Yogi Berra said it best when he reminded us It Ain't Over Till It's Over. Do you have your own personal favorite expressions with similar meaning? Here's just a few that come to mind: "Almost Doesn't Count ...except in horseshoes"."Close, But No Cigar"."I Can't Believe What I Just Saw".
I'm sure there are many good ones I've left out. Either way, if you were watching last week's Accenture Match Play Championships you saw what I saw, starting with Wednesday's opening matches. If you missed it just trust me, ALL these clichés and more apply to the escape acts performed by Tiger Woods, golf's answer to Harry Houdini. Starting his 2008 golf season the way he ended 2007, Tiger is sending his own message to all those trying to beat him; Forget About It!
We all have a soft spot in our hearts and like to root for the underdog. I'll even admit rooting against Tiger on several occasions, including each of his US Amateur final match victories, his first wins as a pro and Masters win in 1997. Back then, I didn't think he was worth all the hype. I've since learned to enjoy watching him compete, appreciate how good he is as compared to every other player and the history he's making. Yes, I still continue to root for someone to put up a legitimate challenge each tournament, but I'm not holding my breath anymore. I'm also not a believer that Phil Mickelson is that steady challenger. What's incredible to me is that the guys who can't beat Tiger, are the rest of the best players in the world. These guys play a different game than the rest of us, (who's passions are to steadily break 80, 90or 100) and Tiger plays a different game than all of them. To put things into their proper prospective, think about how many times you were ever under par during a round, beyond the first few holes. Be honest now.
For those who still root against him, thinking he can't be that good, that he's made a deal with the devil (GB), get used to suffering for many more years. With 63 wins and Arnold Palmer's 62 victories now in his rear view mirror, Tiger takes aim next at Ben Hogan's 64. It's just a matter of time before he beats Jack Nicklaus' 73, Sam Snead's 82 and holds all the records. He can't go undefeated for the year, can he? Of course not, that's absurd. What about twelve in a row, beating Byron Nelson's record of eleven? This record was always thought of as sacred, never to be broken, just like Joe Dimaggio's 56 game hitting streak Well maybe he can't win every tournament he enters, but why not the fours majors? Tiger has the unique luxury of losing and still being the big winner, especially if he pulls off the Grand Slam. My take on Tiger, "never say never".
To put the official wrap on the Accenture Match Play, here's the quick version of what I saw:Simply put; Tiger was good TV. I watched in awe as he shifted into another gear on Wednesday making three birdies and an eagle, as he performed his Houdini-like escape, a 3-down with 5 to play death grip by JB Holmes. Then on Friday, he out dueled Aaron Baddley in an entertaining birdie fest, where Baddley had multiple make able putts in regulation, before losing in extra holes in sudden death. In the spirit of basketball's March Madness, the bracket wars saw their share of early upsets by top players. The most notable was Ernie Els, who lost 6 and 5 to Jonathan Byrd in round one. Phil Mickelson's early exit can at the hands of red hot Stuart Appleby, where birdies chirped throughout the match for both players before Mickelson made a crucial mistake, three putting on the final hole. The biggest surprise was watching Stewart Cink humiliate his opponents throughout the week, but as the final script read, IT GOT LATE EARLY for Cink, losing 8-7 to Tiger in the 36 hole final. What a surprise!
Today's 60-second golf tip:
With all this talk about perfection, is it just me or do you see all the BAD shots I do by tour players? Here's a few lowlights from Wednesday:Tiger's opening tee shot out of bounds rightThe tee shot on 18 of Henrik Stensen, (last year's winner and this year's winner of the consolation match for 3rd place). This low hook off the heel with his 3 metal (I still don't know what to call it) was replayed by Johnny Miller and described as the worst tee shot he'd ever seen by a pro.
More and more I see bad slices off the tee, as the top players strive for the perfect plane and timing of the knees, hips, shoulders, arms and chest. Wanna get confused too? Just listen to the telecasts and see the replays of a player's swing as they're analyzed by the experts in spectacular super slow motion. They do a good job of showing off their knowledge, with technical terms only a physics major understands. For me, the moment I worry about my left side "getting stuck" on the down swing, not allowing the club to release (quoting Nick Faldo), I lose touch with what's most important, squaring the club into impact. Squaring the club by turning the hands with Thumbs Down as you strike the ball, makes all the right things happen automatically, without thinking. That's the way I like it. This discovery was the magic formula for me, "like money in the bank", as it cured my out of control slice in the mid 1990's.
