Many of you already know Mike Bartholomew as one of our certified PPGS Instructors. Mike's located in Mint Hill, North Carolina at Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation. Yet, you might not know how Mike came to be a part of the Swing Surgeon family. It actually stemmed from Mike wanting to improve his game.
Today, Mike's going to provide you with some of the things he's realized over the past year using the Peak Performance Golf Swing.
It's a longer video today, so if you don't have enough time to watch it right now, remember where you left off so you can come back and finish it up later. I say that because we get into a lot of good stuff in the latter part of the video.
Mike's also going to be releasing some of his own videos shortly, which will be available right here on www.swingsurgeon.com, so keep an eye out for those!
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
mirror practice
Everything Mike said about doing the mirror work when the winter weather holds equally true when the temperatures are above 112.
Looking forward to Mike's own words on what helped him to change from the rotational swing.
Mikes Setup
Thanks Mike and Surge for a very interesting video. I know that the basic setup for the feet is about 30 degrees open, with the front foot possibly open to about 45 degrees. From the camera angle I'd guess that Mike's lead foot is more than 30 degrees open and the rear foot about 10 degrees open. I'm curious if Mike's foot angles vary with the club being hit. I know that my weight transfer to the front foot is good, but my finish with the rear foot is less on the toe and more flat footed. Would having the rear foot open less than 30 degrees help ?
Experiment with foot flare
Foot flare needs experimentation. We had extensive discussions on the matter several times here on the blog and there is tons of stuff on it in the archives.
Perhaps 10 degrees will help you finish on the toe more. There is quite a bit of latitude as to what works best for each individual. I would recommend minor adjustments and then see how it effects your results. Give it a go Dave and let us know how it goes:)
https://www.swingsurgeon.com/daily-video-tips/finding-right-amount-flare
One Revelation
Something that stood out from Mike's demonstration was:-
Feeling like you weigh 250lbs, for a solid connection to the earth.
Previously the thought of being "Athletically Ready" was to be "Light", ie ready
to spring like a tiger, from now on I'm thinking of being "Grizzly Bear".
A picture does indeed paint.......etc
Surge and Mike,
A long presentation for a variety of reasons, but a good one in my opinion. When I have had my say, I will be off to the bedroom and the full length mirrow for a session. It was an excellent lesson even though Mike is as unlike me as could be, physique wise.His taller, slimmer shape, made following his swing much easier. Several things were noted which I am doing correctly, which gave me a boost. As the wet stuff descends relentlessly here, it was timely to bring back indoor 'winter tactics' of practice. BTW NeilofOz Ready to spring like a full back at an opposing attacking rugby winger, might fit the bill for me. Unless of course they make Grizzlies of the compact variety heh heh heh~! Of to the mirror now.
Looking forward to more of Surge and Mike's presentaions DH
Really enjoyed the this
Surge and Mike,
Thanks so much for your interesting presentation. I could really see how Mike has used a mirror to see and ingrain how the set up and swing positions look and feel. Though Surge has recommended this in the past, to hear and see Mike detail his experience and process is very meaningful for me. It has re-inspired my desire to get it right. Time to get in front of a mirror. Looking forward to the rest of Mikes presentations on how he has learned the PPGS.
Some of the keys from his presentation for me was how he learned these things by going over the manual 5-6 times and then practiced the positions repeatedly in front of a full length mirror with out a club also incorporating just holding booklet in his hands to keep the hands perpendicular. He used the mirror from all three angles - face on/from his left and from his right.
I will be watching this again and taking notes because I seriously want to use the same learning method.
SGW is correct. Weather 112 or feezing out we can practice these ideas inside. Heck even in good weather, 10 minutes a day would be doable.
Learning golf at home
For those interested, the home schooling/learning, is a large part of ReThinking Golf by Chuck Hogan. There are now several used copies available on Amazon starting at $3.17. I paid over $24.00 for my copy, but it is well worth it. Where I am from, a cheap full length mirror is about the same cost as a large bucket of balls, both around $8.00. The mirror will last a lifetime, the balls are gone within an hour.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0971655103/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used
Re Thinking Golf
Terry, I ordered it last week. Looking forward to stimulating my cranium. I began my new PPGS golf journey last night. Very motivted by Surge and Mike Bartholomew. I plan on following Mike's basic path and started last night by reviewing and writing down key notes from his daily with Surge on "swinging up" from three weeks ago and then this latest one. I will use the mirror for 5-10 minutes each day and holding each key position 7-10 seconds as he did. I will work with fresh attitude of learning a new swing and not fixing my current one. Quite an under taking but potentially worth the effort.
