So Jeff, how do you explain Bryson D? Result of simple, valid, and not harmful teaching?
How about Bubba W?
Both talented, both went to the same charm school.
Bryson will be Bryson-not sure I'd blame or credit his action on a teacher.
Bubba came to it on his own-no formal lessons.
Who is to say either's action is harmful?-they are successful.
A teacher using one of them as an inflexible model for their students would be the one doing harm.
My understanding is that Bryson's technique is from
The Golfing Machine, which many teachers consider harmful. However, it is my understanding that a few teachers teach from that book/method. I don't know if Bryson had such a teacher or did it on his own.
My experience in professional practice (not golf) is that there are a few great ones in a field, and the majority of the practitioners are very average. Perhaps an illustrative example is Warren Buffet, vs. the vast majority of financial advisors who's recommendations consistently lose to the index funds.
So there may be "more simple, valid, and most importantly not harmful teaching ideas" as you say, but their application or usage by instructors for the most part will be average.
I think Bubba is an indication of the primary way to success. Practice or work. It doesn't matter how good the instruction is if you don't do the work. Ledbetter has had success as a teacher, but it seems to me that his two most successful pupils had work ethics that surpassed others, and perhaps was the primary component to the success.
So perhaps you can see why I don't see teaching, athletic training, sports science, etc. as big factors in the increase in distance the ball is being propelled. The improvements in technology to me are the keys. Therefore, roll back the ball by adding spin and ball COR. Roll back club COR to the COR of persimmon. Reduce the size of drivers to perhaps half.
Let me be able to see where the ball flies to so that I can find it in a timely fashion, and complete my round sooner.
After all, I want an after breakfast round followed by an after lunch round, and completed by an after dinner round.