Lever Power Golf Swing includes 1 teaching video (approx.
20 min. long... yes, you read that right.... 20 min.!).
1 instructional booklet to compliment the tape - approx. 30pp.
containing color bubble jet pictures extolling the virtues of the
Lever Power swing vs. the traditional golf swing. Price $40.00.
Note: training aids, clubs, schooling, etc. were also available.
Rating (1 to 10 - 10 being outstanding): 1.5
QUALITY:
The quality of the tape is marginal. The tape was shot with a
camcorder. Text and graphics enhancements were done with the
camcorder functions.
BACKGROUND:
Jack Kuykendall (JK) is back. Jack Kuykendall, self-proclaimed world
famous golf teacher with a scientific slant has gone one better than
his previous Natural Golf system. JK was the creator of the original
"Moe Norman" swing 2 years prior to meeting Mr. Norman. JK also has
an annoying voice... similar to listening to Jack Nicholas do
commentary.
Currently, JK and another ex-Natural golf instructor (Scott Hazeldine)
share a web page at www.scigolf.com. A very strange symbiotic
relationship for two competing companies and systems.
CONTENT:
Jack Kuykendall's new video reminds me of the video he used to send
out when he was with the Natural Golf system. Very short and with
very little instructional content. JK's video is only about 20
minutes long! Most of that time is spent trying to validate his
stature as a scientific golf guru by showing you past articles that
have been written in various golf periodicals and local newpapers.
Nothing worse in my opinion than watching someone pat themselves on
the back for nearly half the video that you paid for 100% golf
instructional content.
JK has a couple of swing aids, a couple of specialized putters,
special clubs, and (of course) a new swing system. It is obvious to
me (as with the Natural Golf system) that Jack tries to get you
tantalized with the video and pamphlet and sell you the "big ticket"
items like clubs, private instruction, and swing aids. Personally,
this turns me off. However, in his defense the swing is very simple
and I'll detail it more below.
THE SYSTEM:
As I said above there isn't much to the swing. JK makes the claim
that you can become very proficient in 30 days... especially utilizing
his swing training aids <ahem>.
1) The Grip. JK departs from one of the mainstays of golf by
actually advocating 3 different grips, albeit with a good, better and
best rating. All 3 change only the right hand position. The "A" grip
is a throw back from Natural Golf. The club is held completely in the
palm with the grip following the right hands lifeline. "B" and "C"
just place the grip more in the fingers incrementally.
2) The Address. The stance is wider than the traditional swing's
address position. You do look a bit like a giraffe taking a drink of
water. Of special note too is that your feet are supposed to stay
flat on the ground from backswing to completion.
3) The Swing. Kuykendall spends a bunch of time letting the viewer
know what a physics guru he is and that he is the only one trying to
improve on a flawed swing method..... even going so far as to say
"hey, prove me wrong". JK did the same B.S. with the Natural Golf
system and proved himself wrong. Now into the swing itself.
"Traditional" golf is a two lever system. The first lever is the left
shoulder to the left wrist. The second lever is the club. JK is
maintaining the better way to "swing" the club is to increase the
length of the second lever. Therefore, with Lever Power Golf the
first lever is the left shoulder to the left elbow. The second lever
is the left elbow to the end of the club head. Essentially you bend
your left arm at the elbow 90 degrees while NOT cocking the left
wrist.
You move the right hand as "close to the right shoulder as your
anatomy will allow" while bending the left elbow 90 degrees (again do
NOT cock the wrists). This places the club shaft and left forearm in
an almost straight position. Yes, the club points roughly straight up
in the air. No forced shoulder turn, weight shift, coiled back
muscles, etc. This position is *very* back friendly. Kuykendall gets
no style points from me, but this is an intriguing concept. I was
actually very excited to see what this guy came up with and was
willing to put aside my views of his past attempts at being a golf
guru to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Your "swing" is simplicity itself. Move the right hand away from the
shoulder with the triceps muscles (the one opposing the biceps) and
through the ball. You must maintain the rigid left wrist position
since the hands will square the clubface themselves. This is an arms
only swing. Actually a triceps only swing. They had a "RealPlayer"
video clip of his swing at the www.scigolf.com web site. However, I
was unable to find much on The Lever Power Golf system while visiting
today.
The benefits of this swing. Distance, unparalleled accuracy,
virtually no back strain, and a naturally repeatable swing.
I'm an engineer and know that while on paper the concept of a longer
lever can't be disputed, as soon as you apply these theories to the
human body (i.e. biomechanics) "paper theory" becomes a whole other
matter. You can't model the shoulder as a simple hinge. ;)
Here are the innate problems as I see them. While you have a longer
lever, can you apply enough speed to that lever system to have an
effective shot? My answer is an emphatic NO. In fact, the only way I
could get any (not embarassing) distance was to try to kill the ball.
This was especially apparent with the mid to long irons/driver. The
shot patters were extremely high. I was very skeptical when I saw JK
hit most of his shots with his left wrist bracing device on. All of
his shots were hit off of a mat as well. That folks, is bullsh*t. I
can take the worst digger in the world that can't hit a ball without
hitting it 4" fat and put them on a mat and they look decent. The
camera didn't have the quality to pick up the shots from behind,
however the ones I did see lacked distance and were pulled badly half
the time.
