Jimmy Ballard

[Ripper212]

Looks like Bear Lakes to me with yellow NXT golf balls. Have played there many times since 1988. Super facility

 

Yup, that's my home course!

 

I LOVE Bear Lakes but when I played there last month I thought the greens were lightning fast. Then again, I don't think I could shoot 67 on a par 3 course. Congratulations. Hope you're making some money with your ability and not just hanging out on WRX!

[97speedster]

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[Ayersjj]

I’m on the back nine of a mediocre career, I’m 51 and just enjoy playing the game still.

 

The beauty of being on the back nine is we are in the home stretch. Keep playing hard bro!

[Ripper212]

I’m on the back nine of a mediocre career, I’m 51 and just enjoy playing the game still.

 

Did you ever play professionally? If so, what would you say about the experience? My son played pro tennis on the satellite tour and it was a brutal struggle but he had a blast.

[Ayersjj]

Sean Foley almost took away the greatest player ever from history. Teachers like Haney, Foley and Ledbetter Smith ride piggyback to Ballard and come up with things that ruin players like

 

Strange

Sutton

Parnevik

Wazel

Rocco

 

Just to name a few that ended up searching fir more than basica and ended up homeless. Thank goodness Tiger found a way out of hell.

[Ayersjj]

Sean Foley almost took away the greatest player ever from history. Teachers like Haney, Foley and Ledbetter Smith ride piggyback to Ballard and come up with things that ruin players like

 

Strange

Sutton

Lyle

Parnevik

Wazel

Rocco

 

Just to name a few that ended up searching fir more than basica and ended up homeless. Thank goodness Tiger found a way out of hell.

[Ayersjj]

R Smith client needs some Botox hes so disturbed by the confusion theory. Rocco came to Ballard bent over and long armed with no future. He came from the tuteledge of Smith. Amzing what marketing can do for these guys. Wow

[97speedster]

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[Ayersjj]

Did you ever play professionally? If so, what would you say about the experience? My son played pro tennis on the satellite tour and it was a brutal struggle but he had a blast.

 

Yes, I played 11 years and won 5 mini tour events.... my biggest win was on The Golden Bear Tour in 1997 where I shot -14 at The Loxahatchee Club and won by 5 shots. I stopped playing professionally in 2003 and got into real estate. In 2013 I got my amateur status back and now play senior amateur events.

 

Pro golf was a lot of fun, especially when I was single and could travel around the world playing with no ties anywhere.... once you're married that isn't as much fun anymore. I met some great people and travelled to some great places playing professionally, but it's not always as glorified as it seems.

 

One of my favorite swings. JBesque

[Ayersjj]

It was Jody Vasquez that wrote the book but I agree 100% with the right knee controlling the distance and the cupped left wrist for balance and squaring the club face. Best Hogan advice ever given.

 

The two things I would love to get better at:

 

1. Keep my right shoulder higher on the downswing.

 

2. Get my right knee pointed more towards the ball and down the target line on the downswing.

 

Part of my problem that I fight is an old hip injury and an IT Band that I snapped 4 years ago.

 

Game is hard enough w o injury. I was desperate for relief from neurological pain and tingling in back and legs. This kept me from continued searching. Anyone searching and want to avoid surgery I suggest this pillow on bed decompression. My pain and tingling has been gone over a year now.

[gsea33]

Watching the U.S. Open battle with Rocco and Tiger today. Rocco is nothing but JB that tournament. It's on youtube Rocco elbows down, short left arm etc.

Well worth the watch.

[BrianMcG]

Watching the U.S. Open battle with Rocco and Tiger today. Rocco is nothing but JB that tournament. It's on youtube Rocco elbows down, short left arm etc.

Well worth the watch.

 

Who won?

[97speedster]

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[Ayersjj]

 

So springing the shaft is more of a shallowing than a loading thought?

 

I wouldn’t say that, it’s more release related.... you can’t spring the shaft if you pull the handle on the way down!

