Still teachin Austinology...

Golfbald · #16 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 12:37 PM

Matt,

How to kill the ball is Dan's handywork. That one is NOT the MA method. Secrets of the games longest hitter is where I start all my students. It's at PeaceRivergolf.com. This was the last video Mike and Mike did. Mike told me about How to kill the ball when it was being written. He never endorsed it. I remember talking to him about it and he went ballistic about it. I never brought it up again after that.

I know there are 2 ladies in Texas that came out to see Mike every year that are PGA instructors but their names ilude me now. I'm sure Thomas still teaches in Oregon. Mike Dunaway is in Rogers, Ark. I'm in New Orleans.

GB

Matt10 · #17 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golfbald

Matt,

How to kill the ball is Dan's handywork. That one is NOT the MA method. Secrets of the games longest hitter is where I start all my students. It's at PeaceRivergolf.com. This was the last video Mike and Mike did. Mike told me about How to kill the ball when it was being written. He never endorsed it. I remember talking to him about it and he went ballistic about it. I never brought it up again after that.

I know there are 2 ladies in Texas that came out to see Mike every year that are PGA instructors but their names ilude me now. I'm sure Thomas still teaches in Oregon. Mike Dunaway is in Rogers, Ark. I'm in New Orleans.

GB

Great - the one from Peace River - Secrets of the Games Longest Hitter - that is the DVD I have. The book How to Kill the Ball and 21st Century Golf Swing I have as well, but as you said, are by Shauger.

I'll have to dig up the DVD when I get home - I remember it being pretty well done.

Thanks GB.

BrianW · #18 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golfbald

Brian,

Like Low Post stated, its kinesiology applied to the golf swing using the muscles and joints in an optimum manner. I guess that would be the short answer. I picked Mike's brain every week for month's and would get bit's and pieces. I found my experience like a jigsaw puzzle constantly adding pieces until it is highly efficient. I like to use the analogy get it started and get out of its way. Mike always said if you’re doing it right the power produced feels like it will rip your arms out of the sockets.

Some of the differences are the 2 part lower body movement. A gate like motion where on posts the weight on the right side without locking the right knee and the left knee comes down the left side swigs around the post then at the transition the weight shifts to the left first and right side comes in line with the left. I tell students keep the belly button moving.

The arm movement at the start of the backswing is a bit different. I could probably do 2 pages on how it's different. Basically, I try to get each arm working individually so a student can understand each arms role in the swing. I then manipulate the arms in the proper position. When I put my hands on a students arm, I can feel the muscles contract and relax and know when they are doing it right. I then have them marry the two arms into one action on the club so the brain can coordinate the movement. The important positions are the parallelogram with the club shaft, arms and shoulders. It looks like you are taking the club low and to the inside but its just part of the wind-up.

Overall I like the balance from side to side, no part of the body forcing the swing, each body part giving its total energy when called upon. The swing becomes a massive energy release at impact.

I am putting together all my notes from talking with Mike, all my videos and observations I have written about how I have taught students this swing and am going to put it on tape. There is so much detail in the swing there is not any one source of information to go to anymore.

I was teaching a new golfer tonight who was doing more gardening, throwing dirt and grass on my back than hitting the ball. In 30 minutes, I had him looking somewhat like a golfer. He was hitting a 9i about 120-125 yards straight and high with some spin. He had a lot of bad luggage coming into the lesson but left in pretty good shape to move forward. The keys were the pivot first, then getting the right arm fixed. He was ecstatic about the sudden progress. This swing is easy to learn but difficult to master the finer points. I just went to blades because I feel confident I can hit them again. Heart problems slow on to a halt some days.

Sorry for the rambling its been a difficult week. I hope there is an answer in here somewhere.

GB

GB,

Thanks for taking time to explain, it is appreciated. There is plenty for me to ponder on.

I am glad that you are feeling better.

jambalaya · #19 (**permalink**) 06-12-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golfinguy28

MA's 2 "secrets" are the compound pivot and the door knob.

The compound pivot is moving the right hip up as it turns, all that does is set for a good brace to hit against, its not that big of a secret and will probly naturally happen if you let your mind turn your hip and your right hand fires through.

