i used the 3 skills and nailed it!

I have read a lot of golf books, many of these books have been a bit of a general over-view to swing mechanics and much the same.

Some books have bits in there that are good and can be extracted then used to improve ones repertoire of skills. Hogan's "5 lessons", Joe Dante's "The new Golf Swing" Leslie King's "Swing Factory" are some that I have gained from, the latter probably more than most.

This new book "Nail It" seems something special. Although simple in its message and method I cannot disagree with anything it says. I think the person that will gain most from it is the golfer who has played a bit, has hit a wall with respect to improvement and has become confused with a myriad of swing thoughts and mechanics. Other than a very small part on the grip it does not get into anything to do with body movements or positions. OK! the basic message is ball contact, swingpath through the ball and clubface rotation. There is also some clear definition how to visualise the shot that clears up some common misconceptions.

So far I am enthusiastic and believe I will remain so!

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Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!

This new book "Nail It" seems something special. Although simple in its message and method I cannot disagree with anything it says. I think the person that will gain most from it is the golfer who has played a bit, has hit a wall with respect to improvement and has become confused with a myriad of swing thoughts and mechanics. Other than a very small part on the grip it does not get into anything to do with body movements or positions. OK! the basic message is ball contact, swingpath through the ball and clubface rotation. There is also some clear definition how to visualise the shot that clears up some common misconceptions.

great point brian!
i think that profile fits me perfectly!

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cheers slats
"Golf can best be defined as an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle"

I completely agree. There is a lot of talk in golf about the importance of "fundamentals," but the term is often used to refer to body positions and movements. The true fundamentals are about impact, and nothing else matters, except insofar as it affects the quality of impact. We all know this, of course, but it's easy to forget. I know that I've often found myself completely at sea, thinking about my left arm, my right knee, my hips, my sternum, and so on--to the point that my golf swing becomes more about choreography than about sending the ball to a target. The book is excellent therapy for all that. And, as I mentioned before, it is also very good for undoing some weird ideas about impact that most of us have held at one time or another.

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Todd
Philadelphia, PA
USA

The reason the pro tells you to keep your head down is so you can't see him laughing. ~Phyllis Diller

I think that makes two of us Ian.

Having read the book twice, I had my first "3skills" range session at lunch time - thought it might help

Skills 1 & 2 going ok but not really getting any club face rotation yet, so leaving balls out right.

Interestingly (well to me anyhow) I have been here before and each time not followed it through - sorry - and ended up trying to fashion a swing path that didn't leave the ball right - [on 6 holes at my course you only have to be 10 yards right to be OOB] - this time I aim to persevere with the rotation.

Are you finding this with any club in the bag, or just the driver? Actually, I suppose on any course where OOB is 10 yards off to the right, you probably wouldn't pull a driver out anyway, but I'm just curious.

Sadly, judging by the shot shape today at the range, I'd say I'm over rotating with the irons and not doing much at all with the rescues or the driver.

I'm not too bothered at the moment; this was only the first practice session after all and I guess at a lot comes down to letting go and trusting whats happening.

For me I think the breakthrough will be slower than for Slats because I do have big problems with visualisation; I tend to be be a bit mechanical and position orientated BUT the good thing is that I already (on a good day ) hit down with the irons and I believe that the Leslie King / Swing Factory approach gives you the "curve " that they talk about - so to a degree almost there.

Thing is imo the next breakthrough won't come from doing more of the same no matter how hard I work so, whether it's "nailit" or more lessons (my place has a new coach who from the sidelines looks impressive), I have to try something different.

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I firmly believe that we should try to experience all that life affords, except, perhaps, bestiality and of course Morris Dancing.

Hey everyone. Hope you are all well. Sounds like the 3 skills is helping a lot of you. I would just like to give some help and advice for anyone who is finding skill 3 a bit difficult to achieve. May I firstly congratulate Todd and others who have managed to implement skills 1 & 2 into their technique giving you all some success I hope. However certain things make the 3 skills easier or harder to do. If anyone is finding the sweetspot, making square contact (missing the headcover when doing this drill) but still the ball is flying right of target, you may want to try the following: -
1 - It might be worthwhile to read the section on the grip in the book and see if experimenting with this allows you to close the clubface easier after impact.

