My thoughts on Greg Normans "The Secret"

I got this last week and here are my thoughts.

On Thursday I practised with it in my home. At first I found it very hard and awkard to use. I must be a swatter because at the top of my swing the plastic kept digging into the elastic. I had to swing in super slow motion and soon I got the hang of it. I did notice my set up was completely different. My hands were well ahead of the ball and my right arm was in a flatter position.

On Friday I went to the driving range and my first problem was I couldn't even address the ball properly. The plastic kept digging into the elastic bit. I sorted this by changing my left hand grip and making it a bit stronger. I started hitting some balls. I hit around 100 balls and then went to my club's practise area and hit another 50. I was quite impressed. My horrible push slice had gone and my irons seemed lower and with a bit of draw.

I played a round today and it was a nightmare. I've never hit so many drives left. Most were pulled - hooks and skyed. My irons mostly pulled which at least was a change from spending all my time on the right side of the golf course !

Throughout the round My Dad kept telling me that my new set up looked horrible, my hands were too much in front of the ball. I did say that I was changing my swing and it was bound to take some time to sort things out. Anyway I hit one green in regulation which is an all time low for about 5 seasons and I scored an 82. (Triple bogey on the last !)

Anyway to solve this high pulled hook, I squared my shoulders and moved the ball back in my stance. Is this the right thing to do ?

Overall I'm going to keep using "The Secret" and give it at least until Christmas to see if things improve !

Dear Puttking,

If you don't mind, I'll add my comments to yours. I have been using it for several months now. I like you, had developed one of the ugliest, most demoralizing push slices ever seen on earth. I was desparate.

I started using Greg Willis's right hand drill. It helped but in his article, he referred to "The Secret". I bought one on Ebay. As soon as I started using it, I realized how bad I had been casting. It was awful. The Secret restored the proper feeling of how the wrists must release through the swing. I am not saying that it was the sole cure for me, but it was an absolute Godsend.

I am now hitting the ball better than I have in my life.

I think you should stick with it. Maybe the reason it is causing so much discomfort is that you were also casting or swatting, as you say.

In summary, I think it is a very helpful golf swing "gadget". I don't know why they quit manufacturing it??

Hittem Long and Straight,

Chessbum...

Use a spatula instead. It doesn't force the unnatural setup position.

what is this secret trying to achieve?
I've never seen one but from what I gather its delaying the release, right?
How?

This is my progress report.

I was looking at my new setup (hands forward etc) in the mirror and it looked horrible. After looking at a few pictures of golfers I soon realized this setup was not going to work. I then had this brainwave. The Secret using muscle memory had taught me to use my wrist action correctly and stopped me swatting my hands from side to side. What would happen if I went back to normal setup ?

I played 2 rounds today and after a few problems with allignment I started hitting the ball really well. It was the best I've hit the ball for months. Second round of the day was a gross 73.

So the secret as worked partly. It as helped me with my wrist action and stopped me casting. Yet I can't use the setup which it creates.

I have found this with the Secret also. Its good for setting and maintaining the wrist action, but I am not a fan of the set up. I feel as though I am playing cricket with it on.

I use the secret as a tool to get me to feel not swatting through impact, just as the Greg Willis right hand drill does. Forget about using the secret as a tool to put you in a proper set up position, it's main funtion is to train (by exageration) a diffferent impact position.