I was on the lesson tee with Frank, an IC member from Chicago. A rotational swinger, he played to a 5 handicap until his back gave out and he just about gave up golf. I should mention that Frank is 39.
He 'discovered' the Peak Performance Golf Swing on line while searching for, as he said, 'Anything that would stop the pain in my lower back and get me back into the game.' That day he was wearing some kind of elastic band that wrapped around his lower back.
His setup was very good but his grip was a little strong. He had been working on the 'in the mitt and up the tree' with his backswing, staying vertical, but was having a hard time initiating his downswing (forward up swing — FUS).
It all came down to the 'bump,' as I like to call it. The lateral left bump is the term I use to describe the first or initiating move of the downswing. When the right hand 'rings the bell' at the top of the backswing, the lateral bump or shift, is done on a straight line from where the knees are at the top of the backswing, which would have them shifting on a line toward the target. There is a moment in time when both halves of the body, upper and lower, are going in different directions at the same time for a split second. This opposite direction is what causes the maximum stretching of the leg and back muscles. Remember, power comes from stretching muscles, not twisting or coiling.
To best understand this, hold a rubber band between the index finger and thumb in both hands. Now pull equally in opposite directions and then let go of the band with the right hand. The rubber band snaps to the left. That is The BUMP! And the body reacts exactly the same way.
The lateral bump will cause a slight tilting to the right of your upper body (secondary spine angle tilt) and will pull the arms and hands and club straight down. This is what sets them in motion in the downswing.
When you bump, three things happen:
1. The weight shifts laterally from the right foot to the left and causes the secondary spine angle tilt to automatically pull the arms, hands and club down in a free fall. It is important to feel and let this free fall happen, which is only a split second during the weight shift. Once the weight shift reaches the outside edge of the left foot, the next two moves happen immediately, simultaneously and explosively:
2. The hips begin to turn.
3. The arms and hands swing the club up and you stand up into the T-finish 'AFAP,' as fast as possible with the recoil and relax.
Note: The bump is a very fast, spontaneous and a small lateral left hip slide. The slide is no more than an inch or two of movement of your center of gravity, which is a point at the base of your spine. Imagine a line drawn through your belt buckle. A proper bump will have the line/buckle slide only an inch or two at the most.
I had Frank practice 'ringing the bell' several times. He was getting pretty good at it but wasn't quite there yet. All of a sudden he stopped and looked at me. 'It's this (you can fill in the blank) back brace,' Frank said. He took his jacket off, pulled his shirt off, unhooked the brace and threw it on the ground. He did not even seem to notice the cold. He got dressed again, got into his setup, 'rang the bell' and he was off and running.
Here are three exercises I gave Frank to check to see if he was starting his downswing with the lateral left bump.
1. Shadow Swing: The key to the lateral left bump is that the shadow of your head must tilt to the right as you bump to start your downswing. If your head moves left or flinches left, your timing is off, and your upper body may be moving too fast, getting ahead of the ball. An outside-in swing path will be the result.
2. Door Jam: Stand in a doorway, with your left foot an inch form the wall. If you bump properly, your left knee and hip will bump the wall and your upper body will move away/tilt to the right.
3. Skip rocks: Make the swing motion of skipping rocks on a lake, and feel the motion of your lower body leading and bumping to the left while your arm is still swinging upward in the backswing. This is perhaps the best and most perfectly correct movement demonstrating the bump. It shows the upper and lower body moving in different directions at the same time for a split second.
The Surge!
Comments
I realise this is an old
I realise this is an old "post" by you but it is causing me a problem. I have been following your system now for some 16 months & it is working for me. I am 67 yrs & playing to 10 on a Championship course(having gone up from 7 over the past 3 yrs). I was interested in your system because, although I have played quite well for the past 25yrs or so in single figures, I have never been very consistent with too many moving parts in my swing. The Surge system has quietened down my body movement & clarified my thoughts of what I was trying to do in the swing. However, I started my golf in the era when Johnny Miller was in his prime & the forward movement of the Hips was fundamental. I have probably ingrained the habit of too much forward movement, to the extent that it is not unusual to take a step forward after using the Driver. I find it difficult to "Bump" & keep my head behind the ball. I tried the "door drill" on my own before you proposed it but on the course I seem to revert to type. I have to tell you that I am playing excellent golf for 15 holes a round, consistent ball-striking & quite long off the tee compared to my contemporaries but 2/3 shots per round there is too much drive, loss of balance(even loss of sight of the ball) & double/treble bogie. Any advice please? PS Thanks for your instructions/forum.