2 - You may want to try and visualize more of a hooking type ball flight. It is worthwhile exaggerating this initially even to the point where shots do actually hook a little left of target. You now know the clubface is releasing. You now need to visualize shots once more starting initially out right then combine this with the same feeling of the ball curving back left. It is up to you to experiment with the amount of opening and closing you do with the clubhead until you start to understand how this affects your ball flight. Please dont be affraid to give this a go. Keep your focus on the clubhead, contact you wish to achieve and combine this with visualizing your ball flight and you wont go far wrong. The 3 skills have helped me greatly in understanding what I want to achieve at impact and how this will affect my desired ball flight and I no longer have any swing thoughts interfering with this process. Good and happy golfing to you all. Kevin McDonald PGA

my ball striking with irons has been spot on but ive been hitting a few drives out to the right.
doing the basball swing is a great visual aid to actually see the club face turning through impact,i use it in my preshot routine and have been hitting some nice draws

Hi Slats,

Yeh I can sort us a knock at my place one weekend soon if your up for it, my mates off +3 and about 40 yds longer than me and my son will play too, so if your still up for it let me know.

I think if your pushing drives out right then your on the right track, just needs a bit of time for you mind to tell your body to rotate more to bring it back, hence don't worry out right is a good sign............


Later

Ian.

AT LAST
Well I finally managed to get to the range Wednesday, short irons went extremely well, long irons hooked left too much. Drives were pretty good. This is all after reading the book 5 or 6 times and 30 mins practice on the range.
I have always had a prob hooking long irons though.

Took it to the course Thursday and it was the same as the range, until i stood slightly open when using long irons which straightened them out. I then stood square but adjusted my grip slightly moving my right hand over a bit more and gripping slightly looser, it worked also.
Played 13 holes (didnt want to exert my back too much) went round in 3 over gross (easy course though and i play it regular).
Just need the range to keep this new grip in my head, I also put the 3 skills to my putting ( the hammer the visualisation ) I putted really well got 3 up n down par saves from around 25 to 50 yards.

Cheers Kev it does work

Progress report:

I have made two range practice sessions and played a round at club night using only the 3 skills method. I have tried to stay true to Joe Hagan's precepts and concentrated only on the 3 skills with all other swing thoughts out of my head.

Initial range results were that I was creating some beautiful draws with my irons and making some very impressive contact with my recovery clubs. I felt a certain loss of power and distance with my driver but made great strikes with my 3 wood. I think the driver was due to me focusing on the clubface through the ball rather than letting it freewheel so nothing concerning there.

Based on this I played a round at the club and again tried to keep focused on the skills, I decided to leave the driver and use the 3 wood. Well! not the best round I have ever played but not bad either, the 3 wood gave me some nice distances, I did push a couple of them but that was due to over focus on path and forgetting to turn the clubface properly. My iron play and especially wedges were singing though, made a few great approaches from around 60 yards with my SW that dropped and stopped within a few feet of the pin. I will need to reconsider clubs for chips and short pitches though due to the amount of spin I am generating.

All in all a very satisfying start. Watch this space for further episodes

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Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!

hi Brian
you said you were not hitting your driver as far but were you getting the flight you wanted and was it going where you aimed.
bill

ill take you up on that offer if i ever want my confidence smashed into oblivion!
seriously just give me the nod ian

Bill,

I was getting slightly lower flight as I was working on a more horizontal hit with the driver as the book suggests, rather than the more upward sweep that I normally use. I believe this was a factor of shorter distance compounded with me slowing it down to concentrate on the skills. Direction was fine, a small draw shape but that is my normal anyway.

hi Brian
if your coming in on a flatter plane you may be catching the ball a little bit lower on the face of the driver too, maybe try and tee it up maybe 1/8 off an inch to 1/4 of a inch and see it you get the hight back but still that solid flat approach into the ball. put some talcum power on the face of the driver and see where your making contact. i know when i hit my driver off the fairway with no tee it fly's low and i always catch it about 1/4 of an inch below the sweet spot but its great for hitting under the wind like that on the long par 5s.
bill

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