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

[Hoganwoods]

You remember incorrectly.

There are images in this thread that show his handicap and scoring trends.

Ya just saw it.   Pretty close to a 5 in 2013.

What do you think Erik?  Do you think if this guy came to see you every few months for 2 years he'd drop more than a few strokes? From what you know about him.

[iacas]

Ya just saw it.   Pretty close to a 5 in 2013.

Yeah, you're right: it's really flattened out. He was about a 6 late in 2013. Guess I was the one with the cruddy memory! Sorry. (Though it was late 2013, and it's still early 2015 :D).

What do you think Erik?  Do you think if this guy came to see you every few months for 2 years he'd drop more than a few strokes? From what you know about him.

I think his ceiling is scratch, and I made the offer I made to him that I made because I think I could get him awfully close to that after the two months I offered to spend with him sunk in a bit (i.e. he'd learn a lot in the two months, and then a bit later it'd actually be "learned" and he could do it subconsciously).

[RFKFREAK]

Yeah, you're right: it's really flattened out. He was about a 6 late in 2013. Guess I was the one with the cruddy memory! Sorry. (Though it was late 2013, and it's still early 2015 :D).

I think his ceiling is scratch, and I made the offer I made to him that I made because I think I could get him awfully close to that after the two months I offered to spend with him sunk in a bit (i.e. he'd learn a lot in the two months, and then a bit later it'd actually be "learned" and he could do it subconsciously).

What do you think prevents his ceiling from being better than scratch?

[Hoganwoods]

I think his ceiling is scratch, and I made the offer I made to him that I made because I think I could get him awfully close to that after the two months I offered to spend with him sunk in a bit (i.e. he'd learn a lot in the two months, and then a bit later it'd actually be "learned" and he could do it subconsciously).

Very interesting.  I wonder if the guy is just going around as a publicity stunt at this point. To be stuck as a 6 for this long when all you think about is golf, would be disappointing.

[iacas]

What do you think prevents his ceiling from being better than scratch?

I don't think he has the talent.

Now, that's based on… what very little I've seen of him. I was looking forward to, if he took the offer, getting a better idea of what base talent level he has.

[Wittler]

At least where I live full memberships to nice public courses cost around $3,000 per year for unlimited range balls and golf. This means an average of only $250 a month, which would leave Dan with $250 a month for lessons at least, and the membership I believe includes access to all three city courses with their different layouts. Dan is throwing money into the wind if he thinks that joining a higher priced private club will make him golf better, but I suppose to each his own...

Is this in Denver?

[garybbq]

What was his response to your offer? "Sounds great, I'll call you later to discuss" and then never called?

[rolopolo]

If your swinging the club properly chances are you will not get injured, Dan does not swing the club very well along proper techniques and therefore leaves himself vulnerable to injury, not having a very high level of talent/athletic coordination  will only slow you down from reaching a more sound technique the last videos I saw of him he's still picking the club up and his footwork is horrendous, someone said he's spending $500 a month on membership at some private club? What a complete waste, he obviously has not learned very much over the time he has spent.

This is not true really. Even the smoothest most athletic golf swing puts tremendous strain on certain joints and muscles. There are thousands of outstanding golfers who have picked up serious injuries while having great, smooth swings.

[DrvFrShow]

Recently, I injured my right shoulder picking up a glass of water on my night stand. I just picked it up wrong. Bad me. Rotator cuff injury. It sucks. Also another time I tore the lateral meniscus in my right knee while vacuuming my living room. Injuries can happen not having anything to do with the sport you're engaged in.

[Lihu]

Recently, I injured my right shoulder picking up a glass of water on my night stand. I just picked it up wrong. Bad me. Rotator cuff injury. It sucks. Also another time I tore the lateral meniscus in my right knee while vacuuming my living room. Injuries can happen not having anything to do with the sport you're engaged in.

I remember spraining my back a couple decades ago adjusting the position of some water bottles in my garage. 2 weeks earlier I took a 75 foot fall (150 total feet below the gear that zippered out) on Washington Column (Forgot the 5.10 A2 name of the climb?) in Yosemite without any issues. Funny how that happens. . .

