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

[tdiii]

Was obviously just kidding

Hope you get a response but looking back over previous blogs people rarely do.

Well, I actually posted the question on the interviewer's blog, not on Dan's, so maybe we'll get lucky.

[Lihu]

In response to Dan's most recent blog post, in which he recounts some improvement with his back, I posted the following a couple of days ago and it continues to await moderation:

Dan:

Forgive me if I missed it, but what was the diagnosis for your back?

Also, while you said you cannot practice the full swing, have you been working on putting and/or short game?

Thanks and I hope the recovery continues unabated.

I'm a little bit behind on everything about Dan, but I noticed that a post in his blog from Ted (presume you?) asked what was the diagnosis on his back? In his blog it was pretty clear that it was history and maybe he just doesn't want people to know what it was?

As far as his "plan" is concerned he's not on track to do any deliberate practice at this point in time. He seems to be just easing back into playing? Not sure how he's playing, but the way he's blogging it appears he's playing bogey golf?

[nevets88]

Looks like a recent interview. If that's his swing w/the bad back, it looks slower, but pretty much the same.

[tdiii]

He needs to work on his fitness.  No excuse for being in such poor shape at this point.  It would help his back, too.  If he'd followed my advice two years ago to start squatting and deadlifting with barbells regularly, he'd hit the ball farther with less chance of injury.

[Nosevi]

Looks like a recent interview. If that's his swing w/the bad back, it looks slower, but pretty much the same.

Thanks for posting up. Interesting there's a few answers on there that, for whatever reason, aren't on his site ie What's wrong with his back and is he doing short game to fill the time. Not really sure why he's not put anything about them on his site.

[tdiii]

Thanks for posting up. Interesting there's a few answers on there that, for whatever reason, aren't on his site ie What's wrong with his back and is he doing short game to fill the time. Not really sure why he's not put anything about them on his site.

I had the same thought.  I also find it interesting that he is sticking to the 2-3 handicap horsecr@p.

[Nosevi]

[QUOTE name="Nosevi" url="/t/45853/the-dan-plan-10-000-hours-to-become-a-pro-golfer-dan-mclaughlin/3402#post_1192721"] Thanks for posting up. Interesting there's a few answers on there that, for whatever reason, aren't on his site ie What's wrong with his back and is he doing short game to fill the time. Not really sure why he's not put anything about them on his site.[/QUOTE] I had the same thought.  I also find it interesting that he is sticking to the 2-3 handicap horsecr@p.

One question it did answer pretty loud and clear - if he doesn't make it, it's because of the injury. At least that's the message I got from listening to that.

[Big C]

All I can say is that Dan looks absolutely terrible in that video. he looks like he has aged 10 years since the plan began and the rumpled unshaven appearance isn't doing him any favors.

[newtogolf]

He has a friend that went from scratch to +5 in one year?  I am having a tough time believing that.

[Lihu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nosevi

Thanks for posting up. Interesting there's a few answers on there that, for whatever reason, aren't on his site ie What's wrong with his back and is he doing short game to fill the time. Not really sure why he's not put anything about them on his site.

I had the same thought.  I also find it interesting that he is sticking to the 2-3 handicap horsecr@p.

I met a self proclaimed "good 2" this morning (not arguing that fact either), but he was definitely of the mindset that "If you're not 6'4-250 pounds there is no way you could be as good as me" type. He was an okay player, about what I'd expect from any other 2.

So, in light of opposing the size snobbery me and the other players put up with this morning, we don't really know where the ball ends up and maybe he really is a 2 to 3? Only Dan really knows the truth.

He has a friend that went from scratch to +5 in one year?  I am having a tough time believing that.

It would certainly make headlines in Golf Digest or something similar.

[RandallT]

All I can say is that Dan looks absolutely terrible in that video. he looks like he has aged 10 years since the plan began and the rumpled unshaven appearance isn't doing him any favors.

Reminiscing, Day 1:

His look 5 years ago:

His look in the recent interview:

I've gotta admit he looks a tad more stressed and overweight in the recent one. Boy I bet he wishes he could get some of that time back.

[DrvFrShow]

Pain ages you fast. And we all wish we could get some of that time back. My friend and I were talking the other day. She was 37 when I met her. She'll be 50 next year. I was 47 when I moved here. I'll be 63 this year. Time flies.

And let's not kid ourselves. With the disk problem, The Dan Plan is done. He'll be a good amateur golfer. Bravo.

