Today I want to foucs on the key checkpoints to follow when getting into your Master Setup Position. A couple of weeks ago, frequent commentator, Roy Reed, made several good observations when commenting on my post titled "Same Setup For All Clubs"
"When I met with Doc Griffin last weekend to work on my swing, he had me follow a similar routine. He emphasized the importance of picking out a CLOSE (6"-12") intermediate target/point (blade of grass, leaf, etc) that is correctly aligned with the intended target and squaring the club face to that point. Then make sure you swing along that line. To trigger my master set-up process, I use GBSAPS or Grip, Ball position, Stance, Alignment, Posture and Swing. One problem I had was standing too close to the ball; hence the importance of properly soling the club first, then make your set-up and adjust your distance to get the hands directly below your chin/mouth (for every club). Doc pointed out that one way to tell if your distance is correct is to check your forward wrist; it needs to be flat and in line with the club shaft; if it's bent "up" (as mine was), you are too close to the ball.
One more thought on alignment. Even though I "thought" I was aligned parallel left, I wasn't even close. Hence the importance of using a very close intermediate alignment point on every shot you take."
I really like the fact that Roy has a routine for getting ready to swing. One word of caution, though. If you remember my oft-said setup mantra "Feel the swing, then swing the feel", whatever else you do to get properly set up needs to be accomplished within 10 seconds or so or the feel that you developed in you practice swing will quickly evaporate. This having been said, Roy is right on with having a consistent routine to follow and if you practice this enough you should be able to get properly setup in a short amount of time. As Roy found out himself, one of the easiest checkpoints to overlook is whether we are the correct distance from the ball. Remember, that the distance to the ball will change with every club so the way to find the proper distance is to always have the thumb of your forward hand along a line that if raised up would run somewhere between your chin and your nose.
Roy also makes a good cautionary statement about using a close alignment point to square your club along the target line. I would like to add that you need to take care in selecting this point because if you are off by just a little bit your shot will go way wide of your target. Remember that for every inch that your close-in aiming point is off the true target line, your ball will travel 20 yards offline for every 100 yards of distance. This is another critical component of The Big A (Alignment) and it's one that many players tend to miss when preparing to setup.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
Denny and Jerry,
Denny and Jerry,
Both of you sound a little new to the site and
PPGS program. Please know that there is a lot of information already
available in the archives for you to peruse. You can do so by use of the
search block in the right column and enter any word or phrase you
desire. You can also do so by just clicking on any month of the right
column monthly archives and find All the daily videos for that
particular month in descending order. You can also ask direct questions
which will receive answers from those of use who have been at the system
for a bit of time now. Unfortunately, Don Trahan, The Surge, will
probably not answer your questions directly. To have him personally
answer each and every question would consume far too much of his time on
a daily basis.
The information is already available to you, through the archives of the site. Good luck in your quest.
Seek and you shall find.
ÃÂ If I understood the game
ÃÂ If I understood the game correctly, that was with playing the best of 4 drives. Like you said, just imagine what he could do regularly if he could hit those kind of drives on his own all the time. There is a lot to be said for keeping it in play, but to keep it in play and long also is definitely a benefit to low scores.
Kind of like Al Capone said, You can get a lot with a smile and a kind word, but you can get even more with a smile, a kind word, and a GUN.
Targeted length, never hurt anyone.
PMG
Ha ha! That's what they get
Ha ha! That's what they get for not listening.
I just couldn't believe the scores we had by simply taking a great tee shot out of the equation.
(We even missed a few putts we should have made).
Steve
Steve
There you go maybe you should open up a driving range. I have always thought of doing that after retiring. If the range that I have my membership at ever gets put up for sale I may look into buying it.ÃÂ
Alright Bama's back on track
Alright Bama's back on track blow out. Alabama and Notre Dame are my two favorite teams. ND is about to get blown out.
