Butch Harmon Golf Swing

[JetFan1983]

Originally Posted by newtogolf

Watch some interviews with Harmon and get an understanding of his approach to teaching and you might gain some insight as to why people think he's a good swing coach.  I don't think he's perfect, but no one is.  I personally couldn't handle all the zen stuff Foley spews, but I'm sure he could help my game.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JetFan1983

Haha, well seriously, I know I'm walking on thin ice with this opinion; hence, the kid gloves I'm using with the issue.

And yea, I totally agree Butch has a great swing himself -- he did win one event on tour after all. He has a great move, there's no question, for any age, let alone his advanced age.

I've watched perhaps 100s of interviews of Butch Harmon since I started playing golf in 2008, the latest being the one with Charlie Rose this spring (Or was Feherty the most recent one? Can't remember). I've seen possibly every single interview available on Youtube and many more on the internet in general. I have a subscription to Golf Digest -- where he is a monthly contributor. I watch Golf Channel a lot and have observed him give lessons and interviews there. I have spoken to people who have gotten in-person lessons from him and asked them what his process was.

I've not gotten his DVD because I don't want to give him any money. But I would like to watch it.

You are underestimating the amount of information I've seen to form this opinion. There is a very common thread within the interviews and he repeats much of the same ideas, stories and concepts throughout them -- hence my "Mr.Hogan" reference earlier in the thread, but I guess you didn't catch that.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by JetFan1983

Quote:

Originally Posted by newtogolf

Watch some interviews with Harmon and get an understanding of his approach to teaching and you might gain some insight as to why people think he's a good swing coach.  I don't think he's perfect, but no one is.  I personally couldn't handle all the zen stuff Foley spews, but I'm sure he could help my game.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JetFan1983

Haha, well seriously, I know I'm walking on thin ice with this opinion; hence, the kid gloves I'm using with the issue.

And yea, I totally agree Butch has a great swing himself -- he did win one event on tour after all. He has a great move, there's no question, for any age, let alone his advanced age.

I've watched perhaps 100s of interviews of Butch Harmon since I started playing golf in 2008, the latest being the one with Charlie Rose this spring. I've seen possibly every single interview available on Youtube and many more on the internet in general. I have a subscription to Golf Digest -- where he is a monthly contributor. I watch Golf Channel a lot and have observed him give lessons and interviews there. I have spoken to people who have gotten in-person lessons from him.

The only thing I've not done is gotten his DVD because I don't want to give him any money.

You are underestimating the amount of information I've seen to form this opinion. There is a very common thread within the interviews and he repeats much of the same ideas, stories and concepts throughout them -- hence my "Mr.Hogan" reference earlier in the thread, but I guess you didn't catch that.

Sounds like that DVD is all you're missing. If I was able to sit through hundreds of interviews of anybody on any topic, I'd be jonesing for that DVD!!

[TourSpoon]

Originally Posted by JetFan1983

I've watched perhaps 100s of interviews of Butch Harmon since I started playing golf in 2008, the latest being the one with Charlie Rose this spring (Or was Feherty the most recent one? Can't remember). I've seen possibly every single interview available on Youtube and many more on the internet in general. I have a subscription to Golf Digest -- where he is a monthly contributor. I watch Golf Channel a lot and have observed him give lessons and interviews there. I have spoken to people who have gotten in-person lessons from him and asked them what his process was.

I think that this is against the Geneva Convention but perhaps could be more effective than water boarding.

[x129]

If a great teacher doesn't know the ball flight laws, have you considered that they  just are not the important to playing good golf?  The goal of a teacher is to get their players to play better. Everyone seems to think Butch does a good job at that.  I can think of a dozen different swings that all claim to be "biomechanically" efficient.  If any of them were really better, everyone would be using them.

As far as Butches swing, he is almost 70. There are very few guys at that age that have a very fluid swing due to flexibility and strength issues.

Originally Posted by JetFan1983

I've heard Erik say this as well. That's he's one of the greatest teachers of all time. I just don't see it at all.

If you're talking about getting out of a player's way maybe during a tournament... sharing a "Mr.Hogan" story to make the student feel like he is at the vanguard of golf instruction... making business deals... sure, he's great. He's probably great at giving course management and mental related tips.

But he doesn't know the ball flight laws. He gives out incorrect information constantly. This second part alone should be enough for people to stop putting him at the top of the pyramid.

I'm not hating on him for the sake of hating on him. Nor am I jealous. Nor do I think I know everything about golf. But why is it clear as day to me that Butch Harmon is completely overrated as a teacher? There are just so many instances where he says something that is completely false. It's like the guy has refused to learn a single thing about mechanics since 1970. I just don't get it.

Again, please (the general crowd here, not Erik and Mike specifically because I know they are always straight shooters) leave out the personal attacks against me for criticizing him. I'm going to attempt to preemptively address the typical "what do you know, you never played on tour" slash "where do you come off with such unwarranted statements" type arguments. I feel like the child in the crowd trying to tell everyone that the emperor has no clothes.

But honestly, if you guys could just constructively inform me on why he's held so high as a teacher. I'd really appreciate it.

[JetFan1983]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Sounds like that DVD is all you're missing. If I was able to sit through hundreds of interviews of anybody on any topic, I'd be jonesing for that DVD!!

I'd love to watch it. I just don't know if it's worth the money based on his free information out there. Honestly, after deciding to partake in this thread, I might have to now.

Originally Posted by TourSpoon

Quote:

Originally Posted by JetFan1983

I've watched perhaps 100s of interviews of Butch Harmon since I started playing golf in 2008, the latest being the one with Charlie Rose this spring (Or was Feherty the most recent one? Can't remember). I've seen possibly every single interview available on Youtube and many more on the internet in general. I have a subscription to Golf Digest -- where he is a monthly contributor. I watch Golf Channel a lot and have observed him give lessons and interviews there. I have spoken to people who have gotten in-person lessons from him and asked them what his process was.

I think that this is against the Geneva Convention but perhaps could be more effective than water boarding.

Haha, yea, yea, well... Look, I'm not going to lie that I'm fascinated by Butch Harmon. Anyone who is voted by their peers and PGA Tour pros as the best teacher in the business is going to pique the hell out of my interest because of how much I love reading and studying golf.

Quote:

Originally Posted by x129

If a great teacher doesn't know the ball flight laws, have you considered that they  just are not the important to playing good golf?  The goal of a teacher is to get their players to play better. Everyone seems to think Butch does a good job at that.  I can think of a dozen different swings that all claim to be "biomechanically" efficient.  If any of them were really better, everyone would be using them.

As far as Butches swing, he is almost 70. There are very few guys at that age that have a very fluid swing due to flexibility and strength issues.

[colin007]

I taught Butch Harmon everything he doesn't know...;-)

[robrey85]

I thought teaching was a "do what I say, not what I do." kind of thing, haha.