Importance of Ball Position

Dick. You have a heart of gold!

Compassion as a Teddy Bear. This blog would be boring without you!

Happy Easter to you and your family!

Phillip

Hi Jeff,

Sounds like you let the inner child get the best of you. In the future, let the 17yo kids throw the ball and the 57 yo kid hit the ball. I bet you can always whip him on the course, and then brag to your buddies about how far your kid can throw a football. LOL.

As far as the sore elbow is concerned, ice that thing down every evening for a week. 20 minutes with ice, followed by a half hour to recover from the chill. No extra heat is required during recovery. After the 30 minute warm up period, repeat the icing. A mild anti- inflammatory, such as Motrin or Advil will also help with the soreness.

During your week of icing, avoid anything that would possibly aggravate the injury, like throwing footballs, bowling or swinging a golf club. I know that the last one hurts almost as much as your elbow does, but if you don't let the injury heal, it will become worse, and possibly ruin your whole summer.

Get plenty of rest, and hit'em long and straight once you are healed up,

Bob

Don't forget the 'Cold Beer' to celebrate a great day!

Congrats,
Bob

I don't know about "proper," but I can tell you how I practice hitting this shot. First, set up with the ball a little further back in your stance and distribute your weight more evenly between the two feet. Open the stance slightly unless you're looking to hit a screaming low draw or a dead push. Take one or two clubs higher than normal for the distance you want to go (a 6 iron for a normal 8 iron shot, e.g. -- or once you get used to these kinds of shots, choose a club according to how high you want the ball to get). Swing through the ball focused on keeping the club traveling on your target line as long as possible and don't worry about getting up to a T-Finish. You'll probably end up with the club toe up pointing down your toe-line at about eye level.

I practice this shot regularly, both because I've spent a lot of time hitting out from under trees, and because of a particular par 3 on my parents' home course that's 135 yards with a massive oak 15 yards in front of the tee box. Anything that gets more than 15 feet in the air is in the tree, and any club that'll carry 135 yards won't get in the air fast enough to get over the tree.

Hi Folks,

In the beginning, there was Don and The Peak Performance Golf Swing Website. Many who discovered it, loved the site and posted on a regular basis. It grew quickly and flourished to become the number one golf blog on the entire World Wide Web. But things changed.

When Don first started the PPGS site, His vision and the vision of his business partners varied greatly. Don valued his clients and viewers more than the mighty buck, while other partners valued the mighty buck more than the clients and viewers. Now, there is nothing wrong with making a buck. In fact, "profit" is one of the most beautiful words in the English language. A breakup was inevitable.

The lawyers got involved, and as a result, They got the mine, and Don got the shaft. he set off to start over again and rebuild what has become 'The Surge Nation.' When it first got started, it was small, with no advertising or promotion. The only way folks found out about it was through a very limited Email marketing campaign and through Search Engine results.

The Email campaign was limited by the lawyers. You see, even though the original Email list was huge, Don was granted only limited use of it by the arbitrator. He was only allowed to contact a few of his old clients each month. Therefore, a very slow growth rate was the result for the first three months.

During the first three months of the year, the group using the blog here, was quite small. There was a certain intimacy where we all became friends, talked about things other than golf and formed a tight bond. As the group grew, more and more folks chimed in. Plenty of golf questions were asked and answered, and everyone had a great time.

Then the Trolls started to show up again. I don't think that anybody really knows why trolls exist, but they are here amongst us sowing discontent. I think that they somehow feel left out of the friendly exchange that takes place here, and they resent it to the point that they can only gain satisfaction through the destruction of the family fun that is taking place around them. If you've ever been to a huge family or class reunion, I'm sure that you have witnessed this phenomenon first hand.

Well, the trolls got nasty, here at Swing Surgeon.com. Many of our members were offended when some of our leaders were attacked. We were especially offended when Active Duty members and Veterans were attacked. We rose up and defended our brothers. In fact, some of us stooped to the troll level and became quite creative, (sometimes in a negative way) in our efforts to swat the trolls off of the blog.

During this time period of Troll Swatting, many new folks have arrived due to some scheduled changes at the old site. These new folks arrived just in time to witness a full fledged flame war between the core group of the Surge Nation, and the trolls who are trying to tear down the community.

The new folks are wondering what is going on, and why can't they just learn about golf. We can learn about golf! However, we aren't going to be stiffs on this site. The fun and banter and stupid conversations that take place late at night are part of what now makes this site the fastest growing golf blog in the world. It's a fun place where everyone is invited to join in and have a blast while learning about the greatest game ever invented.