[tdiii]

I'm no MD but suffered from constant back pain from 18 (when I injured it rowing in college) until about age 43.  I did not have a pain free day over that 25 year period and had multiple bouts where I could not get out of the house.  I had multiple MRIs over that period, a few epidural steroid injections, several different physical therapists, a few different chiropractors, etc.  I suffered only intermittent, minor sciatica, which makes my situation like Dan's.  We can surmise he does not have sciatica as he has never mentioned pain radiating down his legs, numbness, etc.

I've researched the heck out of back pain and learned some interesting things:  (a) there is little to no evidence that surgery relieves back pain (as distinguished from sciatica); (b) cortisone injections are pretty good for relieving sciatica, but don't do much for back pain.  The medical profession has never really been able to find a successful treatment for back pain.  It tends to go away and then the sufferer has periodic bouts.  If you take 100 patients suffering from back pain (but not sciatica), put 1/2 in physical therapy and 1/2 to just manage as best they can, there is unlikely to be any statistically significant difference in results of treatment if you check in on them a few months later.  The same is true of chiropractic treatment.  We don't really know why some patients get better and some don't.

If you took MRIs of 100 healthy people and 100 people with back pain (but who do not suffer sciatica), and gave those to a pathologist, he or she could not tell you which group was which.  So, the fact that Dan has (as I did and, presumably do) a bulging disk may or may not coincide with his back pain.

So, that's what Dan is up against.

The only thing that seemed to work for me (and I get it, sample size of 1), was gritting my teeth for a full year and devoting myself to squatting (started with the bar and no weight, so 45 pounds), deadlifting (started with 95 pounds), the other basic barbell lifts, and a lot of walking.  I'm completely pain free and able to play as much golf as I want (played 7 rounds in 4 days recently).  I've had one flare up in the past 5 years, which lasted a few days but from which I recovered very, very quickly as compared to the past.

Dan, probably because he's been in a lot of pain, has put on some weight.  It's a vicious circle.  You hurt, so you can't get any exercise.  As a result, you put on a bit of weight, and it hurts more because that weight puts more stress on your back.

[Lihu]

I'm no MD but suffered from constant back pain from 18 (when I injured it rowing in college) until about age 43.  I did not have a pain free day over that 25 year period and had multiple bouts where I could not get out of the house.  I had multiple MRIs over that period, a few epidural steroid injections, several different physical therapists, a few different chiropractors, etc.  I suffered only intermittent, minor sciatica, which makes my situation like Dan's.  We can surmise he does not have sciatica as he has never mentioned pain radiating down his legs, numbness, etc.

I've researched the heck out of back pain and learned some interesting things:  (a) there is little to no evidence that surgery relieves back pain (as distinguished from sciatica); (b) cortisone injections are pretty good for relieving sciatica, but don't do much for back pain.  The medical profession has never really been able to find a successful treatment for back pain.  It tends to go away and then the sufferer has periodic bouts.  If you take 100 patients suffering from back pain (but not sciatica), put 1/2 in physical therapy and 1/2 to just manage as best they can, there is unlikely to be any statistically significant difference in results of treatment if you check in on them a few months later.  The same is true of chiropractic treatment.  We don't really know why some patients get better and some don't.

If you took MRIs of 100 healthy people and 100 people with back pain (but who do not suffer sciatica), and gave those to a pathologist, he or she could not tell you which group was which.  So, the fact that Dan has (as I did and, presumably do) a bulging disk may or may not coincide with his back pain.

So, that's what Dan is up against.

The only thing that seemed to work for me (and I get it, sample size of 1), was gritting my teeth for a full year and devoting myself to squatting (started with the bar and no weight, so 45 pounds), deadlifting (started with 95 pounds), the other basic barbell lifts, and a lot of walking.  I'm completely pain free and able to play as much golf as I want (played 7 rounds in 4 days recently).  I've had one flare up in the past 5 years, which lasted a few days but from which I recovered very, very quickly as compared to the past.

Dan, probably because he's been in a lot of pain, has put on some weight.  It's a vicious circle.  You hurt, so you can't get any exercise.  As a result, you put on a bit of weight, and it hurts more because that weight puts more stress on your back.

Wow, sounds like you are an expert on back pain. I suppose that's why you were so deliberate in your questions in his blogs?

You put on weight as you age for a variety of reasons as well. Maybe he's spending more time resting. His swing is really shallow with the driver, but it doesn't look horrible to me?

[tdiii]

Wow, sounds like you are an expert on back pain. I suppose that's why you were so deliberate in your questions in his blogs?

