PureStrike 5 Simple Keys DVDs - Now Available

[gwlee7]

I have had a chance to look at all of the DVDs now myself.  I have been very familiar with David's teaching for almost two years now since I am one of Golf Evolution's students so there was nothing really new for me.  That said, this is an excellent instructional DVD that anyone who wants to play better golf could use. I am very comfortable with the direction that David, Erik, Mike, James, and the rest of the "5 Keys" guys are going. I will continue to let them tell me what to do.  Great job guys!!!

[Deryck Griffith]

Originally Posted by JetFan1983

With some time to digest the DVD, I can say its great. I'm realizing now how genius it is making the sweet spot path one of the five keys. Gonna watch it again sometime this week.

My DVD just arrived.  I'm looking forward to watching it based on some of the points that you mentioned!

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Deryck Griffith

My DVD just arrived.  I'm looking forward to watching it based on some of the points that you mentioned!

Great! Hope all is well man. :)

[MbolicGolf]

I want to say thank you to Dave and Chuck for putting this together.  I am working my way through the DVD and seeing where I'm not doing something correct. I find my self trying to understand the educated hands concept. To wit, my understanding is that the educated hands are the object of the swing, meaning the hands are where all the elements of a swing coalece to an action. I like the idea of Telling my hands where to go, I feel a little dumb but I am having a hard time wrapping my head around formulating a repeatable practice routine in order to educate my hands. Any tips Erik? Mike?

[iacas]

Originally Posted by MbolicGolf

I want to say thank you to Dave and Chuck for putting this together.  I am working my way through the DVD and seeing where I'm not doing something correct. I find my self trying to understand the educated hands concept. To wit, my understanding is that the educated hands are the object of the swing, meaning the hands are where all the elements of a swing coalece to an action. I like the idea of Telling my hands where to go, I feel a little dumb but I am having a hard time wrapping my head around formulating a repeatable practice routine in order to educate my hands. Any tips Erik? Mike?

Hit more balls.

That's a big part of how you "educate" your hands. They learn what they need to do to deliver the face where it needs to be at impact. "Educated Hands" is part of Key #5, and it's just a TGM term that has lingered... Again it basically just means that your hands sense what they have to do and are able to do it.

Put a stick 10 yards in front of you on your target line and practice buzzing it just left, just right, and trying to hit it right over the top.

[immts007]

Just ordered. Looking forward to getting started and getting consistent.

[Big Lex]

I like this "new" emphasis in teaching.  It is built around the conditions of a good ball-club impact.  It isn't built around someone's concept of an "athletic" swing or some other bio-mechanical idea. It isn't concerned with overly analyzing swing positions on video and so forth.

For years, I tried what was at the time the type of swing most recommended: A slight move off the ball to "load up" the right side, followed by a weight shift and then the forward swing.

The results were never great.  It was always hard to consistently hit the ball first.  Even my best hits usually felt like I was catching the ball almost at the bottom of its arc, rather than _before_ the bottom of the arc.  My divots were never very far in front of the ball; often they were even with the ball, even when the shot didn't feel overly fat.

About a year and a half ago, I decided to try a swing I read in the book about Ben Hogan's "real" secret, which basically is a swing based around your 5 keys:  You stay steady with your head and your weight as you start swing back - no rightward "weight shift" - and as the back swing progresses, you definitely feel your weight flow forward, onto your left side.  Your weight is already solidly on your left side before you ever feel yourself begin to swing the club forward.  To someone who has been "loading up" his right side for years, it feels like you are swinging entirely around your left leg, almost swinging "backward."

The solidness of contact I get has gone up significantly.

This is the way you are supposed to swing a golf club.

[Missouri Swede]

Originally Posted by Big Lex

About a year and a half ago, I decided to try a swing I read in the book about Ben Hogan's "real" secret, which basically is a swing based around your 5 keys

Manzoni?

[Beachcomber]

I received the 5SK DVD's earlier this week and have watched them in full.  Let me first state that I thought the DVD's were worth every penny.  They are great for a guy like me that wants to catalog instructional information on the golf swing, to help me integrate and execute the techniques found within the swing pattern into my own golf game...Many of you regular TST user know, I've become quite the swing junkie in the last year, seeking out quality instruction from a variety of sources.  And the 5SK DVD's are an excellent source for quick, concise, and to the point golf instruction.

