". And following the focused practicing approach he outlines so well here, I was done for the night soon after, hitting no more than 30-40 balls over 45 minutes between the two clubs, including warmups. And leaving the rest out for the guys "still in the dark" on the next mats over.
That be a thing of beauty, @ericostling. Well done!!
@Gerry_Lager is absolutely correct in his statement about finding the tips/feels that work best for you. As I often mention, since my online school instruction is reaching out to the masses I do my best to convey different feels wherever possible due to each golfer's physical and psychological uniqueness. These are all designed to put different folks in the same proper position or get them to execute the same proper motion, but something that works effectively for he or she or me may not necessarily work for thee. So outside of a V1 Analysis or private lesson when I can address your swing specifically, it's up to you to "cherry pick" the feels and drills that serve you best. And that - as evidenced by your recent "holy sh#* - is ultimately leading you towards taking ownership of Eric's swing instead of trying to retrofit yourself into mine or someone else's.
So yes - take into account your fellow members' war stories, battle scars, and eureka moments, and know that they've all taken their lumps during their unique swing-building process as well. Hold fast to that which resonates well with you, but test all things carefully and, of course, let your ball striking be your guide.
I'm loving your dedication and fortitude!