http://thedanplan.com/transform/ From average to great. en-US Fri, 18 May 2012 02:56:54 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.3 q http://thedanplan.com/transform/search.php http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=171#post-317 Wed, 16 May 2012 09:23:22 +0000 saleman99 317@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>Dan should have been penalized on Hole #3 for building his stance in the bunker with his left foot. Even if your foot slips a few times, you can't push the sand down like that to provide a more stable base. </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=146#post-291 Fri, 11 May 2012 03:38:20 +0000 LovinItAll 291@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>To some degree, I've been critical of my perception of Dan's goal. While my opinion of anyone's chance of making the cut at a PGA tour event after only 10k hours of practice/play hasn't changed, I must say this:</p> <p>- After watching all of the video on the site and reading various interviews with Dan, I've concluded that - it seems to me - this experiment has much more to do with seeing how accomplished one can become while adhering to the basic principles outlined in Gladwell's book.</p> <p>- I think Dan understands that the goal of making the cut in a PGA event is very unlikely after only 10k hours of practice,, but as he stated in one piece (I paraphrase), "This is as much an experiment in the human spirit as anything else."</p> <p>I applaud anyone with the fortitude to carry out an experiment such as this. If Dan can remain healthy and focused, he may have a real chance at making the cut at a Champion's tour event after 20 years of dedicated, daily practice (say 30k hours of practice).</p> <p>Now THAT would be a nice second career!</p> <p>Best of luck! </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=138#post-280 Mon, 07 May 2012 10:40:52 +0000 Brandon 280@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>I am inquiring and curious about what you all consider succesful and what qualities, idealoligies, and principles you think are needed to achieve the latter. :D....nothing is to far off-the-cusp for me! What I envision is abit lofty, but I have the confidence that it will come to fruition as long as I keep the course and take things one second at a time ignoring the past and future. So please write what you feel is possible along with what you feel is simply idealistic and don't forget to drop some hints and tricks too! :D </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=8#post-8 Sun, 22 May 2011 10:58:19 +0000 Dan 8@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>If you have thoughts on whether or not The Dan Plan will succeed, please do share! I, for one, am always open for constructive criticism and promise not to take it personally, so write away.. </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=136#post-271 Sat, 05 May 2012 15:58:56 +0000 williamevanl 271@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>I was discussing this in a golf forum and I think I've found a good analogy for the Dan Plan:</p> <p>Dan is a car with square tires, practice is the gas pedal. Professional golf is 100 mph. I understand why it seems like in the beginning that surely if gas is getting you from 0 mph to 15 mph and then a little while later, 30 mph it must be able to get you to 100 mph but that simply isn't the case. Without round tires this car is never going to go 100 mph no matter how much gas we give it.</p> <p>(is this analogy people are born with tires of varying degrees of roundness :) ) </p> <p>and of course you would find that anyone operating at an expert level would be moving full throttle (put in TONS of time) but what you couldn't see or measure is the roundness of their tires. </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=26#post-94 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:45:32 +0000 williamevanl 94@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>We've got:<br /> <a href="http://thegolfjourney.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">http://thegolfjourney.wordpress.com/</a><br /> <a href="http://mygreenjacket.com/wordpress/" rel="nofollow">http://mygreenjacket.com/wordpress/</a> &lt;- good one, I like how the guy was shooting in the 40's in no time and a couple years later... still shooting in the 40's :)<br /> <a href="http://10toplus.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">http://10toplus.wordpress.com/</a> &lt;- I like that he was a 10 handicap in the beginning of 2010 and is now a 9.9 handicap... Well done sir. :)<br /> And I can't forget Buddys:<br /> <a href="http://tothepga.com/all-golf-rounds" rel="nofollow">http://tothepga.com/all-golf-rounds</a> &lt;- pshh, only 4 rounds?! Get out there and play. </p> <p>Who am I missing? Oh yea, Tom Coyne's Paper Tiger, not a website but one of the greatest books ever, man that guy can write. </p> <p>Any others? </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=135#post-268 Fri, 04 May 2012 22:27:03 +0000 LovinItAll 268@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>Dan,</p> <p>At ~1:30, it sounds like you're telling a competitor the yardage to a fairway bunker. Isn't that 'giving advice' and a breach of rule 8.1? Maybe