Ian Craib (a.k.a TO0000ad) wrote me a couple of weeks ago with this comment/question:
"I like the smaller, controlled swing but having lots of trouble with longer clubs. I hit right-handed, and everything goes left - starts left and curves further left. Probably over-rotation, but how do you stop doing it? Actually this happens with most clubs, but is much worse and uncontrollable with 5 and longer. I have pretty much given up on fairway woods lower than a 7, but need to be able to hit a driver.
Right now I am lost in a forest of swing thoughts. You almost never see Surge talking about longer clubs on the back porch. Could we have something on drivers?"
Well, Ian, this would have been impossible to answer properly when I was doing videos on The Back Porch, but now that I have moved to The Back Yard and can make full swings with any club in the bag, I am happy to oblige. But before I add my comments, I would like to share Robert Fleck's reply to your situation as it contains some really good advice.
"Type "driver" and "pull" into the Search Box in the right hand column and you'll get lots of information, like this video, titled Keep Hitting Pulls?
The most likely culprits are either misfit clubs and/or misalignment. Both can easily lead to you casting the club out across the aiming line when you transition, then you drag it back across the line and pull the ball dead left every time if you get the face square to the line the club is traveling on.
If your clubs weren't custom fit and built for you by a certified Swing Surgeon fitter, I'd recommend you start by measuring your wrist-to-floor length and the lengths of your clubs. Good chance the shafts are all too long, forcing you to cast them outside the line to have enough room to get them to the ball on a more vertical path. See this video from Doc Griffin: " www.swingsurgeon.com/DailyVideos/tabid/107/entryid/841/Over-the-top-It-may-be-your-clubs.aspx
Thanks, Robert! I would like to add a couple of major points to what Mr. Fleck has already brought up. Since he ended on a comment about clubs, I'll start there. Another real possibility, Ian, is that your lie angle may be way off. When Doc Griffin builds a driver for me, he sets the lie angle at 56 degrees, which contrasts with the 62-63 degree lie angles you'll see on most store-bought clubs today. Combine this very upright angle with shafts that are way too long for most golfers and you set the stage for a wide variety of swing problems. In addition to this, most equipment manufacturers today build their clubs to address the most common swing problem: the slice. They purposely build clubs 2,4, even 6 degrees shut knowing that most of the market cannot get a rotational swing square at impact and leave the club face open, causing the ball to slice. So if you hit the ball On, On, and On, Square and Solid, having a club face that is pre-closed will almost certainly cause the ball to pull or pull-hook. So if you think you are swinging correctly, have your clubs checked by a qualified club fitter.
Swing-wise, your pulls and hooks could happen if you are aligned to the right. If you feet are properly aligned, check your shoulders as we often find this is where many students have a problem. If your right (back) shoulder is higher than the left (forward) shoulder as you start your swing, this will cause a reverse weight shift and the ball will go left. Check your weight distribution at impact. If you still have your weight on the back leg that's a dead giveaway that your shoulders are going to be open.
Lastly, you mentioned that you think you are over-rotating. This is a common issue for anyone converting to the Peak Performance Golf Swing from a rotational swing. Conventional instruction will tell you that you should finish with your back shoulder pointing at the target whereas with my swing we want you to finish square to the target. That means the laces of your back shoe, you knees, hips, sternum, nose and club should all be pointed at the target when you reach the Relax & Recoil position. So next time you go to the range, check where you are finishing. If you are not finishing as I've just described then you are over-rotating. Fixing this will require putting time in on the range--you shouldn't try to correct the problem out on the course as that will prove to be way too frustrating and counter-productive. You should also go back and review the setup portions of your Peak Performance Golf Swing videos well as consult the Foundations Manual, if you have it. These are excellent resources that can help any of you diagnose and correct swing problems as the crop up.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
It's very hard to determine
It's very hard to determine the exact camera angle. Trying to observe it as objectively as I can it looks to me like the camera is pointed between the front of the mat and the flower pot in the background.
This would put it in front of the body enough to distort our perception of ball location.
Secondary evidence that this is the case is that we know from previous videos and from what Surge says that he doesn't play the ball with a driver at his right instep.
