Today's lesson is about proper setup and about how that establishes a solid base for a powerful Forward Upswing. I recently had the pleasure of coaching one of my college players. He usually hits the ball very accurately but when he came to see me a couple of weeks ago, he told that he was frequently blocking shots to the right.
After observing him hit a few balls, I knew his problem was not due to poor alignment; he's always been able to do that pretty darn well. Rather, his problem stemmed from the fact that he wasn't setting up PLHR...Pre-Loaded Heavy Right. His pre-swing weight distribution was pretty neutral and this allowed his hips to turn too much in the backswing. This triggered a chain-reaction of movements--rear leg straightening and rear knee moving slightly backward causing his forward leg to collapse inward and his upper body to move forward of the ball before impact. The end result? The much dreaded EBRT, End of Backswing Reverse Tilt.
To correct this swing fault, I had him really focus on the feeling you get when you are properly PLHR. It feels as if you are sinking down into the swing as your foward arm reaches the toe line and you lift the club up. This is the exact opposite of what modern rotational swing theory tells you to do. In a big turn, rotational swing, the movement is first Up, then Down as you are instructed to hit down on the ball to create power and distance. In the Peak Performance Golf Swing, we first sink Down on to our rear leg so we can use that stored muscle energy to push off as we swing Up all the way through the forward part of our swing. We never hit down on the ball like rotational swingers do, but rather swing up through the ball to our T-Finish position. This is a fundamental difference in the two swing theories and it is far more than mere semantics. That's why I refer to the second part of the PPGS as the Forward Upswing rather than use the conventional description of this movement, i.e. the downswing.
Watch me demonstrate how this is done in today's video tip.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
Ditto here Lynn. Getting past
Ditto here Lynn. Getting past 3/4's rarely leads to anything good. Better okay legnth down the fairway than long and wrong. Thing is I often get great distance by just what I call 3/4's and piercing. Using the 9* loft on my current driver and on these summer fairways I get lots of roll out. As you say reaching back for a littleÃÂ more normally does not help. A good centered strike works much more consistently.
Deb,This may have little to
Deb,
This may have little to do with your challenge with theÃÂ pop too soon or not, but what happened yesterday with Cindy may help you and others. Watching her carefully as she hit balls yesterday I noticed that she was swaying off the ball in her backswing causing extra movement of her upper body over her back foot and resulting in fats and thins, mostly topped shots. I asked her if she was pre-loading heavy right PLHR in her set up and she said she 'felt' like she was. I told her to exagerate it and really get pre-loaded so she would not move or sway back on her backswing. As I told her, - you want to already be thereÃÂ BEFORE you start your backswing and then holdÃÂ that solid postureÃÂ with the wide knees. Well you already know what happened next, she hit some of her best shots in months. Because she was now pre-loading better, the only place left to go after her 3/4 backswing was forward and through the ball. The FUS was automatic.ÃÂ Boy did she hit some crispyÃÂ good shots, straight and longer than before. Maybe you think you are pre-loaded and you're not. Give this a try and let me know.
PMG
$29!!! I only paid $19.95 for
$29!!! I only paid $19.95 for mine at K-Mart 25 years ago. Oddly enough, it's the only putter I've ever been really comfortable with.
All,
All,
Just got back from my back yard driving range and worked on my right hip over turning.... ÃÂ Holy cow what a difference. ÃÂ I have been going nuts rebuilding my swing over the past month and everything was going right, but straight. ÃÂ Was going over my alignment, my posture and right foot position, but with little results. ÃÂ
Don was spot on as usual. ÃÂ I concentrated on keeping my right hip and knee still at the "catchers mitt" and lifting. ÃÂ Balls went dead straight. ÃÂ Now looking forward to getting back on a course in late July.
Keep in vertical,ÃÂ
CJ
Properly preloaded and proper
Properly preloaded and proper outward pressure on the back knee so you can settle onto it and launch forward and through the ball and up, yep. Sway was hurting my swing for a long time, as well.
You are one of the fortunate,
You are one of the fortunate, or should I say, LUCKY, ones. If it was that price 25yrs ago though, it might be worth a bit more today. Probably invaluable to you regardless of the age. I'm always looking for one that works better than the one I have. It's tough, because I really like the one I have.
CJ....sounds like this is
CJ....sounds like this is good news for you.
The entire right (or rear) leg, starting from the inside arch of that foot, up through the kneeÃÂ and into the the hip, all are indeed activated/engaged, but quiet in movement.
For many, that rear (right for me) ÃÂ leg is almost like a pivot or pillar,
until almost reaching the top.ÃÂ At that point, as Don has pointed out,ÃÂ
that activatedÃÂ leg and hip can then go into motion.ÃÂ
And that nasty reverse tiltÃÂ becomes a thing of the past, just like that.
