“Square to Square” vs. the Surge Swing

Mon, 02/07/2011 - 16:15 -- Don Trahan

I got a really good question on the blog about a method of swinging taught in the 1970s. It was called "€œsquare to square."€ The writer wanted me to juxtapose or compare the biomechanics of the two swings.

The "€œsquare to square"€ swing is where you're told to keep the clubhead square to the aiming line as long as possible in the backswing.

Well, your body doesn'€™t work that way. In the Surge Swing our clubface and our hands are square at setup. With our palms perpendicular to the ground. But as we go into the catcher'€™s mitt and up the tree our arms naturally rotate. With the "€œsquare to square"€ swing, we'€™re putting all kinds of strain on the body and will likely have to go flat at the top of the backswing.

Check out this video and you can easily see the difference.

The Surge!

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Comments

Jflarsen's picture

Submitted by Jflarsen (not verified) on

Don, the vertical swing has provided me with immediate positive results.  I simply turn into the catchers mit and lift straight up.  I can now hit my driver with confidence that I never had before. But I have a problem with breaking or cupping my left wrist.  If I maintain a straight left wrist I seem to hit the ball consistently far and straight.  As I get excited with the results I find myself breaking my wrist or cupping it at the top in an effort to get more power then the swing breaks down.  Is there a instructional video that can help me to maintain a straight left wrist at the top?  This seems to take a lot of concentration.

T Medley's picture

Submitted by T Medley (not verified) on

I have found this training aid very helpful to me, in keeping a flat left wrist. Link busted...

BuckeyePhysicist's picture

Submitted by BuckeyePhysicist (not verified) on

You totally mischaracterized the square-to-square swing.  Dick Aultman did NOT teach that the clubface maintains a constant relationship to the aim line.  He taught that the square relationship between hands, wrists, arms, and the clubface remains constant while the body rotates.  It works if done right.