Let's Leave "Milking" For The Cows

"Don, I have learned quite a bit from your daily videos. I'm working on getting to
one of your schools in Fl. this fall or winter.

After watching video of milking, I was left with a question: where and when do you
take a practice swing. I have been walking in and set up as I normally would only
a few inches away from the ball. I take my practice swing and then move in the 2-3
inches. Seems you have a routine that lets you walk in and set up. I never see
when you take a practice swing if you do.

What routine should I follow?

Roger Galvin

Doc/ Robert F....

Thanks for the clarification on the "4 to 10" approach on drives. Also moved ball up closer to toe. Had best driving day in a while. Need more practice at range to perfect drive.

Shot 45/45, couple doubles including an easy par three (Ggrrr!!!).

A couple of lip outs too!

Mid 80's are in range by keeping drives in short grass.

Thanks....Phillip

Gosh I hate the auto spell check on my Droid. I meant Matt Kutcher of course.

Don,
I've been trying to adopt the Surge swing and it has helped my fairway play enormously. I can hit hybrids and irons much straighter and with more consistancy but I seem to be slicing my driver to the right very badly off the tee. I am right-handed. Can you suggest an adjustment that might help please?
Bruce
N. Ireland.

Testing one two three...Testing.

Yeehah!!  Finally, after several weeks of only being able to read the blogs, I can finally post again!  I sure missed you guys and gals.

I have so much to report from the land of the midnight sun.  It's starting to get dark at about 11:45pm now, so pretty soon, I'll be getting to bed at a decent hour.  Until then, I will continue to play golf almost every day until it gets too dark to see the results of my shots.

Last night, I was the last person off of the course.  I was dodging the sprinklers for the last few holes, and didn't get to finish the 18th hole because I got chased by two yearling moose calves.  You would be amazed by how fast a 53 year old fat guy can run while pushing a golf cart and being rousted by a ton or two of veal.:0)

I shot kinda lousy on the front nine, carding a 46 at the turn,  I then proceeded to record a snowman on the 10th before turning things around a bit.  I bogeyed 11, parred the next two, birdied 14, bogeyed 15, and parred 16 and17.  My pitching and chipping were terrific, and putting was lights out.  Too bad I didn't get to finish 18.  I hit a couple of good shots and had 110 to the center when Bullwinkle and his brother chased me off of the course.

Oh well, that's the way it goes sometimes up here.  I only got in 15 holes tonight.  It rained off and on and my playing partner had to leave early in order to get to work on time.  I did manage to take a few bucks out of his pocket with my wedges and a good putter.

Only 41 days until I get to leave for golf college in Temecula.  I look forward to hooking up with Janet, and possibly with Robert F and Robert M in Vegas.  My schedule wont allow me to participate in the upcoming tournament in Vegas, but I will try to make it for at least a day in order to root for everybody else and maybe get an autograph from Surge and DJ.

Well, it's getting late, so I better shut up and hit the rack.  It's great to be back!

Hit'em Long and Straight,
Bob

Too bad Sergio Garcia never had anyone smack his club.

Hey Bob, was starting to wonder where the heck you were. Where you exactly? Alaska? Cool to hear you,re counting the days till golf school. That's awesome.Happy for you. I'm gradually setting up my garage into a club fix and fit area- just a third of the the car area. Keep me posted on your plans. I would love to attend at least a 3 or 4 day fitters class. Might do it next spring.

Hi Bruce,

First, do you know the length of your driver and your wrist-to-floor measurement? See this video from Doc Griffin why knowing those two things may be important to help cure your problem: http://swingsurgeon.com/DailyV...

If the club is not too long for your wrist to floor length, then we can start to look at issues of where the ball is in your stance, are you standing too close or too far from the ball, etc. You will want to get some video of your swing with your driver and look at it to see what's happening (I warn you that the first time you see video of your swing, it can be shocking--it rarely looks like what you thought you were doing). Also probably with some of the other clubs so you can compare. You want to see from face on across the ball and from down the toe line.

Wow, I didn't know baby moose meat was called veal!

I definately play better when I don't over think my putts. Ever notice how if you just walk up and stroke a putt it usually goes in?

http://www.swingsurgeon.com/Da...

