The Mike Austin Method

[LongballGer]

I'm thinking of making a swing change to learn the Mike Austin Method.

For those not familiar with Mike Austin here is a link about Mike Austin:

http://www.jmlongdrive.com/philosophy.htm

There is a guy called Dan Shauger who is teaching the method.

Is anyone familiar with this method?

[HytrewQasdfg]

I investigated this a while back and came to these conclusions:

1. It is a legit swing method and does what it says, increase your distance.

2. The people that teach this method argue like a bunch of little children about who is teaching the "real" Austin swing. Consequently, the use of the swing method's exposure has been stunted.

3. It is a "push" swing method. Your right arm (for right handers) is very active and pushes/slings the clubhead.

4. It relies a lot on upper body strength. And uses the upper body in the swing.

5. Those that teach the method claim it will increase your accuracy, but (imho) it will do the opposite. You may get more distance, but you will miss more fairways.

There are a lot of ways to skin a cat.

[msd3075]

Personally, I can't stand "swing methods". They are like clothing fads; everyone raves about them when they are new and think they are horrible in no time.

You need to develop your own swing that centers around what your body does naturally. No two swing are or ever should be exactly alike. What constitutes a great golf swing is how well someone implements the fundamentals into what his/her body naturally does.

[LongballGer]

I investigated this a while back and came to these conclusions:

Have you actually taken lessons to learn the method or is all of that just theoretical?

[indacup]

I'm thinking of making a swing change to learn the Mike Austin Method.

A couple years ago I learned the Austin method from the original book/DVD (How to Kill the Ball) and liked it a lot....so I FLEW out to meet and get two lessons from Dan Shauger.

Despite my concerns, he had me repeat a swing which seemed completely un natural (right knee in front of my left elbow at impact)....After some practice, I was so sore I could not sleep that night...excruciating pain. Turned out Dan's advice caused me to tear my rotator cuff and sidelined me the remainder of the season....and cost me thousands of dollars in medical expenses. If you wanna hit the ball further than anyone on the planet...instead of going to Dan's driving range...drive about 5 miles over to Angeles National and tell Pat Dempsey that Rory sent ya to him to "learn ya to hit far".

[AustinFan]

Mike was an amazing character and brilliant teacher.
I had the good fortune of working with him for years. His methods resulted in effortless power and accuracy.
Correctly taught, the concept was proper use of the 12 levers with no stress.
There's been so much incorrect info I am putting out detailed info at www.mentoredbythelegend.com
Here's an example of my swing under his watchful eye:

[Lihu]

I'm thinking of making a swing change to learn the Mike Austin Method. For those not familiar with Mike Austin here is a link about Mike Austin: [URL=http://www.jmlongdrive.com/philosophy.htm]http://www.jmlongdrive.com/philosophy.htm[/URL] There is a guy called Dan Shauger who is teaching the method. Is anyone familiar with this method?

Digging up this thread, because I wanted to know if you tried this method. I just took a book out of the library by Philip Reed "In Search of the Greatest Golf Swing". It is very entertaining reading, and brings out quite a few good points about golf swings. While reading it, I could not help but to think back two years ago when (started learning golf) that is the method my body used naturally. All the coaches tried to fix it, and I ended up with a shoulder injury several months ago. This was because I tried to use the more PGA method and needed to torque my shoulder and elbow to do a full swing. Now, I am using the PGA taught method and getting about 240 yards drive, and finally can hit my irons again. Not really far, but good enough. My rotation is very limited to avoid repeating injury. However, out of curiosity, I tried the counter rotating forearm turn that Dan taught to Phil Reed and nailed a drive against the a fence 250 yards at the back of the driving range. I tried this a couple times with roughly the same results, I stopped because I thought I caved in my driver head. It made a really loud ear piercing sound as I hit a range ball. It was doing this earlier with normal swings at another range, but I was only hitting 240 yard drives at the time. So, I stopped. Checked it out again, no problems with the driver. I plan to try it out this afternoon on the course. Here is my question, is the counter rotating (non-baseball) forearm turn not taught because of potential injury? It seems like there is less stress on my wrists, and I can take it back a whole lot longer (though I don't need to do so). However, I don't know enough about human anatomy to determine this myself.

[Etzwane]

Mike Austin has a few followers that don't teach the swing exactly in the same way.

Recently Jaacob Bowden has put a long video on youtube about his vision of the Mike Austin swing (caveat: I don't know much about the Mike Austin swing and I have only looked at the first few minutes of the video)

[chuckomous]

I look at it this way: if you're selling someone else's accomplishments and teachings without doing anything yourself, then you're just trying to make money. So far I've seen two. Mike Dunaway has done something and was taught a lot and the austinfan vids I haven't seen "pay me now for my expertise." Could be wrong on all accounts but I just ignore people who you never heard of wanting money to show you something someone else did.

