Texarkana Trip Report - 3 Days with Mr. Jones

[Oldnavycdr]

[quote name='j2_a2' timestamp='1361121096' post='6445459']
Thanks for posting the pic Hstead.
[/quote]

+1. Very helpful!

[irishiain]

[quote name='russc' timestamp='1361070373' post='6442961']
[quote name='Eag1e' timestamp='1361069958' post='6442921']
Anyone who cares about their students and the game, and does things in a manner such as that multiple students are around (like Geoff does), is prone to distractions. Any single thing can lead to a huge train of tangents because he isn't trying to get away from people. It's not offensive to those types of people if you beckon them back to you. Put it this way: He's off with other people not because he's ignoring you, but because he's [i]not ignoring[/i] them. It basically comes down to whoever the last person to ask them something was is who's gonna be getting their attention at any given time. So if you feel neglected - make yourself that last person. Imo it's nothing but a positive quality, it just demonstrates that they've got commitment to their students and will go on whatever trails of discussion come up without trying to look for an escape route. They just immerse themselves with the students.
[/quote]
Geoff teaches from 10 until sunset or even longer ..Do you think any person is going to need someone looking at you every second..The lesson to take from the Hstead's comments is just to ask for help
.As someone who saw him once and who has decided to see someone else , your comments lack credibility
[/quote]

Oversensitive much? I'm sure most people who have spent time with Geoff (me included) can see where he's coming from with this statement. If you go there expecting the same kind of constant attention you get during a normal hour long lesson then you'll be feeling very lonely by the time you leave.

[irishiain]

[quote name='SunkTheBirdie' timestamp='1361137058' post='6446933']
[quote name='irishiain' timestamp='1361136270' post='6446847']
[size=4]Oversensitive much?[/size]
[/quote]
WTF ?
[/quote]

Just gets old having him go off every time someone says anything that's not gushing praise about Geoff.

[Eag1e]

[quote name='irishiain' timestamp='1361143121' post='6447529']
[quote name='SunkTheBirdie' timestamp='1361137058' post='6446933']
[quote name='irishiain' timestamp='1361136270' post='6446847']
[size=4]Oversensitive much?[/size]
[/quote]
WTF ?
[/quote]

Just gets old having him go off every time someone says anything that's not gushing praise about Geoff.
[/quote]

It's just funny because I was actually complimenting Geoff.

Pretty much agree that we need to move on from it though since russ kinda left the thread apparently.

[HitBall]

How many students are there at one time? Why can't Geoff just spend say 30 minutes on each person and just move down the line. It seems weird that some people get more time than others just because they keep asking questions.

[Reif]

Hstead,

Anything you didn't do prior or while you were there that you would do differently?

I'm going in a couple of weeks.

Thanks.

[Hstead]

[quote name='HitBall' timestamp='1361153743' post='6448735']
How many students are there at one time? Why can't Geoff just spend say 30 minutes on each person and just move down the line. It seems weird that some people get more time than others just because they keep asking questions.
[/quote]

It doesn't really work that way. From what I understand, he usually only has one "3 day camp" guy who he works with from about 10 am to 3 pm. After 3 pm there may be one or two one hour lesson guys that come in but they are normally there for more than an hour. The range is Geoff's private range, but his students come in and hit all they want. There are also a mini tour pro or two that drop in and work on their swing. And then you have the local high school kids that come after school and hit balls.

While I was there, most of the time there were three of us, a mini tour pro, a Geoff student from the past couple of years, and then myself. Geoff spent most of his time with me, especially the last day. The most I think that were ever hitting balls at the same time were maybe six guys. Geoff is working on several other things, book, etc. He doesn't stand and watch you hit balls for all ten hours a day. Once three o'clock gets there, you have an hourly lesson guy, some high school kids, etc so if you are the "3 day camp" guy, you have to go ask for help or you can get lost in the shuffle a little. That is not necessarily the norm, but it happens, or happened anyway. The third day I asked Geoff to help me a little more and he spent a ton of time with me and stayed until almost 9 o'clock at night and would have stayed longer had I wanted him to, but by that time I had mostly worked everything I needed to out.

[Hstead]

[quote name='Reif' timestamp='1361155652' post='6449005']
Hstead,

Anything you didn't do prior or while you were there that you would do differently?

I'm going in a couple of weeks.

Thanks.
[/quote]

Not really. I do wish we would have worked on the short game stuff sooner, especially the trap wedge just because that was what it took for me to finally get the feeling I was searching for with my left hip getting out of the way, but that was just me. Others might find other images, drills, etc. that work for them. I had it okay on day two for a little while when I was hitting 9 irons 150 yards in 45 degree weather very much on line. but then I lost it. It all had to do with the way I was rotating my left hip too much upward and for too long and not getting it going left and behind me far enough.

Just ask questions if you do not get the feeling you are looking for, ask him again.

[Reif]

[quote name='Hstead' timestamp='1361156778' post='6449181']
[quote name='Reif' timestamp='1361155652' post='6449005']
Hstead,

Anything you didn't do prior or while you were there that you would do differently?