Chuck Evans and Dave Wedzik's instructional approach is easy to understand and communicated clearly... Much of which is based on data from TGM, MORAD and SnT - all of which have beneficial data - and are largely scientific based.  This to me is why I truly wanted to pick up the DVD set, because I knew it wasn't all 'feel' - but backed by research - and put into a method that is easily communicated and understood.  Note, I did order the DVD set through the Purestrike website (Medicus site) because I wanted to receive the hard copy 5SK book with the 5 DVD set.  The content covered in the video was plentiful, many of the items I was already familiar with, but some of the concepts were better presented in the DVD set, more so than what you can find via Youtube or elsewhere.  And the book is a nice reference point that I can pick up and quickly find pieces that I need to work on.

But I'm greedy and was hoping there would be more details or some of the items presented a little more clearly or with better production value.  For instance here are a few of my gripes (hopefully this is viewed as constructive criticism - and not being a Debbie Downer):

1.) Video Quality - Resolution of Playback

The video for the most part could've been made using a standard video camera.  Being a DVD - the resolution is only D-1 quality.  Given most notebooks, desktop displays and TV's in your home are HD or FullHD - the playback quality isn't that great.  I'd rather see a Bluray so I can see Dave's pretty face better.

2.) Post Production Quality (Or lack thereof)

Really this is the area where I think there can be the most improvement in the DVD set.  I believe it was the 2nd DVD where Dave was highlighting Key #5, Clubface Control - where he was hitting the different shots from down the line one after another?  A few issues I had with this segment, the camera was down the line, but Dave was moving and hitting balls.  So the camera wasn't properly setup for each shot... Or perhaps the issue for me was that it wasn't clear what Dave's target was - and where his initial starting line was, or worse - post impact - I couldn't see where the ball was flying.  And for me - while I understand the ball flight laws, there should've been a lot more post production for the average golfer who has no idea... Spending more time in post production in this area would help a lot.  I mean Dave clearly talked through what he was doing, but there were no helpful signs for the user to follow along which leads to confusion.  So I think in post production, they could've done a lot better job of editing this sequence, and breaking it down step - by - step...  With graphic overlays saying simple things like - Draw, Fade, Hook, Slice, Straight for each shot.... Then highlight the target down range - drawing a stance line to show the feet open or closed according to the intended golf shot - and an initial arrow or something showing the clubface open or closed at address... Then have Dave hit the shot and have Protracer follow the ball flight so the user could see Dave's ball flight and make the connection better with Key #5.  There were numerous times when I felt the post production could've been a lot better - but this was one of the biggest issues that I picked up on while watching.

3.) Lack of Technology Integration

The Swing Catalyst data was very interesting found on DVD #1 @ the 13:00 mark.  But only 60 seconds or so was used to highlight the technology finding.  I would've loved to see the Swing Catalyst tied in with Trackman (or Flightscope) and using Protracer to see the ball flight.  Maybe 5SK 2.0 will cover this type of data?  I know SnT 2.0 did this - I'd like to see 5SK take a similar approach and use the best tools of the trade to facilitate their instruction to the masses.  Other items like The Pure Ballstriker (PBS), Tourstriker, VisionTrack - these are all devices that help with some of the items touched on in the video - and with Bob Koch being in the video - was dumbfounded that he didn't find a way to get the VisionTrack into the video (self marketing and promotion).  These tools could've been added to the drills section.

4.) Instructional Drills - Proper Setting

And speaking of the drills - when talking about doing something in a mirror - or indoors in a door jam - take the production off the range and actually show the drill in the said area.  For instance, Paul Azinger's Golfplan drills did a solid job of this as an example by actually filming Azinger indoors - doing the said drill.  And walking the viewer through the drill step by step.  Unfortunately, some of the door jam drills were a little confusing and felt they weren't as effectively communicated as they could've been.  Would've been nice to cut to the door jam drill - with Dave, Chuck or even James doing the said drill inside against a door jam or wall.

Overall - I'd love to see a 5SK 2.0 Bluray release or downloadable content in the future which capitalizes on the technology I know Golf Evolution has at it's disposal (ie Doppler Radar - Trackman, Flightscope) - and re-shoot the drills within their intended setting.