In case I haven't made this good new public knowledge yet, Morgan James Publishing will soon publish Thumbs Down, the virtual golf lesson, Front Nine edition. Checkout my new and improved website at www.golfinstructionmadesimple and see all the new products and videos available. Pay particular attention to the "Promo Item" button on each page that shows how Thumbs Down makes a unique promotional item for business. Contact me for pricing at: info@thumbsdownmethod.com. While you're on the website see "visit my blog" button or at www.thumbsdownmethod.com.
April 25, 2008
Aloha and Welcome Back
Aloha and Welcome Back to the professional golf season 2008!
After an off-season break, I'm back in the saddle with many stories and interesting information already teed up to share with you throughout the year. Each story is also posted on my new blog at www.thumbsdownmethod.com, which is also a website with a new Turn Golf Into Business theme. Please check it out, but pardon the appearance during the next few weeks, as it's still under construction.
While the NFL playoffs heated up and football fans like me were enjoying the first three rounds,the 2008 PGA golf season officially kicked off in Hawaii. Even though most of the game's big names didn't play at the Mercedes and Sony Opens, it was still fun to watch the rest of the world's best golfers make the game look easy. Coincidentally, last weekend Tiger Woods made itlook too easy as he coasted to victory by eight shots at the Buick Invitational, after leading by eleven on the back nine of the final round. Stay tuned for more on this.
This weekend it's Super Bowl XLII (42), with my NY Giants playing the role of this year's Cinderella team, against possibly the best team in football history. After suffering with my Gints for forty years (with the exception of two Super Bowl wins and the 2000 Super Bowl loss), a die hard fan can only hope the magic lasts one more week, as they try to spoil the New England Patriots historic unbeaten season. While the football teams are in the desert in Arizona, Tiger and a few friends: Mark O'Meara, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Darren Clark and Thomas Bjorn are in the desert in Dubai. On the eve of the opening round of the Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates, I'm watching the Golf Channel's telecast of the team competition.
I love watching great players do what they do best, but I'm getting tired of seeing their fluid swings, perfect ball striking and follow-throughs in super slow motion, then listening to the experts as they analyze what we just saw. This year, a new toy called Track Man shows each player's ball and club speed, spin rates and gives even more feedback. I have absolutely no problem with the quality of the commentator's credentials and expertise, but their explanations are filled with technical information I don't understand, in a language I can't relate to. In their attempts to keep it simple for all of us, most of the messages go right over our heads, better suited for the top 1% of all golfers. In sharp contrast, the Thumbs Down method is targeted at the other 99% (10's of millions of us), because it was created by a peer (ME), not an expert. My big advantage is that I relate to amateurs better because I live in your shoes every day.
It drives me crazy when I see and hear instructors do side by side comparisons between the best in the world and recreational players. Hey, don't get me wrong because watching the best players (Palmer, Nicklaus, Player, etc) on TV is how I learned and taught myself to play golf. I also learned to bowl by watching Dick Weber and started hitting topspin forehands by watching Bjorn Borg destroy the world of tennis in the 1970's. It's a mystery to me why the golf swing is analyzed more than in any other sport. Unfortunately for too many golfers, the term paralysis through analysis applies all too often.
I have a very strong opinion that a majority of the instruction to focuses on the wrong order of importance for the average player. To me, a pretty swing don't mean a thing unless you're making solid contact and able to control where the ball is going. Golf is a lot like skiing in that it's essential to initially learn the correct fundamentals first, but after that you're on your own. Like it or not, we learn and teach ourselves every time we do it.
This year I'm branding the Thumbs Down method as the premier "Teach Yourself" method and myself as a Teach Yourself virtual coach, with a virtual coaching program using the internet. Contact ME to learn more.
