Proper Position For Feet And Torso During Setup

 I do favor a slight draw with the driver. What is the biggest factor is the hips being open. They block the back elbow from moving properly away from the toe line and from rotating to toe up. The result being pull hooks off the tee and smaller ones with the irons. If not for having  a great short game I could not break 80 regularly.

When I can get the hips aimed properly breaking par is pretty simple. I expect to be able to putt the ball on line 99%+ of the time and have been doing it for three decades.

When I teach players who struggle with putting, the first order of business is to train them to see the line. Quite often the pulling and pushing disappear with out having to address stroke fundamentals. IMO once you can see the line natural talent can swing the putter on-on-on with the face square.

The type of putter and style makes little difference. The belly and broom stick ones can be easier to swing down the aim line until the need or pressure becomes too important. The putts Adam Scott missed on the last few holes at the Open being a great example. Due to his eyes aimed slightly to the right he pulled his shoulders open a tiny bit resulting in the club head going down the line with the face shut. Good over all stroke but the pressure of the moment caused subconscious adjustments.

Good luck with your new style. Remember it is not the head movement that causes trouble, it is the shoulders opening that cause the head movement. Control them and you will optimize the chances for success.

Your welcome Tom. It never ceases to amaze me how many goodies are available right here in our archive:) I am sure it is the most under utilized tool on the site. Free too.

For me, the challenge is to not shuffle my feet or open my shoulders after alignment is set. That's why I don't look up any more after I'm set. It will be interesting to see what Surge has for us in the new release involving alignment.

That's a great idea. I'll just go out to the grass and…oh, yeah, desert landscaping. ;-) It is a really great idea, though.

Surge: can you show how the railroad tracks are aligned  all the way to the target?
What I mean ball at flag, feet at 2ft left for rt handier. I keep looking at target and ball goes into rt field off green.

Yes, agreed and agreed! The eyes need to be aligned down the line. I actually am good at seeing the line. Being a spot putter, if I stroke my putts on the line they always have a good chance of going in. I still plomb bob to which it seems few do any  more. And yes the eye and head movement is not the culprit but the shoulder movement that translates down to a micro move of the arms/hands and clubface. Keep those shouders from opening....... and the head will be steady too.
Hmmmnnn... thanks :)
Jack N. was likely the best at being able to follow the line turning his head without the shoulders moving.

M, great to hear about your progress.
Let us know how your recent discoveries work out.

Billybob, try this:

Stand about 10 feet behind your ball and hold your hands out arm length in front of you with the thumbs touching and the index fingers extended. Line up so that your ball is in the crook of your right thumb and your right index finger is aligned with the flag. Now look at what your left index finger is aligned with, and that's where your toe line should be pointing.

Nicklaus was a really good pressure putter. His open stance let his eyes track the line and with the stable shoulders he was able to release his right arm down the aim line.

It is a bit of a blur. If you look at the discussions we had on alignment, many of them were before Don did video dailies and had started adding audio. I miss those days because we were forced to read and liston better and not just watch with a click of a mouse. Also Surge would often even comment and respond in our back and forths. To bad those conversations were part of the lost blogs. At least he was able to restore some of the original posts.
http://www.swingsurgeon.com/Ho...

I suppose I could stick a piece of chalk in the end of a bamboo rod and do it that way on the driveway.

While working on my shot dispersion today, I developed a pre-shot routine that some may find interesting and/or helpful.

I get about 10 feet behind the ball and setup like I'm going to hit a ball.  I take a full swing, ending in the recoil/relax position facing the target. Staying in that position, I make sure that my palms are parallel and perpendicular to the ground.  If the club face is not perfectly vertical, I rotated the grip in my hands as needed to get it vertical while keeping my hands perpendicular to the ground.  I then make another swing and recheck.  If my hand position and club face are correct, I raise the shaft to vertical and align it with the center of the ball.  Then I move my body to align the shaft with my target, keeping it aligned with the ball.  I pick a spot about 2 feet or so in front of the ball.  Keeping my eyes on that spot, I walk into my PPGS master setup and make the swing.  Once I have picked the spot, I do NOT look at the target again until after impact as I pop up to the T-Finish.

