Starting Over. How would you do it?

[dachtor]

instructor, process etc. Need help choosing

Sorry for the long post but I need some advice.

Starting in early September (after our club championship), I'm going to start over with my golf swing. I know that's not entirely possible as my body will always "remember" how I used to do it, but I'm really going to dedicate myself to learning one method and learning it well. Whatever it takes. As others have said before, there are many effective ways to swing the golf club. Many methods share common thoughts (such as flat left wrist) but have other variances (one plane vs. two). Almost all methods agree that the real mistake most golfers make is trying to mix the methods. I think that is what I am doing now. I have so many thoughts that I can't focus on the task of just playing golf. I feel like every swing is different.

So that being said, I'm willing to consider all options. I am about 5'11", 175 lbs with fairly long arms. I currently have a 7.9 handicap. I played just about every sport growing up that you can think of other than golf. Lots of Baseball, but I batted left handed and golf right handed. My natural swing tends to be fairly flat due my arms being long for my body (relatively speaking). I also tend to overswing or have a back swing that is considered longer than ideal. I don't hit the ball an incredibly long way. 8 iron 145 yards. Driver SS is between 95 and 100 mph.

I want something simple and repeatable.

Options in no particular order:

One Plane
Two Plane
Stack and Tilt
Harmon
Ledbetter
Ballard
many others

Or should I work on the mother load...... The Golfing Machine?

Please make a recomendation about how you would pursue the golf swing if you could start over.

[TexasAg]

The Golfing Machine isn't a method. That would be like trying to learn english from an encyclopedia. Personally, if I was starting over, I would just go see Brian Manzella and be done with it.

[dachtor]

Yea, I know it's not a method. I guess I was merely suggesting that I could "know all" and then make my own decision about what the right way for me was.

[mikpga]

With an empty slate!

[againstthegrain]

Before undertaking such a project I would do 2 things:

 

1. Get a 3D swing analysis done so you KNOW exactly where you stand and can discuss your faults w a potential new instructor.

 

 

2. Get a physical screening by a Certified TPI trainer so you know if your body has limitations that may hinder/prevent your progress.

 

 

In my case I did both at the same time.

[SkiHound]

I think the key is to find an instructor who you believe in and who you can work with over time. That's not easy. I think there's a lot of bad golf instruction out there. I've taken lessons from a few instructors. One almost ruined me. Another helped a little. I finally found a person who basically offers a system for improvement, and I have. Some of what he's taught me has literally stunned me when he asked me to do it -- it seemed to fly in the face of all the conventional golf instruction I'd ever had before. But then he shows me pictures of Tiger and Earnie and VJ, and... If I were starting over I'd find someone who taught the one-plane swing or some variant. The instructor I've been working with does not refer to one- and two-plane swings. But what he's teaching is clearly closer to one-plane or rotary if that's what you want to call it. He really refers to it as the modern golf swing. If you look at almost all the guys playing well today they are closer to a one-plane swing than a two-plane swing. Lots of swing tips that work for a two-plane swing simply don't work for a one-planer swing, and vice versa. The one-plane swing has a lot fewer moving parts. Good luck and be patient with yourself. It's going to take a while to re build your swing if that's what you're going to do.