Who could benefit from this system? Seniors lacking distance already
and unable to make a full turn (read: one foot already in the grave).
I can't wait to get my money back on this turkey. ;)
Any questions, comments, etc. let 'em fly.
Scott
>Another of the series of installments that relates my opinion on a
>particular golfing system.
And another excellent and entertaining review it is! My comments
follow:
>Lever Power Golf Swing includes 1 teaching video (approx.
>20 min. long... yes, you read that right.... 20 min.!).
>1 instructional booklet to compliment the tape - approx. 30pp.
>containing color bubble jet pictures extolling the virtues of the
>Lever Power swing vs. the traditional golf swing. Price $40.00.
>Note: training aids, clubs, schooling, etc. were also available.
>
>Rating (1 to 10 - 10 being outstanding): 1.5
I thought I was tough, you're a tougher cookie!
>QUALITY:
>The quality of the tape is marginal. The tape was shot with a
>camcorder. Text and graphics enhancements were done with the
>camcorder functions.
>BACKGROUND:
>Jack Kuykendall (JK) is back. Jack Kuykendall, self-proclaimed world
>famous golf teacher with a scientific slant has gone one better than
>his previous Natural Golf system.
He's rated as one of the top 100 instructors in the country. I
question the validity of that list.
>JK was the creator of the original
>"Moe Norman" swing 2 years prior to meeting Mr. Norman. JK also has
>an annoying voice... similar to listening to Jack Nicholas do
>commentary.
I heard a rumor from someone in the golf industry that he later
admitted Moe Norman was the model for his swing and was where he got
the idea for the NG swing from. If this is true than it proves what
I've always said, he didn't discover a new swing in 45 days, he
discovered Moe Norman and in 45 days put his swing into a marketing
plan.
>Currently, JK and another ex-Natural golf instructor (Scott Hazeldine)
>share a web page at www.scigolf.com. A very strange symbiotic
>relationship for two competing companies and systems.
I thought the same thing..................
>3) The Swing. Kuykendall spends a bunch of time letting the viewer
>know what a physics guru he is and that he is the only one trying to
>improve on a flawed swing method..... even going so far as to say
>"hey, prove me wrong". JK did the same B.S. with the Natural Golf
>system and proved himself wrong. Now into the swing itself.
Didn't he tell us the NG swing was the most perfect swing? Now he's
trying to say he improved upon it's flaws? Guess he was better at
marketing than physics at the time..............
>"Traditional" golf is a two lever system. The first lever is the left
>shoulder to the left wrist. The second lever is the club. JK is
>maintaining the better way to "swing" the club is to increase the
>length of the second lever. Therefore, with Lever Power Golf the
>first lever is the left shoulder to the left elbow. The second lever
>is the left elbow to the end of the club head. Essentially you bend
>your left arm at the elbow 90 degrees while NOT cocking the left
>wrist.
And he claims he discovered this accidently at the practice range,
what a hoot. For a physics guru you would have thought he discovered
this with pencil and paper during his redefining of the swing.
>You move the right hand as "close to the right shoulder as your
>anatomy will allow" while bending the left elbow 90 degrees (again do
>NOT cock the wrists). This places the club shaft and left forearm in
>an almost straight position.
But, but, but, isn't this contradictory to what he told us about the
RIGHT FOREARM and SHAFT being in-line for a perfect single axis swing?
>Your "swing" is simplicity itself. Move the right hand away from the
>shoulder with the triceps muscles (the one opposing the biceps) and
>through the ball. You must maintain the rigid left wrist position
>since the hands will square the clubface themselves. This is an arms
>only swing. Actually a triceps only swing.
Not only did he steal the Natural Golf name from Peter Croker forcing
him to change the name to Key To Golf, now he's stealing his
"straighten the right arm through impact with a flat left wrist"
principle. I guess Kuykendall knows a good name and concept when he
steals one.
>I'm an engineer and know that while on paper the concept of a longer
>lever can't be disputed, as soon as you apply these theories to the
>human body (i.e. biomechanics) "paper theory" becomes a whole other
>matter. You can't model the shoulder as a simple hinge. ;)
>
>Here are the innate problems as I see them. While you have a longer
>lever, can you apply enough speed to that lever system to have an
>effective shot? My answer is an emphatic NO. In fact, the only way I
>could get any (not embarassing) distance was to try to kill the ball.
This is because you didn't use his "2 inches longer than normal" lever
power golf clubs.
>This was especially apparent with the mid to long irons/driver. The
>shot patters were extremely high. I was very skeptical when I saw JK
>hit most of his shots with his left wrist bracing device on. All of
>his shots were hit off of a mat as well. That folks, is bullsh*t. I
>can take the worst digger in the world that can't hit a ball without
>hitting it 4" fat and put them on a mat and they look decent.
Milt Wallace from Triple Coil Swing must have been the director and
producer. Remember in the opening sequence he was hitting ball in the
fog and telling us how far they were going????? This was just as
funny as his assistant hitting the PVC plane and shattering it.
David
Golf Instruction Homepage
http://www.geocities.com/Augusta/3628/