I'm going in a couple of weeks.

Thanks.
[/quote]

Not really. I do wish we would have worked on the short game stuff sooner, especially the trap wedge just because that was what it took for me to finally get the feeling I was searching for
[/quote]

You aren't first person to say this, I think I'm going to ask him to start there.

I'm also only going to be there two days, so I need to hit the ground running.

[rocker40]

[quote name='Reif' timestamp='1361157939' post='6449323']
[quote name='Hstead' timestamp='1361156778' post='6449181']
[quote name='Reif' timestamp='1361155652' post='6449005']
Hstead,

Anything you didn't do prior or while you were there that you would do differently?

I'm going in a couple of weeks.

Thanks.
[/quote]

Not really. I do wish we would have worked on the short game stuff sooner, especially the trap wedge just because that was what it took for me to finally get the feeling I was searching for
[/quote]

You aren't first person to say this, I think I'm going to ask him to start there.

I'm also only going to be there two days, so I need to hit the ground running.
[/quote]

Is there a 2 day class vs a 3 day class?

[Bravo36]

I see him in 3 weeks also and can't wait. Neither can my swing...it's getting worse by the day.

[Reif]

[quote name='rocker40' timestamp='1361159158' post='6449463']
Is there a 2 day class vs a 3 day class?
[/quote]

Geoff told me he prefers three days, but he only had the two days available until July, so I took it.

[tngolf22]

Enjoyed reading about your trip.

[Sabre3]

[quote name='Hstead' timestamp='1361030148' post='6439781']


We started with the grip, which I had close, but he made a few adjustments. He drew on my glove, which was absolutely WAY better than the gloves I have seen on Youtube. He moved my right hand closer to my left so that I could not see any left thumb at all.


[/quote]This part I am working on but can;t seem to get it right.

[SunkTheBirdie]

[quote name='Sabre3' timestamp='1361199599' post='6451137']
[size=4]This part I am working on but can;t seem to get it right.[/size]
[/quote]
Think about where your left thumb tip of fingernail is relative to the palm of the right hand. Peek inside the grip by spreading the fingers of the right hand but keep contact of the left thumb fingernail and the right palm by angling up the left thumb fingernail.

To cover more of the thumb, slide the right hand accordingly, and repeat the procedure above to see where the left thumb fingernail meets the right palm.

Do you get what I mean ?

[rocker40]

[quote name='Reif' timestamp='1361173395' post='6450313']
[quote name='rocker40' timestamp='1361159158' post='6449463']
Is there a 2 day class vs a 3 day class?
[/quote]

Geoff told me he prefers three days, but he only had the two days available until July, so I took it.
[/quote]

Just heard back from Geoff. He is booked until July 2013. There are NO 2 or 3 day classes available.

[SunkTheBirdie]

[quote name='rocker40' timestamp='1361203352' post='6451529']
[size=4]Just heard back from Geoff. He is booked until July 2013. There are NO 2 or 3 day classes available.[/size]
[/quote]

We need slicefixer.com ... now !!!

[rocker40]

[quote name='SunkTheBirdie' timestamp='1361203496' post='6451547']
[quote name='rocker40' timestamp='1361203352' post='6451529']
[size=4]Just heard back from Geoff. He is booked until July 2013. There are NO 2 or 3 day classes available.[/size]
[/quote]

We need slicefixer.com ... now !!!

[/quote]

I did make the waiting list. :-)

[Timanator]

IMO if you do anything less than a 2 day thing, you need to get the grip and setup close, or those 2 days are going to fly by as you struggle to get comfortable with the reverse k.

[INWOOD1953]

[quote name='Eag1e' timestamp='1361072641' post='6443139']
[quote name='russc' timestamp='1361070373' post='6442961']
[quote name='Eag1e' timestamp='1361069958' post='6442921']
Anyone who cares about their students and the game, and does things in a manner such as that multiple students are around (like Geoff does), is prone to distractions. Any single thing can lead to a huge train of tangents because he isn't trying to get away from people. It's not offensive to those types of people if you beckon them back to you. Put it this way: He's off with other people not because he's ignoring you, but because he's [i]not ignoring[/i] them. It basically comes down to whoever the last person to ask them something was is who's gonna be getting their attention at any given time. So if you feel neglected - make yourself that last person. Imo it's nothing but a positive quality, it just demonstrates that they've got commitment to their students and will go on whatever trails of discussion come up without trying to look for an escape route. They just immerse themselves with the students.
[/quote]
Geoff teaches from 10 until sunset or even longer ..Do you think any person is going to need someone looking at you every second..The lesson to take from the Hstead's comments is just to ask for help
.As someone who saw him once and who has decided to see someone else , your comments lack credibility
[/quote]

...seriously, did you just come in here trying to find a fight? My post was a compliment to Geoff's legitimacy in his desires to teach students. I said nothing negative about him.

And as someone who drove 986 miles each way and spent three days and a lot of money I think I'm hardly lacking in credibility to comment on him. It's not as if I've talked to him on the phone for half an hour and decided to post my thorough examination of his character or something absurd like that.

