Many of you may be heading out to play some golf before watching the final round of The PLAYERS Championship. So, I just wanted to give you a quick tip about your finish position.
It's very important that you swing up to the T-finish while using equal force with both arms. You don't want to have one arm doing more than the other, otherwise you won't have a balanced swing. Remember to utilize your practice swings to ingrain the feeling you want to have when you actually hit the ball.
Please list your predictions for The PLAYERS Championship below. Will young Jordan Spieth learn from his disappointment at The Masters? Or will major winner, Martin Kaymer pull out another big win in his young career? Will a savvy veteran make a move from the middle of the pack?
There are always many story lines to watch out for at Pete Dye's famous course. You've got to love The PLAYERS!
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
Don's daily back yard video's
Hi Don,
I have been looking for a practice driving net for some time now and can't seem to find one I like. My question is what is the brand of driving net you use on your daily video's? It looks like a nice one, and hopefully it's not too expensive. If you could tell me the brand and where to get one like it I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks!
Alan H. Hendricks
net
Try a net that starts with an r.
Don does not want to support a company not affiliated with the PPGS.
Chicken Wing
Hi Surge,
I had some clubs fitted By Doc Griffin,and I was having problems with the driver.With my previous driver, I was fairly consistent,so as most players do,I blamed my problems on the club.Doc had me send him videos of my shots with the driver,and I sent some others,with 2 other clubs.He critiqued my swing,and in one instance,he said that my right arm was "Chicken Winging", at the top of my back swing.I never saw a Daily Video,where you address this problem,or maybe you call it something else,and how do I correct it?
Jon Quinley
chicken wing
here's a couple of videos you just have to use the search button
https://www.swingsurgeon.com/daily-video-tips/chicken-wing-good-eating-bad-swinging
https://www.swingsurgeon.com/daily-video-tips/what-causes-golfers-elbow
Both Hands
I totally agree with Surge, when both hands are working as one, they produce more power, ie no drag. I still find it difficult to relate the "skipping a rock" theory, which is a right underhand tossing action, which would make the right hand more dominant as it's not possible to replicate this action with the left, to me it must go along for the ride. I know if I use both hands at impact I get more power, but usually the left takes over when I do and my game goes haywire.
Currently, I mentally feel my right hand dominating and have reasonable success with this and if I don't, then at sometime during my game the left hand starts sneaking in and my game becomes crap and then spend the next few holes trying to get it back, very frustrating.
Any other Surgite have this problem.
Throws
If you make a perfect sidearm throw with the bottom hand and a perfect backhand throw with the top hand (like Frisbee throws from each side) and put them both together (without the Frisbee footwork of course) you have a golf swing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Trm_XZR3dA0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgUyW5aGC2U
Try taking both arms for a ride
Hi Neil,
I know it may be sacrilege for saying so but I think that the reason I lost my natural draw swing, was the fact that I was putting too much emphasis on the arm swing and not enough on the hip / left side turn after the bump.
I don't pay a lot of attention to Martin Halls' teaching of the full swing but a few days ago he said something that rang true. He said that " in the downswing there should be no pulling with the left arm or shoulder just a turning of the left hip."
If all I think about is swinging my arms up,, I guess the forward swing hip turn gets lazy and it is not too surprising if a lot of my finishes, are with the hips facing somewhere right of the target. It also wouldn't be surprising if one of the arms tried to dominate instead of going more " along for the ride.
I am still right side dominant as far as the back swing and start of the bump triggered by a slight downward move of the right shoulder blade. After that the forward upswing is all about turning the hips aggressively enough to have them facing the target at the finish. I'm getting a lot more consistency focusing on the left hip turn and feeling that both arms are going along for the ride and the draw is back.
It might be alright for someone young and with very fast hip action to think of the arm swing leading the band but if I do that I will not make a complete turn though the shot and miss a lot to the right. I still get a nice upright T-finish even if the feeling is more that both arms are going along for the ride and the best part is that open club face misses to the right are eliminated.
The Hips
Dave, thanks for your comment. Just checked my hip position in the last video ( I do one a month) and my hips/body were facing the target on completion of the FUS as Surge prescribes and seeing that he advocates a passive lower body ( bump excluded ) believe I'm following his system. I would have thought that if one gets too aggressive with the hips early in the FUS, then doesn't that initiate some early shoulder turn, which sets up the problem of early casting?.