Surge may talk a little
Surge may talk a little quickly at times, but the information is printed below the video. To 2cifex: Are you a wannabe film director my friend? The daily videos are gratis, free,ÃÂ out of the goodness of his heart. If you want more, send for the 10free videos, buy the programme and manual. For the record it shows you read and listen too quickly. The name of our Surge is Donald,ie, Don Trahan, not Roy.Roy is one of our staunch Surgites. Perhaps you will learn more by not being so impatient and critical of those who have helped an enormous number of us for FREE.If you have not got the time,or patience to analyze what is said take up another pastime.Have a nice weekend anyway.Being a frustrated golfer sometime switches off the other senses. GBSAPS. You can always replay the video a few times and take notes like I sometimes do. Hit it long and straight in Bova Racon.
Every morning I watch Don and the team imparting valuable knowledge to us all. In my case,ÃÂ GBSAPS has been my watchword for a while.When I don't do it, there is always a price to pay.
Picking out the spot 6"-12" in front of the ball, prior to set up has given me undreamed of accuracy with my wedges, putter, 4 and 5 irons and woods. My latest problem is,in hitting the ball further, I am hitting the ball on some positional shots, too well.ie, a couple or three yards into the rough or tree line, about 20 yards past my target landing area.That has had a positive spin off with another part of my game. Recovery shots. Now using the most powerful weapon in golf, the 6"inches between my ears more! For example two days ago, a short distance into the rough, with an overhanging branch [wouldn't you just know it, the only one], dead on line with the pin with bunkers in front of the green....A quick chip at about 30degs onto the fairway.Then nailed the pin with my SW. Tap in putt. Chipping and putting has improved with the PPGS teachings, out of sight to what they used to be like. My 5W for second shots off the fairway,short or long, are always dead on target.
My thanks to ALL THE SURGE CLAN and their comments and tips. Now it is up to me to hone it all in. Finger problem not withstanding, I will improve, bet on it.Thanks again Surge. Dragonhead, a loyal supporter of the Clan. Gooooooo! The All Blacks yeeeeehaaaa!
Wongphil,
Wongphil,
Not quite, but thanks for the kind words.
PMG
Are A player shot 67 and the
Are A player shot 67 and the B player shot 74. On the team play they count 3 balls and the team game pays front, back and total we one all three legs.
Coach Terry is a legend on
Coach Terry is a legend on this blog site, he's always willing to give one hundred and ten......ooops......one hundred percent effort :-() in posting links to help you out, absolutely brilliant! ÃÂ Regards, Craig :-)
Weird combination. Ha ha.ÃÂ
Weird combination. Ha ha.
ÃÂ It would probably be impossible for any of us that were fans in 1966 to be fans of both. We all still hold a big grudge since that was our best team ever and they gave the championship to ND who had a tieÃÂ just to keep us from having 3 in a row.
It should be parallel to the
It should be parallel to the target line as the toe line should be but it won't be the same line.ÃÂ If it is, you're being over way too far.
No T.That was in our 18 hole
No T.
That was in our 18 hole round before the "shamble" 9 holes.
We all play our own ball and keep normal scores in the first 18.
Our course is about 5 strokes easier than most courses so that 67 would probably equate to about even par on most public courses, but still a great round for a "C" player.
I don't think any of us benefit by trying to hit the ball farther than we are capable of controlling it but I also don't think I have been getting as much as I should out of my tee shots for both accuracy and distance. I need to take a drive to the nearest town that has a driving range every now and then if I'm ever going to get much better than I am now.
Edit: Yeah, he was pretty thrilled. He is just a college kid that only started playing golf a few years ago.
Edit: Yeah Kevin. We used to ride over to Scottsboro every now and then and hit some balls or play a round but it's a long way from Mentone.
I have done that many times,
I have done that many times, especially when I used to play at Desoto and often I was the only one out there.
Even that didn't guarantee a great tee shot though like four good players today did (and one of the guys is a real bomber).
Short and in the fairway is great, long and out of the fairway is fine as long as it's still in play, but neither one is going to get you a 29 no matter who you are. It takes both for that kind of score.
Thank you Craig.
Thank you Craig.
