Secret in the Dirt: Compression/Snead's Squat

[EternalAnachronism]

Sevam, I take it that you're not a big fan of Mike Austin acolytes, as they say that the club should be thrown from the top. I don't agree with them, either, and the ironic thing is that it isn't what Austin actually did, as he had an much lag as anyone.

[sevam1]

@EternalAnachronism I like a lot of what Mike Austin had to say I understand that Hogan played quite a few practice rounds with him and liked to watch him because he killed it with a fade. As for "the throw" this is always going to be tricky to interpret because the golf motion is like a throw but there is a difference between trying to throw the handle or throw the whole club or trying to throw the weight at the end of the stick (ie the clubhead). These are three different throws.

[EternalAnachronism]

@sevam1, I agree, but it's a matter of perception. Most people, Austin included, describe what they feel, not what's actually happening. The problem is that what they feel isn't necessarily indicative of what they're doing, and the failure to understand this is one of the biggest failings of instructors (I used to teach - a different sport). Good point, though, about the different kinds of "throws."

[sevam1]

@EternalAnachronism Yes. There is feel and there is "real" and there is also intent. So you may have an intent that does not match up with what really transpires. You also have to deal with imbalances in the relative strengths of different parts of the body. Someone with strong legs and weak hands and arms may feel like the legs aren't doing all that much because that part of the action doesn't feel like work and so you are very right. These are things that make teaching tricky.

[MrPigg11]

Whoa! why can't i get Bill Murray out of my head when I watch this video?

This crowd has gone deadly silent, a Cinderella story outta nowhere. Former greenskeeper and now about to become the masters champion ... He's on his final hole. He's about 455 yards away, he's gonna hit about a 2 iron I think ... IT'S IN THE HOLE!

[2000gpg]

Mike, you said they swung the club,reminded me of something an old golf buddy told me......he played at the club where Fred Daly was pro, a British Open winner,

Daly would not let begginers hit balls till they had learnt to swing the club, and tried to get them to think swing not hit

This makes so much sense....

[dschultz6072]

@2000gpg that's a good instructor.

[secrettogolf]

Mike- How is the new equipment going to kill the swing and increase throwing of the club?

Thanks

G

[stressandwallop]

Too light to begin with. Overall weight and swing weight. The clubhead does not pull against the motion. The result is that the golfer must actively hold angles that inertia used to provide dynamically. Next is offset in irons. Offset creates a bias to close. A properly balanced golf club with no offset will rotate in a more balanced condition around the hosel.

[sevam1]

OOPS. That's my comment above but I was signed into another account. Anyway carrying on...

Next is the more upright lie angles that most modern clubs ship with. Great for selling clubs because catching the heel slams it square. A slicer feels great trying these sticks out because when the heal slams the ball flies straight, but this results in a massive deloft also and now when you combine the already stronger than necessary lofts we now must have hybrids and a bag full of gap wedges. NUTS!

[secrettogolf]

Anything you wold recommend Mike, maybe the use of some weighted tape.I know I will have better feel with heavier head,don't really know how to place it.I also will be getting thinner grips do to a finger injury.I would imagine this would help feel the clubhead more.

[sevam1]

Actually lately I have gotten into the habit of buying old sticks on Ebay. I may swap out the shafts because the old ones tend to be rusting from the inside out and are inconsistent due to this and because tolerances and matching for shafts have improved. I cake lead tape on also if necessary, but that depends on the clubs.

[sevam1]

You want to feel like you have something to react to when it comes to the weight. I am not saying that you can move a heavier club faster because you can't but the path will be purer and the strikes more solid more often.

[secrettogolf]

I'm lefty so I don't know about finding clubs on Ebay.How do you go about placing the tape on the club,i.e. where is the best locate it on the clubhead and how much weight would you rec?

Thanks

Boston George

[sevam1]

I see left handed sticks often on Ebay.