there were mitigating circumstances. </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=6#post-6 Sun, 22 May 2011 10:51:06 +0000 Dan 6@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>Talent? Hard work? a mix? what is possible and what is just a dream? Is the world an open book? What are some of your goals? Are there dreams that you are not attempting because people say it is impossible? </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=14#post-36 Mon, 23 May 2011 07:39:21 +0000 Dan 36@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>Any good, or bad, rounds from the past weekend? Lets see those numbers and don't feel bad about high numbers, all rounds are learning experiences. </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=125#post-239 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:58:30 +0000 LovinItAll 239@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>One of the great things about golf is that we're often fortunate enough to hit a shot that would make any pro proud. I find that I usually hit one or two shots per round that are in this category. I thought I'd start this thread in case others wanted to share their 'Shot of the Day':</p> <p>After hitting an approach long right, I found myself short sided with a large bunker between me and an elevated green that I couldn't see (I couldn't even see the bunker and had my playing partner stand between me and the flag as a point of reference). Lie: hard pan.</p> <p>Just getting it on the green was going to be a great shot, and there was maybe a one foot blind landing area that might actually get me within 15 feet of the hole. </p> <p>I hit a 60 degree lob wedge and got a thumbs up from my partner (couldn't see the ball land, much less where it ended up). I walked up to the green and had a three footer for par. Made it.</p> <p>I was playing with a high handicapper who, I don't think, really understood how hard the shot really was . That's okay....I did!</p> <p>And in the "Unlikely Par" category: Not sure I can do this justice, but I'll try (this was all luck):</p> <p>Par 4, 393: Drove it to 123 (cut a corner and got a nice bounce). Perfect PW for me. Don't know if it caught a gust + caught it extra pure, but I flew the green by 20 yards, hit a cart path, bounced over a homeowner's fence and landed on their metal roof (VERY loud from where I was standing). Rolled off the roof, bounced off of their patio, over the their fence, hit the cart path again and rolled down a green side hill and ended up about three feet off the green and about 35 feet from the hole. Got it up and down.</p> <p>When I looked in their yard (they had a wrought iron fence), I saw that they had a little in ground pool (REALLY little). For the life of me I couldn't see how it was possible for the ball to have rolled off the roof, miss the pool, etc.</p> <p>Nice to get a lucky bounce every once in a awhile! </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=126#post-242 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:32:41 +0000 LovinItAll 242@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>Sorry for the numerous posts...maybe more folks will get involved.</p> <p>On to a funny thing I heard years ago:</p> <p>We were playing in a foursome and were on 15. Three guys were behind us, but there had been foursomes, in position, ahead of us all day. We turned in 1:50 (our course had zero tolerance for slow play, and all groups were expected to finish in under four hours). There was nowhere to go, so letting them through wasn't really an option.</p> <p>Looking back at the tee after we got to our second shots, these guys had assumed the, "Hurry up" posture....hands on their waists, etc. Again, we were waiting to hit on every shot. We knew two of the guys from the club, so we knew how they played.</p> <p>I guess they'd lost their patience, so as one of our guys was preparing to hit his approach on 15, a tee shot goes rolling by. Before our fourth could hit, yet another tee ball rolled up on us. One of our guys was having a bad day, so hitting into us really steamed him.</p> <p>After we cleared the green, we went to the 16 tee box which was only about 30 yards away. When the threesome got to the green, our 'steamer' walked over. We followed to make sure it didn't come to blows.</p> <p>An argument ensued, there was a little shouting, etc. After everyone calmed down, we started to walk away. One guy in our group was quite timid and hadn't said a word. After we turned our backs, there was still a little mumbling from the threesome.</p> <p>Mr. Timid stops, turns around, and says, "Hey, can I ask you something?"</p> <p>"What?"</p> <p>"Why are you guys in such a hurry to shoot 90?"</p> <p>We laughed and kept walking when we heard.....</p> <p>"Hey, asshole. I would have broken 90 if you had played faster!"