Do Not Hit Down

Dan,

I discovered something very interesting while practicing my 60% heavy right set-up. Set up with your weight balanced between both feet. Then shift your weight to the right 2 inches. Just move your hips so that your belt buckle slides 2 inches to the right. That will give you 60/40 on the weight shift. I noticed it while I was watching the scale a few minutes ago. I've gotten so I can get it almost perfect every time. I even tried it outside, setting up balanced, picking a spot in line with my belt buckle and shift 2 inches right of that. It works!

That 2 inches is also the same amount Surge says to bump. So it goes like this. Shift right 2 inches to preload heavy right, start the BUS keeping the heavy right. Ring the bell, bump back to the center and FUS to the T-Finish.

Ready, set, 2R, BUS, DING, BUMP, FUS, Recoil, Relax. Sounds like a weird dance routine. LOL!

I must need some sleep.

I got lucky, and got to see DJ make a nice shot on  Golf Channel.  First time I've seen him covered this season.

Bob

Keith

I think we all feel free to do what it takes to make the swing work for us.

It is working ok for me, and getting better every round, but I am glad there is no "final exam" to be able to be part of the Surge Nation family.

I would get kicked out of the family reunion,
Dick

Scott,

None of the drawings came through. What is your source, please, so we can get a look at them? Thank you.

Edit: Scott, I found the drill you cite. Since Surge advocates a firm, flat left wrist, I believe he would not endorse this technique, as it introduces additional angles into the swing while Surge teaches keeping the angles to a minimum.

Kevin

Kevin

If you don't like the instruction, why are you here? It's simple really. No one forces anyone to listen to the Surge. What he teaches either works for you or it doesn't - if it doesn't, go elsewhere. It's that choice thing.

Like I said, you and Phil M. are two peas in a pod!! LOL

Hi Kevin, No, but I am not skipping a stone on a pond and find that easy to do, the golf swing  is  a lot harder. I only wish it was as easy as skipping a stone but it isn't otherwise we would all be pro golfers.

I get the swing thought though of skipping a stone, but when you have a driver in your hand it is very difficult to achieve.
I am a bit frustrated at the minute and am thinking of not studying the Surge swing so much as I do and just enjoy golf with the swing I have for what it is for a while.

I went to the range and also did 4 holes after, getting the triangle with a verticle club on the backswing seems impossible. When Surge does this movement to show us the in the mitt and up the tree on the back porch it doesn't look right and looks arkward; this is how I feel when I am trying to get verticle and doesn't look like his actual swing when he does it for real.
I guess I am hitting a bit of a brick wall at the minute!   

DJ just hit an amazing second shot on the par 5 #16 from 270 yards to 6ft 6 inches. He just made the putt too!!! EAGLE, hello fans! Review it on PGA.com shot tracker. Let's see if they show it on T.V. or not.

Hi Kevin, I do, I normally take a few hits then review them in real time! This is the beauty of taking your video camera and would reccommend it to everyone, you feel a bit too keen at first like people are watching but you get used to it.
I haven't been doing it enough though as I generally go in the evenings when the light is bad, if you could film yourself everytime the training session would be so much more worthwhile and think progress would be a heck of a lot quicker.
If you don't video yourself you are still doing the same faults without realizing and can get very frustrating, video yourself folk and you see your own faults for yourself so you know the areas to practice on and you get motivated again!  

Thanks Don.  I have always been told to compress the ball by hitting down and through.   I have a hard time taking divots.  I know that I tend to hold back and have a small flip in my swing.  My ball flight is pretty steep.  What is the cure for this?

