If you've ever had problems understanding or executing the "bump", today's video is going to help. Proper weight transfer and releasing the club to impact is very important in golf. If your arms aren't straight at impact, there could be an issue with your bump.
A Surgite sent in some self-analysis after he watched his swing on camera. He noticed that he was flat footed at impact and that his bump action was probably the cause. While I think he is probably right, you first have to understand why the bump may be the problem in the first place.
One of the biggest problems I've seen over the years with golfers who are unable to properly execute the bump is their ALIGNMENT. If they are aimed way out to the right (or left for lefties), it's almost impossible to bump because you have to come back over the top just to get to the ball.
Don't get trapped in the middle of your swing. If you're flat footed at impact, there are a few reasons why it could be happening. You could be holding on too long, your alignment could be off, your feet may not be flared out enough, your ball position might be too far back, or you're not releasing the club through impact. Find out which one of those problems you have and you'll be able to get it corrected very quickly.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
From the ground up
All of the setup parameters of the Surge swing are dedicated to ensuring a very stable body during the back swing. The lower body does have to become alive/activated in some way to trigger the downswing. I've played a lot of golf with the downswing trigger of either shifting the left or the right knee toward the target to activate the bump. I find that my tendency, when doing the Surge swing with these knee moves is to do them too aggressively, when under pressure and mess up the timing of the arm swing.
I've found lately that the most consistent way for me to get the lower body leading the downswing, is to think of gently rolling both ankles in a left followed by right sequence toward the target. It's a hard move to overdo and fairly easy to time. Moving the left ankle before the right, creates a spread knee position,just before impact similar to Sam Snead's squat and contributes to effortless power through the ball.
A key part of this as Surge says is alignment. My shots have got a lot straighter since starting to think about the ankle line rather than the toe line when setting up. For some reason it is easier for me to "feel" good alignment of ankles and shoulders.
Changing my feel for alignment led directly to trying to get the ankles and feet more active and eliminating the problem of swinging flat footed. My mantra for the downswing is " ABC ".... "A." outside of left ankle starts slight roll toward the target. "B,"inside of right ankle starts target ward roll..."C,"arm swing to T finish.
The surprising thing for me, other than better overall shot making, is that this improved footwork sequence results in a much fuller follow through than I am used to. I suppose that this is evidence of a better timed arm swing.
Left Ankle
Dave, Just did a trial on what you described and sure enough it allowed a minimal BUMP with out exerting the knees or hips and pulling the body to much to the left. Previously when I tried to BUMP, i could feel the club coming over and messing up my swing path.
I'll try your system and see what unfolds, slowly but surely I'm getting my H/C down and now working on specific weaknesses in my game, ie:- The Driver, Greenside Bunkers and 100m out from the green.
Rolling the ankles
Hi Neil,
It's kind of like a dance step, that can be rehearsed in slow motion until it becomes so automatic that it flows with minimal conscious thought, during a full speed swing. I needed something that triggered my lower body motion without over stressing ankles and knees. There was a lot of left ankle rolling in the "Golden Bear's swing during the back swing and downswing. The Surge swing, however, is about keeping both knees and ankles stable during the back swing.
All that I have to do to keep the knees stable, is to focus on not moving the left outer ankle joint while doing the back swing. This simple thought is a powerful one because it automatically activates the stabilizer muscles in both legs. If you try it yourself you will see what I mean.
Because the legs have remained stable and built up some tension, during the backswing, all that is required to trigger the downswing is a very small targetward pressuring of the previously immobile left outer ankle bone. This is followed by a deliberate downward inner roll of the right inner ankle bone. Starting the downswing this way, helps to ensure that there is a lateral bump and arm drop, before the shoulders start turning.
Rolling the Ankles
Dave, gave it a try at the range last night and experienced the same issue of throwing my upper body out of sequence. At the moment I try to keep my lower body as passive as possible and this has been reasonable successful at this point in time, any thought of moving this section either prior or after the FUS, then the ball starts mis-behaving.
Am of the opinion that I'm not truly vertical and have to activate some wrist action at the top of the BUS, just prior to the FUS, this has been my saviour over the last few months and contributed to better ball striking and the lowering my H/C to 16.
It's my intention now to wait for Surge to come down under early next year and undertake some private tuition, maybe he can see where the faults lie
Involving the lower body
Neil, this is a drill that is an exaggerated version of what I'm doing now that might help your sequencing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMaDUeKK63A
This is Moe Norman's leg action. His very lateral move made him the straightest ever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oODSnTNXg1g
Another couple of sequencing drills showing leg action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW7zKuhkfuE
Lower Body
Dave,
Some good tips in these, starting to feel excited and will let you know how I go.
The Lower Body
Dave, watched all three videos and then went to the range last night, but nothing changed with these techniques, ball was even more dispersed and found it impossible to sequence. I'm going to stick with what Iv'e got as there are quite a few comps i'm playing in over the Xmas/holiday period and I don't want to be trying things out then
When you think about it, all three videos are based on rotational players and have very active leg & hip movements, both in the BUS and FUS. When you look at Surge, he has very little movement both in the BUS and impact position at the FUS.
Will try to sort this out with Surge when he comes down under as I feel this element is the next hurdle for me to overcome, to progress to the next level.
The best ever video about " over the top "
Hi Neil, couldn't resist sending you this link. It's by far the best use of graphics that I've seen, about the cause and cure for " over the top."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLWWD6ZCkqc&list=TLgcVUMGVsFVM
Footwork
Neil, best of luck with your holiday matches. The following video from Surge is a very good one discussing the timing of the bump and particularly the right foot action before and after impact. The Surge swing is all about using the setup, to limit leg action before impact, but the lower body does trigger the downswing in a controlled way and has to be aggressive enough to support the arm swing into the follow through. Surge's leg action looks very dynamic to me during the follow through, even though it is playing a supporting role to his arm swing. I feel that my right lower body was being underutilized, before figuring out a way to time and control the pushing off of the right side, that Surge mentions when describing the bump. Being able to deliberately time this move, puts me in a better place at impact with the arm swing.
https://www.swingsurgeon.com/daily-video-tips/firing-right-foot-right-time
The Bump !
Hi Surge, have just watched your recent clip on this. I find it very difficult to bump without my whole body going forward which causes me to block the ball right (I'm r/h). So, I tend to try and kick my right knee forward instead which helps me get towards the front foot without getting ahead of the ball.
Can I get away with this ?
Regards - HC 12
Controlling the bump
A lot of good players trigger the bump by moving the right knee first. I haven't had much luck doing this move consistently, because it can be a hard move to time and control.
https://www.swingsurgeon.com/daily-video-tips/firing-right-foot-right-time
My tendency is to overdo the bump and spin out with an over the top move, when moving the right knee first.
The 2 stage downswing trigger that I use, involves a small pressuring toward the target of the left ankle followed immediately by an inward roll of the right ankle. This enables me to make a small lateral bump into a firm left side, followed immediately by a push off of the right side, without even thinking about and possibly overdoing the knee action.