You put on weight as you age for a variety of reasons as well. Maybe he's spending more time resting. His swing is really shallow with the driver, but it doesn't look horrible to me?

I've had more than my share of back pain, I will say that.  Life sure is a bunch better when you are not constantly uncomfortable.

I can't explain why, but Dan's swing just seems to me to lack athleticism.  And that is not a function of club head speed, it is the movement.  I played this weekend with a HS girl who has a +1.3 handicap.  She is 5'9" (so Dan's height) and drives consistently drives it between 230 and 240 (13 our of 14 fairways hit).  Obviously doesn't hit is as far as Dan, but her swing is way more athletic looking.

I thought the new swings in that video looked a little bit better -- a bit short of parallel.  But he still is picking it up with his hands rather than with a turn.  It also looks to me like he forces the finish rather than allowing his swing to take him to the finish.  I couldn't tell you why, but that's what I see.

[Lihu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lihu

Wow, sounds like you are an expert on back pain. I suppose that's why you were so deliberate in your questions in his blogs?

You put on weight as you age for a variety of reasons as well. Maybe he's spending more time resting. His swing is really shallow with the driver, but it doesn't look horrible to me?

I've had more than my share of back pain, I will say that.  Life sure is a bunch better when you are not constantly uncomfortable.

I can't explain why, but Dan's swing just seems to me to lack athleticism.  And that is not a function of club head speed, it is the movement.  I played this weekend with a HS girl who has a +1.3 handicap.  She is 5'9" (so Dan's height) and drives consistently drives it between 230 and 240 (13 our of 14 fairways hit), maybe even 250 on occasion.  Obviously doesn't hit is as far as Dan, but her swing is way more athletic looking.

I thought the new swings in that video looked a little bit better -- a bit short of parallel.  But he still is picking it up with his hands rather than with a turn.  It also looks to me like he forces the finish rather than allowing his swing to take him to the finish.  I couldn't tell you why, but that's what I see.

To your point, I think +1.3HC for a lady is about a 4-5 HC for men. So, Dan should look even that much better? Her swing might look a lot more athletic because you are there in person as well? Also in general, men have more fast twitch muscle so maybe he can explode them at the right time so he does not require as much visible athleticism? I agree it looks funky at the end, he's still got that twitchy thing at the end of his swing that I've never really seen in a really good player before.

Plus, you are more than likely a better judge at seeing talent as well. I'm not really all that great at telling, but fortunately I essentially play for peanuts so I'm okay with that.

[BerkeleyRehab]

.  It's a vicious circle.  You hurt, so you can't get any exercise.  As a result, you put on a bit of weight, and it hurts more because that weight puts more stress on your back.

Same with golf.  You don't play and you get worse and don't want to play.

[RandallT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nosevi

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdiii

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nosevi

Thanks for posting up. Interesting there's a few answers on there that, for whatever reason, aren't on his site ie What's wrong with his back and is he doing short game to fill the time. Not really sure why he's not put anything about them on his site.

I had the same thought.  I also find it interesting that he is sticking to the 2-3 handicap horsecr@p.

One question it did answer pretty loud and clear - if he doesn't make it, it's because of the injury. At least that's the message I got from listening to that.

And did you catch the reason he gives for the injury? Because of mats... and simply hitting too many balls for a long period of time.

So the reasoning goes:

A. Project on track (After all, his handicap between 2 and 3! No mention that he hasn't been at his goal scoring level since early 2013 )

B. Project came off track due to injury only. (No mention of the plateau he clearly hit, well documented here on TST via graphs )

C. Injury was in large part due to hard work.

Therefore, the project was only off track because of hard work (A->B->C = A->C). This saves face to begin book and speaking tour.

I wish him luck in his golf endeavors, but there's a little too much hiding of reality (his actual scores/trends, his actual deliberate practice methodology, etc) to make me feel satisfied with the effort. I had high hopes, was cheering him on, but now it feels a little corrupted. Sorry, Dan. Wish it weren't so, but he seems to have proven the corollary to his original goal:

Quote: (http://thedanplan.com/about/)

But the plan isn’t really about golf: through this process, Dan hopes to prove to himself and others that it’s never too late to start a new pursuit in life.

Corollary:

...or maybe sometimes it is too late, when the endeavor is a vigorous, athletic body movement that takes incredible talent, but you are a middle-aged person with little experience in sports.

Injuries can happen, or you might find that you hit a plateau. Reality could intrude.