To change the pace, for a moment before I head off for some family time. Josh may be Phil Mickleson of sorts. The other night while we were watching American Idol,he took one of those old graphite golf bag ribs and was swinging it at a wiffle ball in the greatroom. He has his grip now with both hands together and was making nice swings and contact on most.Then he swapped his hands around and drilled the first left-handed shot he attempted, almost centered my forehead...just something I might need to mull over.....later folks

I actually don't believe you have bought anything. Your attitude suggests otherwise. As far as Paul doing daily tips, YOU ARE WRONG, what he is giving you are daily segments of his video lesson course in bits and pieces. Do you really think he wears the same outfit each and every day. Take a closer look. Maybe he just has dozens of the same clothes. Paul does not take the time and effort which Don does, to actually make a new video each day based on what his students are asking for, and respond in kind. Paul is in it for the money, and is just peddling bits and pieces of old video segments.  If you don't like the way Don teaches, just move on without having to try and belittle him with your self serving sarcasm. PS, Just realized, you are not even familiar enough with the site blog, to know how to make a direct reply to someone. Yet you want us to believe you have been here a long time and have bought all of Dons material. Sorry, I'm not buying it. You are too ignorant about what is actually taking place here and at Revolution Golf, for that matter.

Sportsdork

I guess I should add sports medicine and golf course maintainance to the list of things you are an expert on.  It you even tried faking interest in what Surge teaches about his swing, you would have a better understanding of the swing.  You should write a book, do a golf video, or something.  You just seem to know it all. 

You are probably right.  I guess the pros who play on those well groomed courses we see on TV don't have any physical problems.  If any part of the energy of your club is transfered to the ground, it causes shock to your body.  Basic physics pal.  Even a redneck knows that.

Yes, us rednecks out here in Oklahoma don't know how to water a course.  I just hate it when my balls lands in the wagon wheel tracks on the course.  What is the rule on that anyway?  Do I get a free drop from that?  Have you ever seen an old John Deere tractor turned into a real nice golf cart?  Pretty sharp.

Please save us hicks from ourselves.
Dick

Please update us on fitting experience!

Phillip

What I find interesting about the thought of "hitting down" on the ball is that it creates a different swing for the practice swing versus the actual swing. Let me explain. When you watch, even the pros, practice swing, they don't take a divot at all. Then they step up to the ball and swing differently and take a divot. The Surge teaches us to practice swing and then swing the feel. It seems very inconsistent for the average golfer to practice swinging while just clipping the grass and then swing and take an actual divot. I clip the grass in my practice swings and then do the same thing when I actually take my shot. Did I explain that correctly?

how much did you pay to watch that video?

Keith, over all I'd say you have a good looking swing. Your posture,set up and take away all seem to be good. You stay in balance from takeaway till your follow through. This may not be helpful but I honestly like your swing. The only thing I noticed was it seemed on a couple of swings you are coming down slightly outside in. Do you have an occasional fade? I think you're on the right track. Thanks for sharing your progress.

nice one, Robert

surge
could you give us some tips on chipping and pitching.
keep up the good work.

glenn

Surgites:  Sorry I'm joining in soooo late tonite.  Super busy day!  Taught 5 new students today and played 9 holes this evening (shot 39, par was 35 - this swing really works!!!!).  Anyway, very, very good video tip, Surge.  Thank you for reminding us about "common-sense" things.  Quite a spirited divot discussion.  For what it's worth (my $.02), when you think about it, there is really no need to take a divot.  What real purpose does it serve?  It doesn't do the club any good, doesn't help the ball, and doesn't do the fingers, hands, arms, shoulders or back any good...... so why waste the energy making it?  As has already been stated, the ball "just gets in the way of the swing", and our focus should be on the "T" finish.  No need to worry about hitting "down" or "up", just let the swing happen like it should and the ball will do what it's supposed to do.   Concerning the "back-porch" tips - they are AWESOME.  I love them and it's fun to see how they screw people up that can't think out of the box or have zero imagination!!  The tips are a DIRECT compliment to the training videos and manual that Don has available (at a very reasonable cost). I fully agree with all the "regulars" here that many of the "lookers" on this blog want it all - with green grass - and at no cost!  Anyway, have a great weekend Surgite Nation and keep the blog going - this if fun!  R2

Keith,

I believe you will find that we all misconstrue things from time to time, and when these disagreements happen, as they always will, it is just a matter of going back to the source. Look it up or listen to one of Surge's videos or audio posts to see what he actually said.

