Club-Focused Instruction Seminar

[@jsilva7448]

Terrific Ed, thank you! Lot's of pearls in your presentation.

[@markhumphrey8894]

swinginging the club as you are teaching us how to do, certainly eliminated my back pain. Great info. thanks for posting!!

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

Great to hear. Good work.

[@prestonnull4009]

Great presentation! I have worked on this swing for 10 years. For me this is a very good review. Need to check on some things at the range. Thank you.

[@edlebeau6763]

I have begun making Zoom lessons available to Alumni. Let me know if you would like to work together.

[@br5448]

excellent, I feel lucky to have found this approach. Now if only I could do it all the time...

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

That's exactly the words Tiger says to himself when he hits a great shot.

[@johnrider7619]

Hi Ed excellent description but you said at the beginning that we learn by watching. May l suggest you give us a demonstration swinging the club and hitting balls with a variety of clubs. Cheers

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

John, good suggestion. I can do this. However understand this, you can use a golf club in a wide variety of ways. They are designed to all be used with the same swing.

[@johnrider7619]

@@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor Thanks for replying. Yes I see what you mean, same swing for all clubs. Only problem for me l don't always swing the same, haha

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

@@johnrider7619 I bet when you sign your name the hand makes the signature pretty similarly. When a swing is not relatively consistent, there is an underlying reason. Unlike the letters that make up your name, you do not have a clear mental concept/picture of how the club swings when it sends the ball to the target. The physics involved in propelling the ball on a straight line and normal trajectory are defined and universal. They apply to every player and every shot. While body movements may vary and swings can appear to be different, the club/ball interaction is universal. As such it is easy to define and with that definition the door is open to understanding a swing that satisfies that interaction.

[@roymcquaig2797]

Always learning something new from you Mr. Ed. Thanks for allowing us to learn from you.

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

Roy, glad you find this helpful. I offer online golf instruction for players.

[@tullochgorum6323]

I like his point about learning the swing in slow motion. Every musician knows the value of slow practice - it enables the nervous system to understand and learn the movement. Then you progressively speed up without losing the sense of control and precision. But with golf, most pros seem to begin their lessons at the final speed. If you tried that with music you'd never make any progress.

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

One of my mantras for students is "slow practice yields fast progress."

[@robinhopkins2462]

Thanks very much. Really appreciate the video and your other you tube videos. Actually trying this and it IS working for me .

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

The better and more fully you understand club-focused instruction the better you'll like it and the ball flight it produces. Congrats on your progress!

[@mikewhoberry]

Excellent presentation. I was surprised when you stated that you prefer the 10 finger grip. I feel my current grip (overlapping) is uncomfortable especially when having the v's between thumb and forefinger point to center of body. I'll try the 10 finger grip and see how it goes. Thanks.

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

When you try the 10 finger grip I suggest you start with putting and chipping. That will make the transition quicker

[@John_Wood_]

Great work Ed.

[@TheGoodeLife1975]

You are nerdy as HELL!! The audio on this is pretty horrible. But this is the absolute best video I've seen that follows up Manuel's video from the 80s. It answers questions on things that Manuel didn't cover. Keep being nerdy. You made it make more sense

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

Want to really get nerdy? www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/edward-lebeau/club-focused-golf-instruction/paperback/product-1nzmnryk.html?page=1&pageSize=4

[@TheGoodeLife1975]

I already am a nerd

[@TheGoodeLife1975]

And come to think about it I'm fairly positive that I only heard about Manuel because of your channel...so thanks

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

@@TheGoodeLife1975 check out the link I sent above.

[@TheGoodeLife1975]

@@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor will do

[@markhumphrey8894]

Wow! I never thought of the grip going backwards as the club head comes forward. That is what happens when I try to add in actively the wrist action. No bueno mi amigo! I think bending the wrist actively automatically cut the radius of the circle in half. I've never seen that demonstrated, intentionally or unintentionally. This makes so much sense, keep the grip and club head moving forward. You could probably swing half the speed correctly, and hit 30yds further than if you tried to assist with the wrist. I can see where the sky balls and chunks behind the ball come into play with the active wrist motion.