If you only want to take part in a single subject forum, where only golf is discussed, exclusively, twenty four hours a day, then you have come to the wrong place! Take off your tie, unbutton your collar and relax. Have a beer if you like, and enjoy yourself.

I've rambled long enough, but will add one more thing. If the trolls attack our veteran members again, I'll fight back again, and I'm not ashamed to say so.

Hit'em Long and Straight,

Bob

Mortified at the news on Lynn42 Do me a HUGE favour Lynn old son, forgive a crochety old fart, who probably was in no small way part of the hiatus which got off track. You are sorely missed already. I will grovel if needs be and eat lots of humble pie, should you consider gracing us with your prescence again. Even the best of families have their disagreements and spats. The Surge Nation is no different.
Call it the opinionated Scot's genes, coupled with a huge dollop of Irish 'paddy' and loyalty to my friends. I pray that you will reconsider your decision to cut yourself off from those who respect you and value your contribution to a unique family of Surgites.
Come home I beseech you.
Humble pie for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Dragonhead
Dalian,China

Robert

Dry is good. I like it just the way it is.

I think I told you guys what the pro at my home course said to me after he watched me hit one of my long and wrong slices into the heavy woods to the right of a fairway. As he is walking away, he turns and says "Dick, we don't mow over there." Just the kind of advice I needed.

Dick

Bob

That is a great report.

Sounds like you are making some in roads with your boss.

Just keep on keeping on. Sometimes we don't see the fruits of our labors immediately. You never know when something you say now will bear fruit later.

I have to live through you folks golf reports today. The only thing I did golf related today was sorting balls, watched some on TV, and chatted on the blog. I needed a day off anyway.

Good job pal,
Dick

To All: Noted that adverse weather conditions are affecting many of the Surge Nation at the moment.
Previously I mentioned, that it might be worth a lesson or so on: Drills and things to check when this happens. The comment was meant mainly for those not lucky enough to live in places on the planet, where they can play all year round.
A Winter or wet weather programme would stop many of us bemoaning the fact we can't play and do something constructive with our time at home or in the garden etc?

My cheek has also turned and no more troll assassinations from now on from moi! Dick you said it all for me and many others. We are a family, the Surge Nation. Golf is not only about the technical side of the game, the rules of golf, learning and playing the game. It is about the ethics and Etiquette of the game, and above all the comradeship it produces. For those too impatient to 'wade through the drivel' of the blogs to glean the many pearl's of wisdom within. Your impatience could well be the defining factor in why your games are not better than you want them to be.

Bob, on the 100 balls you found, here is a suggestion. If the ProV1, Nike etc, are in good condition, sell them to a local Pro shop, at an acceptable price. We did this in UK, Results, Club membership, a new golf trolley, golf shoes for two, boxes of brand new balls of our choice,ie, the ones we wanted to play with. You will gain, the Pro will be happy, as will those who buy them from the bargain bin. You will have done an environmentally friendly service to the course, by removing the balls before the mowers get at them. Win, win all around.

RR. GBSAPS? Absolutely, the only way to ingrain a repeatable set up procedure is to practice this tip of yours. I thank you again, for this pearl of wisdom.

The Heritage : - ( from DJ's perspective and my pick Luke Donald. For DJ. It takes time for changes to become second nature. He has just changed his putting. That under the pressure of top competition, can put pressure on other parts of his game, until it is 'Internalized' completely. I have total faith in the PPGS/SSGS swing and DJ's ability to perform to a much higher level in the future.
To the Surge Nation, Keep it vertical and straight, where ever you may be this Easter Monday/ANZAC Day. Robert F, my weight is over my right haunch now GBSAPostureS Thanks very much.

Dragonhead
Dalian,China

Hi Dick

They got 5 holes in at the tournament and got called off the course do inclement weather.

I hope it will not be that difficult to duplicate what I did at the range Saturday. The position I got into at the top of the backswing sure made the bump and forward up swing easy.
Watching Don and Dj swing (man he has a sweet swing) and seeing were their shoulder turn stops in relation to the ball it looks like to me that with the short and mid irons they are stopping the front shoulder at the ball. The woods and driver with the ball being more forward in the stance it looks like they get the front shoulder just inside the ball. This is definitely a work in progress. I just have to watch over rotating in the backswing.

Looks like no range tonight more severe weather today and tomorrow.

