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Casey Eberting Golf Schools and Golf Instruction
In Texas Hill Country between San Antonio and Austin, Texas
(40 minutes north of San Antonio International Airport)
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CE Golf Schools—Casey Eberting's San Antonio CE Golf Schools and Private San Antonio CE Golf Schools
Q & A - Page 3
Q & A Page 3 Table of Contents
Importance of large muscles is overemphasized
About the Sam2000 swing plane trainer
Too much of a beginner to attend a Seminar?
Q. Dear Sir,
I've read the information on your site and agree with everything you
say about really improving one's golf swing. There are no shortcuts or
magic potions to get a fundamentally correct swing. The main reason I
wrote is your ideas about muscle memory and being bombarded with too
many components of a good swing too soon in the learning process, sounds
very similar ( as with many of your philosophys) to Robert Poen's
method. Poen's Ultimate Swing consists of a lesson plan manual and
audio/visual tapes. Each fundemental component of the swing is
explained in text, pictures and verbal explanation. Each component has a
drill to be practiced with or without the club and the drills are done
slowly. The next fundemental builds on top of the first and the process
continues. For example, the lesson for month one consists of
relaxtion/visual imagery techniques, and the posture. The muscle memory
isolation drills of getting the hips back in the stance and the
shoulders over our foot line and the rest of what he considers a proper
posture must be learned and integrated to muscle memory before lesson
two. The whole program takes about one year to complete and one can't
jump ahead of the lesson order or mix each fundemental. It really sounds
like building a house from the foundation up. Like anything truly
learned, constant review and practice is essential after the year is up
to hone the skills acquired. Anyway, I was drawn to this method because
it did not guarantee a quick, band-aid fix. In fact, patience and
diligence will be tested using this method. My first question is if you
know more about Poen than I described, what do you think about this
method of learning the golf swing ? My second question relates to some
of Poen's theories.He belives that the large muscles of the hip and legs
play a big role in the swing. The arms and hands must trail the hip
turn and never vice versa. I'm not asking you to divulge any of your
theories, but if his makes sense or you disagree. Thanks for your time,
and I hope to see your reply. By the way, I like Sam Sneads swing, and
my favorite modern player's swing is Ernie Els.
Andrew
A. Andrew,
Thanks for writing. I have to admit I've never heard of Poen, but I very much like his teaching method as you describe it. However, while an instructor's teaching method is crucial to their student's learning, if the instructor doesn't have a sound knowledge of swing fundamentals, a good teaching method can turn into a nightmare for the student. Learning from an instructor who doesn't have a solid grasp of the swing and doesn't know how to teach it is a waste of a student's time, but having an instructor who can effectively teach an improper swing may cause some serious long term problems (assuming the student practices properly).
As for his theories, the large muscles do play an important role in the swing, but I think most instructors are seriously overemphasizing it. The hands and arms control the club and if the club isn't being placed in the right positions during the swing, no matter how hard a student focuses on moving the large muscles correctly, the swing will not be good. In other words, the motion of the arms and club will conflict with what the golfer is trying to do with his or her body (torso). On the other hand, if the arms get the club into proper position during the swing, the large muscles of the body will tend to work synergistically with what the arms and club are doing.
In conclusion, if he doesn't add to his discussion of large muscles the importance of swing plane and the motion of the arms and club in the forward swing (hint: the release is not the conscious rolling over of the arms in the impact area as just about every golfer and most instructors mistakenly assume), then no matter how good his teaching method, his ability to help your game will be limited. Best of luck!
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Before I get to more questions and answers, I would like to make a brief comment on the Sam2000 (or Sam 2000) swing plane trainer which is so heavily advertised on TV. The reason I am addressing this product is that I received a question regarding it, but I deleted the question and my response before I could add it to these pages.
For golfers who have atrocious swing planes, the Sam2000 would probably be of value, but for golfers who's planes aren't that bad, I have my doubts. I've never tried the Sam2000, but I've seen the commercials. The forward swings of the golfers using the Sam2000 appear awkward and just about anyone should be able to see this. Note how strange the swings look from impact position on up to the follow through. Top players don't swing like that. Of course, the real purpose of a plane trainer should be to develop a sound backswing plane, in which case I would recommend not practicing forward swings on one.
Hogan's Five Lessons, The Modern Fundamentals of Golf and a full length mirror are a much cheaper, and in my opinion, probably a better alternative for working on your swing plane. Golf is a very difficult game and there are no shortcuts to becoming a good golfer! However, if you think the Sam2000 will help, then give it a try before buying, or be sure there is a money back guarantee.
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Q. Hi, I have been playing golf for 20 years and though my handicap is around 3, I feel that I have more room for improvement. My problem is that most golfers feel that the game is 90% mental. When I play "loose", my game is much better than the games I play when I try too hard. Concentrating on shooting at targets, course management, and other techniques just foul up my score. Is there a better way I can improve beyond all of the technical aspects of the game and lower my scores? Please don't say "Just have fun" because I'm a little more serious about scoring low.
