George Gankas Online Coaching

[ofortuna]

From watching some of the drill videos, the gbox is worn on the lower torso so the left box will face the ball after a full backswing as opposed to a stick through the belt that would point well short of the ball.

 

[thebogeyputt]

I made "my own" by ordering one of those velcro weightlifting belts (soft ones, not the hard leather ones powerlifters use). Attached a floatie to just behind seamline using the hook & loop straps.

[ofortuna]

I pulled the trigger on the georgegankas.golf website membership. First a little about my past search for quality instruction:

George Hardy (purchased a bunch of his 2 plane and 1 plane videos)

Jim Waldron (purchased a bunch of his videos and took 2 online lessons)

Monte (purchased his videos and took 1 in person lesson)

Tyler Ferrell (studied his golfsmartacademy.com site for years, read his book, and took 2 half day in person lessons)

Golftec (Took weekly lessons for 1.5 years)

I'm currently about an 8 handicap looking to improve ball striking as a main focus.

I first started watching GG Youtube videos a long time ago, estimating over 5 years ago. I thought he was a bit goofy with his flip flops and "bro" talk but he seemed to teach some unconventional but interesting concepts. Never really got into him or got his "moves" to work for me. I recently discovered that you need to set yourself up properly to execute these moves effectively. Laying down the shaft and opening up will create havoc unless you're setup properly, take a deep backswing, and have the clubface ready.

After joining the site, I am flat out shocked at how much knowledge Gankas has about the swing and how effectively he communicates. Nothing at all like the informal lessons surfer dude you see on his YouTube channel. He not only shows movements he likes, he constantly demonstrates movements he finds undesirable and their problematic effects on path and face. Yes, demonstrates. I've gone through the full swing part 3 (downswing) so far without any time restriction so perhaps they got rid of that. When he touches on a new concept, he'll go into extreme detail later. The sheer amount of content Ive gone through already would probably constitute 5-10 years of Golftec weekly lessons. I think it's quite an accomplishment to have created a repository of all his golf knowledge in video's like he has. It must have been an immense amount of work. There is a ton of content. Perhaps too much if that's possible. I can only guess is that he wants very specific few minute clips that he can have his assistants point to when recommending solutions to swing faults. I only regret that he didn't have a free trial so I would have jumped the hurdle of plopping down $500 earlier when the site just came out. Personally, I feel like I've already got my money's worth and am pleased I chose to go through his online content before I meet with one of his assistant instructors in person. You can only go through so much material in an hour in an in person lesson although it could potentially be laser focused on the content you need the most.

I have a lot of content still to go through, haven't seen the forums, nor submitted a video of my swing yet. I'm just working on some of the impact drills he recommends to start myself off. My wife sees me around the house rehearsing motions without a club and she asked if I'm learning kung fu.

The setup that GG advocates is what I gravitated to when I first picked up a club as a kid as well as letting the elbow fly a bit (right arm abduction). GG explains in detail why it's not only ok but desireable instead of the pinched adducted right arm at the top that I acquired through instruction. It's nice to get permission to do some things that feel natural.

The #1 thing I like about how GG teaches is he never ever says "this is the proper way to do it". It's always why. Cause and effect. If you do that, this will happen. It's ok if you do this if you accompany it with that. Always cause and effect.

I'm starting to sound like a fanboy so I'll finish by saying that I am not affiliated with the site in any way nor will I benefit from promoting his site.

 

[Golfbeat]

Any feedback from your lesson with George?

[stingerfade]

You sound like me. Slicefixer, Monty, Iteach etc....but still have same issues and I work at it a lot. Joined the site and it’s the best I’ve ever seen, I struggle with rolling open inside and I KNOW IT and just can’t stop doing it but the way he explained how to take the club away resonated with me and boom, fixed.

I do wish the short game stuff would unlock earlier but The amount of content, the presentation and the fact you can get basically an online lesson every week as per of the deal is huge if you take advantage of it

inalso was surprised he isn’t a one size fits all but a if you do this you have to do this, I prefer this but if you don’t it’s ok just match it up with this....etc. he doesn’t want everyone to swing like Matt Wolff and he really does know his stuff and his enthusiasm alone makes you a believer. Not a fanboy either just think it’s very solid instruction

[Dumpedunder]

Sure! It went well. About three months ago, I texted him and told him I was ready to get back into it.

I was pulling on the handle a bit because I had no depth. I had no depth because I was not completing my turn.