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

Wrists "hinge" but never "cock" . Radial and Ulnar deviation is ok. Flexion/extension are problems.

[@markhumphrey8894]

@@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor correct! Hinge is a passive idea and cocking the wrist is an active movement. Below the elbow needs to be responsive passively to the arm motion. Let gravity do the work. We think the ball won't go anywhere if we don't actively engage elbows and wrist. Be patient and just let it happen and enjoy the flow of the club going through the ball. Amazing how Manuel never took a divot. Just brushed the grass.

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

@@markhumphrey8894 Rock on!

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

@@markhumphrey8894 Rock on!

[@littlestudiorecords2141]

hi Ed, love this video really enlightened me as a new player looking for tips. what will you say about swinging one arm only or both?

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

Golf is a two-arm sport. We want to use both arms to swing the club. If you would like to learn more about this club-focused approach to golf, here is a link to a manual: Club-Focused-Golf-Instruction-Edward-LeBeau/dp/0359649181/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=club+focused+golf+instruction&qid=1573835224&sr=8-1 )

[@dogloverjb6873]

who are 5 of your favorite pro golfers who swing the club correctly as you mentioned...both pga and lpga thanks!

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

Some players to look at would be: Inbee Park, Billy Horschel, Zach Johnson, Steve Stricker, Paul Casey, Na Yoen Choi, Henrik Stenson. Most of them are not as "pure" relative to my prescribed swing in the backswing but from 9 o'clock forward they are all pretty close to it. Our prescribed swing adds defiinition to the swing so a player can practice their "swing" which is the only way to improve ball flight.

[@davidpopp7552]

Ed, this is a wonderful video: one I revisit often. I recently purchased your book, Club focused Golf Instruction. I am reading through it slowly and picking up some valuable information. One piece of info in this video is in your suggestion of pointing the shaft toward the target at the point in your swing just prior to follow through.....all while staying focused on the target through the entire swing. I find that when I make a full back swing, my forward swing seems to work much better. By "full" I mean where I am looking over my lead shoulder at the ball; much to like Erin does in Manuel's DVD. The only instruction I have seen (so far anyway) is to move the club over your shoulder with both hands. Sometimes I may get lazy and not take the backswing as far back as my flexibility allows, and it seems to have an effect on the quality of the forward swing. Does that make sense? Can you comment please. In closing, I wish I had discovered your instruction years ago.

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

David, the good news is that our muscles do what we tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what we tell them to do. If your backswing gets short and leads to an impaired forward swing, one thing we know is that "you" are shortening it. This could be for any number of reasons but the most likely is that you have changed your intention from swing the club forward to the target and instead got sucker-punched by the siren song of the ball. This is very common in the early days of transitioning paradigms from clubhead-ball to club shaft-target. At address our intention (and visualization ) should be on delivering the club to the target. If you imagine that at address you are in the middle of a clockface your forward swing progresses from impact (6 o'clock) to 5 and then to 4 o'clock. Somewhere around 4 the "shaft" will be pointing at your target (all targets are on the ground). That visualization should be operative at address enabling the swing to be a subconscious physical response to a conscious mental intention (club to target). Ed

[@davidpopp7552]

@@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor Thank you SO much for such a prompt and comptl

[@davidpopp7552]

@@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor Sorry about that last comment! Thank You so much for such a prompt and comprehensive response. The imagery of a clock face is a good one. I will try to focus on this tomorrow. The mental aspect (focus) of the game both you and Manuel emphasize is really an eye opener!

[@davidpopp7552]

Hi Ed. Another quick question for you. On page 127 of Club Focused Golf Instruction, you describe the forward swing as being initiated by a rotational action by the torso. Is this synonymous with Manuel's direction of initiating it with the arms (upper)? I am assuming it is. When I watch a video of Manuel's swing, he is clearly rotating his torso to get to 4 o'clock in the forward swing. Thanks so much for your time. I am really enjoying reading your book. It is something I will refer to often as I progress with this swing.