Buy a roll of lead tape from a golf pro or on ebay. Get a big roll, because the smaller rolls are not worht paying for if you are truly going to be experimenting. You will go through a lot of tape adding it and taking it off until you get the feel that you desire.

Put the tape onto the back of the blade running from heel to toe.

[sevam1]

Do not put a alot of tape high on the back of the club unless you have trouble keeping the ball down. Try to keep it pretty much centered in line with the clubs sweet spot which should be about the 4th groove. Try to have as much tape above as below that grove. Start with one club from the middle of the set like a 6 iron. Adding the tape should be done the same way you add salt to soup. Add some. Try it out. Then add some more. When it feel right measure and take note of the swing weight

[theestrogenius]

Oh hell no. Mike is off limits bro. He would never say this (because he's a nice person) , but he could definitely outscore you using only one club. Leave your comments elsewhere.

[gmonkey808]

PS sorry to call your talks 'tips' hahahaha i see you dont like that!!!!

Keep posting Mike i would love you to turn me into a decent player.

Your passion for Golf is great to see.

I was looking at old clips of Ben and Moe and came across your posts. Thanks again

[gmonkey808]

Your videos are great Mike thanks for posting them.

My HC is 12 and i am good at other sports so i would expect to be at least single figs. I am self taugh and have realised that i do many things wrong. I roll my right foot over on backswing and dont plant the right leg. Also i do not finish with much weight on left foot. I also bend my left arm on backswing much more than you. I will hope that these tips make me better. Get camera guy to only talk when you have finished your point. im RHand

[latepivot]

Fark me Do you really believe your bullshit

[mattyvirgo]

Sevam1,

I compltly agree with your statment of technoligy killing the art of swinging a club.

"if you cant feel the club head, how do you know where it is and what's it doing"

Great instructions.

[tongzilla]

hi sevam1, can you please explain what you were saying at the end of the video, "equipment is going to kill...".Thanks

[sevam1]

Many reasons... The equipment is getting too light for one to help less skilled golfers. Sure you can move the clubhead fast, but it is harder to get it swinging and feel it swinging. Offset in irons heads is another. Great stuff if you are looking to develop 1 shot. Horrible for shaping shots because it is no loger balanced to rotate evenly and squarely in relationship with the shaft. The equipment is made to make it easier for beginners..they will stay beginners. They will not graduate

[imacfunk]

Sevam1 - excellent. My instructor worked with Moe for about ten years between '75 and '85 and what you are pointing out is right on the money. Love the way you convey the 'Moe' drop and lead. When I get the okay from my instructor I'd love to show you videos I did of him - a ringer for Moe back in the '70's. Keep those videos coming and enjoin your buddy to minimize his editorial comments. =o)

[DeniedHealthCare]

YES! I've been knocking around some old persimmon clubs, and comparing them to hybrids and newer larger fairway woods. I have found that the old persimmon 5w was much easier to hit than my 18* hybrid, and my modern larger 5w. It was definitely easier to shape my shots with the old persimmon head. I think that golf instruction has killed golfers as well. Too much video, not enough individualized instruction.

[pat52007]

Sevam, I agree. I miss the old persimmon woods. I did however purchase some traditional type blade irons...I don't like the cavitiy backs at all...they feel like marshmellows!! I am now looking into a smaller cc driver...reason; I just don't get the feedback from the larger monsterous heads.

[senortop]

Sev: happened upon your posts & really dig em'. I too have my own reverse tech testimony. I learned on my dads ol' Lynx Masters w/ persimmon woods, moved on (so I thought) to GS Penick irons w/ graphite. That switch along w/ a series of conventional lessons, & I dropped the clubs within 2yrs (97?).

The bug just returned in April. I even tried a Nike Sumo for bout a week! LOL, where's the beef? Funny thing ... now their ADDING weights back on! Nothing beats maraging woods & steel irons.

[TF58TF58]

George Knudson had a great swing.

[sevam1]

Yes he did!!!