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: 19 April 2011
Comments: 148
One of our bloggers was curious as to how to approach a shot when you have a downhill stance. The key? Posture! Whenever I find myself on a downhill lie, or uphill for that matter, I always... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 17 April 2011
Comments: 97
When trying to keep it vertical, the right hand plays an integral role. The right hand is what controls whether or not you end up going vertical or deep into the sacred burial ground. On both your... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 16 April 2011
One of our bloggers mentioned that it gets harder for him to keep his club vertical when he's swinging a driver. You have to consciously remember to keep your swing plane vertical, especially with... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 15 April 2011
Comments: 180
I would like to introduce you to a great tool, and the only swing plane product I endorse. It's called SwingTECH and I guarantee that it will help you develop the Surge Swing. One of my favorite... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 15 April 2011
My head golf instructor, Greg MacDonell, and I held a drawing for a free golf school this week. Any Inner Circle Member who paid for an entire year up front was automatically put into the drawing.... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 13 April 2011
Our Director of Club Fitting, Doc Griffin, just made me a new driver. I had a thought that since I hit my 3 wood so well, perhaps my driver should be the same length. Being as good as he is, Doc... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 12 April 2011
For the last few years DJ has played in the Hootie... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 12 April 2011
Comments: 133
Jim Wiley made a great suggestion about avoiding elbow pain saying that one of the problems might be gripping too tight. Maybe golfers overdo my suggestion of a firm grip. That can definitely cause... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 11 April 2011
Comments: 61
Dick Lee, one of our Inner Circle members, switched to the Surge Swing last year and has never looked back. Dick had some very nice words about what the swing has meant to his golf game, and he also... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 10 April 2011
Comments: 69
Dan is new to the game and was curious about whether or not he should try using a glove. This also allowed me to address the issue of grip. I personally use a glove, as most golfers choose to do.... Read More