So, we did an online lesson first, and then I was flying out. He had me fix setup and backswing. I had to add more side tilt and spine extension. We did a little with downswing.

When I got there, it was immediately a “get your feet wider” and “turn into the heel better” situation. That changed my pivot a decent bit.

Then we did a couple of impact drills to get my release synced up, and then we worked on the downswing leg work.

Obviously I’m super pumped about the changes, and obviously they start to erode slightly, even with practice and video.

But it’s all so much easier to attend to with George’s membership. You cannot go too far astray. There’s no swing porn anymore. No watching 10 different instructors.

[pusb365]

Can anyone please confirm the following:

 

- if you go for the monthly option can you cancel at any time or are you tied in for a year? Have read conflicting answers on this in the thread

- is it correct that you get to upload your swing videos every 5 days and get feedback from a GG coach? Is this extra or included? How detailed is the feedback you get?

 

Thanks

 

[fawley]

 

You are tied in for a year whether you pay the whole amount up front or monthly. I think you can suspend access during the course of the year (e.g. during winter if you're not playing / practicing) but you'e signing up for 12 months when you commit.Yes, you can upload videos to be reviewed about once every 5 days. There isn't any additional charge for this. The feedback is usually a couple of minute video response letting you know what you should be working on or giving you additional feedback on the change you're trying to implement.

[gentles]

Can anyone comment if the sections on setup are similar to what is available for free out there? I'm not in a position to fork out for a year subscription but I really want to learn more about how to change and get into a proper setup as I am way too bent over. I'd happily pay for just that segment but it's all or nothing on his site.

[ofortuna]

Imo the free stuff on youtube is terrible and I wasn't much of a fan of GG until I saw the level of detail he goes into the paid site videos.

He wants you to stand up straight, bend your knees a bit, then bend your upper back and neck to reach the ball. The back of your armpits will be over the balls of your feet and not way towards the ball. The loading into the ground happens during the downswing and if you're too bent over at address, he considers that starting loaded which will make you early extend and other faults.

 

[Golfbeat]

 

[gentles]

Thanks - I wondered as much. Not really in a position to fork out for the pull program for just the setup sections at this point.

Your description is very helpful. I find that to get into that setup position my wrists need to be slightly higher (more like sergio) otherwise I can't reach the ball...this is the bit that feelDoes he mention potentially using longer clubs to make that setup position easier to achieve?

[ofortuna]

Never saw discussion for need of longer clubs. I forgot to mention there's a little bit of hip flex. You just don't want your butt way back which would bring your armpits way forward.

 

[ofortuna]

Good stuff Golfbeat. His free content evidently got a lot better the last few years.

 

[Jackhammer993]

I just read through the whole forum, what a read it was. I’m so impressed with how much time many of you took to write detailed accounts of what you got out of the course. I think it’s great but everyone needs to decide what works best for them. The comical part is the people who have no intention of buying the course but act like they might and the guy who jumps on repeatedly just to remind you that you are paying to much. Thanks again to all those who took time to discuss their experiences. It’s valuable feedback.

[dannygrz]

Would love to hear back from some people who’ve been doing this for a year. I’m really close to pulling the trigger 

[Golferguy63]

You are a member for a year but lose access if you stop after that. Can you download what is on the site while you are a member?

[LeftDaddy]

I bought a yearly membership last year, and that I can tell have not been charged for this year yet I still have access. I would gladly pay again this year because I’m on the path of improvement. My driver swing is night and day vs where it was when I started, and I’ve picked up about 10-15 yards and have another 20 in the tank when I get separation right. My putting has also improved. I’ve mostly eliminated my right miss which had plagued me for years. 

 

That said, I’m STRUGGLING with my irons. I would give my left arm to hit irons flush again. It isn’t because of GG. It’s because my swing stunk and still does. But it is getting so close. I can feel it getting slowly better. But I still need a lot of work, and would probably benefit big time from an in person lesson. I’m on the right track but given limited time to work on my swing, progress is very much incremental. 

[LeftDaddy]

On 12/13/2020 at 3:32 PM, Golferguy63 said:

You are a member for a year but lose access if you stop after that. Can you download what is on the site while you are a member?

No, you can’t download anything. But I started a Word doc where I took notes. And I signed up for the annual membership last year (annual rate), and that I can tell haven’t been charged for another year yet I still have access etc. 