I think that's the one you mean.

Thank you Robert. This was indeed the vidoe I was looking for.

Robert F again I want to tjank you gor the advice that you gave to me on club length. Last saturday played 18 and i choke up about 1 - 2 inches on my driver and the rlsult stright down the middle no more coming across the body. Again i want thank you for the advice i spelled it right this time. I tell you if you have a problem just post it and the surge nation will have a answer. also starting hitting the ball off if the inside of my front foot instep just like dj and don says to do in the driver video. Surge keep up the good work and i enjoy your videos very much and they are very helpful to me

Thanks for the clarification.  I was thinking "Lurch" had added a first name, given up acting and taken up golf.  ;0) 

Surge, thanks for today's back porch video on milking the grip.Back in my rotational days I was occasionally guilty of this myself. As a side note, I would like to thank you for your swing, I have hit a lot of balls on the range the last couple of days getting acquainted with the new clubs Doc built for me and I haven't felt this good after a session in a long time.Absolutely no pain in my back. It's quite the joy to go out and work on my game & know that when I done and tomorrow morning rolls around I'll be able to get out of bed and continue on with whatever is on my schedule.
 Gang, I have shipped my swingrite to Kate & the swingrite crew and am looking to have it back by the first of next week so I can continue my workouts with it and get my release where it needs to be. I also plan on some more range work tomorrow with some chip/short game practice as well.
Like RM I have neglected that part of my game enough. I'll keep you all posted.

Sergio Garcia if he is even it LOL  or Phil if he shows up to play.

Another great tip Surge. Should end my smother hook issues for good. Thanks!

Way to go Philip!

The major thing that I see wrong with what you have described is that your set up is dependent on what you think is proper body placement rather than proper club placement.  The proper way to address the ball is to walk in, set the club behind the ball perpendicular to target line, then set your body.  As for a practice swing, most players do this off to the set and then set up to the ball as described.

Hi Robert
        I think you mean the Scottish Open, the Irish Open has not been played yet.
Regards Ollie

Kevin, I can agree with you there. You can almost catnap a  while, once he is at address.
He sorta, in getting ready to pull the trigger kind of way, reminds me of Hubie Green back in
his day. I love Hubie to death but boy could he put to sleep while getting ready to play a shot.

Surge just wanted mention how right you are about not milking the grip.
I've started my vowed two weeks of short game practice only and this morning caught myself milking and adjusting my grip too much and too often after setting up to the ball. I noticed too that as it got hotter and I sweated my gloves got looser and that made me fiddle even more with my grip. Not good. I changed to fresh gloves(I wear two usually) and then reminded myself to" set it and forget it". Set my hands and grip then set up to the ball and not 'milk it'. Started hitting it more consistently. Loved the story about the old timer jumping on you to never milk it again. Funny but I got the message load and clear too.

I do like Doc says. I stand behind the ball looking down my target line and picturing the shot and take my practice swing(s) there. Then I step in and find my position relative to the ball exactly as he describes. The two points relevant for the whole setup are the ball and the target (that's why you want to be as specific as possible about the target--not just "whack it down the middle" but pick a specific point you are hitting to or a specific object you are aiming at). Everything else flows from those two points.

Glad I could help.

This is off subject but I hope someone can help.

A few weeks ago Surge spoke about pulling the butt end of the club down towards the toe line at the start of the FUS. I cannot find the video but I know someone will.

Thanks in anticipation

Ian

Thanks Surge for your follow-up on my grip issue.  Things have progressed with that problem "cured", but the hooking problem remained.  I now think my effort to reach the catcher's mitt was having me pull my front arm (I am a righty who golfs left handed), too far from my body, leading to a very armsy swing.  This of course lead to a very closed face on the upswing, leading to low duck hooks or pop ups going the opposite direction.  I am now working on keeping more connected with my arms, limiting my turn and keeping a 3/4 back swing.  This is now also allowing me to finish the upswing closer to my ear, instead of swinging more around my body.  Just wish I knew how I could have things go so bad so fast....what a game!  Paul

Matt Lurched could pull it off this year. He played well in the Irish Openlast week. Watch out for Luke Donald too.