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: 30 March 2011
Comments: 98
This week, I'm coming to you from Orlando, Florida. My team and I are conducting a Swing Surgeon golf school at Orange County National Golf Club. This is a really great group of guys, and each... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 29 March 2011
Comments: 124
Along the way, there have been several questions on the blog wondering why all the professionals on the Tour, except DJ, use a rotational swing and go to parallel or more at the top of the backswing... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 28 March 2011
Comments: 156
Well, DJ did a darn good job Sunday, tying for 12th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational this past weekend. He took some time Saturday to sit down with me to give us a thoughtful review of his game and... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 27 March 2011
Comments: 230
In the blog discussion about power and distance we heard some really good ideas. Gary added another perspective that I think is an excellent observation. It has to do with your senses. We'€™ve... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 26 March 2011
Yesterday, DJ and I sat down after his 1-under second round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. The leaders were at 8-under when DJ finished his round, which is very much in striking... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 25 March 2011
Comments: 138
I've really been stressing the importance of alignment lately, and for good reason. Remember, 90 to 95% of all swing problems arise from your alignment. Harold has been a student of mine for over... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 24 March 2011
Got a question from the blog asking if it'€™s a good idea to have a shorter club to practice with inside, where space is limited. My answer: Yes! I use a shorter club on the Back Porch because you... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 23 March 2011
Comments: 163
DJ is down in Orlando this week at Bay Hill and took some time to give us an update yesterday. He'€™s digging deep to find his game and when I talked to him he was confident he was close. It'€™s... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 23 March 2011
Comments: 66
I was looking through your comments on the blog and I came across one of the greatest posts I have ever read. Kevin made it very clear to me that he has a strong understanding of the Surge Swing.... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 21 March 2011
Comments: 62
A first time student, Randy, had a really good swing, probably the best I'€™d seen in a new student. He had a great ¾ backswing and a nice T-Finish. But a bunch of his shots were going to the right... Read More