Haven’t been here for a while and just catching up on this thread. Couple of points that jumped out.
First was that from my understanding of what Bio’s training is intended to do, it is exactly what Gerry is talking about in regard to making the correct movements natural and subconscious. It seems to have been a point of contention but my understanding is that they are both saying the same thing. I also suspect that Lag is doing something similar in his drills - seeking to make certain motions automatic (swing DNA).
What I have found since doing Bio’s PST is that my swing DNA has changed substantially. Bio does not define any particular pattern so everyone could change differently - for me I have become shorter and flatter. But more importantly my swing on the course is purely natural. I have no swing thoughts … or at least I try not to!
While the PST exercises that Bio has given me do include movements that resemble a golf swing, Bio has made it very clear that I am not to try and perform them in my actual golf swing. They are purely exercises to train my movement patterns. Of course I didn’t listen and tried to hit the ball like a PST exercise. It wasn’t pretty. Some of the PST though look nothing like a golf swing, don’t involve a club, and so do not have anything to do with golf mechanics.
The second is that I think I understand what Bio means when he says that if you look at the PST exercises through the lens of a proper golf swing then it will look terrible. For example one of the exercises I do is to swing a weighted shaft into an impact bag. The weighted shaft is not a golf club and isn’t meant to be one - for example the weight is a cylinder with no face to square. The swing involves setting up basically upright with the bag raised off the ground. There is no “stance” as such, although I do grip the “club” with my golf grip. I take the “club” away and then reverse it’s direction as quickly as possible. To the uninitiated this could look like practising a golf swing. To anyone here it obviously would be a terrible way to hit a golf ball.
But if somebody here tried to assess the exercise against a quality golf swing it would be a complete failure. And that is where it is different to the sort of training that Lag does. His training specifically is aimed at creating a quality golf swing, and improving the swing DNA of his students. Bio is trying to change an issue with my movement pattern. If someone with a different movement issue did this exercise it could actually make them worse.
What I think the difference between the training is is that Lag will train you to optimally apply the movement patterns you have to strike a golf ball effectively. His training is all about developing an unconscious quality golf swing. Bio’s is about developing quality unconscious ways of creating speed; to swing a club or bat, or throw a ball. I understand he also has training for runners and cyclists that are aimed at creating speed and power in the legs for locomotion.
For me I have definitely found that the PST is improving my golf swing. Unfortunately I don’t get to play very often but on the back nine earlier this week, when I finally remembered to get my conscious mind out of the way and not try and hit the ball hard - at least most of the time - I hit 6 over. My previous rounds were 100 and 96, so my 88 on the day was excellent and the 42 on the back nine was my second best nine holes ever. There is no doubt in my mind that the PST has positively influenced my ball striking. But it is also the many years of grinding away at the range before taking up PST that means that I have a decent set up and educated hands.
Of course, Lag’s training also helps develop physical strength for golf. The PST doesn’t - although again I understand that Bio’s group provide conditioning training, but it is separate from the PST (oh, PST means Progressive Skills Training).
Personally I have a huge curiosity about the golf swing. It has probably been my nemesis for improving over time because I keep tinkering. What Bio has shown me when I was initially looking into his program is fascinating. And it explained a lot of things that I struggled with. Not just in the sense of why I was unable to copy the swings of other pros, but also why tips and tricks sometimes work for people - at least for a while.