Roger

Once upon a time I got to play the Olympic Club with a friend, his father, and the father's friend who was a member. I played VERY badly that day (not that I cared how I was playing--that course was gorgeous), but one shot stands out in my memory. I hit my tee shot into the trees and it came to rest in the roots jut to the right of a tree. From the right side I literally could not get a club on it. So I turned over my seven iron and hit a left-handed punch up to 2 feet from the hole. My friend looked at my ball on the green, looked back at me, looked at the ball, and said, "You just hit that left handed, didn't you?" I said, "Why do you think I practice that shot?" :)

One of the reasons Tiger was so overwhelming when he first hit the tour was because his father would make him figure out how to get the ball out of all sorts of lousy places and conditions. He had the confidence that he knew how to get the ball out no matter where he put it. Now that's the only part of his game that still seems to be working.

I support both Robert F and Steve in their recommendation to see a specialist if this persists. Many sports injuries heal themselves with rest and home treatments, but as we get older, some things do not--voice of experience. I posted previously about playing tennis through pain in my left Achilles tendon for six months, and then got it checked on the advice of a tennis playing doctor that continuous inflammation of the Achilles tendon can weaken it. When I got an MRI done on it, it was 20% torn. I could have ripped it at any time, simply by stepping off a sidewalk improperly.

You say there is a knob on the inside of the elbow. How long have you had this injury? When the orthopedic specialist ran his fingers along my tendon, he felt a little knot, about the size of a pea, which suggested scar tissue as the tendon was trying to heal itself.

Thanks Dick. Had a good day - very quiet; lots and lots of rain around here. Spent most of the day with my dear wife over at the assisted living home. It was nice, very nice. Lots of time to reflect on this hectic life and the fact that we really don't know what each new day will bring. So, I just enjoy every moment. Take care and watch out for the bad weather - it's headed your way. R2
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Obrinmb

I agree with your kind words about Lynn.

I hope he will come back home to the Surge Nation.

Join me in praying that Lynn will be back, we need him.
Dick

Bob, when he's showing what people are doing wrong, flipping their hands, as he says, is one of those things. It's hard to demonstrate the mistakes people make while only showing perfect Swing Surgeon Swing techniques. See the conundrum?

Before and after demonstrating the mistakes, Surge does generally show correctly performed swings so that it's clear what the swing should look like.

T
I worked on this swing last year just did not completely get it then this winter I started messing with the rotational swing the only thing I got out of it was a sore back and a couple of bad rounds. I have always been a vertical swinger but rotational. One of the owners at the range were I have my membership Doug Martin former tour pro that blew his back out was watching me hit balls one day while he was waiting for his lesson show up told me that I should forget the rotational swing all together and work on a upper body swing with limited lower body movement. He was basically said that my lower body would not support my upper body there would be a weight shift bump but not a big lateral move. I am 5'9" but built like 6'5 football player. He saying that made since so I am sticking with this method period. I have not posted since the switch but I have been studying this method in the back ground.
We will see how easy it comes.
They are calling for rain here in Cincinnati tonight and tomorrow and Saturday night and again Sunday.

That's an excellent idea. I'd be willing to pay a few bucks a month for that.

to All:

Played 18 this morning. After action briefing as follows:

13 of 14 fariways hit, first 12 in a row -- Driving Average = 176 yds.
0 Greens though and 5 Bunkers with no "Sandies"
5 one putt greens, 0 three putts for 31 total putts used. I must have 5 or 6 putts that were "Missed it by that much"(Maxwell Smart, Agent 86) Finally figured out that I was lining up with the putter face slightly open.
one shot in the water :<((
resulted in 45 + 48 = 93
Oh well, next week is only 7 days away!

Keep hitting them STRAIGHT and LONG

Amos

Doc

Wouldn't it be funny if she came home and found that her house keeper had vacuumed all her lint art and she had nothing there but frames and canvas? I guess she could empty the vacuum cleaner and get all the lint back.

Dick

Steve

Call your dad and tell him to come over for diner.

I can loan you some cammo paint for your face and hands. Dark pants and a long sleeved black shirt will make you blend in with the shadows. Do a commando raid while your dad is gone.

You could be looking at your retirement in there.

I will give you an alibi if things go wrong. I will say you were on here blogging with us all evening.

That is what friends are for.
Dick

Kim

I guess it's true, great minds really do think alike.

The Surge Nation is a family. Like every family, we have a few crazy uncles who are best ignored.

Consider the cheek turned,
Dick

Roy

It sure ain't letting up on you folks. Time for summer already.

Where is your global warming?

I will keep an eye on it.

I am hitting the rack pal.

Have a wonderful day tomorrow.

