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 September 2011
Today's tip comes from Rick Simmons, who writes: "For the 30-something years I've been playing golf I've had a problem with my hands. I understand that the grip is the connection of the club to... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 18 September 2011
Last week, I answered the first of two really good questions from Dan Swantko (Level Knees In Backswing). Today I will tackle his second one. "Is there a place in the Surge Swing for a conscious... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 17 September 2011
Harold Klein recently asked me for help in getting his swing more vertical. His playing partners keep telling him that his swing goes from Catcher's Mitt to Catcher's Mitt. Harold, a lefty who is... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 16 September 2011
A couple of weeks ago, I received this comment and question from Dwight, who had been having problems with his driver. "Surge, great video today. Awhile back I was coming across my body with my... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 15 September 2011
  Warning: Do Not Read This Unless You Are Frustrated As Hell With Your Golf Game In Your Special Report... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 15 September 2011
For today's tip, I am joined by Bruce Chaffin, PT Extraordinaire and PPGS Certified Instructor, better known to many of you as The Rolfer Golfer. Bruce was at Odessa National helping me teach a... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 14 September 2011
Comments: 33
I recently received a couple of really good questions from Dan Swantko, who has been a student of the Peak Performance Golf Swing for a little over a year now. Dan made the observation that the Up-... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 13 September 2011
Comments: 38
Today's tip comes from a series of questions Michael Forrest had for me regarding a video Doc Griffin did back in June. (Over The Top? It May Be Your Clubs) Michael was confused by what he saw Doc... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 12 September 2011
Comments: 37
This past weekend I was at Odessa National Golf Club with Dave Seeman to conduct a three day golf school. The ladies out numbered the men, and all of them came ready to work. As is usually the case... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 11 September 2011
Today's tip stems from remarks made recently by JSmith who was commenting on my recent post titled "Does Baseball Lead To A Bad Golf Swing?" He wrote: "Surge--I love your site and your lessons. I... Read More