The Dan Plan - 10,000 Hours to Become a Pro Golfer (Dan McLaughlin)

[Vinsk]

I'm surprised I'm the first to mention this, but all this talk of talent and the drive to practice for hours on end in terrible weather etc as different things, no one has picked up that this is talent. Talent comes in many forms and I believe that you don't necessarily need all of forms to be great at something. You need a lot of them but you can make up for deficiencies in some aspects by being brilliant at others. Zach Johnson is a perfect example, not in the same ballpark of Dustin Johnson, Rory etc in the athletic department but there must be some other aspect (whatever that may be) that he has managed to make up that shortfall that he excels at. Dan on the other hand, I think we are yet to find he excels at any elements of talent.

I may have misunderstood you. Although I agree talent is spread across many different areas and can be compensated/utilized many ways like Zach Johnson, I don't believe desire or dedication is a talent. Working hard even in bad weather shows a strong commitment but isn't in itself talent. Of course talent can be very obscure and is often measured by the product it produces. If two individuals have the same instructor, put in the same effort and time on a task/sport...(golf of course) and after 6 months one is breaking 90 and the other is still firing 100+, it may be fair to say one is more "talented" than the other. Again, it's relative. There are I'm sure many guys who could be doing Dan's plan with him who would be far better than he is by now but probably just as many worse. Ability and Talent are not the same thing. A lot of people have the ability to play golf well, but there is some unclear level where one who is talented is simply better. Does this make any sense?

[newtogolf]

I'm surprised I'm the first to mention this, but all this talk of talent and the drive to practice for hours on end in terrible weather etc as different things, no one has picked up that this is talent. Talent comes in many forms and I believe that you don't necessarily need all of forms to be great at something. You need a lot of them but you can make up for deficiencies in some aspects by being brilliant at others. Zach Johnson is a perfect example, not in the same ballpark of Dustin Johnson, Rory etc in the athletic department but there must be some other aspect (whatever that may be) that he has managed to make up that shortfall that he excels at.

Dan on the other hand, I think we are yet to find he excels at any elements of talent.

Zach Johnson has significant talent it's just lacking when you compare him to some of the top players.  The fact Zach is on the Tour and won two Majors is proof he has superior talent to all but a select few he plays with on Tour.  Even at the highest of levels, there are disparities in talent, effort and good fortune.

If Dan possesses the talent required to play on a professional tour he's yet to showcase it.  At this point I see a lack of talent, effort and actual plan as the causes for his failure.

[Vinsk]

Zach Johnson has significant talent it's just lacking when you compare him to some of the top players.  The fact Zach is on the Tour and won two Majors is proof he has superior talent to all but a select few he plays with on Tour.  Even at the highest of levels, there are disparities in talent, effort and good fortune. If Dan possesses the talent required to play on a professional tour he's yet to showcase it.  At this point I see a lack of talent, effort and actual plan as the causes for his failure.

I agree.

[RandallT]

The back injury is taking its toll now. April, May, June, and July have ticked by- with very little activity.  His downtime hasn't led to much introspection or substantive site update, and folks are starting to vocalize. I assume Dan filters comments, so kudos to him for even publishing these.

Quote:

Aaron says:

July 28, 2015 at 2:37 pm

I want to be able to say something positive, to root for you. But you’ve made it almost impossible, dude.

You don’t interact with anyone on your blog, rarely post updates or stats. You don’t video blog or discuss any real details about what life is like day-to-day.

It’s really quite a sad statement that this is what it’s come to. From what I can tell, you don’t take criticism on board, don’t address issues with your game or your blog/reporting on your plan.

Seems to me you’ve effectively given up. I hope that’s not true and I’m wrong, but after all this time without anything getting better, I highly doubt it.

A once upon a time fan.

Quote:

Theguru says:

July 29, 2015 at 4:35 am

I have to agree with the above post Dan.
You might have answered my questions elsewhere but a quick 3 minute summary and answer to my questions would be appreciated.
Surely if you are not playing golf or updating the blog:countdown then you have time.
Not trying to give you a hard time, I sincerely hope your physical and mental wellbeing are ok.
But some aspects of this project are courting public interest, other aspects appear to be shunning it.
Have you counted any of your rehab time towards the 10000 hours?

Quote:

Stefan says:

July 30, 2015 at 3:01 am

The same with me, Dan.

Your blog has become quite much of a monologue and it looks if at this time you don’t care for the rest of your page at all.

People are trying here to help you continuing your plan and become and stay healthy but I suppose that will diminish if you show no reaction to questions and proposals.

How can I even be sure that you are still reading these comments at all?

Kind regards
Stefan

I found this an excellent comment too:

Quote:

Brian Kuehn says:

July 24, 2015 at 10:55 am

Personally, I would be concerned if after nearly 3 months of rest I was still subject to acute pain and limited movement. If you are certain your current approach is the best one, then good luck on the continued rehabilitation.

You might also want to reconsider your use of a different swing to allow pain-free play. Unless you plan on that “over the top arm swing” as a permanent change, you really should avoid playing until you can make your correct swing.