The door knob (not sure what he actually calls it) is thinking of a rotating a door in your right hand knob counter clockwise in the BS and clockwise in the DS. I have heard of pretnd like you are skipping stones on a pond method which seems similar to me. basically it gets you in the proper postion at the top as far as the cup and cock go which is right hand fully cupped and then cocked. Personally I prefer to cup as the 1st move for the takeaway and then cock it as I go back which if I "turn the knob" I would be in that postion up top, I just feel "too bouncy" at the top if I use MA's method.

Though I dont' think he used any "ground breaking" secrets, he does have sound advice. I mean who else hit a ball 512 yds, he must be doing something right. I never did see his videos though maybe he explains it better than some and people get it better and can relate with his method, but I don't think it is anything special.

Please explain the part I have bolded. I am a right handed golfer so to move the right hip up as a turn (turn back?) is confusing. I would think I am creating a reverse pivot. And how do I hit "against" my right hip. In the forward swing should one hit against the front hip (left hip for a right hander). You may be left handed but this doesn't make sense to me.

golfinguy28 · #20 (**permalink**) 06-13-2008, 12:20 AM

. .

jambalaya · #21 (**permalink**) 06-13-2008, 01:19 PM

So GG28, the Mike Austin thing has helped you to see the light? I too am trying to develop a more natural swing with the idea of throwing the club with the right hand as part of the process. My problem is I just can't consistently get posted up on that left leg to complete the forward turn and get maximum leverage in my swing. I'm making a little progress though.

One thing I find happening when using the right arm or hand more is that it works really well at first then suddenly I lose my swing plane and have to go back to just thinking about keeping the club on plane. I can at least make decent contact just keeping the club on plane but there is still something missing. That certain pop in my swing is not there.

I am thinking about looking at Mike Austin's DVD or perhaps the 3skills thing to see if I can find another breakthrough.

golfinguy28 · #22 (**permalink**) 06-13-2008, 03:38 PM

. .

glennt1966 · #23 (**permalink**) 07-01-2008, 04:34 AM

New student to the Mike Austin swing and i definitely agree that the George H stuff is not very good. I have the Secrets of the Worlds Longest Hitter video and will stick with that as it seems simple and seems to work.

Pin High · #24 (**permalink**) 08-07-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golfbald

Matt,

How to kill the ball is Dan's handywork. That one is NOT the MA method. Secrets of the games longest hitter is where I start all my students. It's at PeaceRivergolf.com. This was the last video Mike and Mike did. Mike told me about How to kill the ball when it was being written. He never endorsed it. I remember talking to him about it and he went ballistic about it. I never brought it up again after that.

I know there are 2 ladies in Texas that came out to see Mike every year that are PGA instructors but their names ilude me now. I'm sure Thomas still teaches in Oregon. Mike Dunaway is in Rogers, Ark. I'm in New Orleans.

GB

GolfBald,

PM sent

HytrewQasdfg · #25 (**permalink**) 08-18-2008, 03:10 PM

I'm trying to learn a little about the Austin swing so I thought I'd throw my 2 cents worth in (and ask a couple of questions).

I purchased:

Mike & Mike's "Secrets" video,
Dunaway's "World's Best Driver" video,
Dunaway's "Hit it Hard" book,
Shauger's "How to Kill the Ball" book.

(As an aside, it is amazing what you can find on Amazon in the used section, I have less that $50 in the entire collection, and I've always believed you have to get information from multiple sources to get the whole story.)

I'm not sure if Shauger is teaching a variation on Austin's swing, or is just emphasising things differently. There's not doubt though, if you followed Shauger's advice to the tee you would have a different swing than if the followed both Mike's advice to a tee (although to be fair, Dunaway also seems to emphasize things slightly differently in both videos.)

Both books talk about a cranking motion, and the videos talk about throwing from the top. Shauger though, talks about rolling your left wrist counter-clockwise on the back swing, then turning your right wrist clockwise (like turning a doorknob) on the downswing. I Shauger just trying to emphasize that you don't want to use the rolling of the arms by emphasizing the opposite, or is this clockwise twisting motion part of the Austin swing that just isn't emphasized in the other material.

