Yoda PGA Video
 

I received two FedX envelopes yesterday, each with a single DV tape.

I'll post links to each of the videos here. I'm creating them at a lower resolution so they will stream better. If you find the video stopping to buffer due to a slow connection or a lot of people viewing them simultaneously, right click on the link and choose "save as" to your local computer.
For larger viewing, stretch your media player window to your prefered size.

I'll post the links below once they are loaded up on our server.

First Video - Tuesday Check In. http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/gallery...2/90thPGA1.wmv
Second - The Practice Tee http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/gallery...2/90thPGA2.wmv
Third - A Walk with Brian Gay - The practice round http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/gallery...2/90thPGA3.wmv
Fourth - Practice round continued http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/gallery...2/90thPGA4.wmv

Very kewl my friend. Thanks for all the hard work done at Team LBG.
Alex

Never Finished
 

Thanks Alex - Keep checking back - I'm posting new links to each video as they get loaded up.

Thanks Bagger and Yoda. Interesting to see all this---kinda' like being there.

brilliant!

Watched the first one and it is awesome.

Yoda, you sound as excited as a kid on christmas day! Thanks for sharing the experience!

:salut:

lol!

16 minutes into the first video - thats a big girl caddying!

lol!

Yoda, you should have done an Al Czervik in that merchandise tent!

Cuscowilla Bound!
 

Thanks, GP. You are absolutely right: Nobody -- and I do mean NOBODY -- had more fun at Oakland Hills than me. I haven't seen the video, but based on your comment, it came across exactly the way I felt. I'll add additional off-camera insights and comments on Sunday.

Meanwhile, I've just touched down in Atlanta and am punching this out while waiting for my bags. Then, it's off on I-20 E to a full day of lessons at Cuscowilla wwwmcuscowilla.com.

Thanks, Bagger, for your able assist with these videos. Anyone who thinks LBG is a one-man operation need look no further than this cooperative effort.in fact, it is anything but.

I luv ya man!

Thanks for sharing!
 

Yoda, thanks much for taking the time to do this. Oakland Hills is just a few minutes from where I grew up, and I really wanted to make the trip this year since we couldn't get Ryder cup tickets in '04, however schedules just didn't work out. This was the next best thing to being there. THANKS!

Popcorn Time
 

All of the videos are up and also loaded in the Gallery under the Free Videos section.

I put these together so quickly (in video editing time) that I may have made a mistake or two in the editing, but hey...in golf you make a mistake and fahggitahhboutit.

Enjoy Oakland Hills and GO GET'EM BRIAN!

watched 3 of them now and I want to say a big thank you to you Yoda for making the films and to Brian Gay for letting you record.

A couple of interesting things I noted from the practice round. One which really stuck out was that Brian was there to learn the course, to practice the pin positions. He wasn't there for 'a game of golf'. I really noted the fact that you said "We got all day to do it". How many times have I (and most others) rushed round a course so we can say 'I played a practice round'? How much better for competition day would we be if we just let the groups behind through and stopped worrying about getting the practice round over and done with?

Sissy Ridge
 

Still posting from my Blackberry -- a somewhat tortuous procedure -- but wanted to get this in.

********************

The tee shot at the par 4 fifth hole is one of the most crucial at Oakland Hills. As the video reveals, there is a 'must carry' ridge at about 280 yards that will add 50-60 yards to the tee shot. We didn't carry it in the practice round, but by Closing the Plane Line and Stance Line -- Brian prefers to play the Draw from a Square (or even Open) Stance -- we were able to produce a 'tumbling (low spin) draw' that got the job done these past three days. Tomorrow is another day, but I have no doubt that 'The Ridge' will go down once again in Round 4.

:salut:

Thanks to the Production Staff
 

Been busy but finally had the chance to watch these clips...thanks Bagger for the time/effort posting them. And Yoda...you are getting so good at this...great camera work...great narration. Hope you didn't get too busted for the driving range portion...but that was great stuff. Seeing all those guys up front and personal while working their craft was thrilling...sensing your excitement made it that much more special. Watching Brian at work on the course inside the ropes was so cool....being right there with you...thanks Mr. Yoda for taking the time and thinking of us...you're the best...and best wishes to Brian on Sunday:)

Wow Factor???
 