This routine narrowed my shot dispersion greatly and has increased my average distance by about 20%.  My 8-iron shots, which were going about 120 yards are now going 140-145 yards and less than 10 yards off line.  I found that I had not been getting my grip consistently aligned between palms and club face.  Hope this helps someone keep from being as frustrated as I was.

I've seen quite a few golfers, especially the pros, line themselves up by holding the club parallel to the ground instead of vertical.  When I try to do that, I cannot get properly aligned.

Edit: I uploaded three views of this routine to YouTube (click on my name above to see them) - Face-on; reverse (from target); and down the line. The swings weren't necessarily the best, but I was demonstrating the routine, not concentrating on perfect swings. Even so, the swings were better than many I have made of late.

 IMHO, Trying to visualize the railroad tracks is part of the problem.  The only line that should go more than 3 feet from the ball is the target line.  I stand behind the ball and, holding my club shaft vertically, line up the shaft with my target and the center line of the ball, using my dominant eye.  I then pick a spot no more than 3 feet in front of the ball, visually creating a 3-foot line.  Next, I place my toes parallel to my target line. That gives two lines - target and toe - that are both 3-feet long and parallel to each other. I do not even think about parallel lines all the way to the target. Two short parallel lines are much easier to visualize than two lines running out a couple of hundred yards.

To practice this, take one of your longer shafted clubs, place the grip end just in front of a ball with the other end of the shaft pointed at your target. Do not look at the target again.  Place your feet with your toes on a line parallel to the first club.  To check for parallel, place another club against your toes; then take a third club to measure the distance between the two clubs at both end of the shafts.  The measurements should be the same.  After doing this a few (or many) times, you should learn to align parallel left fairly consistently without using the clubs.

I think a lot of golfers have trouble with visualizing the 3-foot line in front of the ball and sticking with it.  If I look at the target after picking my line, I tend to lose my spot and get out of alignment.

In my memory of all of our topics on alignment, Surge never recommended we align based on determining how far away the target was (is) and then aligning our feet x amount of yards left to account for it.
He only used various figures such as 200 yards equals about 20 yards left of target in order to emphasis (and illustrate) that we should not aim our footline at the target and to help us understand that in reality where our feet would be aimed if we lay a club (or stick) at our feet would be further and further left in the distance as we look at it. We can simply look at our basic alignment lesson vidoeos where he shows that being only one inch off can translate into 10 yards at 100 yards away.

So as far as accurate and doable it is true that simply aligning our feet,knees,hips,shoulders and eyes parallel of our target line should be sufficient. I agree completely. However it seems that in spite of this simple way of aligning, most still are mis aimed and for righties mostly way too far right. So we have those articles and topics lead by Surge emphasising the need to be parallel left again and again. So though seemingly simple, because our eyes decieve us it apparently is not so easy. Otherwise more (or most) would get it right.

That is why he suggests that after hitting a good shot to a wrong place we should drop a club by our feet and see if alignment was the cause.
He has given us an even better suggestion  and that is to lay down a club parallel left of our target before the swing to assure great alignment. I do that frequently now and it really helps. I wonder if anyone else does.

I'm not sure if anyone else has (hopefully "had") the problem I do, but it's worth mentioning.

I began playing golf about 2 years ago at age 22. Somehow my dad found Don's swing online, so it's the first and only one I ever learned.

My problem is that I was not turning my shoulders enough. I think this is due to Don's emphasis on correcting rotational swings, thus it sort of becomes and overemphasis for the oddball like me who has learned no other "bad" habits. I'm 6 foot and very athletic, and I worked very hard on this swing. 2 days ago I started turning my shoulders to 70* and do much better ball striking. I'm sure most don't have this problem, but just in case, make sure you are turning with your shoulders.

Know I get what "1-piece takeaway" means. Can't wait to get back out there and practice! I certainly need to get more video of my swing.

