STAGE ONE TRAINING
| Developing Your Fundamentals |
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As you begin your stage one journey we recommend you start by studying the topic of
Playing Naturally. Click on the Natural-Play icon above to begin your journey.
Once you have a good understanding of the New Horizons Golf Approach concept of
playing naturally, proceed to studying the Fundamentals. When you click on the
Fundamentals icon you will find an overview what Ed Tischler considers the game's true
fundamentals. You will also find an overview of what he calls the Golfer's Story. Once
you have become familiar with these topics you can visit 5 web pages dedicated to each of
the Five New Horizons Golf Approach Fundamentals. Study each of the pages dedicated
to the New Horizons Golf Approach fundamentals. Acquiring a command of these
recommended fundamentals is a critical part of playing the type of golf you want to play.
Keep in mind that these fundamentals are the cornerstones of a consistent game of golf.
We also want to note the five fundamentals of the New Horizons Golf Approach are what
we call the true fundamentals. This means the are pertinent to all golfers. Whether the
golfers uses a "hitting" action, a "throwing" action, or a "swinging" action is unimportant.
Whether the golfer uses Ben Hogan's technique, Sam Snead's technique, Byron Nelson's
technique, is unimportant. Whether the golfer is taught by Hank Haney, Butch Harmon,
David Leadbetter, Rick Smith, or any other teacher is unimportant. The fundamentals are
fundamental for all golfers.
This brings me to the discussion of Imperatives, Fundamentals, and Essentials. I believe
understanding these topics is crucial to learning the game. This is mainly because the
terms are often used by teachers and golfers and used in correctly. Using them incorrectly
creates confusion and prolongs the learning process.
Let's take Imperatives for example. What sort of things are imperative to the game of golf
and playing the game of golf. (#1) It is imperative we hold the golf club. (#2) It is
imperative we perform an intended stroke - the rules say so. You must intend to play as
shot and you must make an intended stroke. (#3) It is imperative you hole the ball on each
hole - at least in stroke play. These are a few of the examples of true golfing imperatives.
They are imperative because the game of golf requires them, even if the game is being
played poorly. Every golfer, with accomplished, beginner, or in between, must adhere to
the imperatives.
So what are the Fundamentals? Since the fundamentals pertain to all golfers, what
differentiates a fundamental from an imperative. The fundamentals are determined by
what all golfers want to accomplish while playing the game under the established rules.
Thus, the fundamentals relate to the manner in which all golfers strive to accomplish the
goals of the game, namely scoring as low as one can each an every time they play the
game. This means the fundamentals are related to the golfer's goals while playing golf as
well as related to how the golfer will accomplish the basic goal of the game. The
imperatives relate to the parameters of the game established by the rules of the game.
While striving to score as low as possible, golfers want to produce accurate golf shots,
with the correct about of power, while doing so with the proper feel. If they leave one of
these qualities out of the performance golfers are unhappy with the process.
Once again the New Horizons Fundamentals are what we call the true fundamentals.
They are fundamental to all styles, methods, techniques, and systems. People often say,
"Oh, the five fundamentals, like Hogan's Fundamentals?" Hogan's book was Five Lessons
The Modern Fundamentals of Golf and he states that each lesson has more than one
fundamental involved. So Hogan's system has at least 10 fundamental principles in his
view. In reality most of what Hogan called fundamental was essential to his method of
swinging the golf club. Next we will discuss why this is!
Now, how about Essentials? An essential is something particular to the individuals way of
playing the game. Bobby Jones wrote about "The Jone's Way," and Jack Nicklaus wrote
about "Golf My Way." They both understood there was a sense of individuality in the
strokes of great golfers. This individuality is what defines what is essential. What many
great teachers call fundamental is actually essential to their teaching therefore they view it
as fundamental. Remember, fundamentals are pertinent to all golfers who strive to play
with the qualities of accuracy, power, and feel involved. Let's give some examples of
essentials. Many teachers say it is fundamental to keep the right knee flexed throughout
the whole backstroke at the same angle it established at address. However many great
players allow the leg to straighten in the backstroke and have played fundamentally sound
golf. Thus if keeping the leg in a constant state of flex during the backstroke is important it
is essential to the particular method, style, technique, or system being promoted. Many
teachers say it is fundamental to shift the weight to the right foot in the backstroke,
however many great players achieve fundamentally sound strokes while staying 50-50
with their weight during the backstroke. Others actually load the left foot. So where the
weight loads is a matter of what is essential to the method, style, technique, or system
being promoted. Therefore, essentials are what make the individuals stroke work
efficiently.