Just told everyone I took a fall in Yosemite.

Back on topic. Dan might get to a 2-3 handicap again? I agree that he does not appear to have the talent to get much better than that. The vast majority of the scratch players I know are much larger, not necessarily in height but in musculature. They look a lot stronger than Dan.

[nevets88]

Back on topic. Dan might get to a 2-3 handicap again? I agree that he does not appear to have the talent to get much better than that. The vast majority of the scratch players I know are much larger, not necessarily in height but in musculature. They look a lot stronger than Dan.

You've said this many times before. We got the point!

Rickie Fowler, Charles Howell III, Luke Donald.

[Lihu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lihu

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrvFrShow

Recently, I injured my right shoulder picking up a glass of water on my night stand. I just picked it up wrong. Bad me. Rotator cuff injury. It sucks. Also another time I tore the lateral meniscus in my right knee while vacuuming my living room. Injuries can happen not having anything to do with the sport you're engaged in.

I remember spraining my back a couple decades ago adjusting the position of some water bottles in my garage. 2 weeks earlier I took a 75 foot fall (150 total feet below the gear that zippered out) on Washington Column (Forgot the 5.10 A2 name of the climb?) in Yosemite without any issues. Funny how that happens. . .

Just told everyone I took a fall in Yosemite.

Back on topic. Dan might get to a 2-3 handicap again? I agree that he does not appear to have the talent to get much better than that. The vast majority of the scratch players I know are much larger, not necessarily in height but in musculature. They look a lot stronger than Dan.

You've said this many times before. We got the point!

Rickie Fowler, Charles Howell III, Luke Donald.

The exceptions, but not the rule. You also forgot Rory .

EDIT: Wait. . ., how is Charles Howell III in that list?

EDIT EDIT: These are not small players the only exception might be Ricky, who I predict will be over 200 pounds by the time he's 40 years old. . .

[flopster]

This is not true really. Even the smoothest most athletic golf swing puts tremendous strain on certain joints and muscles. There are thousands of outstanding golfers who have picked up serious injuries while having great, smooth swings.

I'll agree that there are some with proficient swings that still get hurt, do something long enough it's bound to find something to hurt and that's probably the case, obviously a lot of players with good fundamentals have put in the time to get there, a more recreational player swinging the club closer to right versus wrong IMO will definitely hurt himself less frequent.

[nevets88]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevets88

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lihu

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrvFrShow

Recently, I injured my right shoulder picking up a glass of water on my night stand. I just picked it up wrong. Bad me. Rotator cuff injury. It sucks. Also another time I tore the lateral meniscus in my right knee while vacuuming my living room. Injuries can happen not having anything to do with the sport you're engaged in.

I remember spraining my back a couple decades ago adjusting the position of some water bottles in my garage. 2 weeks earlier I took a 75 foot fall (150 total feet below the gear that zippered out) on Washington Column (Forgot the 5.10 A2 name of the climb?) in Yosemite without any issues. Funny how that happens. . .

Just told everyone I took a fall in Yosemite.

Back on topic. Dan might get to a 2-3 handicap again? I agree that he does not appear to have the talent to get much better than that. The vast majority of the scratch players I know are much larger, not necessarily in height but in musculature. They look a lot stronger than Dan.

You've said this many times before. We got the point!

Rickie Fowler, Charles Howell III, Luke Donald.

The exceptions, but not the rule. You also forgot Rory.

Hideki Matsuyama, Dufner (apres weight loss), Tim Clark, Ryo Ishikawa, Ryuji Imada, Matteo Manassero, Mike Weir. Kevin Na, Charl Schwartzel.

Of all the obstacles faced, his physicality, is nowhere near the top of the list imho.

[flopster]

Originally Posted by iacas

Yeah, you're right: it's really flattened out. He was about a 6 late in 2013. Guess I was the one with the cruddy memory! Sorry. (Though it was late 2013, and it's still early 2015 :D).

