Sean Foley on 12 Nights at the Academy

**granitegolf** · December 4, 2010

Super impressed with Sean on 12 nights at the academy tonight. Very well spoken and gets his points across better than I have seen in awhile. Also got the ball flight laws correct. comments?

***iacas*** · December 4, 2010

I've looked at a lot of Foley stuff so I have some pre-formed opinions.

I immediately see Foley with Reimer and think to myself "the only reason they used Charlie Reimer is to make Sean Foley look as smart as he can look." I think Sean Foley is a bit of a phony. C'mon, he's a life coach? Cut the crap. He plays up the "I'm so smart" act and yet he says the stupidest shit from time to time (compression, water molecules in your brain changing, etc.), it's laughable. The glasses he chose to wear emphasize this idea further.

Into the actual golf content, as I watch it...

- Ball first contact (S&T; Fundamental #1) is good (weight forward, hands forward, yes good).
- Ball flight laws are fine, but it's sad that we have to give anyone credit for that.
- Minimal or no movement into right side on backswing is funny only because of who preceded him the night before (Jimmy Ballard).
- His ideas about "one miss" is basically the third fundamental of S&T; - controlling the curve (shot cones).
- So he's skipped "power to play the course" as fundamental #2 in S&T;, but that's fine.
- The right toe up, left foot only drill is good and one we've used. Good luck to some of the higher handicappers doing that drill though - they'll fall over and/or flip at it. It takes a little bit of skill.
- He gets at having a centered head by talking about the eyes moving. Eh, I'll take whatever excuse we can do to get a golfer to keep his head steady because quality of contact goes up. He doesn't talk about HOW you keep your head centered... by coming out of flexion (standing up), rotating, and tilting left - which is what he did in the intro clip from the PGA.
- Ooops, spoke too soon. He's talking about steep shoulders and starting at address in flexion. Then he stopped without actually getting into it.
- Name-dropping a Plato quote (which I can't find any reference to online... either he paraphrased a LOT or something...).
- Barefooted, zzzzzzz. We don't play golf barefooted, and this type of exercise is limited in its potential.
- Now he's talking about creating power, good, and ground forces are good and not very well understood (also big in S&T; instruction).
- I know what a proprioceptor and a mechanoreceptor is, but how about we just use terms that don't make you sound like a douche?
- Mid-handicapper drill was good. It'll help students with feelings but it's not a drill you do all the time because your ball contact won't be great. I can see how you do this drill two or three times, really get that feeling of going left, and then go back to trying to recreate the feeling from a normal setup.
- "Balance" as a point to our lives... zzzzzz... okay phony dude. You're not a life coach.
- "The club has to move the farthest so it starts first..." fine, I can buy that, but then he fails to explain why that doesn't apply on the downswing.
- 70% of your practice should be done from 100 yards and in - I disagree, and the Sabremetrics stuff that's been applied to golf says he's wrong too.
- Practicing like it's game time is fine. Doesn't apply when you're working on improvements though, or doing drills.
- DVD plug... Mine's backordered. Pffft.
- Where was Sean O'Hair's continued improvement in 2010? Hey, couldn't resist...

**JetFan1983** · December 4, 2010

Sean Foley basically just memorized the Stack and Tilt book, threw on some douchey glasses, and added a bunch of useless filler to it.

**granitegolf** · December 4, 2010

Iacas- All great points!!

sometimes just enough info is what is needed and on TV I think he did a pretty good job! Would love to take a S&T; clinic sometime. Bring on to Colorado?

BTW jetfan1983- I think the glasses looked classy!

**cbrian** · December 4, 2010

I'm not one to hate on Foley for not saying that hes been influenced by S&T;, but tonight was a different story. I think I was more pissed at TGC, but still.... Their commentators have said some of the most ignorant things regarding S&T;, but then bow down to Sean Foley.

Its just shitty that they invite players (little to no substance) to act as instructors or someone like Ballard, but won't ask Mike and Andy to come on. Maybe they did, but I doubt it.

**Tifosinumerouno** · December 4, 2010

I was also pretty impressed with Foley's overall show tonight. They finally addressed the truth about ballflight. However, I don't think he did a good enough job of explaining it for the lay person to really understand what he meant. I felt like he could have gone into that a BIT more.

beamjb7917 · December 4, 2010

Loved the show, best I've seen during the series

**kurisu** · December 4, 2010

Anyone recorded that? TGC here is like one month late on those programs (different boradcasting rights, blah blah) and I'd love to watch it.

**Uber$winG** · December 4, 2010

Is Foley legally recognized as a midget in Canada?

**nike_golf** · December 4, 2010

I thought Foley had the best show thus far. I thought he was well spoken, clear with his points, and overall had some interesting things to say, especially for some who aren't that "educated" in certain aspects of the game. Like ball flight laws, swing mechanics, etc..