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

A players description of how their body moves at the beginning of the swing is so subjective. Manuel's description of "everything starting together, swinging together, and ending together" is very informative. I sense my torso rotation as starting the swing,What's most important is the delivery of the club--delivering the "whole" club back to address and then forward in the direction of the target (i.e. 4 o'clock). Michael Hebron refers to the "inside swinging the outside". That is the sensation I have and suggest in the manual.

[@davidpopp7552]

@@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor Thank you sir!

[@jcee6886]

This is gold!

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

Questions? Let me know. If you are interested you will benefit from our instructor's manual. www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/edward-lebeau/club-focused-golf-instruction/paperback/product-1nzmnryk.html?page=1&pageSize=4

[@richardcwchong]

Thank you!

[@raymondmedemblik5034]

I was being facetious I think relaxing and feeling the club head are also hard to do when the pressure is on

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

Pressure is an interesting word. Literally it refers to one thing pressing against another. I think you'll find that you are better served as a golfer to replace the word pressure with the word "distraction". Being three holes down in a match or wanting to save par those aren't pressure, they are distraction. There is no solution to "pressure" there is a solution to "distraction". Identify your shot process and give it your exclusive attention--that's what the boys on tour do (try to do). Ed

[@paulwilson774]

Very Interesting.

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

Questions? Post them and we'll respond

[@fredpena643]

Do you have teachers in Tampa,Fla. that teach this method?

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

John is a long time de la Torre teacher. His approach is similar. www.johnhayesgolf.com/

[@password2473]

never had the Q&A section ?

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

That session followed the original presentation when we did this live on Facebook.

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

Questions are welcomed here.

[@DeepakSharmaChd001]

Name of the book , which you were referring?

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

@@valuemgr125 You may also find my instructor's manual helpful: www.amazon.com/Club-Focused-Golf-Instruction-Edward-LeBeau/dp/0359649181/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=club+focused+golf+instruction&qid=1573835224&sr=8-1 )

[@wallinlitwa]

When instructed to swing the whole club in the direction of the target some students perform the motion with tension in the upper extremities sending the ball to the right of the target. What do you find helpful in overcoming this problem?

[@edlebeau6763]

Stanley, I want to give you a precise answer that will resolve the issue without question. I would appreciate if your could be a little more descriptive of what you are observing. Thanks. Ed

[@wallinlitwa]

@@edlebeau6763 The player "Holds on", "blocks", "handle drags", doesn't "release", has tension in the lead arm, clubface at impact is open/out of square, ball starts on target then fades/slices to the right.

[@edlebeau6763]

@@wallinlitwa Ok. That's clear and its what I have often seen. The player is concluding that to control the club they need to be rigid/stiff/tight. What I demonstrate is that by hold the club with just two fingers in each hand, I can swing the whole club. I convey to them that it is more about synchronizing the body and the club than locking down the body. To impart this understanding, I suggest demonstration of a putting stroke in slow motion. The slower the better. To help them monitor the swinging motion, I stick a ½ inch of a 3 inch tee into the hole in the butt of the grip. At address, I show them that the tee is roughly 2 inches from my lead forearm. Then I begin making a swing (8 o'clock to 4 o'clock) and showing them that the tee does not change its relationship to my forearm. If the tee moves then that is leverage not swinging. In short order you will see them be able to make these swings and doing so without rigidity. Then I coach them to manage the tee (i.e. managing the club) when putting balls to a club I have laying on the ground 15 feet away to serve as a backstop (no hole!). If you can be patient and give them appropriate positive feedback you'll see they are very content to make a lot of these putts and because the club is arriving square you will hear and they will fee the impact of the ball when the clubface arrives square. I then take these exact steps and introduce chipping with a seven iron. If you are doing hourly lessons, this putting and chipping would be a great combo for two lessons. The tee thing also works for the full swing. Lastly, regarding ball flight that starts straight and then curves right, this is the result of a swing that has two characteristics: 1) the clubface is square at impact, 2) the path of the swing is outside in. The solution to that is one that often evades most players and many coaches.

