Picking the Right Driver

Who do you know that can bend the lie angle of a driver?  I'd like to talk to them.

You use a plumb bob to double-check the slope as it provides a known vertical line in case the other points of reference around the green are deceptive. Personally, I never use the technique, but reading the line has never been my problem.

Thanks Steve,
I'm approx 5' 11 1/2" and I'm also 36" from wrist to floor.  To use the normal rotational swing 44" or 45" would probably be OK but not, I thought, with the Surge swing as it is much more upright.  Perhaps I could get 1" to 1 1/2" cut off and still choke down a bit?
Mick

Damn Son!   You Crack Me up!

Hi Doc,
The master has spoken.  What can I do but what he says? (Steve also advised this of course - so thanks Steve).  Watch out duct tape you're gonna feel the pain!
Seriously though, many thanks guys.
Mick

An "After" Action report is finally in order!
I played an easier course today (for the first time) and shot a 41+40 = 81, my best round EVER.  7/13 Fairways, (the rest were playable), 9/18 GIR (best ever) and 36 putts (yeah, I left a couple);
What made the difference?
1) Making sure I turn enough!! 
2) Loading the back leg, NOT tilting  (both covered in recent "dailies").
3) After 3-4 months, I am finally getting comfortable with the mechanics of the Surge swing.   I hit a couple 5 woods today that were BEAUTs.  And the best part, I know how I did it, so I can do it again!!  And last, but not least,
.
4) For every full shot, my question was:  "What shot do I feel CONFIDENT hitting?   THAT single question dramatically improved my course management and made the difference in the score.  When you feel confident in the shot you pick, you make a better swing!  I think it would be even more helpful on the tougher courses I usually play, and would help prevent "blowup" holes.  I intend to use that question from NOW ON.

That thought came from a new book (2011)  written by Annika's former coaches, entitled "Play Your Best Gofl NOW."   I've only read a couple of chapters but it absolutely affected me for the better.  I strongly recommend it!  :)  Authors are Pia Nelson and Lynn Marriott.

Happy Reading!

Hi,
On the subject of drivers.  Can anyone help me please?  I have a driver that is approx 45" from top of the shaft to the bottom (heel end) of the head.  According to the Surg and the Doc, to use the PPGS, it would appear that 41" would be more beneficial to me.  If I shorten it by that much, will it affect the performance or balance of the club in any way?
It's a beautiful Yonex Nanospeed 3i, so I don't want to ruin it!
Thanks,
Mick

I hope all you guys were taking notice of Don's advice
For those whose ears are only painted on, I'll try a summary of Don's quotes

It's all about having good missus
He who has the best missus wins
If your missus are unliveable because they're unfindable, you may be using the wrong driver
Better missus stay in play - Bad missus go way off line
The better your missus, the better you play
Are your missus good with your clubs?

Think about your missus
Length is not the only factor - it's the quality of your missus
Do your missus get you in trouble?
Do your missus hurt you?

So think about your missus - if you're unhappy with them, it's your fault, you've got the wrong driver

I ran all this past my missus & she reckons Don is right on the money
So think about your missus

I'm so glad I popped in today

Misster Jack

Hi SoDak65,
Please see my reply to Steve.
Mick

Check back later or subscribe to comments with your email and you'll see any other responses on this video.

Hello Tina,

Great Round!

I had a similar experience last night.  My family held a going away BBQ for me yesterday, and as part of the festivities, I got to play a twilight round with my boys.  I shot 38 on the front, and 44 on the back, despite four double bogeys.  My putting was absolutely lights out.  I didn't have a three putt all night, and dropped a half dozen from outside 12 feet.

The highlight of the round was an eagle putt on the third hole from 12 feet.  Even though I left it short, the fact that I was on in two was exhilarating.

Like You, I have been concentrating on on properly pre-loading heavy right, making a good turn to the toe line and completing the lift.  As a result, I felt confident with every club in the bag. Even when I made a bad shot,I knew what caused it.

Well, it's time to get to work.  Once again, congrats on a great round.

Hit'em Long and Straight,
Bob

Barrowcloughr,
make sure your camera is right at the toe line or this can APPEAR to be the case when it really isn't...
TinaB