Bratbunch
A. Bratbunch,
You say that when you play loose your game is much better. There is nothing wrong with being carefree—just look at Couples and Trevino (because they are carefree while walking down the fairway doesn't mean that is how they are while hitting their shots!). But when you ask me not to tell you to "just have fun," I have to wonder. From your description, it sounds like that is exactly how you prefer do it—playing loose, carefree, having fun...they all mean pretty much the same thing.
No, I won't tell you to just have fun since that seems to be what you are presently doing. If you want to improve, you have to change something.
One option is to improve your swing. Many higher handicap golfers would think that because you have a low handicap your swing probably wouldn't need much work. Not so...even tour players spend a lot of time working on their swings (nobody's is perfect).
What most golfers don't realize is that a good Tour Professional could give you about 8 strokes per round and if you both played well, it would be a tight match. That's how much room for improvement a golfer with a 3 handicap has (8 strokes at this level is a huge amount!). Obviously, your goal is not to become a tour player. My point is that even though you have accomplished a tremendous amount by getting down to a 3 handicap, there are still plenty of things you can do to improve your swing.
A second option is to do what I suggest on my "Key To Better Golf" page—learn to play target golf. I know you say that it only fouls up your score, but I would be willing to bet you have never tried it for an extended period of time. On my page, I suggest that golfers try it for at least a few months before judging it's value, but 6 months is a more realistic figure.
Like anything else, you first have to learn how to do it (it isn't as easy as it may seem), then you have to become comfortable with it. If you are diligent, you should be borderline proficient after 6 months, but it will probably take a few years before you are really good at playing to targets.
How important is this? If you were my student, I would refuse to teach you if you didn't work on it! Why do I place so much importance on it? One word...feedback.
let's look at two scenarios. 1) When you stand on a tee and aim in a general direction down the fairway, anytime your ball ends up in the fairway, you have hit your target—you have accomplished your goal. Somewhere in your brain you are rewarded for your achievement. Scenario 2) When you stand on the tee and you aim at a sprinkler head that is 7 yards in from the left rough and 263 yards out and your ball ends up 248 yards out and 5 yards in from the right rough, you have missed your target by approximately 18 yards. Even though the ball is in the fairway, possibly in great position, you have not achieved your goal—it wasn't the shot you were trying to hit. No reward this time!
Which of these two methods of playing do you think will promote precision ball striking and, ultimately, better golf? Good luck.
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Q. Muscles don't have memory. Only the brain does. Muscles do only what the brain tells them to. Every swing exists first in the mind, then proceeds as the muscles follow their instructions. Faulty instructions lead to faulty swings. Most golfers never feel a good swing, so they don't know what to tell their bodies. It's amazing how often good athletes are credited with this non-existent condition of "muscle memory."
Russ
A. Russ,
Thanks for the note. You're right, muscles don't have memory (actually, I've never heard of any studies that prove or disprove it). But I do recall learning in a physiological psychology class that muscles don't always get their signals from the brain. In at least some, if not all, reflex actions, the nerve impulses only travel as far as the spinal chord and then travel directly to the muscles that need to be used.
One could ask if the golf swing is comprised of a series of reflex actions, but for the purposes of my muscle memory page, it would be a moot point. I use the term muscle memory because it's very simple and illustrative. What I am trying to get across by using it is that the golf swing, as is any learned physical motion, is essentially automatic. Whether it be controlled by the brain (on a subconscious level), the spinal chord, or the muscles, is inconsequential for all practical intent.
When you say that "every swing exists first in the mind," I assume you mean in the subconscious mind. If, on the other hand, you are trying to tell me that the golf swing is controlled by conscious thought, I will have to strongly disagree—there is way too much going on in the golf swing for the conscious mind to control.
As for good athletes being incorrectly credited with muscle memory, all I can say is that good athletes perform their motions automatically, regardless of what you want to call it. But it isn't just good athletes that move automatically (I am using this term because it may be more preferable to you than muscle memory), bad athletes also move automatically. The difference being that good athletes move automatically in an efficient and coordinated manner, whereas bad athletes move automatically in an inefficient and uncoordinated manner.
The bottom line is that while I admit that muscle memory may be an inaccurate term, the idea it represents is valid, as is my muscle memory page. If you disagree with this note and would like to debate the issue further, please send me a more detailed response.