I'd encourage you to actually read what I said rather than just looking to get pissy with someone. It's clear you didn't since the phrase, "Imo it's nothing but a positive quality" was specifically in my post, following a smile nonetheless. Get over yourself.

Also, my decision to move on was after more than half a year of making every effort to stick with him after the initial visit and due to reasons that I've chosen to never say anything about because of people's willingness to blow things out of proportion, as well as tremendous respect for Geoff and not wanting some hothead to take a comment out of context and use it as fire against Geoff, because Geoff [i]is[/i] a fantastic guy and great teacher and I'd want nothing I said with non-insulting intentions to be quoted in an insulting manner. You act as if I went to him for an hour, hated his methods, immediately moved on and have walked around spreading nasty rumors.
[/quote]

Yes, I concur...

[rocker40]

[quote name='Timanator' timestamp='1361206542' post='6451867']
IMO if you do anything less than a 2 day thing, you need to get the grip and setup close, or those 2 days are going to fly by as you struggle to get comfortable with the reverse k.
[/quote]

Im planning on 2 or 3 day. Which ever is available. I agree the grip, setup and reverse k are a struggle.

[andre112]

[quote name='Hstead' timestamp='1361156778' post='6449181']
[quote name='Reif' timestamp='1361155652' post='6449005']
Hstead,

Anything you didn't do prior or while you were there that you would do differently?

I'm going in a couple of weeks.

Thanks.
[/quote]

Not really. I do wish we would have worked on the short game stuff sooner, especially the trap wedge just because that was what it took for me to finally get the feeling I was searching for with my left hip getting out of the way, but that was just me. [/quote]

I feel the same way. I wish he covered short game stuff in the 2nd day. The trap chip is the mini version of the 9 to 3. It's better to get it right, before starting 9 to 3.

[SunkTheBirdie]

anyone have any videos of a trap chip ?
does slicefixer have a special tweak on trap chipping ?
Is a trap chip a chip that has some backspin on it and it checks up ?

[Timanator]

[quote name='SunkTheBirdie' timestamp='1361226455' post='6453759']
anyone have any videos of a trap chip ?
does slicefixer have a special tweak on trap chipping ?
Is a trap chip a chip that has some backspin on it and it checks up ?
[/quote]

It's just a setup with the hands forward and pivot and trap the ball against the turf without breaking the wrists. Like a mini swing through the impact zone.

[Hstead]

[quote name='SunkTheBirdie' timestamp='1361226455' post='6453759']
anyone have any videos of a trap chip ?
does slicefixer have a special tweak on trap chipping ?
Is a trap chip a chip that has some backspin on it and it checks up ?
[/quote]

The trap chip is pivot driven, but Geoff teaches it with a putter grip. You open your stance quite a bit, feet very close, ball can be played back or forward depending on how high you want it to fly, setup is very much left, weight on left side, turn back and turn through keeping the hands passive. It was WAY harder than I thought it would be. I was not swinging the handle left far enough. Once I finally felt how far left the handle swings, and the fact that I had to get my left hip even farther out of the way, it clicked. This helped my 9 to 3 tremendously.

Now, my trap chip is solid, my 9 to 3 is very solid, but my long game is struggling. I am hitting low hooks with anything above a 7 iron. From 7 iron down, I have the release, but for some reason I cannot keep from letting the toe close to early in the long clubs.

[sblack5]

Sounds like the bump and run 7 iron I was taught as a kid... same setup and grip you're describing

[Hstead]

[quote name='sblack5' timestamp='1361234462' post='6454591']
Sounds like the bump and run 7 iron I was taught as a kid... same setup and grip you're describing
[/quote]

I have hit bump and run shots all my life but I wasn't swinging left like Geoff wants. That is the key to all of his short game shots, it is the same pivot release with the handle going low and left.

[sblack5]

[quote name='Hstead' timestamp='1361235976' post='6454789']
[quote name='sblack5' timestamp='1361234462' post='6454591']
Sounds like the bump and run 7 iron I was taught as a kid... same setup and grip you're describing
[/quote]

I have hit bump and run shots all my life but I wasn't swinging left like Geoff wants. That is the key to all of his short game shots, it is the same pivot release with the handle going low and left.
[/quote]

Should be fun

[callmehandsum]

[quote name='Hstead' timestamp='1361230960' post='6454257']
Now, my trap chip is solid, my 9 to 3 is very solid, but my long game is struggling. I am hitting low hooks with anything above a 7 iron. From 7 iron down, I have the release, but for some reason I cannot keep from letting the toe close to early in the long clubs.
[/quote]

I was struggling with this too. Monte told me I was playing the ball to far back in my stance. I had it in front of my sternum. It should have been between my armpit and sternum. I began to hit it straighter after a few swings.

[dirthead]

Hstead,

Great report! I have a trip scheduled to see Mr. Jones in May. Did you stay in the room he offers or get a hotel? I'm debating between the two, but can't wait to get down there.