Dew in the desert? I thought that was a cold beverage that has a big caffine kick :) Ha ha ha

Excellent Robert.                                                                             That is a great way to 'see' the hard to swallow reality that parallel left lines IN GOLF gradually appear visually further apart and not diminishingly closer as rail road tracks do. I guarantee you there is still a majority of golfers who don't get this.
The holding your hands in front (as you so aptly illustrated) is the best way to see this truth. I think if there was away to get all Surgites to try this visual test, understanding parallel left would become a snap! Most would get it right insteed of the apparent minority. I say minority because Surge continually tells us that most at his golf schools still are not correctly aligned.                                               This little test can even be done from wherever anyone reading this is sitting.For example, right now, I have my lap top on my lap and I'm sitting on the couch with the flat screen tv about 15 feet away (tuned onto the golf channel of course) watching the interview of Ernie Els.
Anyhow, using Robert's great reminder if I raise my hands up, palms facing the tv with my thumb tips touching and in the 'field goal' position the following appears:
The actual space between my fingers is about 5 inches but when I look at the tv it fits easily between those fingers. Here's an obsevation, the tv is actually a 48 inch screen. Yet it seems to be less than 5 inches based on my fingers. Secondly, IF we were usuing what is normal mathimatically measured parallel from my fingers to the tv screen the right edge of the screen being the flag (or target) - ......hope you're still with me........  parallel would still be 5 inches left or only 5 inches from the right side of the tv -48-5=43.
VISUALLY though, (not mathimatically) parallel left will be the whole 48 inches (the left edge of the tv) at 15 feet.
If that wasn't over kill, I'll give you one more. As I sit dead center of the right edge of the tv, as I now look at the left edge it is... well...
48 inches LEFT and if my target was 200 yards away that might tranlate into 20 yards left of my target. That's (for example) where our foot line needs to be aimed at 200 yards for a straight shot.
Yes, parallel lines in golf are like that, they actually become further apart as the distance is increased. For many, this just won't make sense. It is another one of those things that must be classified as an 'ISM'. It just is.

For those whom I completely lost. Please read the following for better understanding:

http://www.swingsurgeon.com/Ho...

and

http://www.swingsurgeon.com/Ho...

Surge, since your swing revolves around bio mechanics, can you please comment on my hip issue: I never noticed this until my chiropractor pointed it out last year, but when I stand square and relax my body, my torso naturally rotates to the left. So when I get in a square golf stance (I'm right handed), my hips automatically aim to the left. I have to force myself to square it up. The problem comes on the forward up swing when my right hip just wants to pop out throwing my hands out causing an over the top move. So far I have had zero success with therapy to correct my over rotation; instead, I am trying to solve this issue by dropping my right foot back so my big toe is in line with the arch of my left foot. This allows my hips to align parallel to the target line without forcing it or thinking about it making it easier to do the "bump". Please comment. Thank you

My only modification to that would be that I generally pick a point behind the ball to create my target line, and try to walk in passing the club face squarely over that point until it's behind the ball. That gets me to a good distance for whatever club I'm using. Now if I can just keep myself from fidgeting and second-guessing once I'm set… ;-)

Surge,
looking forward to your future release which will further cover alignment. As for todays, I feel you are right on as usual that our body lines need to be parallel left (for a righty) not only our feet but the whole torso- feet,knees.hips and shoulders. I know the 'Xed' position you refer to happens to me if I'm not careful in my set up. For me, even if I have the feet and lower body square and aligned, it all goes away if I open my shoulders up. As you have pointed out before, this can happen easily if after we are all set we then take one last look at the target and lift and move our head and shoulders even slightly toward the target. Often the shoulders are then open and out of line leading to an across the ball swing and poor results.
     Surge golf students may find this Nov. 2009 daily helpful as regards another factor that can contribute or rob us of correct and balanced alignment of our torsos.

http://www.swingsurgeon.com/Ho...

 Thanks for the url to the daily. After reading it I found that I had an X position. Going to the practice ground for some work on it.

Thanks Tom. The terms FAD and BAD have now been updated to 'Master set up position' and is taught in detail in Surges pay for it video lessons. Hopefully you have the BONUS videos. You'll find it there in the PPGS Golf Swing section.

BTW. There is a ton of free lessons to be learned by utilizing the Search Posts found at the upper right. This is where I found the article/daily above on arm positions.
Sad that too few use this invaluable tool. It's a gold mine of golf lessons from the master.

