The first PPGS School had a number of students that had the same problem that I read in many blogs. Basically, it is that they are hitting their irons and hybrids better and the driver, but are loosing distance. They like the solid and straight but would like to get their distance back.
Is this problem of more solid and straight but hitting the ball shorter a conundrum? After all, hitting the ball more solid and straight is suppose to equate to hitting the ball longer, not shorter. Since a conundrum is defined as a puzzling problem. The good news is I have the solution.
Most of the golf school students were trying to completely switch from being rotational swingers to the PPGS. They had the PPGS trademark setup: narrower stance, wide knees with outward pressure and flared feet. They had pretty good posture, but many had the right arm too high and straight as we discussed in yesterday's article.
They had a pretty good takeaway lifting up into the mitt, with a few taking the club away a little shut. They all had a pretty good vertical backswing standing, the club up at least past 11:00 o'clock, which is well within the acceptable range of vertical. Lastly, they all were trying hard to stand the club to the T-finish, and most were all close to a pretty good T ' Finish. The problem with the finish was their hands were a little wide outside their forward shoulder and too far from the forward ear. Thus, their hands and club were deep because they turned too much in the finish with their shoulders and chest facing too far past the target.
There were a few that definitely had the problem of hitting pretty good solid and straight shots but suffering the shorter distance syndrome. They couldn't figure out the true power source of the PPGS as compared to the rotational swing they used. Rotational swing power comes from a big backswing torso turn transition to a fast turning or snapping of the forward leg and hip, turning and pulling the arms and club down to and through the ball. The majority of the power comes from the torso pulling the arms and club. This big turn and torque generating swing is also very stressful on the body and a high source and cause of injury.
The PPGS uses an alternative power source that generates power using the law of centrifugal force. Centrifugal force is defined as, 'using or acted upon by a force that tends to make rotating bodies move away from the center of rotation.' The best example of centrifugal force is swinging a rock on a string. The faster the rock swings around the center the less the hand holding it moves. In swing terms, the hand is symbolic to the body and the rock and string symbolizes the club head, shaft and forward arm and hand of the golfer. This means, in simple terms, when making a PPG limited turn swing that you have to keep your torso quiet and you MUST SWING YOUR ARMS FASTER!
This is the same concept or principle as throwing a ball farther. You have to add more energy and effort to add speed in moving your arm and hand to add distance to the flight of the ball. This is the same for hitting the ball. You have to just, plain and simple, keep the body quiet and swing your arms and hands faster.
A student of mine once asked DJ who was hitting balls on the range what he did when he wanted to hit the ball harder or longer. Standing in his setup as he was just about to hit a shot, DJ looked up and said, 'I hold my knees and legs more.' And then pointing his right hand at the target he added, 'I swing my arms faster that way.' I think DJ's comment about hitting it farther or harder by 'SWINGING THE ARMS FASTER' toward the target is the most simple and best definition of the PPGS Power Source.
The key is you have to know this, and program it into your mind, to make you swing your arms faster, but within limits of maintaining good balance and control.
Tomorrow I will add more on this subject of the PPGS power source of faster swinging arms. I will introduce you to Anthony, a good friend of mine who has a unique situation that will demonstrate the PPGS limited turn faster arm swing concept to the MAX. Anthony's swing will really amaze you. So don't miss reading tomorrow's article.
The Surge!