[chuckomous]

I should clarify...two exceptions. I'm losing the war with auto correct

[xerex250]

I know ive been going on about not worrying about the swing. Yet, the one being taught is stupid. So i'd like to learn from Mike Austin. Not worrying about the swing is for the course. But I never said you shouldn't work on the swing if you wanted to. You can, just on the range. Just focus on scoring when you're on the course.

Back on topic.

Mike Austin had the perfect motion, using kinesiology for his teachings and his ideas on how a golf swing is built. Id like to learn the proper motion as to not injure myself with just "swinging without worrying". I have bad posture first off, so I'd like to utilize what I can from Mike to improve on that so that my golf swing may take shape. I don't play golf often (obviously) but I do hit balls consistently on target and strike it purely most of the time. (just doesn't go very far lol). Why am I bringing this up?

Because I hate the swing being taught. it hurts and it causes injuries. Mike Austin could swing in his 90's. Tiger Woods won't be swinging in his 50's.

My question is this:

How do I study someone's swing? How do I learn a golf swing from someone by just watching him/her swing? And does anyone know anything about kinesiology and how I can apply it to my swing?

[Phil McGleno]

Then go learn about Mike Austin because apparently you as a 21 handicapper have your mind made up that "the golf swing"-Like as if there is only one other golf swing out there-is "stupid" and "causes injuries." Youd have gotten more help if youd have simply asked what you wanted to ask without ripping on EVERY other golf swing but Mike Austin's.[quote name="xerex250" url="/t/70971/mike-austin#post_917025"]Yet, the one being taught is stupid. Because I hate the swing being taught. it hurts and it causes injuries. Mike Austin could swing in his 90's. Tiger Woods won't be swinging in his 50's. [/quote]

[iacas]

I second what Phil says… go find a Mike Austin instructor if that's what you wanna do.

I also second what he says about your unnecessary comments about "the golf swing being taught." By whom? What golf swing?

[Lihu]

We're in the same boat. Roughly the same HC, for now. I have been learning what Erik and Mike (Mvmac) have been teaching. All I can say is it works. I hit the club face pretty consistently, and am just starting to understand swing mechanics and ball striking. If you don't carry a 7 iron 150-ish, you should not think your swing is that efficient. I would not have believed Erik a month ago, but my swing has been updated for the better. No strain on my back. I get a great leg workout, but that's about it. Like Erik said to me two months ago, give the 5 keys method a try.

[Ernest Jones]

... strike it purely most of the time. (just doesn't go very far lol).

???

[David in FL]

My question is this:

How do I study someone's swing? How do I learn a golf swing from someone by just watching him/her swing?

I don't think that you can......certainly not as a relative beginner without a real grounding in the fundamentals.

As an example......You could watch/study Erik's swing all day long.  You might try to emulate his swing, but you have to understand the basis of what he's trying to accomplish.  In his case, his swing is based on 5 keys.  Keeping a steady head, keeping his weight forward, keeping the left wrist flat, maintaining a diagonal sweetspot path, and controlling his clubface.  Without understanding those specific components to his swing, and how to achieve them, you're not going to be able to put the whole swing together, no matter how much you "study" it on your own.

Having said that, if you find an instructor with a swing you would like to emulate, then you can "study" that swing by hiring that instructor.  If you're enamored with this Mike Austin guy, I agree, that's what you should do.

[Hammer 4]

I don't think that you can......certainly not as a relative beginner without a real grounding in the fundamentals.

As an example......You could watch/study Erik's swing all day long.  You might try to emulate his swing, but you have to understand the basis of what he's trying to accomplish.  In his case, his swing is based on 5 keys.  Keeping a steady head, keeping his weight forward, keeping the left wrist flat, maintaining a diagonal sweetspot path, and controlling his clubface.  Without understanding those specific components to his swing, and how to achieve them, you're not going to be able to put the whole swing together, no matter how much you "study" it on your own.

Having said that, if you find an instructor with a swing you would like to emulate, then you can "study" that swing by hiring that instructor.  If you're enamored with this Mike Austin guy, I agree, that's what you should do.

This ^^^^^^ very good advice.

[xerex250]

I've been studying the golf swing and the modern type motion compared to the classic since last night. It seems the classic swing has more to offer as well as a safer route to less injury. The modern swing has you turning your shoulders against your hips then turning your hips the opposite way, which in that case is twisting the spine, which in turn can cause injury. It would be much more preferred if the swing was done with the hips turning with the shoulders, the left heel lift and the entire body initiate the downswing. I don't know, but that sounds much more efficient and much less painful. What do you guys think? Once again thank you for your concern and you replies. I deeply appreciate them.