Monte - Drive for dough

[geneazevedo]

I just finished up the video...took me three sessions to get through it all! What an awesome collection. I'm going to try and apply the learnings to both my swing and my 14 year old son who just started playing. Although he's already out driving me, so I may hold out on giving him the good stuff! Lol. Looks like I'll be starting from step one...the setup. Wow...I have so many things that are messed up but eventually I'll get this!

[ofortuna]

When I originally added some leftarm rotation, I picked up close to 20mph clubhead speed as I reported earlier. But it seems from day to day, my driver swing speed is varying widely. By more than 15 mph. I would think that it's the swing speed radar that I'm using with no ball in the backyard, but I always have it setup at the same location and between swings separated by short periods, the speeds are very close.

[grizztrax]

Just watched the video, not sure what took me so long to pull the trigger. Pure gold as always from Monte. I discovered a pretty major flaw in my swing involving my shoulder rotation. Too flat, and too centered over my feet which explains why I never felt properly loaded into my right side. Funny thing is, Monte showed me this during an in person lesson a while back and I could never remember what it was that he had showed me that day that got me into that position. Took it to the range yesterday, and what a difference. I have so much more room to swing the club down into impact, before was making all sorts of crazy compensations, getting steep, etc. Biggest difference was with the irons, immediately better ball flight and swing felt so much more fluid and powerful. Will take a bit longer to get the feel with the driver, but it was a significant improvement as well. Couldn't be happier with the purchase, well done Monte!

[radiman]

Just watched the video, not sure what took me so long to pull the trigger. Pure gold as always from Monte. I discovered a pretty major flaw in my swing involving my shoulder rotation. Too flat, and too centered over my feet which explains why I never felt properly loaded into my right side. Funny thing is, Monte showed me this during an in person lesson a while back and I could never remember what it was that he had showed me that day that got me into that position. Took it to the range yesterday, and what a difference. I have so much more room to swing the club down into impact, before was making all sorts of crazy compensations, getting steep, etc. Biggest difference was with the irons, immediately better ball flight and swing felt so much more fluid and powerful. Will take a bit longer to get the feel with the driver, but it was a significant improvement as well. Couldn't be happier with the purchase, well done Monte!

 

It's posts like these that make me excited to pick this up. Gotta wait until payday, but it will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine.

[peachfuzz]

Finally got time to start watching this morning before work, and got up through the "bump, dump & turn" section. Pretty awesome so far, and I have already seen small parts where I'm going wrong in my setup/grip. I don't think I'm giving myself enough room to get good extension, and I'm gripping the club too "weak."

 

I've been trying the bump, dump & turn drill/zipper away drill, and it feels artificial to me which throws me off completely. I think explaining it like you did with the "it should be a natural motion if I were going to throw this club, or a football, or a baseball, etc" is what I'm already doing, so trying to make it apparent feels really strange.

 

Loving it so far though. Seriously anxious to get some good range time in this weekend!

 

Btw, I'm not sure anyone said anything about this, but "alignment" was misspelled in the tile in the upper right corner all throughout that section at the beginning of the first video. Grammar police! :busted_cop:

[peachfuzz]

Well, I went out to the irons range on lunch, and I have to say that I really love what I'm seeing so far from working through some of the first video stuff. I'm getting good extension out of my right side (left is still chicken wingy which is what I've already been working on), and my contact is really clean through the center of the face most of the time.

 

Still not going to post my swing because it's laughable, lol... but here's about fifty balls through my 7-iron without cleaning it off because I wanted to see where I was catching it. There were a couple near the toe, but nothing off the hosel, and 95% dead center.

 

[Wedgefromhere]

Hey Monte, when's the drawing?

 

Keep it fair, keep it fair

 

[kmbean]

I drove a par 4 yesterday and eagled out. SECOND par 4 driven, first eagle ever.

 

I have been focusing on increasing my swing speed and really have not had as many accuracy problems as I thought I would.

 

With that said. My glutes, teres, and left side in general are pretty sore. It feels like the muscles are getting stronger from the lob wedge drill and practice rounds really going at the ball, so I'm letting that happen by giving them time to recover and spending more time on the putting green.

 

GLUTES ACTIVATE!!!!!!!

[highergr0und]

Man, i feel like my little improvements are a big deal and you guys are driving greens!!!

 

After a few range sessions, my accuracy on irons has improved quite a bit. Hard to tell about distance because it's been so windy. Each session I feel like I have a breakthrough with the driver only to feel like I'm starting at square one on the next trip. Old habits and what not.....

[ntanygd760]

The last 2 rounds before this video were 95 and 91. After the video my last 2 rounds are 74 and 78. Saw a massive increase in fairways hit, not so much distance but that is due to trying to get used to the swing so I can go full out every drive. I am sure the improvements will take a while to really feel good about my game but the accuracy will make it pretty easy to get back to last years hdcp.

 

Grip, set up, and backswing are the biggest things the video is helping me to change

[ShredX]

Bought the video today and downloaded... Hopefully start watching tonight. I quit playing for 10 years and got back I to the game about, 6 weeks ago... Need consistency in my game. Hit a drive 340 and straight the other day... 250 and right on the next hole... Ugh.

[Doppelganger]

I drove a par 4 yesterday and eagled out. SECOND par 4 driven, first eagle ever.

 

I have been focusing on increasing my swing speed and really have not had as many accuracy problems as I thought I would.

