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

[GHIN0011458]

Ask Craig Stadler about working out.

[Lihu]

I was suggesting Dan work out not you haha. I was driving the ball at the beginning of the summer about 210-220, now I am up to a 250-260 average off the tee (I would have to look at my golflogix stats haha), but I am hitting my irons farther as well. I was just suggesting this as something I think could benefit Dan, but I have never seen any mention of this by him.

Some people can't put on weight, some put on too much.

If I had to guess, Dan does not appear to have the metabolism to build much muscle mass that would help him.

You keep saying more deserving golfers. Do you have any you can name? It isn't like he is taking up sponsor exceptions on tour. If you are really good enough to get on tour you will.

If anything the publicity for Dan helps to grow the game if you ask me.

I think you are correct. The fact that he dedicated over 5x more training than the average golfer and played so badly in the tournaments affirms the fact that golf is really hard. Not everyone can do it at a high level.

[beastmode87]

Some people can't put on weight, some put on too much.

If I had to guess, Dan does not appear to have the metabolism to build much muscle mass that would help him.

I didn't mean it as muscle mass necessarily, i meant more so for flexibility and being able to increase his range of motion. Yes, I know there are some big guys on tour, but looking at Dan's build a little more power would probably help him.

[nevets88]

Maybe he should've played tournaments earlier, but it is apparent he was not ready. I just feel like he identified a weakness recently (his lack of mental toughness) and then went about a way of trying to improve upon it. It may be one part of this game, but he was deliberate in that, but it is never good enough for most people here haha. Now the point is he should've done this earlier. I agree he could do a better job of describing his routine and providing a glimpse into what he is working on and what he does on a daily basis. All I am saying is that recently he did take an objective look at his "mental toughness" and has tried to improve upon it. I just don't see how people can hate on that.

Again, they're not hating on him. It's just justified constructive criticism stating what he should have done much earlier. Hate is people calling the guy four letter words and saying things like Vision54 is a POS prayer to God, who we all know is dead why the f*( is he even trying?

[MS256]

Since my opinion is that the 10,000 hour deal is one of the dumbest things I ever heard in my life I'm just thankful that Dan doesn't appear to be good enough to come anywhere near being a Tour pro.

I would hate to have to listen to that.

As I said when I first heard of "The Dan Plan", if he has enough talent he'll make it and if he doesn't he won't and it's a lottery ticket either way.

[newtogolf]

Maybe he should've played tournaments earlier, but it is apparent he was not ready. I just feel like he identified a weakness recently (his lack of mental toughness) and then went about a way of trying to improve upon it. It may be one part of this game, but he was deliberate in that, but it is never good enough for most people here haha. Now the point is he should've done this earlier. I agree he could do a better job of describing his routine and providing a glimpse into what he is working on and what he does on a daily basis. All I am saying is that recently he did take an objective look at his "mental toughness" and has tried to improve upon it. I just don't see how people can hate on that.

You don't typically fix a major flaw in your golf swing with one lesson just as Dan isn't suddenly going to be mentally tough because he took a 2 day seminar.  I take all the stuff he posted on his sites as nothing more than providing free advertising to the seminar holder who probably comp'd him all or part of the cost of the seminar in exchange for free advertising.

Anyone that plays golf knows you have to be mentally tough.  Ask a group of new golfers how much they enjoy teeing off on the 1st hole while the next group watches.  Golf is a progression of mental and physical challenges.  Dan knew at some point he'd have to participate in tournaments to support his handicap so you would think he'd have prepared for it better.

I think the point we're all making is that the goals and original concept have been lost in the execution of his experiment.  At this point all Dan is proving is someone can figure out a way to get others to pay for his expenses so he can afford to play golf for 10,000 hours.

[beastmode87]

You don't typically fix a major flaw in your golf swing with one lesson just as Dan isn't suddenly going to be mentally tough because he took a 2 day seminar.  I take all the stuff he posted on his sites as nothing more than providing free advertising to the seminar holder who probably comp'd him all or part of the cost of the seminar in exchange for free advertising.

Anyone that plays golf knows you have to be mentally tough.  Ask a group of new golfers how much they enjoy teeing off on the 1st hole while the next group watches.  Golf is a progression of mental and physical challenges.  Dan knew at some point he'd have to participate in tournaments to support his handicap so you would think he'd have prepared for it better.

I think the point we're all making is that the goals and original concept have been lost in the execution of his experiment.  At this point all Dan is proving is someone can figure out a way to get others to pay for his expenses so he can afford to play golf for 10,000 hours.

Who is to say that is all he is doing to address that? To say he only went because he got comped in exchange for providing them publicity is just speculation. How would he know how he was suppose to prepare for tournament golf if he had never played it before? Maybe he has not made as much progress as others on this site have made in the same time frame, but he is still only halfway through it. I give the guy credit for having an idea as big as this and having the b*lls to go through with it. You can say what you want about the donations and what not, but like I said it isn't my money for if people want to help him all the power to them.