</p> <p>He was soooo serious, and it was soooo funny! Don't know of you had to be there, but I hope not. That wasn't the funniest thing I've ever seen, but I thought I'd start there,</p> <p>BTW: We finished our round in 3:45 </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=11#post-13 Sun, 22 May 2011 12:08:06 +0000 Dan 13@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>Any good tips for getting rest after a long day of training? and, anything to avoid? </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=12#post-14 Sun, 22 May 2011 12:10:18 +0000 Dan 14@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>Give a man a dollar, and he'll buy a snickers. Teach a man to save a dollar, and... </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=124#post-237 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:58:39 +0000 Crapula 237@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>A little over 3 years ago I moved to Los Angeles for work (12 hour days and 5 days a week). My uncle was nice enough to let me live with him for a few months until I found a place to live. While I was living with my uncle he convinced me to go play a par 3 course. I have played 18 holes once (16 years old, no idea what I shot). I had been to the range maybe 10 times since I was 9. My uncle destroyed me and I immediately bought a putter and an 8 iron and played that par 3 course a few more times. I bought a set of Slazenger clubs and took a lesson (the first of about 15 lessons). After a few weeks of practice my uncle and I played an 18 hole course (Alhambra Golf Course, rating is something like a 65), I shot a 121 and my uncle beat me by about 15 strokes, this was May 27th, 2009.</p> <p>I was determined to beat him. I continued practicing as much as I could (it was difficult to practice while working 60 hrs a week). I broke 100 after 3 months (Mission Trails in San Diego- like a 70 rating), and by this time I lived close to work and had an extra hour a day to practice. At the end of 2009 I was about a 24 handicap and had finally beaten my uncle.I decided to take 4 months off.</p> <p>At some point I was laid off from work and found a normal 40hr a week job. I started playing again in April 2010. I shot 7 rounds in a row in the 90's. I broke 90 06/29/10 at Balboa Golf Course in LA (71 Rating), shot an 86. The rest of the year I was consistently in the 80's, with 1 round in the 100's. By October I was a 16 handicap and decided to take some time off again, 5 months.</p> <p>I started again in March 2011. I broke 80 for the first time May 8th, a 78 at Balboa (again) in LA, I had 7 birdies. I still shot mostly in the 80's but handicap was lowering. By the end of 2011 I was a 7.5 handicap, shot my lowest score, a 75 at Skylinks (72rating) in Long Beach and decided to take another break (that was in November 2011).</p> <p>I just started up again a couple weeks ago. Haven't shot in the 70's yet but I'm not worried about it, I've only played 4 rounds this year, ranging from an 81 at Rancho Park to an 88 at Sycuan Resort. I still work full time and practice for maybe an hour a day.</p> <p>I wish I had the resources to practice and play all day and all week. </p> <p>My uncle and I rarely play anymore, he doesn't like getting beat by 30 shots, but he was there to see me break 80 for the first time.</p> <p>Anyone can get good at golf, you just have to have desire, goals, time, and money. Also, it helps to have someone better than you that you want to beat. </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=66#post-164 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:44:46 +0000 dkusleika 164@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>I liked reading Dan's hole-by-hole account. I've tried to keep a "golf journal" at various times, but I never seem to stick with it or do it consistently. I have three questions:</p> <p>1. Do you keep a golf journal?<br /> 2. Do you go back and read it and does it help?<br /> 3. What level of granularity to you record? General round impressions? Front nine, back nine? Hole-by-hole?</p> <p>Bonus question: What do you use? Paper, electronic? </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=64#post-154 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:11:41 +0000 Sorcerer88 154@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>Have you heard about roadtograndmaster.com, where Will Taylor, an average chess player, aims to become a chess grandmaster (highest international title) through a similar practice regime? I've followed this one first and it's very interesting, though The Dan Plan seems to have the better practice plan and target. This gives me a lot of inspiration as a chess player and someone who likes the 10000 hour theory.</p> <p>By the way, I've thought about doing my own 10000 hour plan with piano playing, because that's my biggest passion and not my career choice, but as Dan also noticed, it's hard to measure objectively. Maybe winning a competition or making a convincing recital of a very difficult program. I had a lot of discussion about this with musicians on the pianoworld forums, and most don't believe in it regarding music, because of all this art and musicality talk, let's see if i can prove them wrong ;) </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=16#post-75 Thu, 26 May 2011 08:59:10 +0000 Dan 75@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>Given 10,000 hours and no money constraints, to what would you dedicate yourself? </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=63#post-153 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:17:25 +0000 Brandon 153@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>It's true, the last few days I have been scouring the internet, looking for tips on breakinfg old habits and starting new ones.