I'm a senior golfer trying to change old habits and make Tom's system work for me. Would appreciate any advice from seniors having success from Tom' teaching. For them and Tom, I have this initial question about lead leg and knee movement for proper weight use. My habit is to turn the right knee in toward the left on the backswing and then, on the downswing, shift the weight and bring the left knee against the right. In Tom's good videos I think I see him bend the lead knee forward to maintain the weight on that leg and to swing mainly on or around that leg, without bringing the left knee to touch the right leg on the finish. Am I seeing and understanding this correct?
Thanks for any comment and advice.
I am 62, next week 63 playing since 2004 as a holidaygolfer. I had a lot of trouble and pain with my right knee, left elbow and my back caused by the wrong system.
The pros earned a lot of money, but less than the doctors.
Last year I have seen a video of Tom on youtube and this year I started my membership. I have seen all videos and spent a lot of time learning the new system with daily practice in the Golfcage in my garden.
I have learned things I have never heard before.
The most important thing is, that I have no pain at all since I use this system.
Last week I started to play real courses. I never hit better and longer ( best drives 240 yards). Fairways were wet. so it was a stupid to hit dirty divits.
Of course I lost my concentration sometimes and things went wrong. There is still much work to do, but the system works even for seniors.
@rmalaspina - I believe the response to your question from @Tony A. Rose is spot on. There is definitely some "unlearning" to do with regard to past shift & lift types of swings, and it all begins with a proper setup (Chapter 1) and then gradually and sequentially progressing through the basic motions in Chapter 2.
In the backswing the lead knee always works down in the direction established at address - which should be slightly flared outward towards the target - while the trail knee straightens in reaction to the spine's extension and in support of the tilted turn. This keeps the weight forward and the swing center intact. Any inward movement of the lead knee will shift the center and low point backwards. This can lead to inconsistency and may also cause some discomfort to the knee.
We don't think about the trail knee "kissing" the lead leg in the finish as you may have heard previously. Such a finish would be indicative of a downswing move that contradicts what is being taught here. Have a look at the image below from the Stack and Tilt book as it may offer some clarity.
Again, it is imperative that members take sufficient time to ensure that they master the fundamental components of the first couple of chapters! I cannot emphasize this enough, as frustrations predominantly occur when folks jump ahead in the curriculum without properly dedicating themselves to the foundational base upon which our consistently repeatable, powerful, low maintenance swing must be built.
I too am a senior golfer new to the system and really finding it not only workable but rewarding. Spending the week at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort and shot a reasonably good, for me, 95 yesterday on their new Sheep Ranch in relatively strong winds with much better control than I have had in past years. I try to have very little weight shift onto my right and think of my right leg as a post. Weight on my left feels weird but when I do it right I find me hitting into the ball and not sweeping as I had done for 30 years. I am aware of keeping my right arm from chicken winging and at my right side. Found I have better control, more confidence in my swing. If I had not three putted a bunch of holes (I have not watched that part of Tom’s course) I would have been in the 80s. I don’t notice my knee position. I am just trusting the three keys of Tom’s method and it seems to work. Finally—after every day of this annual trip I wake up very stiff and hurting. This morning little or no stiffness. That has really been a plus.