 

I was definitely on the fence last year before I signed up. I consider it definitely worth it now that I’ve been through it. I’m no longer chasing the next tip that will resonate with me, etc. I know what I need to work on, and also know what’s happening when it goes south on the course. It isn’t a magic fix yet. I’m still working through my swing changes. But I also lost 3 months and can’t practice as much due to a surgery earlier in the year. I’ve definitely gained distance and gotten better. But I still have a way to go...but at least now know what my path looks like. I highly recommend the program. 

Edited December 16, 2020 by LeftDaddy

[magsgolfho]

Well worth it for the year for the money. The detailed info and the swing reviews are worth every penny. I personally haven’t gotten through all the modules yet so I’m renewing. 

[MysteryV]

Question for folks who have subscribed to GG's methods:  Does the sit and turn thought really help?  If so, how long did it take you to feel like you'd incorporated it?  Was there an "aha" moment?

 

I've watched quite a bit of his stuff, and like it, but the sit and turn thing seems pretty exaggerated in most of the stuff I've seen - and has just never resonated with me.

[RichieHunt]

2 hours ago, MysteryV said:

Question for folks who have subscribed to GG's methods:  Does the sit and turn thought really help?  If so, how long did it take you to feel like you'd incorporated it?  Was there an "aha" moment?

 

I've watched quite a bit of his stuff, and like it, but the sit and turn thing seems pretty exaggerated in most of the stuff I've seen - and has just never resonated with me.

 

Swing thoughts and feels are a lousy way of learning.  Feels and thoughts change over time and then you just end up chasing those thoughts and feels.  GG doesn't really teach a lot of thoughts and feels and teaches more in terms of concepts and measurements that one can see from a simple video recording of their swing.  Along with a lot of drills.

 

GG's turning of the lead femur is a bit exaggerated.  But it's not like it's never been done.  Johnny Ruiz probably does it better than anybody, but Matthew Wolff really doesn't rotate that left femur from 12 o'clock to 9 o'clock.  But Ruiz's swing is unique in terms of pressure shifts.  I'm not quite sure I believe Wolff shifts the pressure like Ruiz does.

 

But the sit part is important because it gets the pressure to the lead side and that allows the golfer to then rotate.

 

You might want to try a homemade pressure shift board to better get the concept.

 

 

 

 

 

RH

[MysteryV]

37 minutes ago, RichieHunt said:

 

Swing thoughts and feels are a lousy way of learning.  Feels and thoughts change over time and then you just end up chasing those thoughts and feels.  GG doesn't really teach a lot of thoughts and feels and teaches more in terms of concepts and measurements that one can see from a simple video recording of their swing.  Along with a lot of drills.

 

GG's turning of the lead femur is a bit exaggerated.  But it's not like it's never been done.  Johnny Ruiz probably does it better than anybody, but Matthew Wolff really doesn't rotate that left femur from 12 o'clock to 9 o'clock.  But Ruiz's swing is unique in terms of pressure shifts.  I'm not quite sure I believe Wolff shifts the pressure like Ruiz does.

 

But the sit part is important because it gets the pressure to the lead side and that allows the golfer to then rotate.

 

You might want to try a homemade pressure shift board to better get the concept.

 

 

 

 

 

RH

 

FWIW - Akshay has about the most pronounced version I've seen.

 

Anyone else start at "I definitely don't turn and sit" and end up at "yup - totally get the GG legwork"?  If so, what got you there? 

[mudge]

On 12/26/2020 at 10:11 PM, RichieHunt said:

 

Swing thoughts and feels are a lousy way of learning.  Feels and thoughts change over time and then you just end up chasing those thoughts and feels.  GG doesn't really teach a lot of thoughts and feels and teaches more in terms of concepts and measurements that one can see from a simple video recording of their swing.  Along with a lot of drills.

 

GG's turning of the lead femur is a bit exaggerated.  But it's not like it's never been done.  Johnny Ruiz probably does it better than anybody, but Matthew Wolff really doesn't rotate that left femur from 12 o'clock to 9 o'clock.  But Ruiz's swing is unique in terms of pressure shifts.  I'm not quite sure I believe Wolff shifts the pressure like Ruiz does.

 

But the sit part is important because it gets the pressure to the lead side and that allows the golfer to then rotate.

 

You might want to try a homemade pressure shift board to better get the concept.