As you begin developing your fundamentals we recommend you use swing-sayings as an
integral part of the process. Swing-sayings can help you become more reactive and
athletic while playing your shots. Golfers often think too much and become paralyzed over
the ball. If you learn to use swing-sayings instead of swing thoughts you will swing much
more freely. Click on the Swing-sayings icon to learn more about using swing-sayings.
For many recreational golfers learning to play golf athletically is an important part of
developing the game's basic skills. To this end Ed has dedicated an enter Pocket Coach
book to the subject of playing athletic golf. Click on the Athletic-Golf icon above to get a
idea of the New Horizons Golf Approach concept of playing golf athletically.
While developing their skills in a fundamentally sound manner golfers will learn to apply
their skills in one of two manners. These two applications involve being an Arms-Player or
a Body-Player. Arms players focus mainly on the arms, hands, and club motions while
using the body to accommodate their actions. Body Players use the body to control the
action and deliver the arms, hands, and club with the body directing the action. In general
terms, Arms Players swing the club with the arms and hands in control, and Body Players
swing the arms, hands, and club with the body. To learn more about the general
applications for being an arms player click on the Arms-Player icon above. To learn
more about the general applications for being a body player click on the Body-Player
icon above.
The last icon related to Stage One training is that of developing the basic shots needed to
play the game. We need to play putts, stroke saving shots, partial shots, full shots with
irons, hybrids, and woods. To learn more about the basic shots, click on The-Shots icon
above. Four of the Pocket Coach books in the New Horizons Golf Approach Pocket
Coach series are dedicated to playing the shots of the game. They are also covered in
The Way of The Golfer - Searching For New Horizons, Golf-The Timeless Game, and
New Horizons Golf - A Physical, Mental, and Inner Renaissance. These three books as
well as Pocket Coach volumes 1, 2, & 3 are dedicated to Stage One training. They all
offer valuable insights into the process of play naturally, athletically, and in a
fundamentally sound manner. The Way Of The Golfer, Golf-The Timeless Game, and
Pocket Coach volumes 1, 2, & 3 are all great books for beginner to recreational golfers.
New Horizons Golf - A Physical, Mental, and Inner Renaissance is a more detailed book
and is good for golfers that have already become accustomed to the fundamental process,
or for novice golfers that are more studious in nature. Each of these books can be found
on the publications page of this website. On the right side of this web page are the cover
pictures of the basic books related to Stage One training. Below each picture is an icon
you can click on to view the Table of Contents, Prelude, Introduction, and/or a sample of a
chapter out of each book. For a complete listing of all of the New Horizons Golf Approach
books published by Ed Tischler, and for more details regarding purchasing these books
please visit the Publications web page by clicking on the Publications icon.
On each of the pages related to Stage One training we will provide a list of books that
relate more specifically to the topics being discussed on that page. Under each picture of
the book cover you will be able to click on an icon that allows you to learn more about the
contents of each book.
If you have any particular questions related to any of the topics you can e-mail them to Ed
Tischler. The e-mail address is newhorizonsgolfer@yahoo.com. When you e-mail your
question please include in your question that you want more information relating to what
you read on a specific web page or in a specific book. This will help Ed understand your
question more clearly and will help him answer you question in a timely and accurate a
manner as possible. He receives tons of e-mails on at that e-mail address, including
e-mails from students, seminar participants, workshop participants, and professionals.
We hope you enjoy the process!!
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Copyright 2006 Ed Tischler / New Horizons Golf Approach. All rights reserved.
If you have any questions regarding New Horizons Golf Approach please contact Ed Tischler at (408)203-7599, or email your questions to Ed Tischler at newhorizonsgolfer@yahoo.com. |
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Below is a list of books the related to the fundamentals of the game
and playing the game in a fundamentally sound manner.
Players such as Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Watson have
always emphasized sticking to the fundamentals as a sound method
of play. They have also emphasized getting back to the basics
when your game is off.
These books introduce you the fundamentals and their applications
within the guidelines of the New Horizons Golf Approach.
and playing the game in a fundamentally sound manner.
Players such as Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Watson have
always emphasized sticking to the fundamentals as a sound method
of play. They have also emphasized getting back to the basics
when your game is off.
These books introduce you the fundamentals and their applications
within the guidelines of the New Horizons Golf Approach.
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This page was last updated 07-07-09
| New Horizons Golf Approach I n n o v a t i v e C o a c h i n g F o r G o l f e r s |
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