[RFKFREAK]

I started when I was 21. I am 27 now. After one year, I walked on to a college golf program at about a 10 handicap(D3). I played hockey in college as well my first year. I don't work out at all, just in the winters to lose the 15 lbs I gained over the summer lol. I am only 5'7 and I can hit the ball around 290, 4 iron is my 210 club.. etc. I do think working out will help, but it could also lead to more injuries. I have noticed that finely tuned athletes get hurt more often then the guys who put in minimal time at the gym. Look at pitchers back in the day, they would get one night of rest and pitch a whole game. Now guys get hurt and they pitch 6 innings every 12 days or whatever it might be. Look at Tiger vs Ernie Els. My goal is longevity and while I do think fitness is important, I am saving it until I am a +4 handicapper to push me over the edge into superstardom as a PGA Tour professional lol.

Wow, 5'7" and can drive the ball 290?

Would love to see a video of your swing with your driver.  I'm also not being sarcastic, I just think it'd be cool to see.

[Lihu]

Who is to say that is all he is doing to address that? To say he only went because he got comped in exchange for providing them publicity is just speculation. How would he know how he was suppose to prepare for tournament golf if he had never played it before? Maybe he has not made as much progress as others on this site have made in the same time frame, but he is still only halfway through it. I give the guy credit for having an idea as big as this and having the b*lls to go through with it. You can say what you want about the donations and what not, but like I said it isn't my money for if people want to help him all the power to them.

Would you take a final exam in University without doing some preparation for it?

Wow, 5'7" and can drive the ball 290?

Would love to see a video of your swing with your driver.  I'm also not being sarcastic, I just think it'd be cool to see.

Yeah, talent and skill, not size makes for a scratch golfer.

Here's a person 5'7" 145 pounds, capable of driving 300 yards. (He was a pro player)

[RFKFREAK]

Yeah, talent and skill, not size makes for a scratch golfer.

It'd definitely be cool.

I'm 6'2" around 260 pounds and when I first started last year, a good drive for me was around 200 yards.  Now, with putting in some swing work (shout out to Evolvr), I've increased that to be able to poke the ball out 250 yards and at this point am averaging b/w 220-230 yards a drive.  I'm happy with the progress I've made (even if the scores haven't come down yet), and would like to see if I can increase that to maybe poke it out 270.

PT - this is total distance I'm talking about, not carry.

[beastmode87]

Would you take a final exam in University without ding some preparation for it?

Yeah, talent and skill, not size makes for a scratch golfer.

Well considering I would have taken the whole class up until that point I would have an idea of what to expect. How do we know he didn't prepare for it either? Maybe he underestimated the mental side of the game and the difference of tournament golf from "regular" golf. I just think expecting someone to show up to their first tournament and expect them to do well to be in the top half of the field is setting the bar a little high. You can't know the difference until you experience it. So he experienced it, identified a weakness and is trying to improve on it. We will see if it works in the near future I am sure, but at least he is trying to do something about it.

[Lihu]

Well considering I would have taken the whole class up until that point I would have an idea of what to expect. How do we know he didn't prepare for it either? Maybe he underestimated the mental side of the game and the difference of tournament golf from "regular" golf. I just think expecting someone to show up to their first tournament and expect them to do well to be in the top half of the field is setting the bar a little high. You can't know the difference until you experience it. So he experienced it, identified a weakness and is trying to improve on it. We will see if it works in the near future I am sure, but at least he is trying to do something about it.

I don't think it's fair to expect him to come in the top ten either, but at least not dead last.

[GHIN0011458]

Wow, 5'7" and can drive the ball 290?

Would love to see a video of your swing with your driver.  I'm also not being sarcastic, I just think it'd be cool to see.

I guess I have posted on here enough now to show more personal information lol. I will try and get it done this week. I only carry the ball 250-260 and get a TON of roll.. my spin rate is around 2200 on the monitor.

[beastmode87]

I don't think it's fair to expect him to come in the top ten either, but at least not dead last either.

Yeah, he definitely underperformed which brings up questions if his handicap is legit, and I agree it is probably not.

[Lihu]

I guess I have posted on here enough now to show more personal information lol. I will try and get it done this week. I only carry the ball 250-260 and get a TON of roll.. my spin rate is around 2200 on the monitor.

The PGA tour only carries the ball 272.

I'm sure it's impressive to watch.

[nevets88]

Looks like he's going to Australia. Did I say something about media obligations? Maybe he can find a tournament while he's there.

https://twitter.com/russditt/status/486090158865788929

[RFKFREAK]

I guess I have posted on here enough now to show more personal information lol. I will try and get it done this week. I only carry the ball 250-260 and get a TON of roll.. my spin rate is around 2200 on the monitor.

I wish I could find a monitor near me so as to get an idea of what my carry and spin rate is.

That said, it'd be great if you could do it this week but don't let it be a distraction from your tournament preparation.

[GHIN0011458]

The PGA tour only carries the ball 272.

I'm sure it's impressive to watch.

I actually don't look at my swing.. so not sure what it could look like lol. It is probably funky considering I have never taken a lesson.