To HG and the others who have posted in this thread, many thanks for your feedback.

For the others who have looked at the videos but not posted, we are curious why the response has been so low.
There have been over 350 views on this thread, but less than half a dozen members have provided feedback on the videos.

Are these videos something that you would like to continue seeing?
Are they interesting to watch and do you learn anything from them?
Do you get the same kind of behind the scenes video from somewhere else?
Would you recommend these to friends? If not, why not?
Are you nervous about posting?
Are you waiting for someone else to express a point of view you agree with so you don't have to post?
Are we missing something or doing something wrong?
What can we do better?
What would you like to see?

Thanks,

Range Rover
 

Thanks for your comments, hg. We enjoy hearing from those who have enjoyed and benefited from our work.

Regarding my 'range cam', no one ever said a word to me -- and that's a good thing. I just felt it was intrusive to do any more than I did.

:salut:

Watched the first two; very interesting.

I will watch 3 & 4 when I have a little more time to savour them.

Thanks to all at Team LBG for this stuff. I know its free but its still priceless.:salut:

Thanks a bunch!
 

Thanks for including us, Yoda. I have not watched them all, but I saw enough to know that you did not have to do one minute of it! I was amazed at your willingness to look like a "tourist" as opposed to the best teacher on the range that day...just for us. Have you no ego? I enjoyed the "interview" with the Little Pro the most. Your are the best in more than one sense. Thanks for doing all the behind the scenes stuff, Bagger:salut:

Many thanks Yoda and Bagger. Extremely interesting :salut:

Videos are well worth watching, especially 3 & 4 in the practice round. I downloaded them to my desktop---took a while to do it.

If you haven't taken the time........do yourself a favor and watch them.

You'll pick up a different style of bunker technique from one of the very best on the PGA Tour.

Also, around the greens chipping where "quiet" is really emphasized.

You'll get to see how truly difficult #8 was and how slippery the slope was in front.

And some up close video of one of the Tour's best putters.


Interesting to see how narrow Brian's stance is.

Also, interesting to note that his left hand is just over the end of the grip.

And great narrative from Lynn, of course. :salut:

This kind of stuff is "worth it's weight in gold", man....thanks so much for taking the time to do all the work I know was required to get these videos up.:thumright

And thanks to Brian & Kipper for letting us "in."

Yoda

Thanks for providing your interesting videos at Oakland Hills. I thought Eddie merrins gave you quite a lesson. You did provide a lot if insight in what a golf coach does at a tour event. Basically you get lost, shop,take movies and in your typical friendly manner met as most people as possible. You did a good job on telling us what Brian was doing but I don't know if Brian could hear a word you said. Not a bad job!!

Being from Rochester New York I have had bit of experience attending Opens, PGA, Ryder Cup, PGA Seniors, US Amateurs etc. at Oak Hill and I believe you gave a good background of what it is about behind the scenes.

But once the masses(mobs) of people come out when the actual play takes place they can be chaotic places!

Keep having fun you deserve it!

Dave

Are these videos something that you would like to continue seeing? Yes!
Are they interesting to watch and do you learn anything from them? Very much!
Do you get the same kind of behind the scenes video from somewhere else? No.
Would you recommend these to friends? If not, why not? Absolutely --- and I will if you'd like to.
Are you nervous about posting? N-n-n-n-no...
Are you waiting for someone else to express a point of view you agree with so you don't have to post? No.
Are we missing something or doing something wrong? You might retitle the thread to something like, "Must See Video: Inside the ropes at the PGA Championship with Brian Gay & Lynn Blake!" I think this will better indicate what is inside.
What can we do better? Doing great, imo.
What would you like to see? I could watch a lot of practice range video from the PGA Tour.

Fun and informative videos my son and I both enjoyed watching them. Thanks!

Sounds of Silence
 

Thanks, Asleep, for your insights. This is the direction I had hoped this thread would take.

