Daily Video Blog

Authored by: Brady
Posted on: 21 March 2026

Don Trahan's analysis of his own swing with different clubs reveals golf's most misunderstood concept: it's your arms that swing on plane, not the club.

Most golfers focus on getting the club on plane, but Don's demonstration shows this is wrong. At address, your arms start below the plane—especially the trail arm (right arm for righties, left arm for lefties). This is correct and necessary.

During takeaway, Don rotates the clubhead first, moving the toe toward "the catcher's mitt" and "up the tree." This rotation naturally lifts his lead arm onto the plane, where it stays throughout the backswing. At the top, his lead hand and forearm align perfectly on the plane while the clubhead passes through it.

The downswing shows his lead arm maintaining plane contact until just before impact. After impact, physics takes over—the trail arm moves onto the plane while the lead arm comes off it, demonstrating equal and opposite reaction.

Don's vertical swing style... Read More

Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 12 May 2010
Here are thoughts running through The Surge'€™s head. Tiger leaves on the fourth round of Players Championship due to neck issues. Steve Stricker withdraws with a sore right shoulder.... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 11 May 2010
When a client comes to me for a fitting, one of the first things I do is to assess their current equipment. I am continually amazed at the number of '€œsenior'€ players that are still... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 10 May 2010
Health Note: The Surge is doing fine. He went to his doc today and passed all tests with flying colors. He'€™s still in significant pain, primarily where they '€œharvested'€ a vein here and... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 9 May 2010
Comments: 1
Here'€™s the story. Our club fitter, club maker, voice on the blog and certified PPGS instructor, Lynn Griffin, wanted to help The Surge with some ideas he had about the site and the swing. So... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 8 May 2010
  In earlier videos The Surge explained why he started to develop the Peak Performance Golf Swing. You know and probably have also had the same experience: his back hurt him when he played.... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 7 May 2010
You just never know. When the Surge published his first book, Golf, Plain and Simple, he didn'€™t know what to expect. '€œIn the mitt and up the tree'€ first appeared there. In fact the very... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 6 May 2010
  Several years ago the Surge was giving a demonstration in Columbia, South Carolina, to about 500 people at a golf show. At that show he was definitely a lone cry in the wilderness. It was... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 5 May 2010
Comments: 1
The Surge and I got on the phone again today. I scout through the blog and the Inner Circle and find questions about the swing or game of golf that have something in common. One frequent... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 4 May 2010
I got to talk to the Surge today. He'€™s making progress daily, but he still gets tired easily, which is normal after heart surgery. He is checking in on the blog but isn'€™t ready to jump... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 3 May 2010
  PGA Tour pro DJ Trahan took a liking to golf early in life. He considers himself very fortunate to have been taught the Peak Performance Golf Swing by his dad, PGA Master Professional Don... Read More