</p> <p>The report: Nothing of intrest.</p> <p>Hopefully with this fourms help that can change :D.</p> <p>~Bran </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=65#post-159 Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:52:11 +0000 Sorcerer88 159@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>Easy stuff first: i think the Forum link is too obscurely placed on the main site, it would help to put it in the top bar beside home, blog etc. to make it more apparent.</p> <p>Then there's a problem with RSS feeds: for favourites or forum subscription the RSS XML file seems to be invalid. When i click on the link, i get a page with the full XML file and the following message:<br /> "This XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it. The document tree is shown below." </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=27#post-105 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:12:21 +0000 Brandon 105@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>Edison spent 18 hours a day working. Tesla 20. How many hours can you spend doing Deliberate practice? </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=61#post-148 Thu, 24 Nov 2011 04:00:26 +0000 andy Hodgson 148@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>I read a similar book about a year ago by Matthew Syed on the subject of talent being a myth which inspired me to try to get my handicap down to 1 (currently 13) in order to qualify for European Seniors Tour Q school when I am 55 (now 48). Sadly work gets in the way of consistent practice but I firmly believe the theory and the more focussed practice and analysis of my game is starting to pay dividends. I now regularly hit 80% of fairways but approach shots were dire. Just had new set or mizuno' irons fitted as old irons were great if I was three inches taller!!!. Will see if this improves things further but at present shooting consistent low 80's and hopefully handicap will start to reduce in the spring.</p> <p>Good luck Dan, will follow your attempt with keen interest.</p> <p>Andy </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=57#post-141 Sun, 25 Sep 2011 14:40:03 +0000 williamevanl 141@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>I was semi-following the my green jacket website and it looks like Richard Asher the sports writer who quit his job and practiced/played golf for 18+ months. He played something like 250 rounds golf and now at a 12 handicap but is now unfortunately using his blog to find a job, any job he said he was willing to sweep streets. That sucks..</p> <p>Anyway he had some interesting things to say in his summary of the entire thing that are worth checking out: </p> <p><a href="http://richardasher.yolasite.com/resources/Green%20Jacket.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://richardasher.yolasite.com/resources/Green%20Jacket.pdf</a></p> <p>The most interesting I think was this quote<br /> "But after 250 rounds? And weeks on the range, with topdrawer coaching? All that visualisation? Yes, I improved a lot. But then you meet some boytjie who never<br /> practises and slams it around to a score in the mid-70s once a week.<br /> That is called sporting ability. Talent. You need that stuff.<br /> And that’s where I really start to feel ill. Because if I had ability like<br /> that and worked as hard as I did, I’d be in plus figures by now." </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=56#post-140 Sat, 03 Sep 2011 14:33:15 +0000 williamevanl 140@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't be better for the amount of practice I put into golf. I usually shoot something like 38-42 on nine every night in mens league and the other guys shoot 42-46. I beat them nearly everytime but considering I practice every day and they don't practice at all it is interesting that they are just a few strokes away. </p> <p>So this got me thinking about Dan. Dan is nearing 2000 hours and if you think about that it's a ton of golf. Lets think about some categories of golfers. </p> <p>Category one: 40 years old, took up golf after college (age 23) plays twice a month (8 months a year)on the weekend. How many hours played: 17 years X 8 months X 4 hours X 2 rounds = 1088 hours!!! This guy is an avid golfer whose been playing 17 years but has put in nearly half the time Dan has. There's no telling what he shoots,low 80's, low 90's maybe? I don't know, what does he shoot? He wont get to where Dan is out until he's 60 :) </p> <p>Category two: Started golfing at 18, plays 3 rounds a week, practice an hour everyday and he does this for the next three years, (8 months a year) So 8 X 3 X 4 X 19 = 1824 hours... Can you imagine how good someone might expect to be after this kind of commitment? What does this guy shoot? 14 handicap? Scratch? plus? I don't know. </p> <p>Category three: Highschool golfer got serious about golf at 14, practices 6 hours a week!, plays three times a week 8 months a year, until college (age 18) so thats 8 months X 4 weeks X 4 years = 128 weeks X (12 hours playing + 6 hours practicing) = 2304 hours. So this kid is a good at golf right, really good, might play in college and he's just over 2000 hours (side note I played a 14 year old last year, beat him everytime now he's way better than me :( lame,)</p> <p>So Dan, the question from all this is: How would you fair out against any one of these golfers considering you've put in about the same amount of time that they have? (well twice as much time as the first guy who has been golfing for 17 years.)