“The mechanics of the efficient golfing method are the same as ever.
The fundamentals have remained the same” - Bobby Jones 1930’s
The main principle of TIG shows that these impact alignment are of absolute importance and although golfers come in ‘all shapes and sizes’ everyone and anyone can learn and therefore train themselves to produce these alignments. TIG is specifically designed to enable these impact alignments to happen as easily and naturally as possible. Achieving these impact alignments will allow the golfer to make an efficient, powerful, repeatable and accurate golf swing. These attributes produce better performance and greater enjoyment of the game. TIG is suitable for beginners/novices through to expert golfers
and anyone in-between.
Common Impact Alignments 1900 – 2010
It could be said “everything a golfer does to improve their play is done to improve golf’s moment of truth: the alignment and application of force at impact” Over time when we watch the world’s best golfers, we can see that they have all used swings which look different from each other. It is important and helpful to realise that these swings are being made by different body types and swing tempos. The swings that do not appear to be similar when in motion have many common impact alignments when still pictures of them are analysed. These common impact alignments should not be seen as common to world-class golfers, but common to any efficient swing motion that is founded on a practical application of the science of physics. One branch of physics is mechanics, a subdivision of mechanics deals with angular momentum, or the rotation of things around an axis. All good golf swing motions that produce timeless and classic impact alignments will by their very nature use a series of forces that are exerted on the golf club (in a sequenced and dynamic manner).These forces are always applied following the above principles, there can be no other way!
Our studies prove that there are more than 16 timeless and classic impact alignments which are evident in an efficient, powerful, repeatable and accurate golf swing. All of these alignments can be rapidly developed using the TIG learning system. During the initial stages emphasis is placed on the most common and productive of these positions.
The fundamental impact alignments are (in no particular order) as follows;
The left side including shoulder, arm, hand, clubhead and ball are all aligned. The upper arm remains ‘connected’ to the chest.
A flat left hand wrist and a bent right hand wrist must be evident.
A weight transfer to the front leg with the hips more ‘open ‘than the shoulders.
The right shoulder and head lower than at the start position.
The right elbow in front of the right hip with the arm still bent.
The impact of club on ball is the only law the ball responds to and this component has the greatest influence on the balls speed, flight, direction and elevation. The whole game of golf is structured around the flight of the ball; therefore making improvements to the impact, will vastly improve overall performance.
If we analyse the impact it becomes evident that certain mechanics take place between club and ball, of course there are many other components to a golf swing movement which enable a golfer to generate this impact and the TIG system will identify these in turn, so back to these “Laws”.
Centeredness of contact or finding the sweet-spot of the golf club, this ensures correct transition of swing speed to ball and also prevents the club from rotating around its own centre of gravity, very common in off centre hits. Amateur golfers recognize this readily in the sound of the strike or the sensation that the club has moved or turned on impact. This has also been proven in our coaching to date as the element where golfers lose the most speed, resulting in shorter ball flights.
Speed This of course is an essential ingredient at impact. Without sufficient speed the ball will not travel the desired distance, or achieve its peak flight therefore making distance control difficult.
Path The delivery of the club prior to, at and post impact is essential for correct contact and is also very influential in direction control. As the swing movement consists of a rotational arc the club must travel on an arc from inside – to square – to inside the ball to target line.
Clubhead Alignment The position of the clubhead must be square to both the correct path of the swing and the ball to target line at the point of impact. This is initially important for ball direction, but also to benefit the aforementioned laws.
Angle of Approach This law provides angle to the delivery of the club securing the ball contact and elevation, this fundamental also finds the clubhead at its squarest point at the ball, again vital for directional accuracy.
The TIG learning system focuses on key positions and movements which develop these impact laws. Therefore working through this program will allow players of all abilities to get the best out of their impact and therefore the best out of their golf.
