The Tomasello Tapes -- Chapter Two / The Arms
 

Okay, so it hasn't been a week since Chapter One. You guys deserve it. Enjoy!

http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/Video/C..._2_TT_Arms.wmv

Chapt 2
 

Team LBG

Thanks much. Looking forward to the rest of the tape.

PChandler

Excellent stuff gentlemen. I've heard a lot about Tom T. the boards for a while now, I'm looking forward to learning more.

DG - I know that there has been a lot of debate about right arm swinging, when you get a chance, I'd love to see more info in a new thread about how this differs from Hitting. Sounds to me like we are all dancing around the edges of hit vs swing, the differences being a matter of perspective and feels more than anything.

I recall seeing Palmer do that drill on a clip from a clinic (on TGC) - just in the background as Jack was talking. You know I like that kind of drill - powerful tool :wink:

Good extension!
 

Great movie.

More often than not, I have to keep my right shoulder high through impact in order to produce a sound, closing hinge action (probably due to a swing flaw). By copying Tomasellis moves, I was suddenly able to drop the shoulder much lower and still make a horisontal hinge.

Question:

Is it advisable to apply a fairly solid extension and pp2 pressure all the way from address to impact - by the left arm extension?

What are the pros and cons?

BerntR

Looking forward to it - so would it be a reasonable thing to say that TGM's standard 'swingers' tend towards pivot control, and right arm swingers tend toward hands control, the right hand in particular? If that is the case, I think I know what you mean in a general sense. I certainly know the feels of a 'limp' left arm with right arm motion giving it power and structure (extensor action, and thrust, or in this case 'swing').

Thanks for sharing this, the more exposure to TGM from different perspectives, the better!

Extensor action
 

I've always been a little foggy about extensor action. This lifted the fog a little higher. Along with the downswing stretch of the right arm to its fullest extent.

I'm liking this!!

Thanks for this - Im very much enjoying the series...

The only difference is Tomasello is making two seperate movements were Penick states, "This is one move, not two".

Tomasello's right arm moves independent of the right shoulder turn. Penick uses the Hip Turn of 7-14 to move the right shoulder and elbow together (one move).

Palmer uses that to loosen up (stretch). I don't believe it is to practice Extensor Action. Probably from the "Pete's Party" video.

Although, I did not see it referenced on this video, I do like Tomasello's referring to Extensor Action as "extension without tension".

Great. Lifted some fog for me. Keep them coming.

Tom Tomasello -- The One And Only
 

It's in there, Drew. Watch again!

In the Announcement of this series, I mentioned the telephone call to Homer Kelley that Tommy and I made from his living room. We taped the conversation, and it was then that Tommy enthusiastically told Homer of this new teaching phrase he had come up with: "Extension without tension." Homer was delighted.

I must say that, like each of you, I am enjoying this series. But, as I watch my old friend in action, I also sense his loss...We shared a lot of golf and many good times. To hear once again his inimitable laugh and the passion in his voice as he shares the thrill -- even he can hardly believe it! -- of his own journey brings yesterday front and center.

He was one of a kind, and I miss him.

Re: Tom Tomasello -- The One And Only
 

Lynn,
Any stories you would like to tell about your time with Tomasello and Homer? From what I can see on the videos, Tomasello seems like a very passionate teacher. That seems to be a common trait with TGM AI's. You have to be passionate to get through TGM though. I find anything about the "early days of TGM" very interesting. Thanks.

From The Horse's Mouth
 

How about a little streaming audio? :D

Makin' It Happen
 

I love this, PChandler. You could not be more right.

Thanks, Bagger.

Thanks, Trig.

And thanks to all who are making this one of the premier Golf Instruction sites on the Web!

No, Thank You...Really...
 

Seriously, as I sit here burning yet another fantastic video, the pleasure comes from seeing TGM brought out of text and into life, or more accurately lives. I've been studying the book for 4 years and playing golf for almost 6. As a middle-aged corporate exec., I'm convinced I wouldn't be a single digit HC today without early exposure to TGM.

The joy comes from seeing others get lit up with the same passion I have. There is nothing like taking personal ownership of your golf swing.

I can't thank the TGM teachers enough, Y'all are giving freely and I owe you. This is part of my "payback". For the students like myself, this is all about sharing the joy.

Now back to your regular programming :D

Bagger

Thanks, Yoda. This is great stuff!
 

