When Is The Swing Done?

Steve, now that it is summer time and things are slowly down on my end, maybe we can make our pairing a reality one day soon. Thankfully, I finished up that apprentice class run today. I have a four day weekend, then it's a rigging class for four days next week( they'll be as short as I can make them and cover the material thoroughly) then I'm off to see Doc and relax around South Carolina for a few days. I do have all of July off and don't worry about day trips I can drive anywhere on the on the spur of the moment.I once drove over to Fulton, Ms  for a Dr. Pepper. :)

Hey T,
John had trouble finding a driver head that met both the size and loft requirements he wanted for me, and asked me to consider again the Wishon driver like you got (730 CL).  I looked it up on the website and it was love at first sight.  That is a gorgeous driver!   Mine arrives tomorrow or Saturday  :)  Hopefully it will serve me well.  How do you like your fairway woods and hybrids?
TinaB

This isn't about manipulation per se. It is more about waiting for the proper time. With these types of things it is always about timing and patience.

Robert Thompson:

   Congrats on the 37 -- Sounds like things are looking up.

    Amos

Surge

Today's video was on target for me.  I have more than my share of swing flaws. but two of the biggest are the "hit" reflex and as a result not following thru to a full T finish.  I'm heading to course now with the sole purpose of making "the fat lady sing".  We'll let you know if she is in fine voice when the round is over.

I love your delivery, Surge.  Don't ever lose the passion.

Lynn42

Great video!  That's exactly what I've been trying to tell my son-in-law who is just learning the game!

Hey, Brian,

There could be several things involved there. First and simplest, what you thought was a squarely addressed club face wasn't, and by feeling like you're closing it, you're actually squaring it up. Second possibility, your hands are a little slow squaring up at release, meaning you could probably benefit from new club heads with more offset than whatever you're currently using, or you could achieve the same effect as you're currently getting by turning the club head in your hand by moving the ball a bit more forward in your stance (giving your hands the extra couple microseconds to get square). Your clubs could be a little long for your build, causing you to cast the clubs, though that would more likely result in a pull when you closed the club face -- of course, if you were accidentally aligned right of your target, a pull might be right where you wanted to go in the first place.

Surgites.....

I still receive emails from  that "prior" site.  Interesting quote below on how important it is to be more "vertical" to increase club head speed!

Rock on, Surge!

Phillip

In this video, I show you how to get your swing a little more "vertical", so you can get into a position of "power" at the top.

Being "flat" in your backswing might feel comfortable, but it's not necessarily where you want to be to create clubhead speed.

On a local radio talk show prior to the Champions Tour event final round in Birmingham recently, one of the pros was on.  When asked what advice he could give amateurs, he said the best advice he could give was "hold the finish til the ball lands".  I thought about this and wondered at it.  I have tried it on the course (when I could remember to) to the tune of better shot play from driver to wedge, understanding that to HOLD a finish, I had to FINISH, which is to say, complete follow through.
Now, I have a hitting mat in my garage, and for years have practiced swings with all clubs there.  And marveled at the lack of consistency just in contact with the mat.
And BAM!  Moment of clarity!  I had and have had NO follow through on my practice swings.  I was swinging to "contact" the mat (or ball), and when I didnt my swing would immediately collapse.
I have now started parcticing with swings that are full completion of the swing to a finish I could or would HOLD if on the course.  Wow, isnt that amazing.  All these years I have been using the hitting mat to parctice bad habits or bad swings of only swinging to the mat, or to the ball.  Now my swings almost all make good contact with the mat as I follow through to a position where I can HOLD the finish as I would if playing.  Hope to take this swing, this finish, this concept to the course on a more regular basis.
Surge this time helped reinforce this and helped me understand the physics of acceleration and deceleration as I would swing to the middle of the swing, and how this deceleration started well within my downswings, and not at the moment of impact.

Steve

I once played with a guy, for the first time, and he set up for a practice swing about 2" from the toe to the ball. He then proceded to smack the ball about 250 yards down the middle.

