tom watson instruction videos

[juliette91]

Watson is not an online presence like so many instructors and like so much instruction available there, but i recently purchased his videos (no I'm not associated at all with him or the video distribution chain.) Maybe more than most I'm a swing tinkerer and often mine the internet for advice on parts of the swing that I think are causing me playing grief.

Don't overlook Watson when you're out there trying to improve and seeking help. He wasn't one of the born to be great golfer phenoms at a young age ala Woods, Nicklaus etc. yet he won 8 majors and is considered one of the all time greats. Also realize great players don't make great instructors. Anyway, for me it has been a good series to watch and learn from, especially his so called "secret", which just looks like a way to get closer to a one plane swing--and which I can tell you is effective if you can feel it.

He emphasizes something that we don't see very often in the modern swing, the waggle. Many televised golfers have very little movement before taking the club back to begin the swing. For me, being in motion, something I was not doing at all, feels better.

Anyway, check it out, it's from a guy who worked like heck to get where he was and kept at it through victory after victory.

[Hawkeye77]

He's really not talking one plane swing, IMO, although uses the word plane for his feel, he's talking about how he got away from hanging back/dropping his right shoulder and improving his rotation and how his shoulders move in the downswing in the book and in the videos, he says, IIRC, he went to more of a "feel" of coming over the top even though of course he doesn't. Maybe that does come a lot closer to a one planes swing than he was before in effect, but "one plane swing" as such isn't what he is advocating. Now that's all from memory.

I thought at the time the book came out and the videos they were pretty good, "traditional" instruction and there are some things in there that resonated with me but I haven't looked at them since probably within 12 months after I bought them, and that was when they first came out maybe 9 years ago or more.

[juliette91]

Thanks Hawkeye for that good explanation. Your 8 year old memory is working fine. Like a lot of things in this world, everyone's always looking at latest most recent/newest. I brought this up because I think his videos are still very relevant right now.

[Hawkeye77]

I agree 100%. Lots of similarities to Harmon’s that I got free with some golf grips also many years ago. I think the book is great, better than Golf My Way (lighting will strike me any minute), and it even touches a bit on the pretty much one takeaway from Clampett’s book, in one part where Watson discusses ball first, impact and where divots should be and why.

I don’t remember that he incorporated the new ball flight laws and some might lose their mind over that, but so what.

His swing change is pretty interesting to study.

Well made and well explained and easy to watch.

[juliette91]

Glad to have company in this Watson salute. I don't have the book but hope the videos are just as instructive. Didn't understand the reference to Clampett but read about him and now I understand. Don't know anything about what he says but my two cents is that you just can't only concentrate on the impact zone because the swing is so dynamic that everything before impact, especially everything before the downswing has to be in pretty good shape to achieve some measure of success at impact.

 

[Hawkeye77]

I totally agree. I just thought once Bobby got past the explanation of divot ahead of the ball there wasn’t much more to the book, but lots of folks get more out of it. I’m not a “hold the lag” disciple.

[Man_O_War]

i have one of his old books..absolute gem of info

[Hawkeye77]

His course management book is really good.

[juliette91]

Can you post the title please?

[juliette91]

Hawkeye can you please post the title? thanks.

[Hawkeye77]

Tom Watson’s Strategic Golf!

[Man_O_War]

"Getting Back To Basics"

[juliette91]

thanks!

[Hawkeye77]

In addition to Watson's Strategic Golf, Ray Floyd's The Elements of Scoring is really good as well - quite a bit of what he talks about is still being talked about now. A Round Of Golf With Tommy Armour is another good one, but a lot older - fun to read. A short read and more "modern" is Nick O'Hern's Tour Mentality.

I don't go for stuff that is more complicated and don't need a bunch of numbers thrown at me - so those are representative of my preferences. There is newer stuff out there that does plenty with that and very good as well. I like something simple I can read when the dog lets me have my chair by the fire.

[Barfolomew]

I think the modern waggle is the press forward...... I like to watch for it with the pros.

 

Looks like a good first move to me cause might help get your brain in the correct place before each swing........some do a little body pop forward with the press like Spieth

 

Note: Is Spieth even allowed to be used as an example anymore.... poor kid he'll find it again one day

[juliette91]

Thanks- forward press. But the waggle is something altogether different, sort of feeling like a controlled body shiver from hands flexing wrists to hips loosening side to side. Then the forward press or rear knee flexing in toward the target starts the takeaway. Just his idea of being in motion to start the swing has made my swing more enjoyable-and reduces my tendency to pull and pull hook. Anyway to each his own.

[juliette91]

Don’t usually post scores but here are my last 6 after watching Watson-all on 131/71.4:

86 90 88 76 73 69 (68.5/124). (Started 5.6 now 3.9). I’m sure there are more 88s in my future...

[Hawkeye77]

True story - I watched quite a bit on a Friday evening back when I first got them 9 years ago. Next morning was cool, misty Watson-like weather and nobody out playing and had the best round of my life at that time playing alone that Saturday morning, even par on my course. Still remember how effortless it was. My handicap was north of 10 at the time. Alas, that wasn't to become a habit, lol.

[juliette91]

Alas I feel that way too. Even if it's one of those w.o.o.d. gossamer kind of fixes (works only one day) I'm still enjoying the freedom that this kind of pre-shot waggle/body movement feels like. Likely won't shoot that low again for quite some time, maybe never, and just like you said, more likely to shoot much higher. Will enjoy it while I can.

[Hawkeye77]

No, no, no! The relatable part was the magic round after watching Tom - you keep playing well!!! Not trying to jinx you.

[juliette91]

Thank you! My Watson luck continues. His (many others swear by this too especially Faldo) emphasis on what to do for the first 2 feet or so of the takeaway has seriously helped me reduce pulls and pull hooks, and finding a body relaxing waggle has been very helpful too.