The other thing I noticed is the books emphasize the hip shift & tilt and straightening of the posting leg (right on backswing, left on forswing), but when I watched the videos it seems like a much more subtle motion. Neither Dunaway or Austin lock their legs at anytime, and Austins hip sway and tilt seemed almost imperceptible in the video (even slowed down, although Dunaway seems to show more sway/tilt). However, the guy that appears in Shauger's book performing examples also appears on the extras fo the "Secrets" video, and as far as I can tell he does lock his leg and has a noticble hip sway/tilt.

So which is it? should there be a big sway/tilt with the locking of legs or is this just exageratted in the teaching to get you out of the "bent knees, level hips, rotate around your spine" mindset?

golfinguy28 · #26 (**permalink**) 08-18-2008, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HytrewQasdfg

I'm

The other thing I noticed is the books emphasize the hip shift & tilt and straightening of the posting leg (right on backswing, left on forswing), but when I watched the videos it seems like a much more subtle motion. Neither Dunaway or Austin lock their legs at anytime, and Austins hip sway and tilt seemed almost imperceptible in the video (even slowed down, although Dunaway seems to show more sway/tilt). ?

you never want to Lock your legs, there is a difference in straitinging and locking. if you had to hold 200lbs over your head on one leg, would you lock it or just keep it strait? you would deffinatley not bend it.

MA advocates in what appears to me to be a reverse pivot as some call it. Most current teachings tell you to always keep that spine tilt in the same direction through the swing. MA uses his lower spine like a pendulum and moved it back and forth. So at the top of his swing the back leg is straiting and forms a straight line he calls that his spine extended from his nick to his knee on the back foot and the front side pivots and shifts around that hinge like a gate. and on the DS his front legs stratiens and creates a hinge from which the rear leg can close around the post and slam into the ball.

I am surprised you got all thoose videos and books on people saying "this is what MA taught me" instead of getting an actual MA video and seeing and hearing what MA actually taught. He is giving dunaway lessons and still dunaway will swing wrong and MA will so , "no, not like that, liek this".

If the guy can't remember what MA taught his 5 mins ago how accurate can he be 20 some years?

My advice, get the info strait from the horses mouth.

HytrewQasdfg · #27 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by golfinguy28

I am surprised you got all thoose videos and books on people saying "this is what MA taught me" instead of getting an actual MA video and seeing and hearing what MA actually taught.

My advice, get the info strait from the horses mouth.

Austin is on one of the videos.

Your comment does bring up a good point I've noticed. The people surrounding this swing method remind me of a dysfunctional family. Bickering over who is teaching the true swing and who has the right to teach it and who doesn't. It sounds like a bunch of children arguing about which one daddy loved the most.

It's a golf swing, not the formula to turn lead into gold.

I've notice people can teach something in totally different ways, yet achieve the same results. That they emphasize different parts, or use different examples doesn't mean they are teaching it wrong. It only means they are using a different method to teach it.

This is good, because students are different. A single type of teaching approach will not work with every student.

I think it is important to get info form a variety of sources/teachers. What one teacher believes is obvious (so it doesn't even rate a mention) is often a point another teacher feels is obscure (and thus needs to be emphasized.)

The bickering among the teachers of this method is doing them all harm. Potential students don't say "This guy is teaching the real swing, so I'll stay away from the other guys." They say "These guys are an arguing mess, I'm not sure which one has it right, so I'm just going to was my hands of the whole Austin swing thing."

From a marketing perspective, if you want to popularize this swing (and make more money) the half dozen or so guys that have written about this method or present themselves as gurus should bury the hatchet, resolve their personal differences, and form something like "The Austin Swing Teachers Assoc." to help promote the swing method.

If there are slight variations in the way different people teach the swing, that's OK. Even Austin taught the swing slightly differently as he got older.

By presenting more of a united front (instead of the bickering one now presented), the swing will become more popular, and EVERYBODY will have more students and make more money.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Register Now for FREE!
You have not yet registered on GTO. Sign up for FREE INSTANTLY and gain full access, just fill out the form below! Username: Password: Confirm Password: E-Mail: Confirm E-Mail: I agree to forum rules