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Jimmy Ballard


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Love this thread. I have always had issues with taking the club inside (probably from being a junior in the 80s playing with heavy clubs, or just LOFT).

 

I was going through major issues with my pitching, and my coach got me to use what I understand to be effectively the connected swing in the OP. The feel that he gave me was that my right elbow is being pulled up my side rather than having it rotating away if that makes sense?

 

Unfortunate, a relocation at work means that my play and practice time is almost zero at the moment, but I do want to try and rebuild my swing when circumstances allow.

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Sutton Peete Barber Nicklaus all similar imo

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

JB loved Nicklaus' and Nick Prices backswings

 

JJ, Ballard definitely wants the club pointed at center with the right arm above the left arm at the half-way back position and these are all great examples, but Miller Barber's is more exaggerated than the rest, he does make a great move at the top to slot the club, however, I personally think that what he does takes a little more timing and is harder to replicate unless it's your natural move. Miller Barber's swing was an exaggerated version of Nicklaus or I should say; Nicklaus's swing was a watered down version of Miller Barber's swing..... I think Nicklaus's swing would be more natural and easier to copy than Miller Barber's swing, it's just too hard to slot the club consistently when the right arm rides up so high in the backswing and he makes a great move to slot the club without it going across the line like it looks like it's going to be if you stopped his swing 3/4 of the way back. I have heard JB talk about how great Miller Barber's swing was many times, and I do agree, but I also think it's a hard one to time without GREAT lower body action in the transition.

 

 

What Miller Barber did maybe better than anyone I have ever seen is this move JB talks about with the legs and lower body....

 

Being that I do not roll the left forarm I still dont feel asif I am getting in the same position each time unfortunately completing backswing. Once I get there, I might quit flipping at the bottom of arc and play tournys again. Until then its army golf.

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I was telling my brother how these "Jimmy Ballard" tips are helping me straighten out my swing.

 

"Jimmy Ballard, like your first set of irons?!" Yes, I forgot that my first set of irons were oversized "JBI's". Funny how I have come full circle.

 

Thanks for all of the contributions to this thread!

Have Fun - Ready Golf - Repair Divots/Marks - FORE

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I have something for you guys that I think you are going to really enjoy, it's a video that Jimmy Ballard gave me a DVD copy of and it's from the 1998 PGA Teaching Summit where JB debates with Jim Flick the arm swing versus the big muscle swing.

 

Right now I am in the process of having it converted to MP4 so I can upload it to my YouTube channel and when I do I will post the link here, but it's REALLY, REALLY good.

 

Looking forward to it; let us know.

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I have something for you guys that I think you are going to really enjoy, it's a video that Jimmy Ballard gave me a DVD copy of and it's from the 1998 PGA Teaching Summit where JB debates with Jim Flick the arm swing versus the big muscle swing.

 

Right now I am in the process of having it converted to MP4 so I can upload it to my YouTube channel and when I do I will post the link here, but it's REALLY, REALLY good.

 

Awesome debate!!!!

Thx DJ

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I have something for you guys that I think you are going to really enjoy, it's a video that Jimmy Ballard gave me a DVD copy of and it's from the 1998 PGA Teaching Summit where JB debates with Jim Flick the arm swing versus the big muscle swing.

 

Right now I am in the process of having it converted to MP4 so I can upload it to my YouTube channel and when I do I will post the link here, but it's REALLY, REALLY good.

...

 

Awesome debate!!!!

Thx DJ

 

That would be awesome to see that...would also like to see Jimmy's presentation at MIT

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Here is the video, nothing like this video has ever been on YouTube. There are swings of some of Jimmy's students in the video including Hal Sutton, Curtis Strange and Jim Colbert. The video is 45 minutes total time, but well worth watching. This video is packed full of great info, so enjoy!

 

***NOTE*** The video plays twice, I am trying to edit it on YouTube so it only plays once; the video is 46:30 long, NOT 1:33 like it says.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAgvfLLbE5c

 

One of the best videos ever. Thanks Man !!

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I remember during the early 1980s, when I first became aware of Ballard, the PGA teaching establishment hung the "he teaches a sway" on him, and I don't know that they ever got entirely away from it, hence I don't think that Ballard ever got entirely out from under it.

 

One thread through that video reinforces what, to my mind, was likely going on between the PGA and Ballard. As I watched it sort made me imagine Ballard being on the stand, the PGA grilling him, he providing convincing arguments, and in the end it making no difference to them, becausethe jury had already reached its conclusion: "We (grudgingly) cannot deny your success with tour professionals (we would if we could), but swaying or whatever it is that you want to call it - OK, a coil if it pleases you - is too complex for anybody but a pro, so the establishment will carry on, taking in fees from the public, using conventional methods. It's what we do. And we aren't happy that you are rocking the boat.". Perhaps I am reading too much into the exchange, but what I do know is that once the system tars with a perception, once a belief system takes hold, you never get entirely past it, really. Regardless of the facts...

 

Another thread, for me, was the hands versus body debate, and that to me was more of a Ballard versus Flick individual thing that didn't rock thet boat.

 

All speculation on my part...

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Here is the video of Jimmy Ballard debating with Jim Flick of the body swinging the club versus the arms and the hands. There are swings of some of Jimmy's students in the video including Hal Sutton, Curtis Strange and Jim Colbert. The video is 46 minutes total time, and packed full of great info, enjoy!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAgvfLLbE5c

 

Great video. Informative and entertaining. I don't know if Flick didn't really understand what JB teaches and is that obtuse or if he was being ridiculously condescending.