 

 

 

 

 

RH

I recall an IG Live that GG did earlier this year with Chris Como and he said something akin to JR and MW having completely different pressure patterns 

[MysteryV]

On 12/21/2020 at 11:53 AM, magsgolfho said:

Well worth it for the year for the money. The detailed info and the swing reviews are worth every penny. I personally haven’t gotten through all the modules yet so I’m renewing. 

 

Do we know who does the swing reviews?  Is it actually GG?  It seems unclear on the site.

[DaRiz]

On 12/26/2020 at 4:50 PM, MysteryV said:

Question for folks who have subscribed to GG's methods:  Does the sit and turn thought really help?  If so, how long did it take you to feel like you'd incorporated it?  Was there an "aha" moment?

 

I've watched quite a bit of his stuff, and like it, but the sit and turn thing seems pretty exaggerated in most of the stuff I've seen - and has just never resonated with me.

 

Sit and turn is a gross oversimplification and I think that without following the program, having feedback, or learning every technical nuance of the swing, it is very dangerous to attempt. Also it is not easy to fully understand his leg work just going off of what is available on YT or IG, there are a lot of things (specifically in set up and backswing) that need to be in place to even attempt it, not to mention what to do with your arms in transition which is the most difficult thing to reprogram. To try to condense it into a just leg work doesn't do it justice as it is really a whole swing theory and not just "leg work". The goal of the leg work is to get the lead hip down and back in transition so that it opens space for the arms to come in and deliver the club nice and shallow. As you get the lead hip down and back, and you start to extend that lead leg, it pushes the hip back even further and increases your rotation, which is the main goal. (If you are interested in GG there is a whole universe of swing technicians that you need read as well, this is a good place to start http://kelvinmiyahiragolf-articles.com/index.php/2015-how-great-players-rotate-in-a-golf-swing ) If you are on IG I would check out sacredlinks and slomoswinglibrary

 

To answer your question about an AHA moment, as someone who has just renewed my membership for another year, I have had probably 4-5, and none of them are relating to leg work. The leg work is the "feel" that ties all the other things together, and is relatively easy to exaggerate once you understand why it is needed. The moments for me were: actually getting balanced at address, actually staying in spine inclination during backswing, torquing the ground, committing to 

a new release pattern, etc. Those seem simple, but if you are a good golfer with bad fundamentals it is hard to break out of. Being in proper balance allowed me get deeper into the ground with the legs, which allowed me to get deeper into the swing with my arms, which allowed the club to get deeper before releasing, which is how you decrease your dynamic loft (read: increase shaft lean) and have more consistent low point and face control. It all revolves around the hips, but the value of the program is all the little things that allow you to do the leg work, not vice versa. How long did it take to incorporate? It took me a year to rebuild my swing to where I feel like I should be scratch next year (coming from being a 7). I have improved steadily along the way, with many setbacks trying to play rounds with new feels and such, but I took the biggest leap within the past few months or so. I have increased almost 2 full club lengths with my irons, and developed an insane amount of consistency and face control to where (as Hogan said about a fundamentally sound swing) the harder I swing, the straighter it goes. 

 

22 hours ago, MysteryV said:

 

Do we know who does the swing reviews?  Is it actually GG?  It seems unclear on the site.

 

Brett Silvernail and Jake Gilmer are the instructors who do the swing reviews. They are extremely thorough, but as you progress through the program, you truly do become your own coach and are able to diagnose your own swing. 

[MysteryV]

50 minutes ago, DaRiz said:

 

Sit and turn is a gross oversimplification and I think that without following the program, having feedback, or learning every technical nuance of the swing, it is very dangerous to attempt. Also it is not easy to fully understand his leg work just going off of what is available on YT or IG, there are a lot of things (specifically in set up and backswing) that need to be in place to even attempt it, not to mention what to do with your arms in transition which is the most difficult thing to reprogram. To try to condense it into a just leg work doesn't do it justice as it is really a whole swing theory and not just "leg work". The goal of the leg work is to get the lead hip down and back in transition so that it opens space for the arms to come in and deliver the club nice and shallow. As you get the lead hip down and back, and you start to extend that lead leg, it pushes the hip back even further and increases your rotation, which is the main goal. (If you are interested in GG there is a whole universe of swing technicians that you need read as well, this is a good place to start http://kelvinmiyahiragolf-articles.com/index.php/2015-how-great-players-rotate-in-a-golf-swing ) If you are on IG I would check out sacredlinks and slomoswinglibrary

 

