AJ Bonar – Who’s zooming who?
I read a lot of the golf magazines that are out there. Partly they’re interesting and partly it’s my job to be up on what’s happening in the world of golf. I past most attention to the intsructional pieces, of which there seem to be thousands. Maybe there’s too much advice floating around to be useful, but on technical analysis most of it is sound. The problem for most of us amateurs is what 3 things to focus on out of the hundreds of possibilites we are given.
But something out of the norm caught my eye in the most recent GOLF magazine. It’s an article about a ‘secret’ move or to quote the story ‘the biggest secret you’ve never been told’. So what is this wonderful tip that the ‘best players already make’? According to the story, which is about a teacher called A.J. Bonar, it’s rolling your wrists through impact.
Somebody help me out, is this really a secret. Either I’m a savant or this is what every instructional book I’ve read or looked at (and that must be at least 30) has talked about. It’s not the ‘only’ thing a golfer has to do for sure, but it seems like a basic component of every modern teacher’s instruction.
I take exception with the article because 1) it presents the information like it’s something that no amateur has ever heard about and 2) intimates that renowned teachers like McLean, Leadbetter and Flick don’t teach it. Who’s zooming who here. I can’t decipher if it’s A. J. Bonar or an editor of GOLF magazine. I’d guess that the aforementioned teachers would take exception to the claims of the article. Of course, with headlines like “Everything you know about the swing is wrong” you might expect to sell more magazines. But how often can you challenge your readers intelligence before they catch on. And how does that help promote the game of golf which everyone in the golf industry needs to survive. Golf isn’t growing in the US and it appears that the powers that be don’t know how to change this sad fact.
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AS AN ATHLETE AND NFL ALUMNI-IVE BEEN LUCKY ENUF TO HAVE TAKEN LESSONS FROM EVERYONE FROM RICK SMITH TO LEDBETTER AND PEOPLE IN BETWEEN ——–ALL THIS B.S. ABOUT SWING PLANE AND RELEASING THE HIPS ETC. IS A BUNCH OF CONFUSING BALONEY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!—-A. J. BONARS METHOD IS THE MOST SIMPLE AND EASY TO LEARN TECHNIQUE IVE EVER SEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!—–THIS GUY SHOULD BE INSTANTLY PUT IN THE GOLF HALL OF FAME AND BE GIVEN THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR !!!!!!!!!–=======LET THE HARMONS AND THE REST OF THE TEACHERS KEEP SCREWING UP THE GENERAL PUBLIC
Well, I think Gary Greely (NFL Alumni?? How many games did this guy play in..and for what team?)….said it all. ENUF? I guess spelling didn’t matter in the NFL.
Sorry John, but I tend to disagree with your article. The only places I have seen or heard the way AJ Bonar is teaching was in a book by Ben Hogan (where he mentions cupping his left wrist) and in an interview gary player mentions the cupped left wrist on the golf channel. Actually all golf instructors will tell you to have a flat left wrist at the top of the back swing. AJ is the only one who stresses a cupped left wrist. AJ also teaches one to snap the wrist over through impact. most instructors will tell you to have quiet hands through impact. The method is not unique, its just that its not been stressed before. golf instructors believe that the swing is too quick to allow the necessary timing to snap the wrists over. If one does not get the timing spot on, one lands up with hooks and slices all over the place. the method does work however if the timing is spot-on. I use a variation of it when swinging the driver and have seen an increase in distance although I do not have a quick swing. unfortuantely I haven’t been able to really get the timing right with my iron shots yet due to not practicing.
Patrick, right on for calling me out. After rethinking the whole thing, I’d have to agree with you – Most teachers support the flat left wrist. I’m a big proponent of this myself having adopted it this year. You’re absolutely right about cupping the left wrist working but being hard to control the timing. For me, simpler is better in the golf swing. Look at Steve Stricker, he doesn’t even cock the wrists that much, but boy is he hitting the ball well and STRAIGHT.
Ummmmm, actually rolling your wrists is not the idea…
Rotating the forearms so that the clubhead is is closing through the ball is the key!
My teacher whom I believe worked with AJ Bonar(I don’t know for sure). Taught me this motion almost 40 years ago while a struggling 10 handicapper. I became scratch + that year and knew where the ball was going since! Long straignt and far!
The sensation in learning the motion is feeling you are rotating the tip of the golf club to hit the ball(that extreme is needed for many.
The beauty is one almost doesn’t have to practice to keep shooting sub 80 golf For YEARS!
Good luck… Never seen this taught anywhere else except by my instructor….
If you try it your game will change DRAMATICALLY.
Yes it’s definately no secret about rolling the wrists. This should be a natural part of the golf swing and not something golfers need to be thinking about.
Cheers
I never released my wrist and was terribly inconsistent. After watching AJ vids I practiced it and like he said im hooking everything but I still scored mid 80′s but I had no worries of the ugly fade or slice. Now I need to look into cupping my wrist to stop over hooking. Shooting in the 70′s is my goal in the next couple months. But really need to commit to this n see what happens.
Thanks for the comments on your own experience. We love it when people share their own stories. It helps us all understand the game better and hopefully!! improve.
Certainly valid points made. A.J. knows more than most. However, this is proof positive that people are looking for help with their golf game. Even if it comes at trivial topics.