This issue's 60 second Thumbs Down method golf tip emphasizes one of my pet phrases, "start with solid ball striking …then works backwards. See what I mean by checking out my new video at www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/Downloads/FreeStuff.htm. It was filmed live for the Inside Golf show (6:00PM Saturday's on Comcast Sportsnet) on November 14, as I cured the producer's slice and made him a better ball striker in minutes, just as advertised. The video tells my story exactly as it was originally intended.
On Feb 4 I'll be unveiling a new website look, with a unique Pro Shop and Online Store. Check it out and tell your friends to do the same. As always, your comments, replies and input are welcome.
After an off-season break, I'm back in the saddle with many stories and interesting information already teed up to share with you throughout the year. Each story is also posted on my new blog at www.thumbsdownmethod.com, which is also a website with a new Turn Golf Into Business theme. Please check it out, but pardon the appearance during the next few weeks, as it's still under construction.
While the NFL playoffs heated up and football fans like me were enjoying the first three rounds,the 2008 PGA golf season officially kicked off in Hawaii. Even though most of the game's big names didn't play at the Mercedes and Sony Opens, it was still fun to watch the rest of the world's best golfers make the game look easy. Coincidentally, last weekend Tiger Woods made itlook too easy as he coasted to victory by eight shots at the Buick Invitational, after leading by eleven on the back nine of the final round. Stay tuned for more on this.
This weekend it's Super Bowl XLII (42), with my NY Giants playing the role of this year's Cinderella team, against possibly the best team in football history. After suffering with my Gints for forty years (with the exception of two Super Bowl wins and the 2000 Super Bowl loss), a die hard fan can only hope the magic lasts one more week, as they try to spoil the New England Patriots historic unbeaten season. While the football teams are in the desert in Arizona, Tiger and a few friends: Mark O'Meara, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Darren Clark and Thomas Bjorn are in the desert in Dubai. On the eve of the opening round of the Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates, I'm watching the Golf Channel's telecast of the team competition.
I love watching great players do what they do best, but I'm getting tired of seeing their fluid swings, perfect ball striking and follow-throughs in super slow motion, then listening to the experts as they analyze what we just saw. This year, a new toy called Track Man shows each player's ball and club speed, spin rates and gives even more feedback. I have absolutely no problem with the quality of the commentator's credentials and expertise, but their explanations are filled with technical information I don't understand, in a language I can't relate to. In their attempts to keep it simple for all of us, most of the messages go right over our heads, better suited for the top 1% of all golfers. In sharp contrast, the Thumbs Down method is targeted at the other 99% (10's of millions of us), because it was created by a peer (ME), not an expert. My big advantage is that I relate to amateurs better because I live in your shoes every day.
It drives me crazy when I see and hear instructors do side by side comparisons between the best in the world and recreational players. Hey, don't get me wrong because watching the best players (Palmer, Nicklaus, Player, etc) on TV is how I learned and taught myself to play golf. I also learned to bowl by watching Dick Weber and started hitting topspin forehands by watching Bjorn Borg destroy the world of tennis in the 1970's. It's a mystery to me why the golf swing is analyzed more than in any other sport. Unfortunately for too many golfers, the term paralysis through analysis applies all too often.
I have a very strong opinion that a majority of the instruction to focuses on the wrong order of importance for the average player. To me, a pretty swing don't mean a thing unless you're making solid contact and able to control where the ball is going. Golf is a lot like skiing in that it's essential to initially learn the correct fundamentals first, but after that you're on your own. Like it or not, we learn and teach ourselves every time we do it.
This year I'm branding the Thumbs Down method as the premier "Teach Yourself" method and myself as a Teach Yourself virtual coach, with a virtual coaching program using the internet. Contact ME to learn more.
This issue's 60 second Thumbs Down method golf tip emphasizes one of my pet phrases, "start with solid ball striking …then works backwards. See what I mean by checking out my new video at www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/Downloads/FreeStuff.htm. It was filmed live for the Inside Golf show (6:00PM Saturday's on Comcast Sportsnet) on November 14, as I cured the producer's slice and made him a better ball striker in minutes, just as advertised. The video tells my story exactly as it was originally intended.
On Feb 4 I'll be unveiling a new website look, with a unique Pro Shop and Online Store. Check it out and tell your friends to do the same. As always, your comments, replies and input are welcome.
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