Dick

Bruce, something else you can do is without a ball take your normal set up position, then take several practice swings with a 6 iron nipping the grass(or taking a small divot ). See if there is some consistancy to where that nip is. That is your point of contact with the ball. So without moving your feet, drop a ball where that divot starts while your feet and stance remains the same as those practice swings. This drill will help you see where to place the ball relative to your stance. Each ball position will change only a fraction back for more lofted clubs and fractionally forward for longer and less lofted clubs.

Robert F and T Medley:

Maybe it is just me - but you have you ever noticed that DJ frequently has a "bad round" on Saturday. That is plays good on Thursday and Friday, has a good position, around 20th to 30th place -- then gets passed on Moving day? Sometimes becasue he palys near par and gets passed by those going low, sometimes a poor round like yesterday, Regardless he falls 10 to 12 places on Saturday.
Then comes Sunday, when the pins are frequently at their hardest position - and he shoots "lights out" to finish between 15th and 20th place.
I am not sure why this happens - but it is a frequent pattern,

Keep hittign them STRAIGHT and LONG

Amos.

Early congrats, That is one heck of a mile stone to accomplish. I wish you the best in your finals.

It's not a negative spin, just a factual observation. I want DJ to win as much as anyone else. I die with every bogey.

Dick,
Concerning your search for the "right ball," I have a suggestion for you. It is the TopFlite Game V2. I know that most folks smirk at the idea of hitting a "Top Rock," but the Gamer V2 is different. When Callaway bought the TopFlite brand from Spalding out of bankruptcy, they wanted the technology behind this ball. It is the one that caused all of the flap between Callaway and Acushnet over patent infringements. This is the ball that spawned the ProV1 and the ProV1x.

It putts great, spins good with the short irons and is soft enough for moderate speed hitters with the driver. Also, they cost less than half what a ProV1 costs.

Hit'em Long and Straight,
Bob

Dragonhead: Thanks much. GBSAPS is easy to remember, and just sort of "ingrains" itself in the brain after repeating it a few times. Hit 'em straight! R2

Surge

Great reminder of how each part of this swing must be right for it to all work together. I guess that is one of the reasons I find it so "funny" when some unenlightened person tries to reduce what you teach us to an "arm swing."

Thanks for sharing your back porch with us.

Dick

Roger

Sorry the weather got you. Just be careful out there. More is coming. I am sure you will be able to bring back what was working for you. It seems as though you have made yourself some good mental notes as to what you were doing. I think it is great when the light bulb comes on for any of us in a certain part of the swing.

I think one of the things I like most about the Surge Swing is that we can each put our own signature on the way we do it, as long as we stay within the permiters of the overall swing.

Some parts I might never be able to do because of my injuries. However, the swing really works for me. I can play 36 holes in a day with no pain.

I don't care what anyone says, it works for me.
Dick

This is about the way I do it as well. I take more club (i.e. my 4-metal instead of my 7-iron), grip down about an inch or two, and take about a half swing (waist high on the back-swing to waist high on the FUS). It is amazing how low the ball will stay and how far it can run. I get lots of practice with this type of shot because my golf balls love the shade under trees LOL!

I only got to watch a little, and didn't see any of DJ. I know the wind was mean today. I'm looking for great stuff out of him tomorrow though, and for the rest of the year.

to ALL:

My problems with Discus were on the old site. Maybe I clicked on the wrong thing - but I got an emial listing for EVERY comment posted on the blog. Hence, in self preservation mode, I blocked the Discus feed.
Currently, I have only one email address for everything - but partitions for several catergories, I may give Discus another try and see if I can have it delivered to a seperate folder

Amos

Amos

If it ain't one thing, it is three.

Welcome to my life. Haha.

Tomorrow is a new day, and maybe if we are lucky, a new round.
Dick

Hi Coach Joe
I would love to go to a Certified SS instructor, sadly there is none in Australia,
so perhaps you could help with one of the many things I'm having trouble with?

If you have a look at my latest swings (my name is linked to my youtube page)
you will see in the takeaway my head sinks down, then by the time I get back to impact it looks as if I have to pull back up and really stretch down with my arms and loose my posture, It feels as if Im not doing any of that, even when consciously trying not to, but the camera doesn't lie, I think its the reason behind my fat shots?
any help would be appreciated,
cheers
Phil NZ

I'm kind of glad to hear that. I just put my first washer load into the drier and started the second load in the washer. Rainy days are great for house work. The lint comes from that missing sock. It's stuck in there somewhere and keeps breaking down a little with each cycle.

I just got back home from yet another canceled round due to rain in N.E. Ohio. That's two Tuesdays in a row now that my league has been called for rain.