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Dowel Practice

Chapter 3

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  #1  
Old 04-27-2006, 10:50 AM
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Dowel Practice
Quote:

Originally posted by rwh
If you think this seems too simple, it's not. No less an authority than Holenone put me on this precise curriculum "until mastered" -- and I had been playing the game for 40 years.

Oh, and it works -- big time.



Thanks for the testimonial, rwh. And we didn't even start with a Club. We started with a wooden dowel! It's amazing how when there is no Clubhead, you are suddenly free to think about your Hands and their Alignments.

As an example, I today received a very nice letter from a long-time PGA teaching professional who attended our Pine Needles 'Secrets' Workshop in early August. Here is a direct quote from that letter:

"I have utilized the drills/procedures you showed us with my students. In using the dowels to set up the flying wedges I have asked my students to hit balls without consciously changing the alignments they have established. This seems to result in better contact and straighter shots almost immediately no matter what length motion employed."

Well, there you go!

That is why I personally spend at least some time with the dowels every day. Dedicate just three minutes a day to the dowels. Surely better golf for the rest of your life is worth three minutes a day!

Grip a 5/8" dowel with the shaft running well up your Left Forearm. Practice your Left Arm Flying Wedge alone. Then your Right Forearm Flying Wedge alone. Trace a Plane Line a few times with that Right Forearm Wedge. Then the complete the Assembly. Trace some more. All the while, Look, Look LOOK to make sure you're getting it right. Don't trust Feel alone. We're programming here, and your Alignments must be perfect.

Go to Fix, and do a few Right Forearm Takeaways. If you're a Swinger, do a few continuous Motions -- back-and-through and back-and-through -- with only the Left Arm Wedge and Feeling the Start Up, Release and Finish Swivels. Feel the Drag of the Left Wrist Load, and especially Feel the Left Wrist Centrifugal Throw-Out in Release. Listen to that Swoosh on every pass back-and-through. Even with this Snap Release, keep the Motion deliberate, positive and heavy.

If you're a Hitter, practice your Right Arm Drive Out in a similar fashion, only more 'sequenced' and a bit less 'continuous.' Load that Right Elbow at the Top. Then Drive the Heel of that Right Hand into the back of the Left Thumb and Dowel on the Downstroke. Keep that Left Wrist Flat and that Right Wrist Bent. Bend and Straighten that Right Elbow with a decisive, rigid Motion. Bend and Drive Out! Bend and Drive Out! Thrust! Mentally detect every possible describable sensation. Differentiate these alignments from your current procedure.

It won't happen all at once, but it will happen. Three minutes daily -- not twenty minutes weekly! -- is all it takes. Over time, your good shots get even better. More importantly, your bad shots get a whole lot better!
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Old 04-27-2006, 11:00 AM
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A How To On Dowel Practice GM#234
Quote:

Originally posted by 6bee1dee

Yoda, the dowels.

Send in the dowels. Where are the dowels?




SEND IN THE DOWELS

(with apologies to Stephen Sondheim and Frank Sinatra)


Isn't it rich?

Can't find a pair!

Me here, my ball in the lake, you standing there.

Send in the dowels.



Isn't it bliss?

You look so smooth!

You just keep tearing up par...

Me? I can't move.

Where are the dowels?

Send in the dowels.



Just when I'd stopped...

Hearing the roars.

Finally knowing the laughter...

Was yours.

Making my backswing again with my usual flair.

Sure of my Stroke.

Can't get in the air.



Don't you love G.O.L.F.?

My fault I fear.

I want to Swing...

But you want to Hit!

Sorry, my dear.

But where are the dowels?

Quick! Send in the dowels!

Don't bother, they're here.



Isn't it rich?

Isn't it queer?

Losing my timing this late...

In my career.

And where are the dowels?

There ought to be dowels.

Well, maybe next year...

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Old 04-27-2006, 11:38 PM
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3 Minutes a Day . . . BM#172
Originally Posted by rwh
If you think this seems too simple, it's not. No less an authority than
Yoda put me on this precise curriculum "until mastered" -- and
I had been playing the game for 40 years.


Oh, and it works -- big time.



Thanks for the testimonial, rwh. And we didn't even start with a Club. We
started with a wooden dowel! It's amazing how when there is no Clubhead,
you are suddenly free to think about your Hands and their Alignments.


As an example, I today received a very nice letter from a long-time PGA
teaching professional who attended our Pine Needles 'Secrets' Workshop in
early August. Here is a direct quote from that letter:

"I have utilized the drills/procedures you showed us with my students.
In using the dowels to set up the flying wedges I have asked my students to
hit balls without consciously changing the alignments they have established.
This seems to result in better contact and straighter shots almost
immediately no matter what length motion employed."

Well, there you go!

That is why I personally spend at least some time with the dowels every
day.
Dedicate just three minutes a day to the dowels. Surely better
golf for the rest of your life is worth three minutes a day!

Grip a 5/8" dowel with the shaft running well up your Left Forearm.
Practice your Left Arm Flying Wedge alone. Then your Right Forearm Flying
Wedge alone. Trace a Plane Line a few times with that Right Forearm Wedge.
Then the complete the Assembly. Trace some more. All the while, Look, Look
LOOK to make sure you're getting it right. Don't trust Feel alone.
We're programming here, and your Alignments must be perfect.

Go to Fix, and do a few Right Forearm Takeaways. If you're a Swinger,
do a few continuous Motions -- back-and-through and back-and-through
-- with only the Left Arm Wedge and Feeling the Start Up, Release and
Finish Swivels. Feel the Drag of the Left Wrist Load,
and especially Feel the Left Wrist Centrifugal Throw-Out in Release.
Listen to that Swoosh on every pass back-and-through. Even with
this Snap Release, keep the Motion deliberate, positive and heavy.

If you're a Hitter, practice your Right Arm Drive Out in a similar
fashion, only more 'sequenced' and a bit less 'continuous.' Load that Right
Elbow at the Top. Then Drive the Heel of that Right Hand into the back of the
Left Thumb and Dowel on the Downstroke. Keep that Left Wrist Flat and that
Right Wrist Bent. Bend and Straighten that Right Elbow with a decisive, rigid
Motion. Bend and Drive Out! Bend and Drive Out! Thrust! Mentally detect every
possible describable sensation. Differentiate these alignments from your
current procedure.


It won't happen all at once, but it will happen. Three minutes daily
-- not twenty minutes weekly! -- is all it takes. Over time,
your good shots get even better. More importantly, your bad shots get a whole
lot better!
__________________
Yoda
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  #4  
Old 04-28-2006, 11:41 PM
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Square Dowels? BM#289
Originally Posted by cdog


Yoda, i dont understand how to use the picket fence stakes, can you explain
please?




Use them as you would a Golf Club. The flat sides are their benefit,
i.e., they give you the sense of applying an On Plane 'Normal' -- at 90
degrees -- force.
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Old 04-28-2006, 11:47 PM
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Picket Fences BM#292
Originally Posted by Yoda



Originally Posted by cdog


Yoda, i dont understand how to use the picket fence stakes, can you explain
please?




Use them as you would a Golf Club. The flat sides are their benefit,
i.e., they give you the sense of applying an On Plane 'Normal' -- at 90
degrees -- force.






Actually, they are called 'sign stakes.' They are more narrow than picket
fence stakes, but you get the idea, i.e., easily gripped and four sides.
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