Have you videoed yourself to see what is actually happening, as you may be just "bumping" which feels like an agressive turn, Iv'e already experimented with an agressive "Bump", but it just throws the whole sequence out.
Let me know what you think.
Hips
Hi Neil,
Aggressive probably isn't the right word. On the other hand, my hips were too passive before I started making a deliberate effort to turn them after the bump. I haven't strayed that far from the Surge swing. I do find that thinking about turning the left hip, after the bump, helps my arms work together without thinking about it, or feeling that one of them is dominant. They are still doing the lifting in a coordinated way but I don't have to think about it.
I know that an aggressive bump is counterproductive. That's why I stopped thinking about moving the hips laterally and adopted the right shoulder blade down thought. It has proved to be a more measured way of triggering the bump and gives me a much better chance of having the shoulders square at impact.
Hips
Dave, being a man who will try anything & everthing to improve my golf, God only knows how many systems iv'e tried, will check out the hip turn and see what transpires. Sporting ability has always been my achilles heel in life, but I'm hoping to get some private tuition from Surge, later this year.
Regarding the shoulder dropping, I think this is where a lot of my problems stem from in that I don't really have a system to start the FUS, it seems I do something different every game. The concept of dropping the arms, wrists or shoulders doesn't come natural to me, but Surge may be able to guide me on that component.
Hips
Surge's hips are around 25 to 30 degrees open at impact and his shoulders 5 to 10 degrees open at impact with a driver.
If people are trying to have the hips and shoulders square at impact they are losing all sorts of power (among other problems).
It's a golf swing. Not a statue with movable arms.
Hips & Shoulders
Yep, I looked at a couple of my videos and my hips are about the same as Surge's, my shoulders only look a little open but that's probably due to me using a lessor club than a driver, so these must be natural or subconscious movements as I don't have thoughts of doing this.
Can always count on you for the finer points of the swing and thanks again and I like the idea of a statue, ie setting the swing in stone to achieve repetition, lol.
Think " H " for forward hip turn
Neil,
I have to rely on all kinds of swing thought tricks in order to be consistent. I can't rely on my natural athletic ability. Surge's "swing the feel mantra doesn't work for me. I do have success hitting good shots if my swing thoughts are visual and tempo related. It may not sound like it, from the following description but my swing is now much simpler and has fewer moving parts than ever before.
When I was learning the Surge swing and trying to go from a very flat rotational swing to an upright swing, his visuals of catcher's mitts and hitting up trees helped me groove an upright swing. I don't have to think of these things now. The only time I have to think about swinging up in the forward swing now, is when I want to hit a deliberate fade. Otherwise the UP is built into the swing and doesn't require any conscious thought.
A lot of good players use a 1,2,3 count for every swing. I use a three count for tempo but use words instead of numbers. Every one of these three words is a trigger for me to do something with my body. It all seems to work, because when playing with strangers I often get complemented on how effortless and in tempo my swing is.
My first of the three words is "SLOW" for the back swing. It ensures that I always get a complete backward upswing. This word triggers the right shoulder blade to start the the back swing. This is used as a very consistent way to start the back swing by some rotational players. It also works very well with my upright back swing.
The second word "POUR" is a very visual as well as timing related one. It took me a couple of years to find something that produced a consistent bump, ensured a smooth transition and helped eliminate any over the top move. I wanted the word to be related to the right shoulder blade so that the same body part could trigger the back swing as well as the transition smoothly. I simply visualize something pouring down in back of me from the right shoulder blade. It may sound silly but it works for me.
The last word is "H" for forward hip turn. This short form for triggering the forward hip turn is a small,quick, concise move that puts no stress on my back and puts a lot of zip into the forward upswing.
SLOW--POUR--H is a mantra that works for me.
DJ
Hey Surgites, DJ tees off Thursday morning at 7:20 am at the Bryon Nelson tourney, the PGA.
Good Luck this week DJ.
Hal
acceleration/zip in swing
My wife Cindy found instant improvement by simply allowing herself to turn back a little more and then create some speed and "whoosh" in fer forward swing to the finish. I know this is basic but thought it may be a good reminder for not only our lady Surgites but for all of us. Having enough zip and acceleration is so important regardless of our over all swing speed.
