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One of the things that has really helped me here recently is going back and watching the bonus footage video that came with Most Powerful Move video. Martin does a great job of sort of condensing alot of information that is in the original video and somewhat simplifying and pointing out a few key elements to focus on when practicing. Staying aimed at the ball, the twirl/rollup to the top, the focus on balance...all great reminders and very helpful in executing the move properly. I think it's another great way to continue to work on and refine the swing technique, but without information overload and thinking too mechanically.

Hello Rick,
After reading your posting about the bonus footage video I reviewed it several times and found a number of points that were very helpful to consider. One question: when talking about the address position and the importance of "aiming at the ball" Martin illustrates three different address positions for the hands (neutrally centered, in front of ball, in back of the ball) and emphasizes that in all cases the hands/clubface must be aiming at the ball. When quickly illustrating the hands back option he says (I believe), "if you choose to address more like JH " (2:22 to 2:26). Who is Martin talking about here? I don't know the reference or have a connection to a video for the reference. Does anyone know who he means and where the reference comes from? I'm asking about this because for me right now, the hands back address position seems to work better than the neutrally centered position and I'd like more clarification about its use.
Thanks, Joe

Joe- not sure who Martin is talking about either, but interested to know as well. As far as the address position, I'm with you..a bit back behind the ball is what works best at the moment. I'm guessing the reason for that is it seems easier to takeaway the club properly and get into the twirl from further behind the ball. A head start on the move, if you will.

rick romo wrote:


I would think Martin is referring to SITD member John Hensby.John has some Youtube vids where he refers to negative lean and reverse wind. These were the only relevant vids of his I could find qucikly, I have seen others of his on the subject;

secretinthedirt.com/index.php/profile/475-john-hensby

Hi David,
Thanks very, very much. Those videos are extremely helpful. One more thing, do you know which Hogan video is the one that John Hensby mentions?
Cheers, Joe

Joseph Hart wrote:


Not sure on the clip Joe, nor the thread that John is referring to (good swings/bad swings?) I would guess it is this clip;




Here is the Slow Mo version;

Thanks JH. This really helped alot.

1 full range session followed by a 4-man scramble and 2 more range sessions staying with an attempt to learn the “twirl-contain the mass-halfmoon” takeaway (I think Elk even uses the term “lead-lag”) that Martin teaches. I purchased the video, watched the youtube videos and Diz has been a tremendous help as well! This video is 6,5 and 4 irons concentrating trying to feel “the takeaway” and the rest is just reaction to that. I’m starting to understand things that Martin says in his videos after a few days of staying with it and trying to feel my way to what I’ve been seeing. So in the early going I’m feeling (1) solid contact, more clubhead awareness (2) more speed (3) effortless (4) just reaction after the takeaway (5)control (6) I’m a little tighter and cleaner in transition than I have been…

I believe I need to focus on more left side resistance which should clean it up even more at the top (still a little messy), help shallow it out and produce less “side to side” movement.
I’ve put some video in of what I’m trying to “feel” and I also started experimenting with some shots and finishes just seeing what I could do and it was getting pretty easy to find solid contact. Again I want to emphasize that this is the beginning and I don’t want to misrepresent anything Martin teaches but I’m liking the results “the takeaway” is producing so far!

I say u just reverse twirl and react to it... u got natural talent! very impressed with the hookback finish btw...like the blended power and finesse shot .. 0.27 it doesnt get any better then that...
diz

Dang Jimmy you're a fast study.......... looks like a clean machine!

Thanks mate for the video about Hogan on the Ed Sullivan Show.
You explain that left arm UNDER the right as you twirl - I saw something
similar from Ballard where he wants the left elbow to Always point
Downward toward the ground- this would keep the left arm below
the right. The praying mantis image is helpful too !

Jim ,the worst feeling in golf is having an onplaneswing with nothing on the ball ...putting the reverse twirl in is the extra gear everyones looking for IMO.... Its the turbo booster u want bring when u play 7100-7200 yd course..

Diz

Posted the other day that I had started working on Martin's takeaway....twirl, contain the mass and really liking the early results. Went out tonight feeling like I needed to focus on the more forward intent at address and resistance that Martin talks about. I believe that "tightened" things up even more but to me this still looks like too much "side to side" in it. I also lost some of the twirl, contain feeling while thinking about the forward intent and resistance.

My brain is not very talented....will try to blend all of that better next time. I am also realizing I need to get this out to the course more and less time being a range rat. Goynes will no doubt agree with me on that idea!

Jim,

Love your progress. Wish I was as far along, especially since I have been at it longer. However, I have fifty years of old baggage to overcome.