I think his ceiling is scratch, and I made the offer I made to him that I made because I think I could get him awfully close to that after the two months I offered to spend with him sunk in a bit (i.e. he'd learn a lot in the two months, and then a bit later it'd actually be "learned" and he could do it subconsciously.

Beyond impressed, but I believe you also, it's just I know those last few strokes from a 5 down to 0 are some of the hardest to get past. What would be one of the first things you would want to do with his swing from the little you have seen?

[Lihu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lihu

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevets88

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lihu

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrvFrShow

Recently, I injured my right shoulder picking up a glass of water on my night stand. I just picked it up wrong. Bad me. Rotator cuff injury. It sucks. Also another time I tore the lateral meniscus in my right knee while vacuuming my living room. Injuries can happen not having anything to do with the sport you're engaged in.

I remember spraining my back a couple decades ago adjusting the position of some water bottles in my garage. 2 weeks earlier I took a 75 foot fall (150 total feet below the gear that zippered out) on Washington Column (Forgot the 5.10 A2 name of the climb?) in Yosemite without any issues. Funny how that happens. . .

Just told everyone I took a fall in Yosemite.

Back on topic. Dan might get to a 2-3 handicap again? I agree that he does not appear to have the talent to get much better than that. The vast majority of the scratch players I know are much larger, not necessarily in height but in musculature. They look a lot stronger than Dan.

You've said this many times before. We got the point!

Rickie Fowler, Charles Howell III, Luke Donald.

The exceptions, but not the rule. You also forgot Rory.

Hideki Matsuyama, Dufner (apres weight loss), Tim Clark, Ryo Ishikawa, Ryuji Imada, Matteo Manassero, Mike Weir. Kevin Na.

Wait. . ., all these guys you're mentioning are 3-4" taller and stronger looking than Dan. Sure, Ryuji is probably close, but he's one person out of the 8 or more you quoted.

But that's not exactly what I was getting at, all I can say is if he does make scratch he would be one of the exceptional scratch golfers. He would stick out in a crowd of other scratch golfers as the "smaller" one.

[nevets88]

Quote:

Wait. . ., all these guys you're mentioning are 3-4" taller and stronger looking than Dan. Sure, Ryuji is probably close, but he's one person out of the 8 or more you quoted.

But that's not exactly what I was getting at, all I can say is if he does make scratch he would be one of the exceptional scratch golfers. He would stick out in a crowd of other scratch golfers as the "smaller" one.

Respectfully disagree don't look that much stronger. Again, size is way down on list in importance w/resp to his situation imho. Let's agree to disagree and leave it at that. And stop mentioning his size! We know, we know what you think!

[Lihu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevets88

Quote:

Wait. . ., all these guys you're mentioning are 3-4" taller and stronger looking than Dan. Sure, Ryuji is probably close, but he's one person out of the 8 or more you quoted.

But that's not exactly what I was getting at, all I can say is if he does make scratch he would be one of the exceptional scratch golfers. He would stick out in a crowd of other scratch golfers as the "smaller" one.

Respectfully disagree don't look that much stronger. Again, size is way down on list in importance w/resp to his situation imho. Let's agree to disagree and leave it at that. And stop mentioning his size! We know, we know what you think!

I'm not sure I actually think what you think I think, if that makes any sense? I'm the last person to put someone down because I think they are "too small" or "weak" for something. I'm not the biggest person in the world either. . .I was merely reacting to the fact that Dan himself mentioned that he is 5'9" 150 pounds at one point in his blog, and I don't think he's as big as he's making himself out to be. This added to the fact that he is stating that he has the latent talent to become one of the best golfers in the world by just doing 10,000 hours of deliberate practice***. I felt it needed to be pointed out.

Please don't take offense to my statements, I'm not intentionally writing this stuff just to offend you.

Plus, I did mention that his making a 2-3 handicap is already an impressive feat, which to me is being an expert. He did it in 2013, which is about 2-3 years into his program. However, I doubt that he will get to consistent scratch, much less better than scratch.

***BTW, the "5 minutes a day of focused practice" we are all committing to do this month is very productive. If we all did 10,000 hours of it, we could all be pretty good. . .