handicap Archives | Graves Golf

I don’t know why – maybe because we asked for opinion’s on our new promo video (see above), but for some reason I received many emails this past week from our alumni telling us about their improvement and “what they have done” to get better….

Like I always say, I am not sure if there is any better “references” than to listen to those just like you.

“How did they do it?”

“What can I “copy” to get better like them” …

Before I list some of these emails, I want to restate: These GGA alumni are just like you… most work (have limited time for golf), most are between mid-40s and 70, most started at mid to high handicaps, all want to get better at this game.

Hopefully, reading these emails will help you think of ways you can improve and get better at this game as these alumni are. (I have bolded some points I think will help EVERYONE.)

Email #1 From: John Olson, MN

“Hi Tim, I finished second in our club championship both in low net and low gross – handicapping if some high handicap gets hot can really be a problem.

On very slick tucked greens – I shot a 79 (45 mph gusts) – 70 for a 149 total (par 144) to finish 2nd. The guy who won low gross is a +1 and beat me by 2 strokes.

Currently, I am playing at a 5 and shrinking. Funny thing is I only play 9 holes a week, but spend my time in my basement practicing tempo and positions – always practicing with a purpose.

What has been interesting for me to observe is how much emphasis needs to be on the PUTTING GAME at a higher level. Listen to this, for the week I was #1 in fairways and GIR – finished 2nd. My putting was only average and the guy who won was fantastic, despite finishing out of the top ten in every other category. Once the ball striking gets to a point and your short game gets better – it is all about putting. Interesting to me is that I think I need to get my putter fit as well. I noticed how many times I miss hit putts and it was scary. I think many overlook how important getting a putter fit is to your game – all my other equipment is, why not a putter as well.

I just wanted you guys to know in the 7 years I now have bought into your method – my handicap has gone down from a 22 to 5 and that is only because I get 1.5 hours a week to play. In my mind, I am a scratch golfer and I carry that confidence with me to the course. There was a point in time I couldn’t keep the ball in the next fairway, now I am upset when I am in the primary cut. For me to get to the next level – I will become a better putter.

Oh by the way (the even better news) – I also qualified for the MN Amateur, but sadly cannot play due to unexpected family stuff.

I get so many compliments on my swing and accuracy now – your approach has taken me to this level. Be sure to tell people how important mirrors and video are – it is the way to quick improvement. Oh, one more thing – tell people to stop listening to people on the range. If you don’t have a plan before you go to the range – don’t go! Your improvement plan must be your own – or it simply won’t work.

This winter I start a complete breakdown of my putting game and change the way I do business on the greens. If I want to excel in even harder tournaments – this needs to happen.

Thanks Todd and Tim for everything

Loyal student since 2000 John Olson

*****************

Email #2 From: G. Benore. MI:

“The new video is FABULOUS! Great marriage of music and the written word. I thought the graphics were way more powerful than the usually spoken word by a narrator.

Btw – my swing is coming around. Finally learning to come down from the inside. Been really concentrating on basics (mostly grip, set up and the first couple feet of backswing.) Much more distance and very straight. I was playing with my buddy and his daughter a couple of weeks ago (she’s a captain in the Coast Guard) and I finally missed a fairway about hole 14. She laughed and told me she was starting to think I made a deal with the devil.

A free information CD is a great idea. As my swing has improved, people have been approaching me on the range and asking why my ball goes so straight. I’ve been carrying around a few business cards in my bag, and I write www.swinglikemoe.com on the back and give it to them, along with a spiel. I also sent a VERY much brainwashed NG’er to your Site, and his initial suspicion was completely overcome by your instruction, honesty, and sincerity. He told me that he thought NG was indeed a fine instruction school, until he saw your Site, which blew him away.

I finished “The art of learning” by Josh Waitzkin. Fabulous book. He speaks at length about building a trigger, finding ways to enter the zone naturally, how to deal with setbacks and mental challenges, etc. He’s the guy who was a world champ at chess when he was just 7 or 8 years old, (the movie “searching for Bobby Fischer” is about him, it’s a true story.) got burned out by competitive chess at 20, wandered into a Tai Chi class, and was a world Champ in the fighting form of Tai Chi in just 3 years!!! He realized that what he is good at it learning to do new things. He says that learning anything is the result of lots of small, repeated steps, and the zone is the zone, no matter the activity. He says the zone for chess, the zone for fighting tough guys, and the zone for writing a book are ALL THE SAME ZONE, AND THAT IT IS THE SAME FEELING FOR EACH! Great, great book, I think all of you guys would like it. It’s been on the best seller lists for a few weeks, I think. http://www.joshwaitzkin.com/

Take care, my friend, and keep up the good work.”

GB D. Gary Benore

************************

Email #3 From: Bill Mulderig, NY

“Hi Tim and Todd,

This is Bill Mulderig about to be 72 years old. I attended your school in May at Conn. My game was a shambles 102 to 112 all spring.

Yesterday I scored 88 ; last week I beat the ex-club champion in a match to advance. My partners some aged 50 and younger are astounded at how far my drives have advanced.

I am having a ball. THANKS! I watch all your tapes and practice a lot with the club [GGA Training Grip Club]. I am shooting to break 80 this season, all I can say is you guys are truly terrific.

I tell all my freinds to contact you and in fact I recently gave your web site to a local PGA professional who coaches at Spring Valley High school in Rockland County NY.

I suggested he become a teacher of the Moe Norman discipline. I hope he contacts you (Sean K.) Anyway old geezers can learn new tricks!!

Thanks Bill

**********

Email #4 From: Bill Salmon, OH

“Tim, Check out this month’s Golf Magazine, Feature article how your game can be improved with a 3/4 swing.

No mention of single plane. Two Ph.D.’s, figured this one out….