TIG know, through countless hours spent giving lessons to all types of golfer, that the only true way to learn to move the golf club is not by a ‘quick fix of a fault’, but by isolating and identifying key movements and then training them individually until they are an automatic or ‘sub-conscious’ action. Only then will all of the ‘pieces’ be able to work together and ‘fit’ with each other to produce a rhythmic, dynamic and powerfully efficient golf swing, without the golfer giving any ‘conscious’ thought on ‘how to do it’ whilst making the swing motion.
The classic and timeless impact alignments and the subsequent exercises that are used to develop the long game can also be adapted and used to great effect in developing the short game…(putting, chipping, pitching, distance wedges and bunker play etc.).
The advantage of this is that the golfer can apply this same technique to learn and execute a whole new set of different mechanics for this area of their golf game, thus making the whole golfing experience a little easier to understand and achieve.
The TIG learning system initially starts with two seminars; these take the golfer through the correct fundamentals of the set-up and then into the first area of motion that produces the TIG punch shot.
The second area of motion enables the golfer to produce a full golf swing. As all TIG exercises work in tandem with each other the golfer quickly learns and understands how these two vitally important areas of motion work within the swing motion. On completion of the second seminar students are well equipped to train themselves to move these areas in a dynamic and coordinated manner. Again, once performed correctly and developed into the full swing the golfer will be well on their way to producing that desirable efficient, powerful, repeatable and accurate golf swing.
First Level Seminar
This seminar introduces the golfer to the TIG modular golf swing learning system that is based on exercises which help the pupil develop a fundamentally sound golf technique producing the timeless and classic impact alignments that can be seen in all of the great ball strikers past and present. This first level of TIG involves a thorough introduction and explanation into the concept of the coaching program.
Golf is an impact sport and the impact justifies the ball flight, students are shown examples of leading world class players who bear many similarities at the impact position. Club golfers are also used as a
means of comparison; these images instantly justify the importance and benefits of the True Impact concept. In this seminar the golfer works through the correct set-up fundamentals including posture, hand position, aim and alignment. The seminar then develops the first area of motion, explaining the key moves and check points that are required to execute the TIG system. Finally the golfer will learn to execute the TIG punch shot working on and including the initial key timeless and classic impact alignments that are required to start the golfer on the path to ‘True Impact’.
Second Level Seminar
This seminar recaps and reinforces the material, techniques and motion that were learnt in the TIG first level seminar. The golfer is then introduced to the second area of motion that is required to take the golfer from the TIG punch shot all the way to a complete, sequenced and full golf swing. This swing requires the first and second areas of motion be blended together to produce a whole motion that will produce the timeless and classic impact alignments that can be seen in all of the great ball strikers past and present.
Students at this early stage will note not just impressive development, but also will quickly be able to identify when key positions are missing and then rapidly through the catalogue of exercises eliminate these problems at their cause. Students are continually amazed after the first two seminars how much more they understand about their own golf swing, but more importantly how they can monitor, retain and continue to implement progress.
These first two levels allow all students to begin their journey with TIG which in turn leads to better and more consistent golf with instant measured improvement.
On completion every student is well poised to continue their development with a modular coaching system which, through fun and creative exercises will work in fine detail on the different alignments, areas of motion and positioning, that are required to make a golf
swing and reward every individual with ‘True Impact’.
During the program there are a number of recap and summary seminars and training/practice sessions. Other aspects such as the short game, working the ball, course lessons, trouble shots etc are included as essential components of the TIG golf package.
By its very nature, a modular coaching program functions for groups just as well as it does for individuals and can therefore be successfully applied by both clubs and corporate businesses as an excellent interactive method to instil higher productivity from all participants.
To conclude, in all its time teaching thousands of golfers and asking what are golfers ‘goals’ TIG has mostly received the same reply. “I would like to be more consistent”. Well the only way to realistically achieve this is through a new and clear understanding of the ‘what to do’, some diligent practice of ‘how to do it’ and then consistently doing the same things from consistently the same positions!
TRUE IMPACT GOLF –“Learn Easy, Play Hard”