Cindy and I were able to play yesterday evening as I got off early from work (and she had the day off). We played till nearly 8pm! I love the long summer days that are coming in the northern hemisphere. Any how she wasn't getting any distance and was really struggling with her 56 degree around the green. I told her that I observed that her swing was getting shorter and shorter and more deliberate each time out lately. She had become much less than 3/4's on her full swing and seemed like she had no zip. That lead to ball flight that was low and short with some fatties thrown in. Got her to turn back just a fraction more and get her hands higher (think Davis Love 20 year ago) in the BUS and then focus on zipping through while finishing on her left foot. Presto! Great wedges the rest of the day with several ups and downs around the green (pars!) and nearly had a birdie. All her other clubs benefited too. Drives were longer, better hybrids, et.
Surge has given this reminder more than once.
Good advice for women and men
https://www.swingsurgeon.com/daily-video-tips/ladies-go-after-it
Acceleration/zip in the swing
Robert,
Thanks for the link on: ladies-go-after-it ; - ) Glad Surge mentioned Senior golfers as being in the same class hahaha! Hitting it like a creme puff sounds about right. Hopefully I'm over that phase. Still lots of rain here dang it!. My golf mate in the South Island was out yesterday.There the rain stopped after 5 holes, but his description of conditions was not anything to make golfers smile.
Still swinging when we get the opportunity-noted that the overhanging eaves at the front allowed me to play when it was not raining too hard to go out and swing. Me standing in the dry with my butt only about 18" from a large picture window and the rest of the golf mat being watered, made sure there was no rotational swing in either direction : - ) Reading an ancient book by Tommy Armour and noted one of the most prevalent faults he mentioned is one I have been dealing with recently with success, has been-during some swings my little finger on my lead [left]hand was coming off the grip during the FUS! What a difference it has made in clubhead control IMO! This has allowed me to swing more aggressively with confidence. Still using the abbreviated Torture Drill as a pre-shot routine with success. Hope that you and Cindy enjoy many more good weather days in Vegas.
If nothing else we will be watching the Byron Nelson tomorrow morning here in NZ. Eyes peeled for DJ
Thanks again for the long forgotten link [don't remember ever seeing it, it may have been during the period back in NZ when we didn't have access to broadband]. Keep on hitting them consistently longer and straighter with more zip! DH and DL in NZ
Golfing fun
Rain rain go away. To bad we can't import some of that rain from NZ to our southwest deserts DH. California is already experiencing some unwanted fires. Was a dry winter in this part of the country and I'm afraid lots of bad fires will be unavoidable.
As for golfing weather, we have it in abundance. Yesterday Cindy and I walked 18 at Los Prados. A hilly track that provides a good walk for sure. My golf was a mixed adventure. Started with a par and ended with a par. In between I had one birdie, lots of pars, several bogies, a double bogie and a dreadful score killing triple! All leading to an 80 on this par 71 course. Actually played really well aside from the 5 and 6 both coming on two of the par 3's. Funnest was the birdie on the par 5 #3 hole. Beauty of a drive down the middle. Then from 230 yards decided to play smart and lay up to wedge range. Caught my 4 iron better than expected and slightly pulled it too (which makes it fly even further). It sailed down the left side and then rolled down the cart path. Was shocked to find it pin high but in the gravel rocks at the end of the cart path. Had a shot at the green but would need to chip it low under a tree but high enough to clear about 40 feet of rough to land on the green and then roll an additional 40 feet to the pin. Used a 6 iron to perfection as Cindy screamed it's going in! Stopped 2 inches from the cup for a tap in bird.
After being 4 over on the first 8 holes I went on a nice run of pars on 9,10,11,12,14 before the triple on #15 slapped me down. After a simple bogie on #17 I nearly drove #18 (a 300 yard hole). Was a little steamed after ruining my score on #15. Left with a 10 yard chip I failed to make a 3 and walked away with a final hole par 4. (39/41=80)
Golf, what a game. It can take us sooo high and sooo low all on the same day. "I'll be back"
Golf on!
The World Is Flat?