I was experimenting w/ some things from these 2 videos today and it's helped me lift a little fog, but there is something I'm curious about. Contact was solid, but the clubhead felt like it approached the ball much shallower than I'm used to. When using this procedure (or a textbook swinging procedure) does it feel like the club takes a shallow aproach to the ball or should it feel more downward and steep?

It's just getting warm enough here to hit balls and be able to assess my ball flight - I've worked w/ flashlights to trace my plane line, but it's hard to tell if I'm tracing correctly during my actual downswing. My miss lately, and today was no exception, is a pull w/ a slight draw or a straight block.

The Right Track Of The Right Forearm
 

The genius of The Golfing Machine is that it is rooted in science. This is the new approach: Enigma and mystery morph into understanding through The Looking Glass that is Homer Kelley.

The answer to your question lies in 1-L-#10:

"The Lever Assembly must be driven through Impact by an On Plane force (moving toward the Plane Line)." [Bold italics mine.]

Almost all players come into Impact with the Right Elbow too 'high.' Consequently, the Right Forearm is pointing 'outside' -- and thus is not "moving toward" -- the Baseline of the Inclined Plane. If this 'too high' Feeling (of the Right Forearm) has now been replaced by a more 'shallow' Feeling (driving toward the Plane Line), then I would say you are very definitely...

On the Right Track!

Re: The Right Track Of The Right Forearm
 

That is the first thing I noticed about my swing last year when I started studying TGM more in depth and tracing the plane line. I've improved it a little, but this video seemed to really help. My focus has been on learning the rfp, pivot, and proper extensor action, so these videos have been especially helpful. Looking forward to more!

The Slow Motion Drill
 

Says Penick (pg. 82)
"What is happening is that your golfing brain and your muscles are learning to start your downswing by planting your weight and moving your lower body to the left, and you are coming to the ball from inside with your hands quiet, trailing and still cocked, not leading and spending energy."

The Hip Turn of 7-14 and 2-N-1-B was the "moving your lower body to the left" I made reference to.

I do, however, look forward to your commentary and the remaining segments of the video.

Drew

Great Video Clip.......Again
 

TT segment 2 .....another great lesson.
My view is that he taught the pivot first
which incorporated the right shoulder
moving down to initiate the downswing.
The return of the right elbow to the side
would be encompassed in the overatll pivot
motion as one move, not two.
Just my take.

Kudos once again to
Blakebuster Video

Just curious, with the dropping of the right elbow towards the hip, does that create a plane shift?

No...

The wrists stay vertical to the plane line....

Checkout the video's of Jodie Mudd's swing (a former Tomasello student) on Brian Manzella's website....run the videos at slow motion speed....you will see his wrists are vertical to the plane line as he brings his arms to the release point...

DG

I have been studying The Golfing Machine for the last 4 or 5 weeks. My progress has been nothing short of fantastic to the point that I am in awe of my own progress and afraid to tell other about it because it seems too good to be true. As the result of concentrating on lagging with focus on pp #1 & #3 as well as flying wedges, significant distance and accuracy have been added simultaneously. Your explanation of the golf swing has had a Homeric effect on my game.

I viewed the TT tapes with considerable interest. On the 2nd installment, I noticed that when I copied Tom's raising arm concept as the second part of the backswing and anchoring elbow as a distinctive move on the downswing, that my lagging specifically and whole swing general suffered its first setback in weeks. My analysis is that when I copied Tom's model, I removed focus on the right forearm staying on plane throughout the swing. Today I forgot about Tom's arm and elbow positions in the second tape and went back to focusing on lag and keeping right forearm on plane, and my new gold swing returned. Am I missing something?

In the Yoda model, the backswing is having the right forearm aided by PP3 stay on plane. From what I remember of the TT arms video he talked about starting the backswing by bending the right wrist backward and then when the shaft was pointing straight back to raise the right arm starting from a point where the elbow was touching the body. I don't remember any language talking about keeping the backswing on plane with the right forearm. More specifically the video showed the right elbow returning to the hip with the right forearm above the elbow. When I copied that position, I lost the ability to drive my lag down the China, and the lag I had worked so hard on, faded away. Perhaps I misinterpreted something. When I drive my lag as low as possible, I don't end up in TT's position. Does that make any sense?

Thanks for your response.