Daily Video Blog

Is Your Takeaway Ruining Your Swing Before It Starts?
Is Your Takeaway Ruining Your Swing Before It Starts?
Authored by: Brady
Posted on: 5 May 2026

You've probably been told your whole golfing life that you need to keep moving before you swing. Waggle, forward press, rock the knee — whatever it takes, just don't stand still. Surge heard that too. He just never agreed with it.

His thing was this: if you're pressing forward to start a swing that needs to go backward, how do you make that feel exactly the same every time? With every club, every lie, every round? After a while, you start to realize — you can't. That little forward move changes just enough, just often enough, to mess with your timing without you ever knowing why.

What Surge taught instead was to come to a full stop before starting the swing. Feet planted, waggle done, one last look at the target — then still. From there, a simple three-count: squeeze the grip equal in both hands, press the knees out slightly, and go. The toe of the club moves first, the arms follow, and the club finds its way back up the plane. Nothing fancy, just quiet and controlled... Read More

Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 14 August 2010
(Note: Due to all the delays and weather, video was out for today. But we'll be back tomorrow — The Surge.) Surge, here. We have a question from Inner Circle member Mr. Derbs. He says, “I... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 13 August 2010
Fog (fog?) was definitely a major influence in the first day of the 92nd PGA Championship, holding back the start of the tournament by over three hours. Don and DJ discuss that first day of play and... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 12 August 2010
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 11 August 2010
DJ, Don and Don are all at the 92nd PGA Championship in beautiful (if a bit wet) Kohler, Wisconsin at Whistling Straits, the extraordinary Pete Dye design course. I'm sure you'll be hearing a bit of... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 9 August 2010
A reoccurring question that I see on the blogs involves where impact is being made on the face of the golf club. A common misconception is that lie angle has a bearing on this. It does not. More... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 9 August 2010
We have a question here from Inner Circle member Segnet. He says, “My body seems to be twisted! I can line up my feet parallel left just fine. Yesterday at the driving range, I met a local... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 8 August 2010
We have a question from an Inner Circle member, Ttenrab. T says: “I am having success with the shorter irons, but the longer irons and driver have problems when using the PPGS swing. How do... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 7 August 2010
One of the greatest dangers teaching pros face is the sun. Spending anywhere from 8 to 10 hours out on the lesson tee five to six days a week can cause real problems. The Surge sees his dermatologist... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 5 August 2010
It had been four long months since the Surge had taken a full swing at a golf ball. Doctors'€™ orders. No golf. Three months after his open heart surgery, after three months of rehab, after all the... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 4 August 2010
We have a question from an Inner Circle member, Richard. He says, “Hi, Surge, thoroughly enjoyed your teaching, and have slashed at 10 in 2 months…. Could you advise the correct breathing... Read More