As you have said, there is much "gold" in 'them thar hills', but despite the many hundreds of video views (and they are accelerating), the silence thus far has been deafening. Lurking is fine, but if we all just lurk, then . . .

What's the point?

If 'views' were our only concern, we would have popped these up on YouTube and walked away.

We are here for a purpose. Anybody want to discuss the procedures of one of the world's greatest scramblers -- http://www.pgatour.com/r/stats/info/xm.html?130 -- as demonstrated in the video of his putting, chip shots, pitch shots, 'rough' pitches and sand shots? A man who, in one of the strongest fields of the year, would four days later finish T-20 in the Championship?

How about the spin reducing Power Draw?

Or course strategy, like learning to leave the ball below the hole on lightning fast and sloping greens, and techniques to deal with it when you don't?

C'mon guys. You want an interesting thread? You gotta participate!

Take responsibility and help make it happen.

LBG ain't totally for free.

:salut:

Okay, I'll start.

...at 18'32" in the second video: The Practice Tee http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/gallery...2/90thPGA2.wmv

Brian is using a slightly rotated plane line to get what seemed to be to be a tumbling draw.

I think I heard he "pulled his right foot left [back?] one inch?" to get this.

I picked up that Brian thought he was creating less spin with this setup and that he may need a driver with less spin???


Question: I don't understand what Brian is actually doing with his right foot or how he creates less spin on a right to left shot -- the spin reducing Power Draw?

...

Bump
 

Not sure why there has been no response to your question. I would think he is reducing the effective loft which would reduce the ball spin rate. It would be informative if the effect on his launch angle was known. Addition spin could give him more carry_do we know his ball speed? OTOH, I would think closing the plane line and the stance line would be a correction for a pull_rotate the machine.

DRW

The Tumbling Draw
 

Right you are, asleep. The Closed Plane Line -- not merely a Closed Stance -- causes the Clubhead to approach the Ball more from the 'inside' the Target Line. When you reduce the Downward (but not the Outward) element of the Three-Dimensional Downstroke, you automatically produce a shot with less spin.

However, care must be taken not to exaggerate the action, else the effort can quickly degenerate into a smothered Hook and a consequent loss in both Power and Accuracy.

:salut:

Sorry for not joining earlier, been preparing a junior for his first, of many to come, europeantour tournament, which by the way, the dane Kjeldsen had a top 10:happy3:

Brian had a closed plane line at the driving range, but on one of the teeshots he did not and still produced the draw.

Was that on purpose or a "forgot to"?




Anyone noticed... Great weekend for the swedes.....:laughing9

Many thanks...
 

These videos are very real and informative. Like everyone else seems to be I'm very grateful and hope there will be more to come. Thanks Yoda!

I'm also aware how much effort this takes so we can't expect an unreasonable amount. I've taken similar videos before and it is no small task. I remember I spent most of the time trying to be respectful and quiet and that I saw very little golf 'live' because I had to wait til I got home to see any of what I'd shot!

I especially liked how Elk was really getting a feel for his grip before hitting any shots. It's relevant for me at the moment because I'm trying to feel a lot more skin on the grip without any excess tension.

It never ceases to amaze me how smooth and 'easy' Ernie warms up for such a 'big' guy. Just out of interest, how does his wrist action stack up in a TGM analysis? From that angle it looked like he loses his angles very quickly. He has always had a very prominent and active release. He may have just been doing that for the gentle little shots he was playing though.

The Big Easy's Wrist Action And Release
 

Thanks for your appreciative comments, mrose. They encourage us!

Regarding Ernie, he uses the Swinger's Standard Wrist Action (10-18-A) and when seeking Maximum Velocity Power (6-C-2-A) and Maximum Trigger Delay (6-C-2-C), he uses the Automatic Snap Release (10-24-E).

:salut:

Closed Case
 

Regardless of Stance Line, the shot that starts right and then Draws requires a Closed Plane Line (10-5-E). As stated in my post #12 above, Brian prefers to play the shot (with its Closed Plane Line) from a Square (or even Open) Stance. However, this particular week he was having trouble consistently getting the desired flight without closing the Stance Line as well.