What I see is very centered, staying over the ball, and a smooth release (free swinging club on back swing). Your rotation thru the ball, I'd die for. Thanks for the post

JP,

Looking good!! These swings are much more controlled at the top. I didn't realize you started the most powerful move. I think Martin is one smart cookie. He has some drills and videos that will increase the learning curve. It really looks tighter, which I know is one of your goals. One quick note. I'm working hard on Martin's method, and I have started looking at increasing the weight of my clubs and making them flatter. Actually, I'm making a second set. Anyway, this is based on information I've read from Bradley, Martin, and Lee. All discuss flatter can be better. Well, I'm going to find out. Keep up the good work.

JIMS

Been working on Martin's method for a year or so and am convinced that it is the way to go. An observation though about the role of the left hand through the twirling motion.Most of the commentary, including the MPMIG video, suggests the key focus ought to be on the right hand and the left should merely respond to accommodate it. However for a right handed golfer learning the twirling action is much harder for the left hand than it is for the right. This can lead to a pressure or a real separation of the hands through the backswing and inconsistency. I have found that reversing the roles: i.e. concentrating hard on getting the twirling action correct for the left hand and just allowing the right to accommodate it provides much better results. Just a thought.

Hello John,
Thanks for the posting. I've been noticing something similar regarding difficulties with the R hand twirl and benefits from focusing on the L hand. Specifically, I haven't noticed a reliable set or position for the R hand in the inward, counter-clockwise R hand move to the top that is reported to be evident in the MPMIG video; instead I don't feel a consistent strong position at the top, I get variations from swing to swing. Would you please say more about what exactly you do and feel with the L hand on the backswing after the inward reverse winding movement?
Joe

For me it works (more precisely it feels) like this:
1. Get hands/arms moving in towards right thigh I.e. Martin's 'bow' move; get the club head 'contained', then:
2. Big clockwise twirling/rotation of the left hand; right hand just follows. This creates:
3. Increased cupping of left wrist all the way as far as it will go, then
4. Just unload it all onto and through the ball as the torso and below rotates towards target

All happens while you maintain body orientation towards the target I.e. no conscious rotating of body away from target.

One other thing. The cupping of the left wrist is a CONSEQUENCE of the clockwise twirling of the left hand. It looks the same but it is a totally different feeling from what you have if you deliberately seek to cup the wrist. All of this works much better for me than focusing on the right hand to initiate the twirl.

Seems to work well also for Alex Noren, even he has never heard about Martin.

Castellon Masters

He showed me yesterday what he's doing for the moment and seemed to be surprised when I said right away the Martins move. I don't know where he has found that, but it was quite much the same.

Hello:

Good Comments so far. This just seems very similar to the AJ Bonar move. Opening the face at the top, and slamming the door shut. That is the problem im having, im doing the move to my best of my ability; However, how can I release the club effectively? I seem to hit 3-4 good, than another 2 or 3 out to the right with a fade. Also, it seems if you setup with the running start you can use really any swing. Anyone also run into this?

Please reply
Chris

johnNZ wrote:

Great post...everything you said tells me you really get it.

Chris Peterich wrote:

Chris
Instead of trying to close the door see if you can keep it going open the whole way....the difference in intent here is crucial...we want to go in ONE DIRECTION.

Also...if you are getting some good ones and then some out to the right....consider that it could be several things causing that, that may have nothing to do with your swing at all.

Martin:

This sounds weird, but I mastered the Tour Sriker Pro by just feeling like I came through without the face closing. This was earlier this year and I really never pursued it further. Could this be a good thought to use with your Most Powerful Move? Just curious..and by the way great video...please come out with a book if you can. Some people learn better by reading others videos.

Thanks Again

Chris

A good thought is that what you are doing at the start you just keep doing...

If you were to mime twirling a stone on a string....which way would you twirl it?

Would you need to change direction, or just continue to allow the inertia of it to keep moving? Once it was moving and if you keep twirling it, could you move yourself around so that you could aim it to hit something?

Chris, I haven't posted much. But I have been working with Martin for 6 months and the MPMIG is awesome. Martin doesn't have and ego, and won't blow his own horn, he's mush more analytical in his approach than me. But his stuff is amazing.
I also tried the AJ Bonar stuff but with that you are totally reliant on timing. Somedays you will hit it solid, but then you can lose it the next day. So you never really own your swing. With Martins move you can as it is a motion, free flowing and all the power or smackdown is released at impact. Like Martin says, you try to overdo the twirl and you can't! The clubface will square up with more power then you have ever felt before on the ball.

To have a view of the feeling you get check out page 49 of Rock's thread and see Diz's video. These is good simple way to see the swing in a nutshell. Then as Martin says it's just ball position and now you are just playing shots!