Howdy Gang, Here's how my swing practice went today. I used the "no ball before its time " rule. There was only one draw back. Honey wasn't being cooperative, I think I can blame the weather, I let her over-work yesterday and was afraid to let her push herself to hard in the day's heat. So after about 10 minutes and umpteen false starts on her part, I put her indoors and got down to business. I wanted to
make sure I went to the full 70* turn and kept my left arm off my chest.
I used the "don't crush your copenhagen can" thought,lol. Also worked
on loading down into the right knee as well. With my practice balls I
was hitting more hooks than anything but surprisingly no slices when I thought I deserved a ball.( a variety of sponges and those x-wing star wars looking things,that seem to simulate ball flight pretty well). It was so hot that I only carried my swingrite and 7 iron out today.No pulls, plain simple hooks and I noticed on each that I had over rotated my hips and they were to the left of the target.
 So I made the following corrections as I continued my dry swings and live fires.I worked on making sure that as I started the BUS I performed the take-away in one piece and took the ball away slightly inside or at most square to, I had noticed that if I didn'nt make that concentrated effort, I was going back immediately to the outside.Then I concentrated on just getting thumbs up on the bus while making sure I had the chest to arm separation when I got to the toe line and went vertical.As I rang the bell I thought to myself "down the line" which helps me to drop into the slot and come inside to square or  slightly inside to out (probably more so of the latter,since I envision coming out at 10 o'clock) but since I can't see contact I just trust that either one of those is good. This swing thought also helps me keep my hips in check too,btw.
 So seeing how I was doing that along with concentrating on coming away from the ball with a slightly inside move I started hitting them either straight at the target or with a nice draw that started slightly right of the line and came back on target.Either of which would be great on the course in my book. I only lost one to the right and that was when my grip was to soaked and I let the club face spin open slightly.By then my T-shirt was also soaked and I couldn't find a dry spot on it to wipe my grip down well,lol. I noted all of this in my notebook and will continue to work on these things daily here at home until I'm afforded a chance to get to the range.
Say Goodnight, John-Boy...Happy Golfing

Hi Richard,

Steve Smith and I had a long discussion about this on the blog a few months ago. The 'one-piece takeaway' as taught by some rotational instructors keeps the forearms locked from rotating. As taught by Surge and others instructors here, that's not the case. You must start lifting and rotating your arms from the moment you begin to take the club away. It's the only way to keep the palms perpendicular to the ground as you do the BUS.

This is part of what Steve Smith talks about when he emphasizes getting the head of the club to the toe line with reasonable alacrity.

Now, DJ's move is more extreme than Surge's, and not for the faint of ability as the speed of his rotation would land most of us deep in the SBG (it certainly did that to me).

That's not fish, it's crab or some other type of bottom feeder you're smelling. I guess it could be shellfish or crayfish, they're bottom feeders too.

A personal best - Go Tina
Your report tells me you perhaps are doing even better than you think
Have you heard of the "Rule of 95" ?
It goes like this
95 - 2 (GIR) = score
For your round -------95 - 2 (9) = 77
What that means is you struck it well enough for a 77 if your short game was equal to your long game
36 putts instead of 32 may have been the difference factor?
Look out 70's here she comes

Jack

Hi Drguyer2002,
Please see my reply to Steve.  What do you think?
Mick

The best solution is to see a certified fitter who can advise you what maximum distance you can expect with your given swing and physical condition.

The plumb bob will allow you to pick out a marker, blade of grass or some other feature that is on the straight line to the hole. This assumes of course that your shaft on the putter is straight!! It will tell you nothing about the break. Break is determined by slope, grain, and wind and possibly growth if you play on poania greens in the afternoon. I sometimes use the label on the putter to indicate slope if it is not obvious. The label is perpendicular to the shaft and the shaft hanging vertical will make the label level, which can be compared to the green surface to indicate slope.
Cheers,
OneSigma

Jackoz,
I like the sound of that 77.  And since I've had two recent 18 hole rounds with 28 putts, it sounds reasonable.  What I find is I generally have more putts when I hit more GIR because I'm not getting it as close as when I'm chipping/pitching up...
TinaB

Tina,
 
Congratulation on your best round ever, So far. Better rounds are still ahead.

 We had a group of 12 travel down to EagleSticks in Zanesville  on Saturday. I had not been there in 15+ years. It's not the 5-star course it once was. I was a little disappointed to see it had become just a nominal condition course. I managed a 41 on the front, but the heat wore me down on the back with a 45. I know lower rounds are in me, I just need to get them out.

 Focus Daniel-San

 Best Wishes and Best of luck.

Terry

Ah, I'm reminded of one more thing. Assuming that you have the video series, take a look at the revised Master Setup video about the grip. Surge talks about precisely what you're talking about with the way the hands hang naturally.

Yeh Tina - More GIR's often lead to more putts
That's why GIR's are the key factor in the equation
To use this rule :-
Short game = putts, chips, short pitches & sand saves (not just putts)

An example of one of the many uses of the "Rule of 95"
Why am I not shooting 75?
95 - 2 ( GIR ) = Score     95 - 2 (10 ) = 75
Am I hitting 10 GIR's ?
NO - Address the GIR issue
YES - Address the short game ( getting it up & down )

You can twist it around to find out where your practice efforts will give you the most rewards - time saver

Happy Golfing Tina, I love hearing the passion in the improvement stories on this blog

Jack

Jack

Thank you for the clarification, but one thing was missing. Sould your missus find about your misses, you would be sadly missed. ;0)