After this much time resting, he still has significant pain and limitations in movement. And there is no diagnosis from any medical professional. Is it wise to even play at all, especially when he has written that he is sticking with an "over the top arm swing?"

He has twice now (at least) referred to his stock fade swing as armsy and his stock draw as more of a clearing the hips and "dropping the club into the slot" swing.

Are there any professionals that would recommend two distinct swings based on desired shot shape?  If so, Dan is working on just one of his shot shapes now. If not, Dan is pretty much ingraining poor habits at the moment because he has not recovered his body yet.

[Lihu]

Actually, his arm dominant swing is extremely common. Most golfers have it. The ones that don't are usually single digit players. There's no "falling back" on that type of swing, you lose control, power, consistency. On top of that, it's much harder on your body. If your back is hurting, I don't see how that would help? It makes no sense to me at all.

[Pretzel]

I still clear my hips and drop the club "into the slot" when I aim to hit a fade. The only difference is I feel like I'm following through tighter to my body to produce an out to in swing path, versus my usual in to out swing path. If my swing is ever an "over the top arm swing", something has gone seriously wrong or I'm in an awkward location that requires it.

[nevets88]

Has plenty of time to video swing and show differences. If he's not, how does he even know he's doing what he thinks he's doing. Maybe his MO is to be cagey, withhold information and let people speculate.

[DrvFrShow]

IMO he needs to put the golf clubs away and get a real diagnosis as to what's wrong with his spine before continuing. He'll need to do some physical therapy before continuing. Unfortunately this costs money.

[Vinsk]

It's also so difficult to manage pain. Especially those who simply have a very low tolerance (which I wonder is Dan's case). I played college football and did MMA for years and understand pain and sports. It takes quite a bit of an injury to keep me off the course. There are just types of people who every sprain is a fracture, headaches are migraines and colds are upper respiratory infections. Aside from all that I 100% agree with the other posts regarding Dans inactive media updates.

[Pretzel]

It's also so difficult to manage pain. Especially those who simply have a very low tolerance (which I wonder is Dan's case). I played college football and did MMA for years and understand pain and sports. It takes quite a bit of an injury to keep me off the course. There are just types of people who every sprain is a fracture, headaches are migraines and colds are upper respiratory infections. Aside from all that I 100% agree with the other posts regarding Dans inactive media updates.

I would agree pain tolerance is a big factor. I've played in a tournament with someone who broke his leg and was still in a cast, as well as having played myself with a broken finger (I highly recommend against this, I had to quit early) and a broken toe (this one worked out okay), but I've also seen people withdraw after hitting a rock or something and having a bit of a sore wrist.

[Vinsk]

Lol....true...but hey ...he also played and won with a tore ACL. What I really would like to know is how Dan's progress would compare if he started day one with Dave,Erik or Mike.

[nevets88]

Take 6 months off. Get a job. Fill the coffers.

[Vinsk]

Take 6 months off. Get a job. Fill the coffers.

LOL.....nice.

[Nosevi]

Take 6 months off. Get a job. Fill the coffers.

He's kind of done 1/3 of your plan.........

Harsh. I have no idea what he's been up to. Putting and chipping maybe? I don't know but I'd be lethal around the green by now. But like I said before, I have no real clue what he's been up to day to day for the last couple of years (other than one Trackman combine obviously )

[natureboy]

Zach Johnson has significant talent it's just lacking when you compare him to some of the top players.  The fact Zach is on the Tour and won two Majors is proof he has superior talent to all but a select few he plays with on Tour.  Even at the highest of levels, there are disparities in talent, effort and good fortune.

If Dan possesses the talent required to play on a professional tour he's yet to showcase it.  At this point I see a lack of talent, effort and actual plan as the causes for his failure.

I agree.

You may be right, but all Zac had to show at a similar time commitment to developing his skill (or more) was mid-ranker on his small college golf team. Yes?

He developed his 'talent' as much as he discovered it - or more.

[newtogolf]

You may be right, but all Zac had to show at a similar time commitment to developing his skill (or more) was mid-ranker on his small college golf team. Yes?

He developed his 'talent' as much as he discovered it - or more.

I doubt Dan could make a H.S. team at this point.

[RandallT]

You may be right, but all Zac had to show at a similar time commitment to developing his skill (or more) was mid-ranker on his small college golf team. Yes?

He developed his 'talent' as much as he discovered it - or more.

Congrats! You've identified the exit strategy that will be used to market his motivational speaking tour with companion books/audio inspiration for commuters: Dan started from zero experience, and got himself to a similar position as Zach Johnson, who later went on to be a two-time Major winner. The 10,000 hour theory has been vindicated! The sky is the limit. Start your own plan today.

[Vinsk]

Congrats! You've identified the exit strategy that will be used to market his motivational speaking tour with companion books/audio inspiration for commuters: Dan started from zero experience, and got himself to a similar position as Zach Johnson, who later went on to be a two-time Major winner. The 10,000 hour theory has been vindicated! The sky is the limit. Start your own plan today.

Similar to Zach Johnson? 2 time major winner? What's similar?