Jimmy Ballard

[JaY_B]

I am currently working with a guy that teaches Jimmy Ballard stuff, now I have been doing it for just under a year now and I'm beginning to have a few doubts as to whether its right for me and whether there is any weight behind what they teach, do any of you have knowledge or experience of what he teaches and what are your opinions of it?

[deronsizemore]

Better be good for what he charges (according to his website). Looks like he's been the instructor for some top golfers over his career.

As for if it's right for you, you're the only one that can make that decision. There's a lot of swing theories out there right now and each person swings differently. So just because one swing works for someone, doesn't mean it will work for someone else. Golf is such a personal game that it's something you and you alone can really only decide. If your ball striking is improving and your scores are dropping then I'd say it's worth it. If not, maybe it's time to look elsewhere. Of course you have to give swing changes time to work too. It won't happen overnight.

[JaY_B]

Better be good for what he charges (according to his website). Looks like he's been the instructor for some top golfers over his career.

Well as I said I have been doing it for about a year now and it feels pretty comfortable and I have been shooting lower scores, so great in theory but a closer look at my stats shows that the amount of greens I hit a round has gone down, is a year enough time to expect to see results?

[deronsizemore]

Well as I said I have been doing it for about a year now and it feels pretty comfortable and I have been shooting lower scores, so great in theory but a closer look at my stats shows that the amount of greens I hit a round has gone down, is a year enough time to expect to see results?

There again, everyone is different. It just depends on how much time you're able to practice the techniques you've been learning. If you're only able to go out and practice a once or twice a week then I'd say a year is not enough time.

It took Tiger a little longer than a year to really get comfortable with what Haney was doing with his swing and he supposedly practices for around 10 hours a day. I would expect GIR's to go down as you're getting used to a new swing technique thus likely not to be quite as accurate but at some point if it's going to work, GIR's should start to go up. How is your short game? With a handicap as low as yours I'm guessing you would see the greatest improvement in your scores from improving your short game. Making two or three more putts per round or sticking a couple of those chips where you miss the green to tap in range will really lower your score.

[WUTiger]

Jimmy Ballard was the teaching pro "wild man" of the 1970s. His swing theory is called The Connection , and it involves working the arms and shoulders in "the triangle."

Ballard popularized the idea of tucking a head cover under the left armpit to train proper arm position. He got this idea from former NY Yankee player and PGA pro Sam Byrd, who supposedly learned it from teammate Babe Ruth.

The Connection studies compared the swings of golfers, baseball players and tennis players. Ballard knew many pros from other sports in his universal ball striking studies. One of Ballard's students, former SF 49ers quarterback John Brodie, is the only NFL player ever to win a Champions Tour event.

Here is Ballard's website/marketing site. For what it's worth...
http://www.jimmyballardgolf.com/id57.html