I have been a frustrated golfer for over 30 years. At one point I literally gave up the game for 3 years. I had a breakthrough in the last few weeks that I wanted to share after working with Tom for the last 8 months. While I was making some progress I still struglled. My lead shoulder was turning down but I was still swaying and I was still not making consistent contact. I had been raised with the load to the right foot and explode through the ball which made me a major swayer and made consistency impossible. At a Callaway Fitting day (thinking a new driver would help my driver game) I used Trackman for the first time testing out a driver. It turns out my attack angle was -4.4% while tour averages were -1.3%. Turns out I had the ball in the middle of my stance and teed way too low. I then started leaning hard into my left side and magic happened. My first round I drove a short par 4 which ticked off the group on the green but made my day.
And when I say leaning hard I mean a feel of over 90%. I started this with my irons as well and it was night and day difference. The real magic for me happened after watching this video of Tom talking about the one tip that changed everything for him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXt9G0AHMo0&t=3s
This is the magic I was missing. Turning your hands in (way more than you realize) automatically turns your shoulder down, straightens your right-trail leg, keeps your head in place/stops swaying, creates consistent contact. I broke 80 for the first time yesterday and my handicap is now in single digits. This is from a guy who could barely break 100 but often broke golf clubs on the course (I was that d-bag I shake my head at now.) Here are my major takeaways:
-Whatever Tom is saying you need to exagerate it more than you realize (feel vs real.) Weight is forward more than you realize, arms are straighter, hands go way more back than you think make sense in the backswing, trail leg is straighter than seems logical, etc.
-Hit the ball with the wrath of God! I tried to emulate Fred Couple's with a nice smooth swing. You have to accelerate and who cares how you look.
-Get a GPS watch and/or rangefinder and know your distances.
-Spend more time in your short game. Tom's sand shot module has me getting up and down for the first time in my life. Adding weights to my putter and focusing more on touch is huge. This is where you lower your scores the most but it takes practice.
I'm not getting paid for this but wanted to share as this has made golf fun for me for the first time ever. It takes time but follow the process but it works.
It's freezing out here in SOCAL...78F.
Yes - I do think you've got that "fun" thang working well for you, @Doug S! And nice playing in some apparently harsh conditions. It was too ridiculously windy here yesterday to even think about teeing it up. This week looks much better.
Regarding the Garmin s60, perhaps it might be the right time to start a Christmas wish list post where y'all can start sharing golf products that you like and solicit recommendations for items that you'd like to have. Care to initiate something like that in the General Discussions area?
@Tom Saguto How's the weather up there!?
I got to play today in blustery conditions....
1) I LOVE, LOVE my Garmin s60 gps watch. Especially with walking, I have used my phone for a long time. Not anymore, highly recommend to anyone who wants to buy themselves an early Christmas present.
2) Took my brother's money($10) beating him with Stableford scoring on front 9, 12 points to 9. Back was closed because the drainage sucks and the rain yesterday, we played a few holes and got chased off. So we finished up playing ninth hole again.
3) So I had at least a 15 foot par putt 2-3 feet of break. I told my brother, "4 to 1 odds on $5?" I had been putting like crap all day, he said, "20 to 1 on $20." I said, "no, I don't want to lose that much from one putt." Then I hit it, when it was 2 feet away, I said to him, "pay up b!tch" lol, Right in the heart of the hole! He said, "where in the world did that come from, I'm sure glad you didn't do the 20 to 1, I would have had to pay you $400!"
So that was my day at the lynx, I always try and make it fun. Have a good weekend guys.
Since we've hijacked this thread....I feel like a kid who got a bike on Christmas morning and it's been raining all day. So I worked ahead this week to be able to play today, even got a new toy from Dick's sporting goods, a Garmin GPS watch yesterday. Woke up today, it was raining, it's still raining and it's chilly 7 hours later, ugh! I can see the 1st hole tee box of a course where I live. I couldn't believe how many guys teed off in this nasty weather, and they spent a lot of money! I won't play in this weather, shoes and socks would be wet half way through the round and trying to keep grips dry with a towel, etc. no thanks.
Anyone else here jealous over the women old James T got to kiss!? haha
Absolutely, I had the same experience today myself! It’s like the Star Trek episode with Kirk and Spock, the parallel universe of them being evil? Remember that episode? Spock had a go-tee facial hair? Lol
My friend was having a bad day today. He said "Golf SUCKS...I'm DONE!!!". Then 20 minutes later he hit a great shot on #18. Then he said "Hey, what time are we playing tomorrow?".
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
I have been pretty consistent but I have my blow up rounds. That normally happens when I start overthinking and get sidetracked by the latest tip. When I go back to basics I see scores go down. Every day is an adventure with golf!
@Matt Kelton Have you been able to stay, for the most part in the amazing scoring range? Great job btw!
There is hope for everyone here who has the desire to become better golfers. Yes, it will take time, work and patience. Lots of patience...I wanted to quit this sport many times over. I felt like with all the golf instruction out there, it was like trading one swing fault for another. No consistency of learning the golf swing. At our hands, we have the greatest tools available for us to become better golfers and a golf swing coach who displays the sincerity and dedication to help us all. If that doesn't make you feel better, nothing will. Well, maybe this will make you feel better, if I told you all on my first round of golf I ever played was in Fort Jackson, SC., I borrowed my sargeant's $400 Callaway driver only to return it to him with the head busted off of it. Yeah, that happened. The clubhead flew farther than the ball.
Do it! I used to fall apart on the back 9 anytime I was close to breaking 80. One thing I noticed was my energy level would go down and I would lose focus. I now have an energy bar on the front and PB&J on the 13th hole every time. Along with bringing a water bottle and Gatoraid staying hydrated. This has been a huge help for me. Let us know when you break the glass ceiling!
Your story is my story. I have yet to break 80 but I know 100% this will happen this year. I can shoot low 80s and even shot 80 2-3 times. I have a hard time mentally "staying in the game". Out with friends is very social and its easy to lose focus. Thanks for sharing. I hope I am the next Saguto golfer to achieve they're life long golfing goals. THE RACE IS ON.........LOL
Wow congrats man!! Literally 8 months ago I was in the 115s and last week shot an 85 these people who say it takes years to get there are crazy we’re proving them wrong right here hahah!
@kelton4 pretty inspiring stuff. Thanks for sharing your success. I have been with Tom for a few months and like hearing from all the veterans before me.
Now that gives me hope!!! 🙏
Two years ago.
@kelton4 So, you were barely able to break 100 how long ago?
This is great @kelton4 and totally agree with your assessments! Weight forward 90% and hands in have much an INCREDIBLE difference in my ball striking and play. I've also found that Tom's approach to pitching has been a HUGE help for consistency. Hoping to get to a single handicap towards the end of this year. This is very encouraging and keeps me motivated to keep grinding!
Thanks so much Tom. During Covid golf has been the thing to help me keep my sanity. I appreciate all of your help. Now that I have conquired Golf I can now go onto learning how to play guitar like Duane Allman and Dickey Betts! :)
Congratulations on achieving this tremendous milestone, @kelton4!!! In wonderful detail your post has summed my two primary underlying themes for success:
1) Embrace the process, be patient, work it sequentially and intelligently, and beat down our primary nemesis - Frustration - when it tries to rear its ugly head.
2) "FIGURE IT OUT!" You've got all the tools you need; it's just a matter of building in the unique "feels" you need in order to take ownership of YOUR swing!
Thanks for sharing your success story. I've pinned your post to provide encouragement to others. It's all there waiting for you, folks!
Awesome job - keep up the great work!!