The Mike Austin Phenomenon
In the 1974 United States National Seniors Open Championship
(predecessor to the Senior PGA Open), at the age of 64, Mike Austin drove a golf ball 515 yards, on level ground, with a persimmon head driver measuring 43 1/2” in length.
The shot was favored by a tail wind thought to be about 30 miles per hour.
It occurred on a course in Las Vegas known then as the Winterwood Golf Course,
renamed the Desert Rose, and the layout of the hole on which it was accomplished
is a long flat expanse where the green is fully visible from the tee about 450 yards away. The tee shot went
considerably past the green.
That drive is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest ever in a competition sanctioned by the USGA.
I first learned of Mike
late in 2004, when his name and accomplishments (see * below) were brought up in discussion
forums. Those accomplishments turned out to be compelling to say the least--unbelievable
is much more accurate -- spanning many decades starting in the '30s, during
which time Mike won scores of regular tournaments and long driving contests.
I found out that Mike had degrees in Engineering and Kinesiology, and that in
his incredible lifetime he devoted thousands of hours teaching just what he did,
earning the reputation of having discovered the most perfect possible
combination of motions and use of the human body for hitting golf balls long and
straight. On further investigation I found that no one else in history has
ever come close - ever - to the level of performance that was routine for him.
His credentials are simply unequivocal.
Since teaching golf is my
profession and passion, there was no question in my mind that I would need to
know all I could about how he did it. And to acquire that knowledge, I
needed to go to California to meet Mike in person and obtain everything he said in print or
video for the purpose of clarifying and verifying the concepts, motions,
details, and structure of this great swing to be able to pass them on to my
pupils. When I contacted Mike in May, 2005 to tell him that I wrote and
taught about golf technique and of my desire to write about HIS swing in
user-friendly format for everyone, he warmly invited me to his home for the
purpose of getting the information I would need. So in June 2005 I visited Mike and his wife Tanya for a couple days there,
where I also met with a couple of his
current pupils, and in September I followed up by earning a Graduation
Certificate from the Mike Austin Golf Academy after completion of the nine day
specialized professional program.
FOR A SUMMARY OF HOW ALL THIS DEVELOPED, AND TO
ALLAY CONCERNS THAT MY INSTRUCTION IS AUTHENTIC AND FAITHFUL TO MIKE, PLEASE
CLICK HERE.
Because of what I learned there I
can offer my pupils more "truth in golf" now than I possessed prior to that
experience and training. For several months before my trips to the West Coast I
had been working on sequels to my first two books and video instructions, and
my new book and DVD based on his swing are now available. The DVDs will be
shipped starting the first week of February--the book is already being shipped.
You can read more about them--entitled
GOLF IS NOT THAT HARD (unless you're doing it wrong)
at these two links, The Books, and the
DVDs.
What it boils down to is
that THE BEST SWING IN THE WORLD IS THE BEST BECAUSE IT USES THE HUMAN BODY IN
ITS MOST EFFICIENT AND EASIEST WAY. If it doesn't FEEL easy, that is a
sign that you're trying to put something (a hand, your feet, your arms, the
club...) where it isn't supposed to go - i.e., that you're doing something YOU
DON'T NEED TO DO. The perfect swing is perfect because it fits ANY human
body naturally without stress of any kind! That is its genius!
Natural, universally comfortable, and efficient! I have also added many new
insights and explanations in the materials, and I include a LOT of
guidance about how to learn and acquire skill in all areas of the game in
the shortest possible time.
At my academy site in Florida, I offer personal
instruction in group or private lessons, at the convenience of the pupil.
I also conduct small group programs of three and five days where we also cover all
things to do with the golf swing itself, and with ball striking, the short game, and self and course
management. I invite your inquiry to discuss your situation, and
to schedule an appropriate lesson time. Please feel free to phone - you're
more likely to catch me between 5 and 9 pm Florida time--1.800.226.9326.
If you go to one of the most popular golf
forums in cyberspace, "Free Golf Info...," you will be able to search and find literally hundreds of posts about this
phenomenal swing method, and about Mike Austin the man, and his genius.
People of all levels of experience and ability rave about their experiences of
its superiority for how simple it is to learn, and for its effortless power and accuracy. Simplicity is extremely important for a golf swing
procedure, since considerations on the golf course are so complex that if your
swing is not natural and instinctive, it just won't stand up under
the anxieties and mandates during play--issues that don't exist on a driving
range.
The following was reported in the FGI golf
forum on the internet recently, one of many where the writer's
excitement is compelling and contagious:
"Guys, I just have to post this 'cause what was excitement over starting the MA method has turned into something way beyond.
Last night after work I took my 64* wedge, 6 and 3 irons to the range. Armed with only what I've read in this and the Tour Tempo threads I thought I'd give "it" a try. Mind that the only things I was paying any attention to was the wrist movement and the
use of the right arm as I understand it..
So... 30 balls.. wedge- very relaxed 1/2 swing, "pancake action" on the wrists, club face toward the target at all times and slight "pump" of the right arm at and following impact. Results- after adjusting my stance and grip slightly (I was going left) 15 balls- last 10- 8 of 10 120yds all would fit in a kiddie wading pool. WOW! I've never had such consistency nor "easy" distance.
Getting a little cocky I pulled out the 6 iron. Usually I go 180 yards with a 30 yards left/right radius from where I'm aiming.
10 balls, had to adjust stance and grip to very neutral, once again an easy swing, about a 2/3's backswing wrist and
right arm action only. Flag was at 183 yards, all 10 carried beyond, 4 well beyond and all were within 8-10 yards left/right. WOW!!
3 iron- usual distance 210 with larger directional diversity (not accurate). 5 balls- first pulled. 2nd ball was incredible. The last flag was at 253 yards. Now remember, I don't have any concept of the hip action in the "method", I was just "fiddling" with the wrist and right arm pump. This shot left the clubface slightly right and drew back to the left. It hit about 7-10 yards dead solid in front of the 253 flag and rolled past it no more than 2 yards to the left and stopped about 5 yards past the flag. Without a doubt, the best 3 iron shot I've ever hit ! The last 3 balls were not quite as good, but were still MUCH better than usual.
A guy 2 slots over saw the big shot, he was hitting his driver and asked what club I was hitting. He couldn't believe it (neither could I). I'm hooked!!! and if I never fully understand the hip action, so be it. Just the two aspects (wrist and
right arm) I barely understand have convinced me that there's something very good going on here.
Thanks for pointing me in this direction!! There is really something to this method!!" -Post By Rockhead
|