As an aside, I still ÃÂ like the word "through" (the ball) more than "up". ÃÂ The results are what matters :ÃÂ in going through the ball, my club will be going up soon enough, without any extra help from me.ÃÂ
Wow, DJ needed to make a
Wow, DJ needed to make a birdy on his last hole to get to even par and the current cut line. He did it and shot a 67 to be at even par after two days. Let's hope the cut line doesn't drop to -1. In any case, great round and congratulations to DJ. Way to play in the clutch.
Edit; Perhaps there was some momentum between he and playing partner Tom Pernice who shot a 66 to get in right on the number too!
ÃÂ I tried the saw grip once
ÃÂ I tried the saw grip once for 9 holes. Had to get a new shaft, cut the old one completely in half.
CJ, are you using you hips as
CJ, are you using you hips as a trigger to start the BUS.ÃÂ
I've been wearing my "Wrist
I've been wearing my "Wrist Widget" for 3 months now.ÃÂ As much as it pains me to see weekend after weekend of awesome spring and early summer weather go by, I knew it was in my best interest to make sure the ECU tendon subsheath heals enough to be able to play again.ÃÂ So today was the first time in 3 months I've taken a full swing -- and I too was hitting block shots to the right.ÃÂ Next time I go back to the range, I'll double check my setup to see if I'm PLHR with a reverse pivot on my BUS.ÃÂ I bet I am, and now I will know exactly how to fix it.ÃÂ Thanks Surge!
This daily, and the one piece
This daily, and the one piece take away from a ÃÂ couple days ago have been extremely helpful. ÃÂ This is my second full season with PPGS and in the last couple days have FINALLY started developing some power. ÃÂ I also have gone off the reservation and started using Tour Tempo (just the tones, not the rotational swing). ÃÂ It has helped immensely. ÃÂ I was on the verge of giving up PPGS, but now that I am getting some length and the accuracy inherent in the PPGS, I am starting to score, at last!
Ah, you're such a card Terry:
Ah, you're such a card Terry:)
Neil,
Neil,
I think I have been. ÃÂ But when I went out in the back yard today and actively thought about it, I turned more with my shoulders. ÃÂ Still need to think of what "swing thought" I need to use for the BUS. ÃÂ Making sure I am lifting at the catchers mitt and not turning my hip or knee seams key.
CJ
Agreed Robert. ÃÂ DJ can be
Agreed Robert. ÃÂ DJ can be clutch, best illustrated by the 30 footer he made last year to lock his position at #125 on the money list. ÃÂ That same putter seems to be letting him down this season.
Actually, my old Wilson
Actually, my old Wilson putter would probably sell for the same price or less today. And, saying it's the only putter I feel comfortable with does not necessarily equate to actually putting well. I don't take as much time to practice my putting as I should, and noticed the other day on the practice green as I was slamming balls around that I was swinging my arms, rather than rocking my shoulders. I did get on the course yesterday, didn't really keep score as I was using it as much to deal with some emotional issues as to actually play golf (translation--can't swing well when you're really tense). I did have two nice regulation par holes (drive in the fairway, approach on the green--one was a par 5, so there was a perfect layup involved there, as well) where I narrowly missed my birdie putts, though. The second, on the par 5, I was playing through a foursome already on the green and knocked my 8 iron approach to 5 feet, well inside all of them. They must have thought I knew what I was doing (until I pushed the birdie putt).
Simply Golf,
Simply Golf,
Thanks for the comments. ÃÂ
CJ
Oh oh. ÃÂ If it rains and
Oh oh. ÃÂ If it rains and softens the course up, E will be in trouble as the cut #.
This matches up with my
This matches up with my epiphany a few weeks ago. I had my back (right) knee in the wrong position (not using outward pressure on that knee) so when I turned in the BUS the right leg straightened and allowed too much turn, allowed me to sway off the ball, and got the club to parallel or close to it. Then my shots were either dead pushes right or dead pulls left, until I'd start trying to "correct" the error in my legs by compounding it with wrist action to save the shots, leading to big loopy hooks and slices.ÃÂ
I hate pushes just as much as
I hate pushes just as much as pulls. I do find that a large grip laying flat against the palm of the left hand helps me to keep a square face with the straight back and through stroke. If only it was perfect!!
Maybe Surge will weigh in
Maybe Surge will weigh in with another video on the "up" ya'll are discussing.
My opinion is that there is a reason Surge always talks about up and to me it's more than just a small matter of semantics.
From the very first split second that the forward swing starts every muscle in my body is gearing itself for up. Without it maximum power can't happen.
It's another reason that the back leg should never have any tendency to straighten in the BUS. For me that is one of the only consistent things in all of my many swings. The flexed back leg is the steady base loading the tension for the explosion up through the ball.
Without that one constant I wouldn't be much of a player with all of the other inconsistencies and variables in all of my swings.