Camera angles can really be deceiving when looking at a golf swing and it doesn't take much to make something look wrong. On a down the line view just moving the camera a few feet outside of the toe line makes the swing look like it is very deep in the back swing.
Always nice to catch up on
Always nice to catch up on Jack's family. I think many of them post from time to time.
You realize that Surge also
You realize that Surge also has eye problems and if he stood in the best light for filming, he wouldn't be able to see what he's doing.
Really, these videos are amazing, especially given that Surge does all this for us, free, almost every day. I know that his move off the porch has the the crowd who's been given a yard asking for a mile. Maybe if people stopped whining about irrelevancies and paid attention to what Surge is saying, they would have better golf games.
this is a bit beyond the
this is a bit beyond the surge's scope of responsibility.ÃÂ I will do my best to find out some information.
My view is clear as can be.Ã
My view is clear as can be.ÃÂ If you are looking at a laptop screen, tilt it back or forward until the screen clears.ÃÂ Some laptop screens are better than others.ÃÂ It also is determined by you sitting position.ÃÂ If the laptop screen is not at the correct angle to your eyes it will in fact look darker.
True again T, so true :) Now
True again T, so true :) Now we can say we know Jacks'ÃÂ family well.ÃÂ
Amen
Amen
TM - I'll get them all to
TM - I'll get them all to make regular posts so you canÃÂ stay in touch
Robert M (below) - Not as well as me but I can fix that
Jack
Hi Steve,I guess You are
Hi Steve,
I guess You are right, camera angles can be deceiving. Thanks for the in-put.
While I'm at it I would like to comment on video's as a whole. I for one and I am sure most of the Surgeites, really appreciate and look forward to each and every one.I know it takes a lot of Surges time from a busy schedule. I really like the "move" from the porch to the backyard.
None arrived at my end. Check
None arrived at my end. Check and resend, maybe.
True Robert. We want to focus
True Robert. We want to focus on content, you know, like really liston and pay attention. There is so much to learn from all his great nuggets. Thanks for your input that Surge used RF. You're on point as usual. Hope you can sneak out for a bit with us this week. We'll be at Piaute early Sunday morning.
I have always struggled with
I have always struggled with this. ÃÂ I am not in the SBD at the top, but I tend to spin out and turn my shoulders too much and come outside in. ÃÂ What has helped me is if I think of my shoulders going up and down as opposed to turning. ÃÂ That one swing thought has helped me largely eliminate pulls. ÃÂ ÃÂ
Jeff,
Jeff,
Good comment. Some probably did not know that. To those who were not aware of the visual differences in relationship to the screen angle,
Here's your sign!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
Please accept it in humor, but REALLY!
Please get out of the shade
Please get out of the shade and into the sun light so we can see what is happening.ÃÂ All I see is black when you are in the shade.ÃÂ The back porch was just as bad.
RF:ÃÂ Thank you - very well
RF:ÃÂ Thank you - very well said.ÃÂ I shall hold my tongue (ouch!!!) andnotsayanymoretoallthecomplainers.ÃÂ Have a great day!ÃÂ :-)ÃÂ R2ÃÂ
You're missing the camera
You're missing the camera angle. The camera is not straight out the bar of the H from Surge, so the perspective makes the ball look like it's lined up with his back foot.
Webersj, have you considered
Webersj, have you considered that your "shoulders going up & down as opposed to turning" creates a hip bump rather than a hip turn
Jack
You are correct on the camera
You are correct on the camera angle. If you look closely at the mat and use the bottom edgeÃÂ ofÃÂ video screen for a reference, you will notice that the front corner of the mat is closer to the bottom edge than the back edge of the mat is.ÃÂ Good explanation, Steve.
Wiley, quit your complaining
Wiley, quit your complaining and find another site if this doesn't suit you. Most of us loved the back porch and are even happier with his free help now given in the backyard. You disaproved of the back porch and still stick around to complain?? You sound like you need glasses and or a better computer. The trees and shade are beautiful and it's not going to get any better.My screen has always given me a clear picture from where ever he teaches us for free.ÃÂ So adjust your lighting, you can make it brighter if your screen is decent or find yourself a brighter setting on another site. If you come here, share something helpful and positive. Feel free to ask golf questions but don't stop by with complaints.