[@wallinlitwa]

Ed LeBeau So would the solution to ball flight that starts straight and curves right be Manuel’s over the top drill?

[@wallinlitwa]

I had a followup question regarding what you said about ball flight: "Lastly, regarding ball flight that starts straight and then curves right, this is the result of a swing that has two characteristics: 1) the clubface is square at impact, 2) the path of the swing is outside in." On page 118 of Manuel's book he addresses the issue of ball starts straight to target but then curves right. His analysis is 1. Club is swinging on target 2. Clubhead is out of square at impact. There is too much rigidity in leading arm and wrist. This interpretations appear to conflict. Please clarify. Thank you.

[@raymondmedemblik5034]

Sounds simple

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

Raymond, your response is that which CFI teachers hear all the time. The golf swing is a highly complex integration of physics, geometry, physiology, and psychology. It's very complex. But so is the operation of your car. The point is that despite being complex in its nature, driving a car and driving a golf ball can appear simple when it is clearly stated and boiled down to its essentials. Learn and improve. Ed

[@edwardgilfedder6804]

Hi Ed I have been watching your instructions for a week now I have watch hundreds of different golf instructors over the year your method is the real deal it make sense and it works thank you

[@darrinaustin6904]

Ed, would you comment on Manuel’s instruction to the teen starting at about the 5 min mark the attached video? He seems to indicate that the wrist set quite a bit early in the swing and I wonder how get your students to mimic this feel. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYmtgnqCfbeLf6c

[@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor]

Hello Darrin, in that portion of the video, you are observing the contrast between two swinging actions. Manuel identified them as a "low center swing" (the one Manuel makes) and a "high center swing (the one the golfer makes). A low center swing has an arc created by hands and has an early wrist hinge (radial and ulnar deviation). The high center swing has an arc created by the arms and has a later wrist hinge created by the weight of the club after it passes 10 o'clock in the back swing. While either of these two can produce effective ball flight, I teach the high center with the wrist hinge happening after 10. I like this because it makes the swing more consistent putter through driver since in the putter there is no wrist hinge. Additionally, the high center swing is more analogous to a two-handed side-arm toss of a soccer ball and therefore affording the golfer an easy model around which to build their swing. If you are going to teach the low center swing be clear that you use the hands in the ulnar/radial manner. Ed

[@darrinaustin6904]

@@EdLeBeauCFIinstructor That makes a lot of sense. I have always been an "upper arc" swinger and trying to the lower arc swing has taken some effort. I do note on the lower arc swing, like Manuel says, if I use both hands equally to start the swing it gets my club into a great position and the swing feels effortless. Like the kid says in the video it feels a bit handsy but I think this can lead to a more consistent ball strike for me. Thanks for all your videos and your time … you are making a difference!

[@mrzocor1]

see how many times you can hit the ball decently without looking at it.

[@edlebeau6763]

The challenge to make an effective golf shot without having the ball in your field of vision is considerable. That notwithstanding, there are hundreds of members of the Blind Golfers Association who play golf. Because the ball is stationary, golf is one of the few ball sports they can play. The point I make in the video presentation is to begin to identify that which is "essential". Having the ball in your field of vision, an appropriate setup and not essential but greatly facilitate execution. By all means, play with your eyes open.

[@edlebeau6763]

Mark, the blind players I mentioned can produce "decent" ball flight. While they haven't been surveyed, I doubt if a single one of them would not assume they could play better with eye sight.

[@wskripka1]

Audio is poor , popping from microphone.

[@edlebeau6763]

The audio as well as the video quality are substandard--hopefully the value of the content makes watching it worthwhile.