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Here is the video of Jimmy Ballard debating with Jim Flick of the body swinging the club versus the arms and the hands. There are swings of some of Jimmy's students in the video including Hal Sutton, Curtis Strange and Jim Colbert. The video is 46 minutes total time, and packed full of great info, enjoy!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAgvfLLbE5c

 

Great video. Informative and entertaining. I don't know if Flick didn't really understand what JB teaches and is that obtuse or if he was being ridiculously condescending.

 

I vote for condescending. There's a point where Ballard makes a great point and even the audience laughs and Flick says "What a character". I got the impression you could have substituted a-hole for "character" and been pretty accurate of what Flick was thinking.

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Outstanding video that you share Speedster. About one of the few real teaching gems I've seen on Youtube. It was like a fight of the titans or match of the century kind of stuff. True, Jim Flick sounds too condescending, and JB looks like he's standing trial without a lawyer. Thanks a lot for sharing.

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I remember during the early 1980s, when I first became aware of Ballard, the PGA teaching establishment hung the "he teaches a sway" on him, and I don't know that they ever got entirely away from it, hence I don't think that Ballard ever got entirely out from under it.

 

One thread through that video reinforces what, to my mind, was likely going on between the PGA and Ballard. As I watched it sort made me imagine Ballard being on the stand, the PGA grilling him, he providing convincing arguments, and in the end it making no difference to them, becausethe jury had already reached its conclusion: "We (grudgingly) cannot deny your success with tour professionals (we would if we could), but swaying or whatever it is that you want to call it - OK, a coil if it pleases you - is too complex for anybody but a pro, so the establishment will carry on, taking in fees from the public, using conventional methods. It's what we do. And we aren't happy that you are rocking the boat.". Perhaps I am reading too much into the exchange, but what I do know is that once the system tars with a perception, once a belief system takes hold, you never get entirely past it, really. Regardless of the facts...

 

Another thread, for me, was the hands versus body debate, and that to me was more of a Ballard versus Flick individual thing that didn't rock thet boat.

 

All speculation on my part...

 

 

Not speculation, actually the most lucid analysis of Jimmy's life and teaching I have ever heard. You are spot on my friend!

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Here is the video of Jimmy Ballard debating with Jim Flick of the body swinging the club versus the arms and the hands. There are swings of some of Jimmy's students in the video including Hal Sutton, Curtis Strange and Jim Colbert. The video is 46 minutes total time, and packed full of great info, enjoy!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAgvfLLbE5c

 

Thanks so much for this, I know what I'll be watching tonight.

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Work on left arm connection with both elbows pointed down the entire swing and you will be a lot more consistent.

 

Practice with the Connector on and the Perfect Practice Glove and then keep grooving these things below without looking outside of these fundamentals that JB teaches and I promise you will start playing well.

 

Thanks for another trainer recommendation - I ordered the Connector and Practice Glove last week (still waiting for shipping info) and I'm anxious to use these.

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Callaway UW 21 *
Mizuno JPX 919 HMP Nippon N.S.Pro Modus3 Tour 120S - 4-A
Mizuno  54* Nippon N.S.Pro Modus3 Tour 120S

Titleist SM6 58*
LAB DF 2.1  33"

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Is JB currently working with any tour pros? As far as I know, Rocco was the last one. Also, which of today's tour players as a swing that most closely matches JBs teaching? I know some have mentioned Strenick. But, are there any others? Thanks.

 

I know one guy that said shoot me if I ever leave JB. If u watched the debate Flick alluded to Mark Omeara dropping his hands. Jimmy made it clear it might of been a feeling but if Omeara drops his hands arms hes done. Look at Suttons video pretty obviius imo he should go get some help from JB again.

https://www.golfchannel.com/video/hal-sutton-swing-changes-comeback-pga-tour-champions

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Flick and Toski were part of the PGA and establishment, they were all the exact opposite of JB who rejected the establishment. JB has never changed his swing philosophy and had a lot of success along the way... 11 major championships under his stable of players. This brought a lot of jealousy from the establishment who all changed their philosophy often.

 

This video shows a few things; one being that JB knows his philosophy inside and out, he has wit and he is s great communicator. Nothing against Flick, but he never taught Jack during his true playing years so having a Nicklaus/Flick school really doesn’t mean squat outside of marketing.

 

DJ

Wonder what JB would say about Suttons analysis. JB always told me if I hangbak it will go left. The harder I fire the right from ground up the straighter it will go. Looking at Sutton slow mo to me looks like dead legs. I wonder if his feels are fooling him. Gotta give him credit to give it a go again @60 tho!

 

Thoughts?

https://www.golfchannel.com/video/hal-sutton-swing-changes-comeback-pga-tour-champions

 

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It would be great if people could share their improvements using Ballard's method. I.E. went from this hdcp to this lower hdcp. Thanks.

 

I am 53 years old. I was a 8.4 index (fluctuating between 7 and 8.6 over the course of a few years) before I took a few lessons last January and February to learn the JB method. My season was a bit up and down but my season ended at a 6.6 index. I am looking for more consistency this season as I get to know the swing better. The main reason I wanted to learn this swing is because I tired of dealing with persistent lower back and hip pain while playing and after. The pain relief has been great; the handicap drop was a nice secondary benefit :).

Callaway Epic Max LS 9.0 Fujikura Ventus Black TS 6S
Cobra LtdX 3 wood Fujikura Motore F1 60S
Callaway UW 21 *
Mizuno JPX 919 HMP Nippon N.S.Pro Modus3 Tour 120S - 4-A
Mizuno  54* Nippon N.S.Pro Modus3 Tour 120S

Titleist SM6 58*
LAB DF 2.1  33"

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