ÃÂ
ÃÂ Since I seem to be of the minority opinion, I am reconsidering the 100% plus embellishments, I still think it sounds foolish(more polite word) when used, and yes, I do think that a small minority do not even realize the impossibility of it when THEY use it, BUT, the majority users are just trying to emphasize, Give it all you got. Since so many seem to actually feel stronger towards using it, than I do towards not using it, and since it is a rather trivial matter, I will probably just let it pass without comment on the blog. Maybe?
PMG
I would throw UK in there but
I would throw UK in there but they cant compete football wise in the SEC. Basketball UK and NC.
Roy?ÃÂ Roy isn't talking.Ã
Roy?ÃÂ Roy isn't talking.ÃÂ That's Don Trahan, the Surge, doing the videos.ÃÂ Welcome to the site.
Wow, I guess he Was playing
Wow, I guess he Was playing rather well than. Can you get me some of what ever he was taking. I'll bet he was beaming after the round. I'm elated anytime I flirt with 79, wouldn't know how to handle a 72.
I do like the shamble though and plan to suggest it to a few in my groups. We play a lot of 6-hole best ball matches, where you switch to a different partner in the foursome every 6 holes. That way everyone has to play as a team with everyone else, and it seems to even it out a bit.
PMG
T Medley, I believe you
T Medley, I believe you should be the official Librarian of PPGS. ÃÂ I have seen all of your referrals frommy beginning of two years ago, and appreciate your constant and polite referrals for us. ÃÂ There is a definite group of Surgites that provide such great insight and assistance. ÃÂ You could be up for an PPGS Academy Award nomination of the year. ÃÂ You will have competition from Robert F. among many others. ÃÂ Haha.
Surge, I watch your latest
Surge, I watch your latest video every day and thoroughly enjoy the information.ÃÂ A terrible habit has crept into my set-up over the past several years and, for the life of me, I can't stop it.ÃÂ As I take my stance and prepare to swing, I find myself constantly "milking" the grip until it becomes very strong with my right hand sneaking somewhat underneath.ÃÂ Obviously, this has caused some real inconsistencies in my shot-making.ÃÂ Any suggestions on how I can stop this destructive habit?ÃÂ I know it's harmful -- but I can't stop it.ÃÂ Thanks.
I wonder if things would have
I wonder if things would have been different at UK if they had kept coach Bryant when they had him and Adolf Rupp.
Was thrilled to see DJ make
Was thrilled to see DJ make the cut yesterday and making birdies today!ÃÂ Hoping he maintains his fully exempt status for 2012.ÃÂ Great blog today, thanks Surge.ÃÂ Reinforced some setup questions for me.
Marilyn,
Marilyn,
Just in case you were wondering, we all love your Zest for the game. We are also all pulling for you to improve and play your lowest round ever. Good luck with tomorrows round.
Terry
Looks like a baseball game
Looks like a baseball game down there in Bama. Bama 6 Tenn 6 .
Hey.ÃÂ I've been using your
Hey.ÃÂ I've been using your swing for some time now, I have your swing series and manual and watch your daily videos.ÃÂ While you cover all parts of your swing numerous times I don't believe I've seen anything on what I should be feeling regarding the hands.ÃÂ You sayÃÂ the left is the power hand and dominant hand in the backswing and to impact, with the right hand thenÃÂ takes control thru the upswing.ÃÂ My question:ÃÂ should I be conscious of my left hand or both hands taking the club away or just the left hand then conscious of the right taking over after impact.ÃÂ It's causing me to be too mechanical and trying to play by connecting the dots.ÃÂ It's killing my consistency.ÃÂ Any thoughts will be appreciated.
Roger,
Roger,
Were you a rotational swinger when you were a C or D player? Enquiring minds want to know!
Tom Jans
ÃÂ Yes, me too. The two
ÃÂ Yes, me too. The two double bogies on 1 and 9 were unfortunate today, but he still played an even par round, which keeps him at -3. Let's hope for a low round tomorrow.