 Nice to read that others try to not use the railroad tracks image as the image to line up parallel to the aim line. It is only important in the visual area when over the ball and not down range.

send your info to stuart........pgaprogolf@yahoo.co.uk

SGW, glad that was insightful for you. I first had my X position pointed out to me two years ago by Surge at the first PPGS toury at Old South in South Carolina. Mine is likely common among many of us and is my shoulders which tend to open up and aim left in my set up. It  is really helpful if you have a friend take a club and check our hips and then shoulders to see if they are square with our feet. Especially with the longer clubs and driver when we take one last look at our target and set up with the ball forward off the front foot. The left shoulder opens or aims left  as our right shoulder comes a bit forward. There's the X. I have to consciously square my shoulders and then not look up and down field again until after impact. This really helps in avoiding the over the top move. Of course this same opening up or X ing can happen if we 'peak' to soon at our putts. I'm going to pull the putt left every time when I do that. Maintaining those lines square apply to all swings. it just seems easier to fall into with the longerclubs/forward ball position.
If we must look one or a few more times at our target after set up, Surge has said we need to rotate our heads only with the eyes turning down the line rather than lifting our heads which then moves our shoulders open more times than not.
Personally I can't do that very well so I prefer to do my aligning long before I finish setting up then not look at the target again. If I'm aligned well and have the right club and desired result and swing needed in mind I trust the result and let it go. I figure they'll be ample opportunity to see the result after I hit it.

My head still hurts from going through all of this last year, or was it 2yrs ago. Another of lifes anomalies, the older we get the faster relative time(percentage wise) goes by. Ain't life a hoot!

Slightly off topic:

For those who do not have a SwingRite (like me), here is a method to check your release and maximum club head speed.  All you need are a club of your choice, a nice piece of turf, and room to swing; no ball necessary.

Make PPG swings as best as you can.  While swinging, make sure you brush the top of the grass.  As you do, listen for the "whoosh."  It should occur simultaneously with the sound of the club brushing the grass.  The intensity of the whoosh will indicate the relative club head speed.  The faster you can swing, the louder the whoosh.  The objective is to achieve the loudest whoosh possible at the same time as brushing the grass. When I get it right (about 50% at present), I can hit almost perfect shots. 

Good stuff, Don. I know this is one of my biggest issues. I just wish there were an easy way to gauge the alignment, since it's hard to stand behind yourself and look. ;-) I do try to check with a club shaft, but it can be tricky to be sure you don't re-misalign yourself.

 My X comes from open hips, closed shoulders and the toes and eyes parallel left.

Here is a tip for the putting peeking. Have some one stand face on, get in your putting posture and have them ball their fists and hold them against the shoulders. They will have to brace so that there is only up and down movement (vertical) and no forward backward movement (horizontal). This can all but eliminate pulling putts.

Surge:
Well done as always.  Takes constant attention - really have to focus on getting a spot and drawing your lines mentally before each swing.  One of your earlier tips on grip pressure was a real help yesterday - swing felt really solid with less breakdown of angles.  Shot 82 at a fairly tough course (Par 70).  Putting has been OK - no 3 putts last 3 rounds..  I tried using my regular grip for putting for the first 3 holes on Tuesday - ball felt different coming off of the face.  Went back to Jack Moore's grip, really rolling the ball well.  But I like trying different things so keep the lessons coming.  I hope DJ can get his putting straightened out - his tee to green stats looks OK but the Stokes gained by putting is almost always minus.  Good luck to all surge nation :).
Jerry - Warren, MI

Shoulders closed? Interesting. In my case there open but I could see how a golfer may get closed either from the desire to draw the ball and come from the inside. Does that position get you the ocasional hook and pull?
Thanks for the putting tip. I am just learning to putt with the long putter and have decided to go with Adams Scotts style and grip. Wanting to start right I am determine to not allow my head to move. I will have my wife assist me with your shoulder tip asap. thanks.

Yes, I recall we had engineers, mathamaticians, and guys from still other backgrounds aguing and trying to understand the topic. Think it was actually in 2009 when it took up several blogs and dailies as we sought to get it straight. I feel like the term parallel itself actually is part of the problem because the lines actually get further apart and not closer in the visual distance. Fun, isn't it ? Maybe Surge will give us an even simpler way to comprehend it.

Hehehehe