And generally he seems like a likeable guy too, which can go a long way with some people. Plus, aren't short people usually likeable?

That all said, he does have his downsides, IMO.

I'm no expert on Foley or his teachings but I caught myself squinting my eyes a few times about what he was saying.

I knew he's into some un orthodox things, but the whole thing with molecules and other fancy science terms is just goofy, IMO. Will the average amateur have ANY use for that stuff?

As for the S&T; swing mechanics. Is he not teaching the basics of the S&T; swing? Again, I'm no expert but it sure seems like he definitely leans that way. He says he's NOT an S&T; teacher, right?

I guess it almost comes down to if you believe and like his teachings. Hank Haney on Saturday will probably say a thing or two to contradict what Foley said tonight. Again, who do you choose to model your swing too?

In a way, having instructors teach certain things different ways adds even more confusion and difficulty to this already difficult game.

Oh well.

**motteler621** · December 4, 2010

I recorded it and just watched it. I think hes a pretty smart guy and a good teacher. Sometimes I think he should quit with of the smart talk but thats his personality and I could get use to it. Although he does say some weird stuff sometimes,lol. I knew most of the things he taught because of stack n tilt but its good to get someone else to teach it in their own way as well. I liked what he had to say about the gound power move on the left and I just saw Tigers swing and he is doing this exact thing. I think the way he taught it helped me with my swing. I thought it was a good segment overall and looking forward to more of his teachings that will be available to us, hopefully they dont all take a month to deliver

**mvmac** · December 4, 2010

Obviously the best segment so far, and will be. The first ten minutes refutes everything the golf mags and commentators say about clubface/path relationship. Seemed to go over Charlie's head.
Funny that S&T; is bashed by Golf Channel commentators while Foley is the real deal
- Foley's First Principle- Ball First contact- also S&T; fundamental #1 by keeping the head centered, turning shoulders in a circle, weight left and hands forward on down stroke
- Use ground for power- part of S&T; Fundamental #2- straightening the legs, standing up, pushing forward
- One miss- S&T; Fundamental #3- controlling curve/ shot cone

**Danattherock** · December 4, 2010

I thought Foley had the best show thus far. I thought he was well spoken, clear with his points, and overall had some interesting things to say, especially for some who aren't that "educated" in certain aspects of the game. Like ball flight laws, swing mechanics, etc..

Yeah, me and 90% of the viewing audience fall into this category to some point. I loved the show and found him impressive. Looking forward to getting his dvd I ordered last week, although it will be 3-4 weeks for delivery. Apparently I am not the only person impressed by the midget.

-Dan

**keiko** · December 4, 2010

1. No one really cares about Tiger

2. No one wants him to win anything 3. After 36 years of instruction, Tiger still needs lessons?? 4. Foley is just another huckster, ie. Harmon, haney, and the rest. 5. learn and practice the fundamentals and you will play great golf.

Super impressed with Sean on 12 nights at the academy tonight. Very well spoken and gets his points across better than I have seen in awhile. Also got the ball flight laws correct. comments?

**kurisu** · December 4, 2010

1. No one really cares about Tiger

Do you ever say anything else? Or do you just satisfy yourself repeating the same thing in every thread you post in? I mean if you don't have anything constructive to say, why bother?

***iacas*** · December 4, 2010

1. No one really cares about Tiger

You're likely the kind of person who is a horrible, horrible instructor.

**boogielicious** · December 4, 2010

I thought it was the best one so far. Being a S&T; convert, it enjoyed the reinforcement of the principles. I liked the balanced part of his swings and drills. All the other "life balance" hooey I could do without. I have trouble doing yoga classes for the same reason. After watching Ballard and Rocco, it was a refreshing change. I like Rocco, but the swing looked like a 60 year old accountants swing. God love him for playing so well.

I am an engineer, so I saw through the "science" talk. A lot of people will drop terms like those in conversation to appear intellectual but in reality, they use them incorrectly and come off as phony. We use joke terms like "thermocouple gapper spanner", to catch phonies.

**Elvisliveson** · December 4, 2010

I am an engineer, so I saw through the "science" talk. A lot of people will drop terms like those in conversation to appear intellectual but in reality, they use them incorrectly and come off as phony. We use joke terms like "thermocouple gapper spanner", to catch phonies.

" I think Sean Foley is a bit of a phony. C'mon, he's a life coach? Cut the crap. He plays up the "I'm so smart" act and yet he says the stupidest shit from time to time (compression, water molecules in your brain changing, etc.), it's laughable. The glasses he chose to wear emphasize this idea further.

Yea, I see it the same way. He's a big time pseudo-intellectual.

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