Have a nice day
Hey Roy
Hey Roy,
Thereisnowaytomakethemhappynomatterwhatgimmemoregimmemore!
PS Robert, I sent you an e
PS Robert, I sent you an e mail.ÃÂ :)
That there is some funny
That there is some funny stuff T.
Great stuff Surge. As usual,
Great stuff Surge. As usual, many of the challenges come from poor alignment in most cases. As I mentioned yesterday, it would be good to get a refresher daily on parallel left and how we must understand it fully to get our toeline correct and everything else square from toes to eyes.
Thanks Surge, the lighting is natural and fine in your nice looking yard. We really appreciate all your hard work given freely to help us.
DH:ÃÂ PMGAS - I like that.Ã
DH:ÃÂ PMGAS - I like that.ÃÂ Goes right along with BUS, FUS and GBSAPS.ÃÂ Hit 'em straight!ÃÂ R2
I'm going to try, but things
I'm going to try, but things have been very, very bad. I did manage to get in a round with my parents on Monday, which proved that you should never keep score if you're playing while extremely stressed. I hit some beautiful drives, but I couldn't hit a short iron all day. I've never bladed so many shots in my life.
Glad you were able to get out
Glad you were able to get out with your parents Robert. Figures your best club was the one from Doc Griffin :)
Wiley,
Wiley,
If you are being truly honest, and all you really see is black. It is time for a new PC Monitor. I have no trouble seeing Surge and ALL THE DETAILS, I can almost read the time on his watch.
Have you even tried to adjust the visual parameters on your monitor, brightness, sharpness, picture quality, etc. Do you even know how to adjust your picture quality. You could probably do a lot at your own end to improve your picture quality if you play around with your monitors settings a bit. Give it a try and it might just surprise you. Good luck.
Steve:ÃÂ LOL, LOL, LOL.ÃÂ
Steve:ÃÂ LOL, LOL, LOL.ÃÂ Youdaman!!!!ÃÂ R2
Jaweidman,
Jaweidman,
Why don't you just go ahead and buy them and send them on to Surge. That can be your contribution to helping all the other folks who don't know how to adjust their monitors either.
PMG
http://www.youtube.com/watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
Had to bring this one back for more laughs
Don,In the video above when
Don,
In the video above when You are hitting Tour driver I notice the ball is placed at Your right foot instep. I always place the ball just off My left foot instep. Am I missing something here?
Steve, Sartgne waht flok say
Steve, Sartgne waht flok say auobt the gmae of glof! Ecaduiotn was wstaed on mnay of us. Hpoe you can uerndatnsd my dvirel heh heh heh.
Parcicte tdaoy lmiietd to hip bmups. Bcak to bsiacs aiagn heh heh heh.
Now serious again. Checked out my drivers various again and found that one is more toe up than the others.Quite difficult to work out, but persevered. My old Ping Zing wooden driver and the r7 when I took my stance were much better than the Mizuno driver. Funnily enough the Mizuno 3 and 5Woods are the best performing fairway woods and I like them too.
I swung on the deck [back porch hahahaha] golf mat, to very good effect,ie, the hip bump was effortless and effective.Back to swishing through the artificial grass again, without the too often lately, accompanying thump on the mat, which gives my shoulders and neck a fit!!!The 'cupping' seems to have done the business. After a good session swinging, no pain at all. Big smile from me.
Next time out on the course, I will take two drivers out and play them against one another. Worst case, if they don't do the business, I will leave them in the bag and continue using the 3 or even the 5Wood off the tee and fairway.
Ydauoamn Setve as Roy Reed says.
Wife just taken the fresh Brioche bread out of the breadmaker, so bye all.
Dagornehad New Zalenad heh heh heh.