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Q. Dear Golf Instructor, I basically want to thank you for your nice little "treatise" on golf lessons.I actually went to the range yesterday and used some of your ideas to success, rather than take a lesson.I live in San Diego and really have been unable to find an excellent instructor and am getting rather frustrated with the process.If you do get your seminar going in San Diego I would be interested in the details. I would suggest Torrey Pines, Aviara, Carlton Oaks, and La Costa or Red Hawkas good/great courses to play.Have a suggestion as to a pro in San Diego or how to improve my game/(it gets O.K. for awhile then I somehow slip into a bad short swing).
Well anyway, appreciated what you had to say.
Sincerely,
Dan
A. Dan, Thanks for the nice comments. I'm glad you had some success at the range, but remember, short term success is inconsequential (check my band-aid page—I just revised it). Improvement comes from practicing something over and over until it becomes part of you. Keep in mind that almost all golfers move on to something else long before they have learned (ingrained) what they were working on. To improve your swing you must work on one single thing for about a month (see the Muscle Memory page).
As for finding a good instructor in San Diego, I can't help you. It is very possible that there aren't any skilled instructors there. I grew up in L.A. and had to move to Florida to get skilled instruction.
Again, thanks for the e-mail.
PS. The only tip I can give you without being able to see your swing is to advise you to get Hogan's Book (see my fundamentals page for the title if you don't already have the book). Start from the beginning and practice everything you read. Remember, practice one thing for a month, then move on to the next. After you have worked your way through the book, start from the beginning again and do the whole thing over, then start again, and do the whole thing over, etc. Also, keep going back to my site—The information is deeper than it may seem. There are things in there that will take you many re-reads before you get a true understanding of what I am saying.
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Q. Dear Golf Instructor: Your timing is perfect for me.I spent some of yesterday and today looking for a golf school/academy to spend some warm days improving and playing.After fifteen years of playing without much formal training, I finally began lessons with a teaching professional who, I beleive, meets your criteria for being a good instructor.I took four lessons over a 16 week period and practiced four-five times per week. I play 3-4 times per week. As you might expect, my swing has slowly improved although I am even less consistent than I was with my home made but more practiced swing.My handicap remains a 16 although my distance has increased and I now move the ball right to left consistently.(Sometimes too much!)
I live in the Washington,DC suburbs, but would be willing to travel. Travel can be inexpensive if planned right.Let me know of any plans. Congratulations on your new page.I enjoyed reading it. You confirmed my own experience this year.
Mark
A. Mark, Improving one's swing is tougher than most people realize. It sounds like you have the right attitude (and some patience, or at least determination, both or which are an absolute necessity).
Loss of consistency is a result of working on your swing. Things will settle down when you take a break (stop working on your swing), which I recommend you do every once in awhile (you don't say whether you plan to continue with the lessons on a regular basis).
You mention that you now hit the ball right to left so I assume (if you're right handed) that you hit a fade or slice before. Be careful. A slight draw is fine, but a hook is the worst shot in golf (I don't consider a shank a shot). Most great golfers hit fades—you get more control because a fade is several degrees removed from the uncontrollable hook.
Thanks for writing, feedback is really important for me right now. Let me know how things go. Good Luck.
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Q. I am definitely interested in your idea of a golf vacation seminar. But I am concerned about my short time as a golfer. I have only been golfing for 2 years, would this be a problem? Since I have started golfing I am so in love with the game, your idea sounds like nothing but pleasure. Please let me know of any plans for this golf vacation seminar.
Seng
A. Seng, I'm very glad that you are interested and no, the fact that you have only played for two years is not a problem. The only things that matters as far as one's level of skill is that they be able to keep up with the group ahead of them while playing golf, and that they be familiar with golf etiquette.
As far as the Seminar is concerned, the only requirement is that you have a keen interest in gaining knowledge of swing fundamentals and in finding ways to improve, and of course, you must also have a keen interest in wanting to have fun—I believe in working hard, but I also believe that you have to enjoy yourself!
My web site is brand new and I have yet to get listed on most of the major search engines so I won't know for a couple months if there will be enough interest in the Vacation Seminars. I am very encouraged by the early responses, though.
As I mention in my Golf Schools page, I instructed at what was probably the best school in the world. But as good as it was, I would stand on the range and I would feel a deep seated dissatisfaction within me. I knew that all of those students who were hitting balls—trying to improve their games—would go home happy with all of the new information they had learned. But I also knew that several months later they were going to be lost. I knew because it happened to me when I attended the school (the information was great, but after awhile, I didn't know what I should have been working on).
The basic premise of just about any golf school is to have students learn golf swing fundamentals while hitting balls. The students never have time to learn what they were being taught, and this is a problem with just about every golf school.
My goal with the Seminar is that when students leave, they leave with the knowledge of golf swing fundamentals firmly entrenched in their minds. I won't make the mistake of trying to make their bodies learn the swing—that comes only after much practice, much more than could ever be done in a few days!
Again, thanks for your interest. I have your e-mail address, if there is enough interest, I will send you more information.
PS. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a note.
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