If this story can be featured in Golf magazine, The Moe/Graves story should also be a candidate to be featured. These genius’ s only have part of the story, it’s a poorly written 1/2 truth.

Bill Salmon

Shot 74 yesterday, a personal best. After 2 1/2 years , it’s finally sinking in, I have my 9 plane swing down to one plane. Thank you, Graves Academy! Swinging at 80% and hitting it square is far more effective than swinging hard! Again the Troubles and Solutions, helped me turn the corner.”

********

Again, as I always say – you can definitely learn from those that have “walked in your shoes”…. I love hearing about all our alumnus’ improvement – I receive emails like these EVERY DAY. Keep them coming!!!

Hopefully, you will find information in these I copied above that will help you with your game…

Good Luck, Tim Remember – Always Practice with a Purpose

Process and Progress of GGA Alumni – The Path

This past Monday and Tuesday we had the privilege of again teaching a group of our alumni at our academy in Orlando. This is always a treat for us as we get to see the improvement of our students and help them continue on their path to great golf games.

What I want to talk about in this Practice Tip is what I always tell our students to focus on… How are other golfers similar to themselves are getting better and what do you (as a student) need to “copy” or imitate to follow the same path?

I believe, as most instructors believe, it is not about “reinventing the wheel” but rather using what is out there working for others to work for you… I took some statistics from those attending our alumni school… thought this might help those with their path to a better game.

(If you doubt the stats or opinions we are suggesting – remember that the alumni who attended the school are reading this also….)

1. There were 12 alumni who attended our school this week (both male and female) at our school.

Age range: 45 to 75 years
Past history with the GGA – Minimal
One 3 day school in past up to one student who has attended five 3 day schools and 3 Build Your Game Camps.
Handicap of Students – Range – 8 to a 34.
Handicap reduction (with GGA) – Of those interviewed: 4 had a reduction of around 25%, 3 had a reduction of 50% and 1 had reduction of 60%.
- (Example – one noted reducing handicap from 20 when he began with GGA to a 14 … approx. 25% reduction)

2. Todd and I discussed following the first day – With minimal exception (one student) all the alumni had GOOD to VERY GOOD Grips (hand placement on the clubs). This was absolutely FANTASTIC to us… You have heard us state hundreds of times – we primarily teach the grip – seems like 75% ++ of our teaching revolves around changing the hands to proper positions that lead to good swings/ on plane with leverage and speed, etc… Our alumni group had solved the issue of the grip (or were well on their way…).

* Why??? I will be 100% biased here… and yes, you can take this as a sales tactic – that is 100% fine with me – all but one has our Training Grip – and they all stated they use it frequently. In fact, many brought their own to our school and I could tell they had been used a lot… THAT WAS AWESOME!!!! And obviously – they have been told many times through our instructional material and in person (maybe “harped at” is more like it) the importance of a good grip.

3. Their set ups were for the most part good. Now, you noticed I didn’t say great… most still had some work to do in this area… but they were again well on their way to getting a good single axis set up. I will call it “tweaking” their setups, rather than building or overhauling…

4. Todd put each student on video both days (we are able to do this as we don’t have to cover the basics as we do in our 3 day schools, etc..) and the majority quickly realized what they needed to work on – meaning, they could see quickly their swing faults and knew how to make adjustments with some help.

This is what we call perception vs. reality in the golf swing. Perceiving what you need to work on and putting it into “reality” in their swing…

* We believe the ease of this perception vs. reality and putting into effect is because our alumni typically have a very good knowledge of our teaching material – they take time to study the Total Game Overview and 7 principles… and call/email and/or visit our chatroom when they have questions … Fact – Of the 12 alumni at our school – 8 visit our forum frequently and most of these ask weekly questions.

5. Drills, drills, and more drills. It became very obvious, very fast, that most worked on our suggested drills quite often. For example – when we discussed and suggested the PVC pivot point drill – after minimal explanation and example – most mastered without any problem. And most stated they perform drills quite often at home, (hopefully in front of a mirror, etc..). You could definitely tell the majority knew to work on and master individual positions rather than being overwhelmed with the entire swing…

Couple More Interesting Points:

We talked about the Cause/Effect relationship on Day #1. Was great to see so many of our alumni look at themselves on video and say about certain issues in their swings “That is an effect – I can’t fix that – but can fix the Cause which will, in turn, solve the effect” Please, please, please – determine what are Causes and what are Effects in your own swing – Remember you can fix the Cause, not the Effect. Fixing the Cause will, in turn, fix the Effect.
The majority of our alumni have learned how to “pace” themselves. Maybe again, after enough of our “harping” hopefully they realize it is not how many golf balls you hit, but the quality of the practice you put into hitting the balls. For example, was very common to see a student hit the leverage bag a few times, swing the PVC a couple of times and then hit a couple of balls… not a ball beating session.

Again – this is not a typical GGA practice tip – but we believe there is some VERY VALUABLE points/advice to be learned from fellow single plane golfers just like you… again – don’t reinvent the wheel, but rather use what is there, put into your “path” and go along with them to MUCH BETTER golf!!!

Good Luck. Remember – ALWAYS PRACTICE WITH A PURPOSE

Join 1M+ Subscribers to get your FREE Video Quick Start Guide that reveals how to hit the ball farther and straighter more consistently from now on…

LEARN YOUR NEW GOLF SWING

LEARN

THE

SWING

START YOUR NEW GOLF SWING

handicap

Join 1M+ Subscribers to get your FREE Video Quick Start Guide that reveals how to hit the ball farther and straighter more consistently from now on…

LEARN YOUR NEW GOLF SWING

Find More Single Plane Swing Content on

OUR SOCIAL MEDIA

LEARN

THE

SWING

START YOUR NEW GOLF SWING