Today's video stems from two separate emails I received that had a similar question. Both John Hilton and Datta Kashelikar were looking for a more detailed explanation about the correct positioning of the catcher's mitt. I always refer to the catcher's mitt when I discuss the takeaway, as the toe of the club goes into the mitt and up the tree in the backswing. Today I'll discuss exactly where the catcher's mitt is located in the Peak Performance Golf Swing. Here's a look at what John and Datta asked:
Hi, Where is the mitt on the back swing? I have most of your videos, but get confused. In one of your driils I see that my arms cover my toe line on the backswing. In anothe place I hear about turning about 2 inches inside my target line. Where is the mitt?? Half way inside the aiming line, on the toe line? I know you have shown it somewhere, but I can't find it. Thanks for the help. -John Hilton
Hi Surge,Have been using PPGS for about 4 years but have not achieved consistency. I am 80 years old. Not being familiar with baseball I would request you to explain the term "Catcher´s Mitt" and to where the club has to be lifted to bring it up the tree on the toe line by the take away. Thanks!-Datta Kashelikar
I know I've dedicated dailies to this topic in the past, but I'll try to get rid of any confusion any of you may have. First of all, there's actually two catcher's mitts. One behind the aiming line and one in front. This allows us to swing down the line the whole time. In regards to the catcher's mitt behind the aiming line, I think it's important to first establish where the "tree" is located when I say, "in the catcher's mitt and up the tree."
The width between the toe line and the aiming line is where the tree is located. The catcher's mitt is located no more than a few inches inside the aiming line. When you start the takeaway, the toe of the club starts to move across the line ever so slightly. The first thought I have when I start the swing is moving the clubhead toe up into the catcher's mitt just inside the aiming line. The same goes for the forward catcher's mitt as well. The toe should only be a few inches inside the aiming line immediately after striking the ball.
Now, the height of the catcher's mitt is totally dependant on how tall each golfer is. Another variable that could alter where the mitt is located is the length of one's arms. The farther your arms are from the ground, the more they must pick the club up, so the mitt would be slightly higher.
Finally, I must explain that even though I mentioned my first thought is to move the clubhead, my right side and shoulder are actually the first things to move in the takeaway. But, having the mental imagery that the clubhead moves first helps me have a better takeaway. So, if you are having any trouble with the takeaway, try what I do and picture the clubhead moving first.
Hopefully this helps everyone out on where exactly the mitt is located. Watch the video closely and you'll see just where it should be!
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
Thankyou Surge for clearing this up in my mind!
It was an excellent video and tells me where I was going wrong on the odd poor shots yesterday.
I know the ball isn't going to go as straight as I want it when feeling I have come around ever so slightly in the follow through!!!!!!
When I hit it correctly the ball goes like an arrow, ie, where it was aimed. Yesterday on short iron shots I hit the pin 3 times from inside 130yards on pitch shots. On the last hole I hit the longest iron in my bag [8iron] from 140yds out. I gave it more than usual and the pin at the back of the green probably 155yds or so and the ball was pin high around 10feet from the hole! Still stunned.
Had remembered, "Just do it right"
Maybe watching today's video my mind was more receptive than it has been on this topic. We will see. Hope it helps other Surgites. DH
Catcher's Mitt
Surge, Best explanation and demonstration of the "catcher's mitt" You've done. I played some pretty erratic golf today and was 6 shots down to my playing partner going into the last 4 holes.( 2 par 4s I can't reach in 2 and 2 tough par 3s) I finished par,bogey,par par and we tied.
I credit a couple of things: First is rule #5. I figured I had nothing to lose so forget the bad shots of the day and just get back to basics and do it right. Second, I just concentrated on the setup, took a practice swing and hit 3 of the best tee shots I hit all day. Final hole is rated the toughest on the course. Tee shot came up 5 yards short, chipped up hill to a green that slopes away to about 8 feet and made the putt to tie. I had gotten away from basics which happens when you get too involved in competing. Relaxing and getting back to basics worked and made my day. ;0)
catcher's mitt found
As I see from today's lesson, the catcher's mitt is only 2 or 3 inches inside the aiming line. So when the club turns back to that point on the back swing (arriving there only due to the body's rotation) the club continues to turn toward the toe line (but at the catcher's mitt level) the lift with the arms begins (up the tree).
No lift with the arms until the catcher's mitt height?
I have been trying to turn the club to the toe line (first) to start (vertically) the club's climb up the tree. Maybe, after this storm passes, I'll be more likely to be able to find my ball after I hit it. I'd like that.
Harry, you may not have heard
Harry, you may not have heard it when Surge said it, but he starts lifting right from the get go. It's an arc, not a series of straight lines. The lift at the beginning is more like an airplane taking off, not like a rocket launch.
catcher's mitt
I agree, best explanation of exactly where the club head should be at all times. Even though I took a training school last August and made immediate progress, over time bad habits creep back in and I start to take the club inside too quickly. This makes it impossible to properly raise it up and you can't help but then have to cast, or try and throw your front hips out of the way. Thanks Surge for this very important reminder!. Paul
"Swing The Clubhead"...?
Hi Don - I'm enjoying your videos a great deal, and making little discoveries along the way. Your recent post about location of mitt & tree and the comment about the feeling when starting the backswing struck me. I'm sensing a significant amount of the Jones / Toski / DeLa Torre thoughts about swinging the clubhead feeling, rather than the big muscle Ballard-type material. I'm now thinking of PPGS as a more vertical version of the clubhead-centered swing. Could you compare and contrast PPGS with the clubhead-centered swing? Thanks so much.
Zach Kaplan
PS I'm aware that thinking only of the clubhead can lead to an arm swing, so no need to belabor that point.