I asked him why such a set up and he said he had started to shank everything so, over a period of time, he had got further and further away from centering the ball. He believed he could never go back to centering!

It really was off-putting until I stopped looking.

By the way, his handicap was 3.

Cheers

Brian

Hey Surge,

Never had any problems with follow through, broken 3 steel shafts over my back already and this
was with a prodigious "over the top" swing I had a couple of years ago. Things are starting to
look much better now as I go more vertical and so are the scores.     

Bob, nice rounds & that 37 to close out had to feel really sweet.Good luck with tonight's rounds!

I like them a lot. I have the 20* and 26* fairway woods, but they have more of a hybrid style/design than a standard fairway wood. My first iron is 30* through to the sand wedge. I am considering seeing about getting a 15* hybrid to match the others, because I hit them well most of the time. Certainly better than I ever did my 3,5,7, Cobra woods, and any hybrids I have tried in the past, which were many.  They are a combination of black and the same ruby red color of the driver. I scored my first 39 for nine yesterday with them and played well today with a 40/43. I wish I would have gotten fitted club years ago. I think you will like the driver even more when you actually get it.

When you and John meet in Mansfield, I am hoping to be able to be free and see him on the same day either before or after your meeting, just for a check up.

Don
Another great reminder / lesson.

Played hooky from work this morning ( got paid for it ) and took a customer to play golf this morning played at Stone Lick Hills outside of Cincinnati course rating 73.9 / 133 par 72.He wanted to play the championship tee's 7145 yards I shot an 83 and he shot 90. All in all I played fairly well need to get more consistent off the tee with the driver. The tee shots on this course are a must in the fairway are you will pay the price.
I told him the next time we play there that we are playing the blues 6483 yards that he would enjoy the course more. This is one of the best kept privately owned public courses I have ever played. Beautifully tuff courses.

I will be glad when I get my driver fitting Monday and drop my irons to have them rebuilt and fitted so I can get back into the 70’s more often. He should have them done by next weekend. I was suppose to get the irons done this week and pick them up tomorrow and do my driver fitting but my fitter builder had to delay it for a week do to a family emergency.

I still need to work on the forward up swing to the T finish I am getting it slowly but surely.

Roger

Robert F:

    So there is another IDIOT here!! LOL I went to lunch with my sont oday, then on the golf course, Orange Tree this time, a fine course in the Scottsdale area. It was in immaculate condition -- but I was teeing off at 1:12 pm on a day that reached 111F! OUCH!! (Only mad dogs, Englismen and Amos go out in the noon day sun.. Fortunatley that course has a LOT of shade, and since there were only about 12 to 15 golfers on the course, I was able to take frequent rest breaks in the shade!

     Hit 12 of 14 fairways, but only 3 greens - all par 3's - that course is too long for me from the whites, but too short from the front tees -- they only have 3 choices.

     Also the greens are lightning fast and at least 3 "Stimps" faster than the practice green. It took me about 7 holes to "get adjusted" -- finally wound up with 34 putts for the round.

    Score : 46 + 43 = 89

    Keep hitting them STRAIGHT and LONG

    Amos

Certain putting styles do, but with a fairly standard putting stroke, in order to look at the hole when you finish, you have to change your spine position, which changes the stroke from a pendulum to a swinging arc and most likely closes down the club face as you come through.

What type of shafts/flex? I ordered same 7 iron and was surprised it used a 335 wood shaft.

How does feel compare to your prior shafts?

Thanks. Phillip

Roger, you're not supposed to BEAT the customers. ;-)

"T"....I may have missed prior blog, what new sticks did you end up with?  Were they Tom Wishon?