You hit the ball when the club reaches the point in the swing where the ball is sitting.

Honestly, that response is not as smart-ass as it sounds. The point is that if you're trying to force the impact in a particular place in your swing, you're going to have problems. If you set up correctly and swing correctly, the club will come through the place where the ball is around the bottom of the swing arc. Focusing on the ball or the moment of impact drives all your energy to that point, rather than through that point toward the target.

Ian

Surge is not your "normal" golf instructor.  Thank goodness for that.  My back thanks him every day.  There are plenty of other sites out there that teach "normal".  Good luck finding one.  Btw...Lazy is someone who wants to be spoonfed everything for free and will not use the navigational tools on this site.  Best of luck finding an instructor who does everything for FREE.

Lynn42

Before I die I am hoping to shoot 3 over for each 9. Yes a 78 before I die. 39/39 that's all. I shot a 79 over 30 years ago. Hmmmn........ Oh I still have hope. Just wait and see!! A consistent 80 would be really nice.

Great stuff Roy :)

The sentiment does you credit, but it must be remembered that people who enjoy setting up confrontation are seldom discouraged from continuing by silence which might well be interpreted as apathy or uncertainty. I do agree that posters should be able to defend with reason rather than incivility as a response to what could be seen as unwarranted for attacks.

 Keith, I Know this will sound like a smart ass answer, but I really am serious and not trying to be a smart ass. I think you are allowing your strictly book learning mind to get in the way of your common sense and logic. Much the same way others do with Don's usage of a few physics terms not being strictly correct. The basic statement is, do not focus on hitting down at the ball, focus instead on swinging through the ball to a full upward finishing follow through. Just let the ball get in the way of a fully completed finish swing up and over your left shoulder. To focus on hitting at or down into the ball, makes the ball the primary concern, instead of the swing. This creates many problems in becoming what is called ball bound, with all kinds of problems trying to control the club head at or into the ball, rather than a full accelerating free swing through the ball and UP TO A FULL FINISH, over the left shoulder. So yes, swing through the ball and UP to that full finish.

Eagle on 16th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Surge,
I enjoy your lessons but I don't see how you can explain the golf swing from your patio.  I want to see you "clip" the ball from the grass on the driving range and then swing down and really take a deep divot to show how not to do it.  Please, get on some grass.      Ken

Lynn, He's full of it, or an idiot. No sensible person would buy complete packages of two completely opposing swing systems. They have nothing in common, yet he claims (by buying them both) he is trying to learn both of them. He is probably very new to both sites and is just trying to figure them each out a little at a time and like most folks, get all he can for FREE.

Keith

Thanks for taking the extra step to put your swing video on for us to look at.  I am just about at the place where I will be able to get the equipment I need to do that.  I know it will surely be a learning experience for me too.

There will be some guys along in a bit to review your video who have the equipment to slow it down and look closely at it.  They are more likely to have the Surge Swing down better than me.  I know they will be able to point out some stuff for you to work on.  It looks like to me that you are getting a bit deep in the sacred burial ground.

Keep working at it and don't get discouraged.  You are doing great for only 9 months at golf. 
Dick

Dan, congrats on the sub-80 round, here's hoping its the first of many!
Boog

I agree, I have always had a problem with Surge talking too much and not showing by example. You cannot give a golf lesson from the patio. All you can do is talk. All "hitting down" means is that the face of the club comes sliding under the ball starting at the downward round of the ball. That allows the club to begin the lift immediately, followed by a complete under stroking of the ball.

Keith,
Do you have the revised videos? There in you'll find Don's coverage of the 'master set up'. That positioning of the right forarm helps pre set you for a more vertical BUS. You actually have your elbows in a pretty darn good position at the top so you may need only a minor adjustment to get more vertical at the top. You're looking good.

Welcome back, John

Steve,

You're right - Swing 3 is better than Swing 1; showing continual improvement. I still noticed a bit of bowing and cupping in the left wrist. Getting it a bit firmer and flatter should definitely help.

Kevin

Noticed that too, did you,Kevin :)