I would even go as far as to say that my right leg is controlling my entire swing more than any other factor.
Putting is such a fickle
Putting is such a fickle skill. That's why I have 6 puttersÃÂ and am always open to finding what feels and works well. One reason I think our success varies from one week to the next is that we are ever changing physically (our health, our touch,our feel and also our sightÃÂ and ability to 'see the line') and mentally (the game, especially putting is so mental and about confidence). It all goes and comes back again. Fortunate and fewÃÂ are those that can be consistent year after year.
Honestly, I could classify
Honestly, I could classify that miss as a misread as easily, since I really didn't take time to line up the putt very well. Just stepped in and whacked it. Looked dead straight. Was dead straight, I just didn't line up properly with the hole.
Smith. How's it been?
Smith. How's it been?
I concur with your thoughts here on the back leg.ÃÂ
That whole AFAP thing only brings trouble for me.
I understand the how and the why. My reality is,
when I stand up AFAP, i thin it. My head moves.
I lose focus on clean ball striking, staying over the ball, because I have AFAP on the brain.
Ugly things happen off the tee and the world is not a beautiful place at that moment.
Better for me to simply accelerate through the ball, and let my headÃÂ go along for the ride, joining the turn about when the trailing shoulder comes through, and then simply stand up and get to the T finish.
Only six. I have at least a
Only six. I have at least a dozen in the basement. The only club I've bought more of than Drivers.
I don't think the average golfer gives enough credit to the need for a good quality FITTED putter. It is the most often used club in the bag. It is the best club to improve and save strokes with. I am always surprised to see folks who will spend $400.00 for the latest Driver, but refuse to spend more than $29.99 for a putter, because they can just get one at Walmart.
Timely tip for me, Surge.ÃÂ
Timely tip for me, Surge.ÃÂ I'm distance challengedand have to fight the urge to reach back for that little extra in my BUS which leads to right leg straightening and reverse tilt.ÃÂ I hit some solid shots, but usually straight right.ÃÂ I can usually correct it by rehersing a couple of things when I take my practice swing.ÃÂ I stop at the top of my of my BUS and check for knee flex and outward pressure in my right leg.ÃÂ Once I have it right I try to duplicate itÃÂ with a full practice swing.ÃÂ I seem to recall someone saying "Feel the swing and swing the feel".ÃÂ ;0)ÃÂ
Actually, I do not understand
Actually, I do not understand the "how".
I mean, I know how to stand up and how to stand up quickly, but I am not a pop tart.
Too many word pictures at times ( I like word pictures) butÃÂ just not enough mental capacity to bring them all to my swing and then to my game.
True Terry. Loft, lie and
True Terry. Loft, lie and length of putter are likely overlooked or not considered. I have only considered the putter characteristics and fitting for about a year now. Had my belly putter fit last year. It helped but I still went back to my old conventional putter about three months ago. Made two changes that have helped for those three months. One I determined my putter was too upright and causing me to pull left. So I bent it a couple of degreesÃÂ flatter with my loft and lie machine and two, I adapted a saw grip with my right hand (actually in the fingers). These changes helped me make more putts. Starting about two weeks ago I began missing too many putts again so I'm re-evaluating again.
Such is golf and putting.
ÃÂ Great comment, Deb!
ÃÂ Great comment, Deb!
ÃÂ I think in the end it
ÃÂ I think in the end it depends on the player being instructed how they should think of the swing. If I was trying to help someone with a certain set of flaws I would probably use different language and try to promote different thoughts than with someone with another set of flaws.
Pretty hard to throw a blanket over instruction for everyone. What some observers might think is my major swing flaw is probably the reason I play a little better than I should be able to play. (Funny, actually).
I certainly do think most of "the masses" would do well to implement the thoughts on "up" that Surge espouses (and I'm one of them).
Incidentally it was also my natural tendency even long before I ever heard of the PPGS. If the main move through the ball is rotation everything can easily stay down and through (not me for sure). If the main move through the ball is the whip action of a rock on a string everything has to be coming up at impact just as the hand holding the string is coming up as the rock goes through the bottom of the circle.
Then it just comes down to how much "up". That's where I take it much further than Surge does and admittedly too far at times.
The "major swing flaw"
The "major swing flaw" thought is a conversation starter. We have all seen some of the most interesting adaptations of "flaws" parlayed into some pretty amazing results.ÃÂ
Jim Furyk -hands to close at address and has that really nasty loop at the top...but check the results.ÃÂ
I'm sure each of us has someone that comes to mind.
I'll never forget watching a senior guy, who was just the absolute anti-thesis of PPGS, just smoking one after the other,ÃÂ very consistent. He had grooved and adapted his "flaws" into a head-kicking swing that is not for the masses.
Would it not be boring if our swings were all polished and smooth and flawless? OK, I admit..I'd like to at least try it to see how "boring" that would be.ÃÂ