Thanks for the reminder of the Towel Drill. I've been getting a bit wide through the swing again lately (as I noticed all too clearly when I did some videos in my back yard from the target side of my swing). Time to go toss a towel over my shoulder again. :)

Phillip, Now that I am a little rested. I have the Wishon 730cl series Driver and fairway woods. The driver is 16* the FWs which are more of a hybrid style are 20* and 26*, the irons begin at 30* thru the sand wedge, but the PW,GW, and SW are the Wishon PCF Micro with the Platinum finish. All of the shafts are graphite SKFs in a light flex. The shafts actually do not have a flex symbol on them, but were selected more for the proper MOI and other characteristics. I have the Jumbo Chamois grips on all. I cannot say enough good about the Driver, Hybrids, and Wedges, as for the irons 5-9, I rarely use or need them, because most holes are a driver, one of the two hybrids, then a putter, or a wedge and putter. I am getting used to the irons, but it is taking longer because of the seldom use and need for them. I need some range time, but I have been playing too much to allow any range time. Fortunately all of my leagues are 9-hole leagues, so the extra 9 or 18, can be used for practice and experimenting.

Surge, I recall back in Aug 2010 reading one of the best defenses/reasons for a full follow through and T-finish ever posted on the blog. It especially applies to short hitters like myself. I know you enjoy the laws of physics, so this will make good sense to you as well. I remember reading this post for the first time, and having that eureka moment. It was posted by Charlie Y, way back in Aug 2010, It was so relevant to me, I saved it on a word document.

"Speaking of Newton's Laws, his first law of a body in motion staying in motion unless there are forces acting on it, I like this because of what I learned in a sports mechanics class concerning why the golf club swing needs to be completed properly (hands past the left ear and not short of the ear). For those who are interested in an explanation of what sports science has to say about this (it applies to other sports as well), if you stop your hands short of a full swing, that means that you had to slow down the club earlier than you should, which means that you started decelerating the club too soon, which means that you lost club speed. So, in order to keep the club moving fast, it needs to follow through long (for lack of a better word). So, completing the swing properly is important to keep the club head from slowing down too soon."

Good day Terry, sounds like you had another good round of golf. I already recieved my new Datrek Assault golf bag .It's beautiful and perfect for jumbo grips. Each individual 14 club slots are well spaced. Only took 2 days. Yet to recieve the swingrite or my clubs. There was a delay for clubs because he had to special order my grips. probably won't get  the set now till Monday or Tuesday. Again, I'm happy to here your loving your new sticks:)

I've got one  on the way from Lynn too.

Dick, When the move is done and dusted, you will bounce back like you always have ; - )
Just go easy on yourself when you have the chance. The family will rally around and help if they can. Wouldn't be surprised if some of the guys from Surge Nation or the Golf club don't pitch in to help.
The FUS to T Finish and Recoil are the way to go. No doubt about it. A timely reminder to me here in China.
The joke shows how 'knackered' you are mate. Humour one of the greatest assets in times of stress and danger.Enjoyed it too. Keep on keeping on and get back to us when you can. From A Surgite in limbo ; - ) From: Dragonhead to you and all the other Surge Nationalists, keep it vertical and accellerate throughout the swing. The ONLY way to go.Bless you all.

Hey T, Great explanation, I was just wondering what your take on playing the knock down/punch shot was, only because my knock downs are played using a cut off/abbreviated FUS to keep the ball low.
Look forward to hearing from you,
Lee.

While waiting for Doc to respond, you may wish to watch or rewatch his video from 4 days ago which in part will answer your question about "shaft flex or whatever".
edit;
There you go below is the link, thanks Steve.

Coach

Did you hear that Ping has offered a contract for a commercial to Mrs. Woods.  It will show her holding a Ping driver in a baseball swing.  The voice over will say, "If you buy Ping golf clubs, you too can beat Tiger Woods."

Dick

Phil, Until January of this year (I  live in California), I was an awful putter.  I have just been playing golf for five years now.  Unless I got close to the pin from off the green, I 3-4 putted.    Anyway, one of the Instructors at the local club gave me a book, "Instinct Putting" by Eric Alpenfels and Bob Christina. It has done wonders for me.  Basically, I use this method, where you line up your put and look AT the hole when stroking the ball.  Yeah, as always, it takes some effort through practice and drills; however, it has cut my puts per round substantially! I must admit I am not totally committed to this on puts of less than 12-15 feet.  It does allow you  to get very close to the pin on long puts and therefore eliminate many 3-4 put holes.  Before each long put, I use the underhand "toss" towards the pin to get a feel for distance.