Can you guys please begin to share the Club you are using?
Mike was that a 5 Iron ?
Yes we will. It was a 7 iron
Yes we will. It was a 7 iron (165 yd). I plan on using a 3 wood or driver on the next few....I would also like DTL shots for all to see on multiple shots and doing slow motion. Will see what is possible when Don and I shoot next episodes.
Feeling Heavy
The " feeling heavy" thought, when settling in to address the ball helped a lot with my driving on a very windy day. It's a good way to quiet the lower body when the natural inclination may be to use it more.
inspirational
Mike,
Your openess to start over with a new swing and building from the very basics is motivating. I am really making an effort to start over using your approach.
Thanks and keep up the good work:)
Back to an old drill for me
Restricted to swings without a club in front of the bedroom mirror as the rain and gale force winds visit us again. While doing the drills like Mike Bartholomew and the comments on hitting at the ball.....etc reminded me of a drill started long ago in China,ie, swinging with my eyes closed, to 'feel the swing' with all my senses and then 'swing the feel'. Had never given it a thought for a long time, but as soon as I am able, I will be swinging outside or even on the course with my eyes closed. The 2 videos with Mike I reviewed again today. It is amazing things that you miss the first or even second time around. Well worth viewing them several times.
Scottish Open Final round tonight (our time) looking forward to a good finish. That followed by the Final round of the John Deere. May the best men on the day win. DH off to close my eyes hahaha!
Scottish Open
I am finding so many ways the use of the mirror and or our reflection in the window to feel where we should be in various parts of the swing. Engaging more of our senses is powerful. The yes eyes closed is another good one.
Last night while standing up and feeling each position without a club I focused on my head to see if was staying in the square or box. Interesting how it helped me feel how much PLHR was enough or too much along with that "250" pound stable lower body idea. Those and so many other aspects can be seen and felt simultaneously - with instant feed back as Surge says without a self video (which is also useful). Another week, month and year(s) will fly by whether I slow down and really see if I can get it down or not so I am making a concerted effort to ingrain and retrain.
Did you save them friends?
Hoping Phil can win today. Will Zach and In Bee shoot 61's to win their tournaments? Will Allen hang on to win the Seniors? While at work I will catch when can between services as much golf as I am able.
Hope all are having a good week end.
Great video
Don and Mike
Great video.
I have been out of service sense last Oct 2012. have not touched a golf club sense then . I have been battling a bunch of health issues such as a infection in my left leg and was also told I had a heart attack at some point that I did not know about and ir bypassed it self.
I just had a bypass in my left leg and a couple of days latter did angioplangie on the left lag to get better flow threw out the foot .
I am about 2 months from getting to start hitting balls again and relearning the swing again.
MikefromKy
Great Video
Mike from Kentucky,
You take it easy old friend. It is not unusual to 'miss' having had a heart attack. Thankfully you now know and can take precautions against it re-occuring, better the devil you know than the devil you don't. Praying that your health recovers without any speed bumps en-route. 2 months can be put to good use, reviewing the manual and the videos on site. It all helps. As Surge has just said, it is learnt from between the ears and not through 'beating balls'! May you be gracing the hallowed turf of the course with your prescence. Keep on with giving us a progress report, when time and health allow.
From a fellow Surgite with health issues down in stormy and wet New Zealand. Get Well Soon Mike : - ) DH
mikefrom ky
DH
I appreciate your thoughts. Everything is under control now health wise including the 80 lbs of weight I have lost also went from 270 to 186 lbs now.
looking forward to getting out and playing again but will not rush it.
MikefromKy.
Getting well
Some of our Surgite family simply disappear, others are "temporarily out of service". Sorry about all of your health trials Mike. Sure great to hear from you.
It is wonderful that you are now seeing some light at the end of a tunnel. Great that you're recovering to a point of being able to play golf again. Thanks for coming back and commenting here. Hope you join the conversations more often in the coming weeks as you re-build your swing and life.
Take care, glad you're doing better,
Robert Meade
Get Well Soon Mike
Sorry to hear about your health issues Mike, but glad to hear you are on the mend. Just as Mike demonstrated in this video, we can do a lot of practice and learning without the need for clubs or balls, right in our own homes. I have recently been reading a book recommended by Mike which sort of follows the home learning principles. ReThinking Golf:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0971655103/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.