[iacas]

Thanks for the review. You should post it on the product page .

Some real quick notes...

- The book is not a part of the system and was not written by Chuck, Dave, or myself. And that's all I'll say about that.

- DVDs are DVD quality. Blu-Ray costs more to produce. The videos were all shot in HD, but were produced in DVD format to keep costs down (for you, too). I'd have probably gone the other way, but DVDs still have a place in the world. A shrinking place, no doubt, but still a place.

- We likely won't integrate a bunch more technology. You as a "swing junkie" might like it, and all of our instructors need to understand it (and do), but it doesn't help students nearly as much as you seem to think it will. We don't need students worrying about where they're getting their maximum rate of torque in their downswing when they're flipping at it by A5.7. :P You don't need to worry about the D-Plane when you can't get your weight off your heels.

- I think it's obvious why they wouldn't include training aids made by others in the videos. :)

- There's a lot more to come in regards to drills, training, etc. And as with the first note, I'll end it the same way: that's all I can say about that for now. :)

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by iacas

Thanks for the review. You should post it on the product page.

Some real quick notes...

- The book is not a part of the system and was not written by Chuck, Dave, or myself. And that's all I'll say about that.

- DVDs are DVD quality. Blu-Ray costs more to produce. The videos were all shot in HD, but were produced in DVD format to keep costs down (for you, too). I'd have probably gone the other way, but DVDs still have a place in the world. A shrinking place, no doubt, but still a place.

- We likely won't integrate a bunch more technology. You as a "swing junkie" might like it, and all of our instructors need to understand it (and do), but it doesn't help students nearly as much as you seem to think it will. We don't need students worrying about where they're getting their maximum rate of torque in their downswing when they're flipping at it by A5.7. :P You don't need to worry about the D-Plane when you can't get your weight off your heels.

- I think it's obvious why they wouldn't include training aids made by others in the videos. :)

- There's a lot more to come in regards to drills, training, etc. And as with the first note, I'll end it the same way: that's all I can say about that for now. :)

My feelings are hurt... Oh my goodness. I'm a Goat Humper and a Flipper!?!  Wow, I need a high speed camera.

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by Beachcomber

My feelings are hurt... Oh my goodness.  I'm a Goat Humper and a Flipper!?!  Wow, I need a high speed camera.

No ... you're simply a flippin' goat humper!

Erik or Mike ... how much do you think somebody who has been to a 5SK school with you guys might benefit from these DVDs?  Is this something I should be asking Santa for?

My original thoughts were that since I already had the info from the class, and the e-book that came with it, along with all of the info on this site, that when I watched the DVDs, I'd just think to myself that I already know all of that.

[newtogolf]

Are there any plans to host the DVD content as part of a bundled subscription package that would include updates, additional content and personalized on-line lessons.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Beachcomber

My feelings are hurt... Oh my goodness.  I'm a Goat Humper and a Flipper!?!  Wow, I need a high speed camera.

I didn't say that. It was just an example. You flip less than most golfers.

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

Erik or Mike ... how much do you think somebody who has been to a 5SK school with you guys might benefit from these DVDs?  Is this something I should be asking Santa for?

Yes, but I'll send you a PM.

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

My original thoughts were that since I already had the info from the class, and the e-book that came with it, along with all of the info on this site, that when I watched the DVDs, I'd just think to myself that I already know all of that.

Probably not a bad assumption.

Originally Posted by newtogolf

Are there any plans to host the DVD content as part of a bundled subscription package that would include updates, additional content and personalized on-line lessons.

That seems like something reasonably intelligent people would do, doesn't it? Especially if they already filmed 50+ new tips and drills, have an online lesson platform, and... uhhh...

[Golfingdad]

Just saw the commercial this afternoon on TGC. Just flipping stations and turn it on and there's Bob Townsend talking to me! Very cool. Also saw a bunch of Dave's swings, and maybe a James swing??? No Erik, no Mike though. :(. Still cool seeing some of MY teachers on TV.

[shortstop20]

Ordered 5SK the other day, waiting on their arrival.

[RonTheSavage]

Just got the Kindle version of the 5SK book from Amazon. After reading through a bit I will definitely buy the DVDs next.

[cliffj]

There's a book?