PMG
Dick Lee,
Dick Lee,
ÃÂ Where have you gone. You were back for a moment, but then, gone again. Please return, the blog needs you.
Good night Dick, and best wishes, where ever you are.
PMG
Thanks Surge, didn't get to
Thanks Surge, didn't get to play today, but, for sure tomorrow.ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ Hit some good balls yesterday, still trying to stay down and hitting through to the t finish.ÃÂ Wish I would stop coming up to soon, darn, but, I will it just takes time.
Thanks for all of your help,
marilyn
Kevin, I concur. Amos calls
Kevin, I concur. Amos calls him coach. I second your nomination. And true as you say we have a nice group of helpful Surgites.
PMG
We played an interesting 9
We played an interesting 9 hole game today after our normal round that they called a "shamble".
I had never played in such a thing but the tee shot was scramble format and then from that point each team member played their own ball and the lowest two scores counted on each hole.
The interesting part was that of the four people on my team we had two 29's and two 30's for nine holes.
Unbelievable when I think about it because the only thing different from any of our normal rounds was that we always had a perfect tee shot to play from.
Definitely gives me incentive to cut the crap and do whatever I have to do to start getting the ball in the fairway and long. In the fairway and short wouldn't get any of us close to a 29 or 30 and out of the fairway and long wouldn't get any of us close to a 29 or 30. It takes both and I intend to make that start happening.
BTW our team won that little game and won $40 each and the team score was 12 under for nine holes.
(I'm not talking about my 18 hole round because it wasn't pretty. I couldn't make a putt to save my life.) Ha ha! one of those days.
Steve,Dogwood Hills in Flat
Steve,
Dogwood Hills in Flat Rock has a driving range or go to Goose Pond in Scottsboro.
That's what happens in
That's what happens in football when all the kids are hearing is about the game in two weeks against LSU.
P.S. I would have clicked a "dislike" on your comment if they had one. Ha ha!
Nothing against you stating the facts but I sure ain't liking the game. :-(
P.S. again. I'm "liking" it a lot better now. Whew!!!!!
Roy,for me, you are talkng
Roy,for me, you are talkng too fast, also show more of the swingÃÂ movement.
Thanks-
Jerry from Bova RatonÃÂ
Hey fellow golfers. Jonesing
Hey fellow golfers. Jonesing to get out on the golf course. Was going to play Friday (one of my days off) but got called into work. The weather has been primo here. Perfect, about 82 and sunny. nice cool mornings now. Couldn't take it and stopped by the range after work tonight and hit balls under the lights. Approaching my practice with a fresh attitude now. I'm learning to lighten up and enjoy golf more. I have been just putting to much self inflicted pressure on myself to play better. Working on feeling my swings and shots. Shaping the ball more. I have gone to a draw on most my drives now. Just following Surges teaching from his "shape the ball" video. I'm learning to visualize and feel the shot and then swing the feel. Agree 100% with Surge that we need to hit the ball within 10 seconds before we lose the feel.ÃÂ Pretty cool results tonight. Had fun and really enjoyed myself. Hadn't hit balls for nearly two weeks. I'll probably play twice this week. Lifes good.
Come on Deej, play weel Sunday!
A great variation to a
A great variation to a scramble that gets every player more involved.
They call that a ' dogfight ' here.
Tom Yes I was rotational.
Tom
Yes I was rotational.
surge, if you line up to your
surge, if you line up to your target and you place your club across your shoulders and chest will that give you the same line as your toe line?ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ dharvey43ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ
Kevin,
Kevin,
ÃÂ Thank you for the kind words. Just doing what I can to help others. I figure, it's better to refer someone to a Surge Lesson, than to mangle my own explanation or instruction to them. It's always better received when it comes straight from the man at the top.
ÃÂ There are many others who actually retain the knowledge much better than I. For me, if I didn't have it cataloged somewhere, I'd forget it myself. That is why I started the process, for my own faulty memory.
My life relies heavily on post it notes to keep things on track.