I'd also like to add that
I'd also like to add that there is a plethora of high quality HD instructional videos available right on this site, anywhere in the range from $19 to $69. ÃÂ Hell, if you're an inner circle member you get access to all the videos on the site older than 6 months. ÃÂ I know the economy is bad and a lot of people are struggling and 20 bucks is a lot of money, but everything people ask Surge to do on the blog is already available in Surge's Shop...go spend some money if you don't like the free stuff guys!! :) happy hitting.
We are upside down under and
We are upside down under and the picture has always been fine.
Maybe the strong wind here at the moment is affecting the angles LMAO!
ÃÂ Some good explanations.
Choosing the spot in front of the ball [on theÃÂ ball to target line], from behind it, helps me a lot during set up.
The position of the balls in my stance is a work in progress. Irons happy with, fairway woods happy with. Then I saw today's video. When I saw and heard Surge's comments on 'toe up' drivers. I thought b*gger, here we go again. I noted on the r7 the toe sits up. Look no further me boyo.
Practice wise? So-so. Afterwards, on reflection, guess what? "NO BUMP CHUMP" hahahaha. It will all come together soon. Of that I am certain. Love the videos where ever they are shot.
To those above who complain. After having not been able for months and months to receive the videos in China. Do as I did, read the text and the answers from fellow Surgites, as I had to do.Surge and the rest of the clan have helped me immensely and all free. I can never repay their kindness in assisting me, a complete stranger. THAT is the core of this site. Mutual support from other golfers, WHO CARE!
Took my usual three balls to practice yesterday [2nd day running and 21 balls better off from my ball hound wife] and found a Titleist 9 iron leaning against the loo on the practice ground. Handed it in at the clubhouse on the way home. Hope the owner gets it back. I know how I would feel losing a club.
To TMedley, Robert F,Robert Meade,Boogm,Kevin,Steve Smith,RoyR,JackOz, and others too numerous to mention, who take the time to help us less gifted golfers, God Bless and keep you safe,fit and good health.
PMG and Succeed is my new mantra.
Surge you just need to buy a
Surge you just need to buy a couple of photographic light reflectors to "bounce" the light onto you. Simple fix, it'll help us all see you better & btw I love the backyard. Your welcome.
DH, ah, fresh baked bread
DH, ah, fresh baked bread with a bit of jam, yummy!
I went back and re-played the
I went back and re-played the video and I just don't see any camera angle. It looks dead straight on. At least on My screen. I guess there are differences in screens because some folks seem to be having a problem "seeing" Don. At least I don't have that problem. Thanks Robert, for the feedback
Hey DH,Please don't include
Hey DH,
Please don't include me in any group of "gifted" golfers.
Ha ha ha ha!
They thought I was "gifted" and made me skip kindergarten and they were wrong then and nothing much has changed since then. LMAO
Surge-- Off topic, but I just
Surge-- Off topic, but I just wanted to say that you are looking a lot more fit. I know you had surgery a year ago and before the big shake-up on your site, you were promoting a health regimen withÃÂ the "yougurt and berry" doctor. I don't know what you are doing now, but you look better and I congratulate you on your efforts
Serge,On 8/4/11 I went to
Serge,
On 8/4/11 I went to stoughton, MA to be fitted. l liked what I saw and paid Rick. After about two weeks he finally sent me a bill for 7 clubs. I sent him a check for $600.00 as a down payment. A telephone call to Rick informed me that he had no power due to the storm Irene, and the following monday he would start on my clubs. Two other phone callsÃÂ received the message that he was not able to answer the phone at this time.ÃÂ ÃÂ It is now 9/24/11 NO WORD, AND NO CLUBS. Can you shed some light on this unfortunate situation.
Thank you,
Joseph J. Banas
jbanas5805@charter.netÃÂ
Classic T M!!I concur :)
Classic T M!!
I concur :)
PMG and succeed indeed my
PMG and succeed indeed my friend.
I must have completely lost
I must have completely lost it because I have absolutely ZERO problem seeing Don, whether he is under a tree. ÃÂ I could probably see him even if he was hiding behind one. ÃÂ Honestly, my computer is not that good but it looks like any other video on the web. ÃÂ Are you guys really this anal? I feel sorry for your wives' cooking as I'm sure it's probably never good enough for you.
Thank you Surge and keep doing what you're doing!