 

My last lesson w JB he told me to feel like my hands do nothing with the forarms opposing each other. That has really stuck with me because I have been struggling with feeling loose arms and wristy. I cannot spring the shaft with my hands. One of the best drills to prove this to myself who is stubborn bigtime....take a 5 iron place it in a door jam. Try to bend the shaft with just hands and arms. Very limited success. Then, split hands and keep the shaft pointed at center. The result is u can almost snap the shaft when u oush off ur right side. Im handsy again and this keeps slapping me in the face similar to the center drill halfway bak and thru.

[Ayersjj]

Thoughts?

[97speedster]

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[Ayersjj]

Sutton Peete Barber Nicklaus all similar imo

Club is out infring of chest and looks hooded but square to shoulder address position

JB loved Nicklaus’ and Nick Prices backswings

 

 

[Ayersjj]

From Ballard himself

[dodger]

What is the best way to set up with level shoulders, any drill or tip? Played last weekend and video on shorter shots show my trail shoulder way lower than what I thought I was doing. Any suggestions?

[Ayersjj]

What is the best way to set up with level shoulders, any drill or tip? Played last weekend and video on shorter shots show my trail shoulder way lower than what I thought I was doing. Any suggestions?

 

just the left should should be level, the mistake is to jeep them both level where the right should starts working “up”

 

So I try to soften that left arm at address like its hanging and try to push the left should lower at address ir level with the right, then its much easier to coil the left shoulder leve

[JDFish]

I try to set up with the feeling as if I'm going to catch a medicine ball (a drill my JB trained instructor gave me last year). Assuming that you are right handed, because your right hand is lower than your left when gripping the club, your shoulders won't be exactly level. And this also helps me feel like I have my butt more tucked in than sticking out.

[Ayersjj]

From Ballard himself

 

I remember playing w Bobby Walzel 1981 about his backswing the day before the Memorial tournament 1981. On # 4 Scioto par three he hit 5 shots a little right. Watching struggle I asked him what he’s wirking on and he said he felt shut going back. That stuck in my head obviously bc when I hear Rocco say the same thing it makes me wonder wtf. So if unlook at pictures I posted of Sutton Nicklaus Peete Price they all look as if they are a bit shut but no really based in posture. They have a perfect triangle and the continuation and fold of right arm up is classic Ballard. Walzel went into lead the Memorial the next day getting up and down all over the place w 67. Really makes me wonder if feeling a bit shut is ideal bc it places u in a strong position without fanning the club open. Rocco disnt like the feeling and left forwhatecer rwason back to Smith who seems ok with the roll around takeaway.

 

Just a hunch

[blehnhard]

Lots of modern players have the clubface somewhat "toe down" at P3 and beyond. Clubshaft "outside" the hands. Some get it a little "toe down" at top but some are still a little "shut" there. Brooks K and Nick Price certainly come to mind.

[Ayersjj]

Rocco w JB

[97speedster]

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[sbark]

Power generation from legs Ballard method. 60 yrs old, used to be fair, bad knees as in no acl's, but lived with that for 25 yrs

 

I've caught the term cross lateral weight transfer...from right heel on backswing fwd to left toes as rear knee driven at target line.

 

Without the little sit, or roll out of left knee , what is the feel in getting the power from a lead leg straightening

The little Snead squat, bounce seems to make it easier, and more effective at power generation effect of lead leg going vertical

 

Seems restricted as I attempt to drive knee and fire right side....I can either go right to a straight knee, onto toes

Or turn right side after pushing off into a still somewhat flexed knee

 

What's the feel I'm working toward...and the power from it

Thanks in advance for thoughts

 

 

[Boise59]

When I first started working with Jimmy in '87 he told me he really liked Miller's swing, talked about how he set his right elbow high at address similar to Nicklaus.

[Lefthook]

There are many different ways to skin a cat, but all the guys out there that regularly get the job done do great things at some point in there golf swing and it usually is through the ball and with a full body release. You can say anything you like about about Jim Furyk's golf swing, but he has one of the best releases through impact of anyone.

 

 

 

Jason Dufner is another body releaser. One of my favorites from impact to finish.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFhhgccQbNw

 

It's a feast reading your posts in this thread 97'.

[97speedster]

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[97speedster]

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