To answer your question about an AHA moment, as someone who has just renewed my membership for another year, I have had probably 4-5, and none of them are relating to leg work. The leg work is the "feel" that ties all the other things together, and is relatively easy to exaggerate once you understand why it is needed. The moments for me were: actually getting balanced at address, actually staying in spine inclination during backswing, torquing the ground, committing to 

a new release pattern, etc. Those seem simple, but if you are a good golfer with bad fundamentals it is hard to break out of. Being in proper balance allowed me get deeper into the ground with the legs, which allowed me to get deeper into the swing with my arms, which allowed the club to get deeper before releasing, which is how you decrease your dynamic loft (read: increase shaft lean) and have more consistent low point and face control. It all revolves around the hips, but the value of the program is all the little things that allow you to do the leg work, not vice versa. How long did it take to incorporate? It took me a year to rebuild my swing to where I feel like I should be scratch next year (coming from being a 7). I have improved steadily along the way, with many setbacks trying to play rounds with new feels and such, but I took the biggest leap within the past few months or so. I have increased almost 2 full club lengths with my irons, and developed an insane amount of consistency and face control to where (as Hogan said about a fundamentally sound swing) the harder I swing, the straighter it goes. 

 

 

Brett Silvernail and Jake Gilmer are the instructors who do the swing reviews. They are extremely thorough, but as you progress through the program, you truly do become your own coach and are able to diagnose your own swing. 

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a thoughtful response!  It may be time to finally bite the bullet - particularly as I can't seem to book a lesson with any pros in my area as both lessons and tee times are in extremely high demand.

 

Again, thank you.  Very well thought out and communicated.

[ofortuna]

On 12/26/2020 at 7:28 PM, MysteryV said:

 

FWIW - Akshay has about the most pronounced version I've seen.

 

Anyone else start at "I definitely don't turn and sit" and end up at "yup - totally get the GG legwork"?  If so, what got you there? 

 

Using the website and also taking in person lessons from Jake, it has taken me half a year just to really understand and trust the legwork.  Main reason being is that it feels so odd since taking lessons from previous instructors taught and ingrained in me a move that's a polar opposite (a slide).  Learning may be a lot easier for you depending on your current move.  You may not have to unlearn as many bad habits as me.

 

Also, what comes prior to the legwork is vital (setup, backswing)

 

When making a change to your grooved move, it is vital you do 3 things imho:

 

1) Swing ridiculously slow but fluidly

2)  Video for feedback every single day

3) Get out of your comfort zone and embrace movements that feel wrong and uncomfortable

 

 

 

[LeftDaddy]

1 hour ago, ofortuna said:

 

Using the website and also taking in person lessons from Jake, it has taken me half a year just to really understand and trust the legwork.  Main reason being is that it feels so odd since taking lessons from previous instructors taught and ingrained in me a move that's a polar opposite (a slide).  Learning may be a lot easier for you depending on your current move.  You may not have to unlearn as many bad habits as me.

 

Also, what comes prior to the legwork is vital (setup, backswing)

 

When making a change to your grooved move, it is vital you do 3 things imho:

 

1) Swing ridiculously slow but fluidly

2)  Video for feedback every single day

3) Get out of your comfort zone and embrace movements that feel wrong and uncomfortable

 

 

 

Yep, I’m working with Jake too on eliminating my slide / fixing my legwork. I’ll be honest that my progress has been slow. But, I recently discovered I had been thinking about it all wrong. I’ve done a lot of mirror work and slomo swings etc, but as soon as I start hitting balls I revert to a slide. Oddly my slide seems to have gotten worse, though my start lines are getting better and my trail side seems to be getting turned better. Anyway, the thing I discovered was how I move my hips is all wrong. The pivot is a shift, not a turn. I saw a GG YouTube lesson where this clicked for me. A few practice swings in the mirror later, and I’m like “Omg, I’ve been thinking about this all wrong.”  I haven’t hit a ball in about 3 weeks now due to travel, weather, etc. but I’m confident this will help. I had “discovered” something similar earlier this year and was flushing the ball for 2.5 days, but then I lost it again. Jake has been trying to tell me what’s wrong but I just wasn’t getting it. I now think I am (hope I am).  But this time I plan to commit to a lot of slomo swings, halfers, freezers, etc. Unfortunately that’s what it takes. 

[MysteryV]

Great posts.  I bought the annual plan based on the thoughtful feedback, and am going through the videos.  We'll see how it goes.

 

Anything I should know?  Is there more than just the videos?  The site is a little funky.