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: 22 May 2010
Comments: 2
Surge here! We got a question from Mike about the grip, like we've been doing the last couple of days. We'll stay on the grip because this is a really good question. Mike says, “I have the... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 21 May 2010
Surge here. There was a question on the blog and it's a really good one. According to this, we've got a really sick puppy. Ruben says, “I'm shanking my short pitch or short chip shots. I do... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 20 May 2010
In this audio the Surge takes on the problem of topping the ball. Inner Circle member Razkan, who just took up the game, gets it off the tee quite well and does fine with putting. As he puts... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 19 May 2010
In today'€™s recording the Surge asks you to change your ideas about feeling the club. This tip came up because of a question an Inner Circle member asked about knowing his '€œplace in space... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 18 May 2010
(Health Note: The Surge is now in a cardio program of rather intense exercise [7 a.m.] while being continuously monitored. His visit to his cardiac surgeon showed he was doing fine. The only... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 17 May 2010
Comments: 1
Barrie had a good question on the blog and the Surge needed to jump on it. Golfers trying to change from a rotational swing or just trying to get into a vertical swing sometimes get caught... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 16 May 2010
In today'€™s recording, the Surge breaks a '€œglass ceiling'€ for lady golfers. Just like the '€œSurgism'€ that says, '€œThe ball doesn'€™t know what club you'€™re using,'€ the ball also... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 15 May 2010
The Surge is now allowed to spend a bit longer reviewing the Inner Circle and blog questions. But the docs just want him to rest and relax. It'€™s difficult to imagine The Surge doing R... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 14 May 2010
  Greg MacDonnell, PGA, is the head instructor at the Don Trahan Golf Academy. He has taught the Peak Performance Golf Swing to thousands of visitors to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 13 May 2010
  Since 1986, Greg MacDonnell, PGA, has been The Surge'€™s #1 instructor. His style to instruction is his own, but his teaching is a mirror of Don'€™s and the Peak Performance Golf Swing.... Read More