 

With that said. My glutes, teres, and left side in general are pretty sore. It feels like the muscles are getting stronger from the lob wedge drill and practice rounds really going at the ball, so I'm letting that happen by giving them time to recover and spending more time on the putting green.

 

GLUTES ACTIVATE!!!!!!!

 

Tell me about it! I might be able to dance now that I have them going, let me go check.

 

...

 

...

 

... Yep.

[geneazevedo]

I haven't even had a chance to implement any of my learnings from this video (this weekend I'll finally get to hit some balls), but I'm already wanting to get another Monte video! I'm just not sure which video would be best for me and wondered if any of you have recommendations? I usually score around 100, so of course there are plenty of things wrong with my game. I figure "Call Your Shot" sounds too advanced for me, so I was trying to decide between "Use the Bounce" and "Wedges". Any suggestions from those of you who have seen them all?

 

Thanks,

Gene

[ofortuna]

All excellent videos! I recommend bounce->wedges->cys

 

And CYS isn't too advanced for a beginner imho. He talks about situations other than the perfect flat lie on the fairway which everyone will face every round.

[thechief16]

agree. use the bounce first. If you develop your short game, your scores will drop quickly from 100.

[oldschoolrocker]

Use the bounce will quickly take the fear out of your short game.

 

Chip off a tight lie, no problem.

Pitch to a tucked pin, bring it on.

Lob over a bunker, who's your daddy.

 

And, not to forget Voodoo green reading.

 

Now, if I could just get rid of these darn putting yips!!!

[spud3]

All excellent videos! I recommend bounce->wedges->cys

 

And CYS isn't too advanced for a beginner imho. He talks about situations other than the perfect flat lie on the fairway which everyone will face every round.

 

+1 on all the above.

[patrickfisher105]

In part 1 it mentions placing the grip where the left hand naturally hangs. For me that creates a slight forward press with driver... is that ok?

[geneazevedo]

Thanks to all who replied...this one sold me. "Use the Bounce" has been purchased and is currently downloading! :yahoo:

 

Chip off a tight lie, no problem.

Pitch to a tucked pin, bring it on.

Lob over a bunker, who's your daddy.

[MonteScheinblum]

In part 1 it mentions placing the grip where the left hand naturally hangs. For me that creates a slight forward press with driver... is that ok?

 

Maybe. Just make sure your upper body isn't tilted toward the target at address. Ball position a factor, as well.

[chocolate_rehab]

I'm lucky enough to take lessons with him. Progress is sweet and so is this video. Thanks, Monte.

 

[ferrispgm]

Just purchased....can't wait to start watching, now i'm just crossing my fingers for the drawing lol

[progolferch]

I just got it to. Hopefully it will help my woeful driving that has been in a funk for 3 years. It's about to drive me crazy.

[dwboston]

I've been to two of Monte's clinics - my biggest issue is moving the upper body towards the target on the downswing and getting really steep, and I've struggled with finding a feel that works. "Head back, arms forward" helped a bit, but I've struggled doing it consistently. When I watched the DfD video, it felt like a light bulb went on with the "separate the shoulder from the chin" move. Monte might as well have been talking to me personally. I haven't had much time to practice, but I made a lot of swings in the mirror at home, focusing only on setting my wrists in the backswing and then separating my right shoulder (LH golfer) from my chin.

 

I played for the second time on Saturday since watching the video and had my best round in two years, 76, and hit 13 greens. The biggest difference was with the wedges. Being steep has just killed me with wedges - a lot of fatted shots and poor distance control. It was amazing to hit crisp wedges with nice shallow divots, on-line and with good distance control. It's only one round, but I'm really encouraged and thrilled so far.

[scottaz]

Just picked this up today. Looking forward to diving in.

[scottaz]

I finished the 1^st video yesterday.

 

One thing really stood out to me in the set up. The left arm hanging naturally grip. I was reaching back with the left as much as reaching forward with the right. Which explains why I tend to have issues with ball position with the driver, tilt issues and forced myself into an unnatural neutral/weak grip to keep it in play. I felt more comfortable right away.

 

Love the shoulder to foot drill.

 

REALLY loved the shoulder out/elbow in. Did it a few times slowly to feel the stretch in the shoulder and then with full swings just tried to get that feel, rather than think about what I was trying to accomplish.

 

But my big take away and main focus will be the left hand position during the swing and up and in. Two major issues for me. I tend to go out, then up.

 

Really awesome stuff Monte. Great investment.

[DevilDog]

Monte, my 12 year old son has been watching the videos over and over for two weeks. This past Sunday he applied what he had learned and was hitting his driver in the 230 range. His iron distance shot up as well. Now if I can just get him to get better distance control on putts and chips. He hits the chips and pitches well because of your short game video but he still hasn't the depth of experience to control distance consistently. He doesn't mishit any, just sometimes a tad too soft or too hard.

[MonteScheinblum]

Backswing length issue?

[creative10]

Humorous forward is fn gold imo...like monte says in video it cures a lot of other bad stuff cuz if done properly it puts the body in proper position to strike the ball. I would watch that a couple times for people getting stuck or having problems with a steep transition...excellent info there and the shoulder out right after it.

[spud3]

I could never get the notion of the right elbow doing anything to work for me. Always got me hanging back and dropping the right shoulder. The intent of the left arm off the chest is working for me.

 

What I do have to be careful of with that is I can tend to lift everything up off the ball a bit, causing some thin strikes. But I can manage that.

 

Great stuff in these videos. Thanks again Monte! You'll be seeing some swing videos coming your way in the next week or so...