</p> <p>We can make them also play with only the clubs you are allowed to play with, same question though. </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=55#post-138 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:19:19 +0000 dkusleika 138@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>I was playing league last night and not in contention, so I decided to play like Dan and take all the clubs above a 6-iron out of my bag. That left me with 6-9 irons, 4 wedges, and a putter (removed 3-wood and 3-, 4-, and 5-irons). I shot 43 (currently 8.5 USGA and rising). You can see my scorecard here</p> <p><a href="http://kusleika.com/breakfast/2011/08/31/the-dk-plan/" rel="nofollow">http://kusleika.com/breakfast/2011/08/31/the-dk-plan/</a></p> <p>What does it mean? I thought it would be fun to see what happens, and it was, but if there's a lesson here it's lost on me. Maybe the lesson is stop trying to hit my 3- and 4-irons and not worry about laying up on a par 4.</p> <p>Has anyone else done this? What were your results? </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=33#post-116 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 05:36:21 +0000 CK Golf 116@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>Deliberate practice is a well understood activity. However, you can increase its effectiveness in reaching your goals by </p> <p>1) Recording your goals before hand<br /> 2) Recording your practice performance over a period of time (10,000 hours even)<br /> 3) Analyzing your goals against your performance to see what is improving and what needs more work.</p> <p>You can do this using the only software that records practice AND play goals and analyzes your practice AND play performance against the goals you set.</p> <p>Visit <a href="http://www.agolfswing.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.agolfswing.com</a> to see more and grab a free demo.</p> <p>CK Golf </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=25#post-91 Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:01:56 +0000 BuddyLindsey 91@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>Since I started my blog on my 20 year journey to the PGA I have realized I didn't like how I can't track my progress easily. So I started writing a plugin for wordpress to make this easier. So if anyone else decides to start a wordpress blog you can use this plugin too. This can help you more granularly track your progress. </p> <p><a href="http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/golf-tracker/" rel="nofollow">http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/golf-tracker/</a> </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=15#post-58 Tue, 24 May 2011 20:28:59 +0000 williamevanl 58@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>Not you Dan, we have the counter for that. :) This is for everyone else. I just finished reading a thread entitled how much do you play/practice on golfwrx.com and given the obsessive nature of golf I began to wonder how many people have nearly met the 10,000 hour requirement that Dan is after. </p> <p>I'm your run of the mill 10'ish handicap and I've been playing for nearly four years now. I play 2-3 times a week and I hit 4 tokens worth of balls basically every day after work maybe 8 months a year. I also practice in the winter at a dome but not as frequently so I'm leaving that out. So that puts me at about ~2000 hours, (8X30X2X4) I will have put in the same amount of time that Dan has in ~16 years :) so when I'm 43 I should be at about the same skill level. :)</p> <p>Unfortunately I think I actually started getting worse at golf somewhere near the 1500 hour mark, hopefully Dan can avoid that. </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=13#post-23 Sun, 22 May 2011 14:20:28 +0000 Brandon 23@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>Basically, the "Bran Plan" is trying to prove not just to the world. But to future Generations that you CAN do whatever yvou put your mind to. Only Question is this, "What should I puruse" It is A question which has been running rammpant in my head. What should I pursue? Now that I know I can pursue anything? And do you think it is possible?</p> <p>Looking forward to seeing your comments! Dont hold back!</p> <p>-Bran </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=9#post-9 Sun, 22 May 2011 11:00:40 +0000 Dan 9@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>Have an idea but can't figure out where to begin? do tell! Perhaps with the power of numbers we can all help each other get the ball rolling in the right direction. </p> http://thedanplan.com/transform/topic.php?id=5#post-5 Sun, 22 May 2011 10:47:39 +0000 Dan 5@http://thedanplan.com/transform/ <p>Anyone on a good journey, or planning on starting one? Want to share your successes and setbacks? Help inspire others? Here is a sounding board for keeping the inspiration flowing! </p>