I wish I could get in that much golf, too. I only managed to get out for an hour on the range this afternoon. I think I could have played the first nine in a little more time than that, since clearly nobody wanted to be out in the 107 degree heat. There were about 8 die hards on the range, and they were all gone when I left. :)

Yeah, but you'll have to remember I'm rusty and the clubs & I will take some time getting acquainted.My best with all my other swings and clubs was an 82, so I don't think you have much to be concerned with. :)

Thank you T.  Best explanation I have heard yet!

Yes grasshopper......

Hey Robert
Thanks for the reply and also for the visit to my blog (which is still a little
rough around the edges). Like you said it really is one of those shots that
needs plenty of attention on the practice range. I recently watched the junior
blueprint videos again particularly the situational shot making, and Don does
show the lads how to adjust their spine angle more level and also to finish the
FUS short. What he mentions is that he swings slightly flatter as if playing a
draw. I have found it really difficult to cut the FUS off short and also the
balls trajectory seems to go even higher, which makes me wonder if my angle of
attack is too steep, (although my normal shot is quite high so most probably a
fitting issue as my clubs were fitted to my old rotational swing). I did read a
section in one of the golf magazines written by GMac (who grew up on the windy
links of Royal Portrush) and he recommended choking right down on the grip
almost touching the shaft, then leaning the shaft forward to de-loft and then
finishing with the short FUS.
   I think this could definitely be another one of those daily’s the
Surge could refresh us on what do you think?

Follow through to the T finish! Thanks Surge. The follow through is so imperative. Along with helping us maintain our clubhead speed, it tells us if we kept our arms and club in "the bowling alley". It also tells us we were in balance(or not). It can inform us about what happened in the BUS and if we swung up vetically in both directions or not. At the finish we see where our 'belt buckle' is aimed - at or left/right of the target. It is very important to finish it facing that target and that's when a good finish will often leave us smiling.

Robert F/ Robert Meade/ T M/ Steve S/ Doc:

When addressing ball with 7 thru Wedge, where do you place ball against Iron?

By heel or in middle of iron?

Thanks....Phillip

You maybe be still swinging too much up when trying to hit a knockdown. You can adjust the ball's position in your stance according to how much you want to flight it down, but most importantly you need to control the release and swing out through the ball, not up through the ball. That's why you want to practice it so you can trust it.

I doubt it's a fitting issue, though. I can hit my clubs very, very high or screaming inches over the height of a normal person. You can learn through practice to do that. Adjusting weight, spine angle, ball position, and how you swing through the ball.

Hi all,
    I'm new at trying this swing.  I'm having a little trouble understanding the bump.  I see it as a weight shift forward just prior to the turn but I'm not sure that's the case.  I'm interested in hearing how others determine this movement and how it 'feels' to them........thx in advance......J

Addressing what Don was saying, another way to explain why its so important is. Think about baseball, if you don't follow thorough with the bat then you just played a bunt and what the ball is going to do is fall to the ground early. The follow through not only ensures we will hit the ball straight and far but is also important to make sure we make a proper swing everytime. Allen Hill

Glad you like the bag. I looked at a bagboy with the rotating top today which a friend recently bought. It is also a nice bag but around $200. I checked to see how my jumbo grips would fit and they slid/fit nicely into the holes. I hope you get everything soon and start putting it to use. I really do love, the set I have now. The most common statement from others is, You certainly are playing better with them! It's nice to hear. Me and another senior, decided to play an extra 9, after our 18. A couple younger guys from the league decided to join us. On the first tee, one of the younger guys asked if we wanted to do $5.00 for a skins pot. It sounded like they thought we were easy pickings, but we said ok. Turns out there were only two skins won. One by me, and the other by my buddy. I love it when a plan comes together.   

The ear to ear concept from an earlier video took care of the follow through for me.