Hi All,
I am new to the Swing Surgeon site, so I hope I am posting this the right way. I would just like to start a little discussion. Hopefully Don can even join in if he has something to add. Johnny Miller wrote an article in the current GOLF Magazine (June). It's titled "The World Is Flat". Unfortunately I don't have a link or anything, because it's the current issue. Hopefully some of you subscribe or purchase the magazine. It's not very long, so I decided to place it below. Hope you don't mind the long blog. I just thought it would be something to talk about. Even though I am very new to the swing, I am sure that it's opposite viewpoint should illicit some comments from us Surgites. If I did this the wrong way, please let me know. Here goes:
Some guys just know how to hit it straight. back in the 80s, two time Tour winner Mike Reid finished first or second in driving accuracy six times, hence the nickname "Radar". In the 90s and 2000s, Fred Funk, hit fairways at a near 80 percent clip. These days, Zach Johnson is the man you'd bet ypur kid's college fund on to stripe one down the middle. Interestingly, all three players have the same type of flat swing. When I was playing in the 70s, swings were very upright. We'd get our hands way above our right shoulder at the top and finish with them well above oour left shoulder. Our swings were so upright that we had to arch our spines in a reverse C to make the move work. (My back aches just thinking about it.) Flat swings were few and far between in my day. Now everybody's flat. I bet there are only three or four guys on Tour in 2014 who swing the way I, Jack Nicklaus or any players of the 60s, 70s and 80s used to. Look at Matt Kuchar. his swing is so flat that his hands barely get above his shoulders. That's not only good for accuracy; swinging flat lets you turn faster through impact, because you don't have to work the club up in your release. It's pure rotation, and rotation equals speed. Changing your swing plane isn't that complicated. Start by swinging your hands from shoulder to shoulder, and turn your body aggressively through impact. Your backswing will feel shorter, but that's a good thing for most weekend players. You'll make up for it with a faster release. And you'll hit more fairways. As the most accurate players of the last 35 years prove, flat is where it's at. He has a couple of pictures in the article of him and Matt Kuchar swinging flat.
I know we all love talking about golf, golf swings, etc. Being I am new to the site and to PPGS, I thought you guys would have a definite opinion about this article.
Steve
The Sky is Up !
Hi Steve,
Welcome to the site. Many of the older upright players like Johnny used tremendous leg drive, instead of a gentle bump, which caused a finish with a back breaking Reverse C. My back also aches just thinking about that! Notice that he didn't say anything about the flat swing being pain free.
Dave
The Sky is UP
Hi Dave,
Thanks for the reply. l love talking about golf. Wasn't sure if my post was too long, but I was startled by the article and thought I would see what you guys thought. Especially being that it is basically the total opposite of what Don teaches. Being I am new to the site and the swing characteristics, I was interested in his comment about back pain with the upright/vertical swing. When everything I have read on the site is how body friendly Don's swing is. I off tomorrow so I will be watching the Fundamental Series that I just purchased.
Thanks for the feedback. I learn everyday. It feels really good to be excited about a swing. I have investigated so many Internet swings (won't bother mentioning the name. I am sure you have run across some). I think I am going to love learning the PPGS. Even If I just practice the moves in my apartment for now.
Everyone seems very friendly and helpful on our site.
Thanks again,
Steve
Back injuries
Like Dave said the swings Johnny Miller and a young Jack Nicklaus used are not exactly what Surge teaches. Even DJ doesn't stick to the letter of it and "stays down" much longer after impact.
Any golf swing that generates club head speeds over 115mph can hurt you. Some are more likely to hurt the back than others and the PPGS as Surge performs it is about as good as it gets for avoiding a back injury.
In my opinion the biggest "problem" with "rotational swings" isn't the rotation at all but it's "staying down and maintaining spine angle after impact". The position that we all love to see among Tour players that looks so impressive. Problem with maintaining that position once the ball is gone is that it puts tremendous torque on the back.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=tiger+woods+golf+swing+pictures&qpvt=tiger+woods+golf+swing+pictures&FORM=IGRE&id=B3...
Rotational players (and even PPGS users) would have a much better chance of avoiding back injuries if they would "Pop Tart" after impact or at least let their spine angle straighten up and come around to face the target like Annika always did (and like Surge does). Very little chance she was ever going to hurt her back swinging a golf club and that would have been true even if she had been a man with 120mph club head speed.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=annika+sorenstam+golf+swing+pictures&qpvt=annika+sorenstam+golf+swing+pictures&FORM=...
Many rotational players on Tour do a pretty good job of letting the body naturally release after impact and unfortunately many of them don't. Even more unfortunate is that their ability to stay down after impact is what most people are trying to emulate.
The only fortunate thing (and the reason more people don't get hurt) is that most people don't have the flexibility to stay down like that, or swing that fast, and that saves them.
Back Injuries
Hi Steve,
Thanks for the comments. I am really interested what people not only think about the article, but also about the differences in swing techniques. Thanks for all the information, your opinion, and the links you included.
Steve