PMG
ÃÂ
The tip a few days ago from
The tip a few days ago from Surge I think. When practicing, play 2balls against one another. So for instance:ÃÂ Off the tee,hit two balls and then playÃÂ the next two from the best ball lands. Then you will be able to see your potential score and what you are capable of. Haven't tried it yet,but may when the course becomes less 'boggy'. Long gets you there,providing you are on the fairway or in a position to hit a good shot every time. On a couple of par 4's I have used the 5W off the tee and subsequently off the fairway, ending up comfortably on the green. Wussie? Coward? Scaredy cat? None of those. At the end of the day, it is how many not how. Anywhich way for a good total.Remember Ballesteros never hit a fairway,played from the carpark etc, and still won.
Good team result Steve, hope our team wins tonight hahahaha.
Keep up the crusade for longer and straighter. May get out today, weather a tad grotty though. Here's hoping. HitÃÂ 'em long and straight, I will settle for the latter for NOW!
as far as the setup. if your
as far as the setup. if your lead arm is bent 2". what diffurance do you make in the setup?
Hey our "C" player shot a 67
Hey our "C" player shot a 67 today. It was the best round he ever shot. I don't ever remember him hitting a bad shot today and a lot of his approach shots were close enough to just have a tap in. If he keeps that up he won't be a "C" player for long.
I agree with Roy-------us old
I agree with Roy-------us old timers have to have things explained a little slower.
ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ ÃÂ Thanks-
ÃÂ Denny from Michigan
Boy I wish there was a
Boy I wish there was a lighted driving range around here. There aren't too many nights that I wouldn't get the urge to go hit a bucket.
Of course since there isn't even ANY driving range around here I guess one that is lit up would be a stretch. ;-)
Most of us did hit some acorns into the lake while we were waiting to play today. I hit one that looked like it went about 75 yards. Ha ha!
This was a off the wall day.
This was a off the wall day.
I get up shower and head to the golf course. Open the cap of my truck and my clubs are not in there. My wife
to my truck to the store last night and took my clubs out and did not tell me. I know the pro their pretty well he let me play a demo set of R11 irons and a demo Adams driver, The skins game that I used to play in
there is still their they asked me if I would play with them they needed a C player to fill out a four man team. I told them that I was more like a B player and they said no no your a C. I ended up shooting 76 and took 3 skins for 50.00 and another 40.00 for team play. They wined and wined the next time you play with us your going to be a weak A or Strong B player. I laughed at them and told them I told you I was at least a B player. When I use to play with them I was a C or D player.
Regarding distance from the
Regarding distance from the ball, I found Butch Harmon's suggestion to be best.ÃÂ "After taking your grip and stance, sole the club.ÃÂ Drop your right (lower hand) and it should drop in line with your left (upper hand.ÃÂ If it drops below you are too far and if it drops above you are too close".
Denny and Jerry,
Denny and Jerry,
Both of you sound a little new to the site and PPGS program. Please know that there is a lot of information already available in the archives for you to peruse. You can do so by use of the search block in the right column and enter any word or phrase you desire. You can also do so by just clicking on any month of the right column monthly archives and find All the daily videos for that particular month in descending order. You can also ask direct questions which will receive answers from those of use who have been at the system for a bit of time now. Unfortunately, Don Trahan, The Surge, will probably not answer your questions directly. To have him personally answer each and every question would consume far too much of his time on a daily basis.
The information is already available to you, through the archives of the site. Good luck in your quest.
Seek and you shall find.
Too much fun Steve :)
Too much fun Steve :)
What we call a dogfight
What we call a dogfight around here is everybody playing their own ball all the way through, usually keeping score with a point system instead of normal scoring.
I think everybody liked what we did today better than the usual 9 hole scramble we usually have, except Ron the course owner, because he can usually have a good chance to win the scramble on his own. With this double low ball format one man can't do it on his own. Luckily for me, the other three players on my team today are excellent players.
I have not heard that
I have not heard that suggestion and it seems to work as I practice it at home. ÃÂ Will take to the next game. ÃÂ Looks to be simple and very effective. ÃÂ Thanks.