This Stance helps clear the Right Hip in both directions and thus promotes a true Inside-Out Stroke and not just the normal Inside-Out Impact (2-J-2). So, that's the Combination (7-5 / 10-5-0) we worked on.

Why would you reduce the downward?
I assume the clubface is point at the target or slightly right (normal) despite the closed/closed?

Relative Results
 

The 'down' is 'Ball related' and in contrast to the Clubhead orbit achieved with a Square Plane Line. There is no deliberate attempt to reduce the 'down'in the Stroke itself. There simply is geometrically less 'Down' -- and more 'Out' -- in the Inside-Out Stroke (10-5-E) with respect to the Target Line. Similarly, there is more 'Down' -- and less 'Out' -- in the 'steeper' Outside-In Stroke (10-5-D). Again, these phenomena relate to the Target Line and not to the selected Inclined Plane itself.

:smile:

Brian Gay, Hard Draw v Soft Draw etc.
 

Could it be said that closing the plane line during the swing instead of address may lead to flattening out the plane excessively coming down and perhaps with that momentum or clockwise torque on the shaft the clubface will open slightly and then through impact be square or open to this new plane line rather than closed slightly? It seems to me a bit like a Lee Trevino move only instead of aiming left , swinging right (down the line geometrically but right relative to inclined plane) and walking straight it is aiming straight and swinging right but without the strong grip and slide Lee used to balance things out.

I haven't given too much thought to Lee until I watched a Shell's tape of him the other night. I bought the tape just to see him and was a bit annoyed when he pulled out after a couple of holes due to a knee injury! Because of that injury the few holes he played probably weren't indicative of his swing either. Especially since he was hitting snap hooks. From what I have seen his compensations all relate to keeping things going pretty straight and keeping the clubhead chasing the flag (or should that be clubhead lag chasing the flag?).

It starts from his open stance and outside takeaway then looping back to the inside during transition he uses his strong grip to stop the ball following his new plane line to the right. Then, with grip stronger than the compensation required, he uses a lateral lower body move to allow him to swing straight down the line with the arms leaving the body and the clubhead chasing his target.

How does this relate to the current thread? Instead of adjusting his plane line Yoda has said that Brian likes to start open or square to hit a draw. Although this requires compensations, it may be a less violent way to hit a draw. As Yoda has alluded to, the draw, especially with driver, can be a volatile shot and so by starting square this adds a slight blocking tendency to the mix and perhaps calming the shot down a little bit. Any shot requiring a closed clubface will have a slight pull tendency and when you add to this the reduced loft there is every possibility of the ball flight being quick with a topspin look to it. Much different to the gentle feathered look of a fade (unless you play with open clubs that retain their natural loft, like that Ben guy). However, Brian was looking for that volatility and speed so the ball would scamper down the hill. He wanted all the draw characteristics without any censorship. A dirty x-rated draw.

Similarly, I think the old advice of aiming right and setting the clubface at the target is one of the biggest and most damaging myths for the good player. When doing so a good swing will probably miss left. Instead of adjusting the clubface to less closed the young upcoming star may think they would then be straying from what is correct and that if they do that they'll then be aiming right and not getting it to come back. Also, stubbornness dictates that the player will only play a draw if they can do it correctly and without compensations. So, then they spend their time trying to play a fade as their stock shot and lose the many benefits of a controlled draw.

The moral? Don't always play the standard varieties. Play a few different combinations to find yourself a soft draw to add to your hard draw and perhaps too a hard fade to add to your soft fade. Also, playing with a compensation or 2 may give you something to lean on when you need some predictability in your game. It's sometimes easier to take the back streets to get to where you want to go. You don't have to take the freeway, if you do you might fall asleep and leave the road when it matters... impact.

Is this also changing the effective ball position in relation to the plane line?

I have only had a chance to watch one of the videos-great stuff.
Looking forward to watching them all.A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL CONCERNED FOR THE INSIGHT INTO THE PROS WORLD.:salut:

Next best thing to being there. Thanks for thinking of us and sharing this vid Yoda & Bagger! :D