The Science Behind the Swing: Part 1

Robert:

Sorry -- but I am PHOENIX, Az. We do have at least two knowledgable bloggers - golfers in Las Vegas -- Robert Meade, I think, and perhaps Robert F

Keep hitting them STRAIGHT and LONG

Amos

Here's a test to see if you're really lining up with the butt on your toe line: Make yourself a plumb bob out of a string, a weight, and an eye hook. Put the eye hook in the hole in the butt of your club. Sole the club at address. The weight should now be hanging over your toe line. When you get into your setup position, that toe line should be straight down from a point between your shoulders and chin, closer to the latter, depending on your specific body. If you feel like you're reaching too far, either you're mistaken about where your toe-line is, you're not bending your upper body enough, or you have very short arms and long toes. ;-)

Steve,

Many years ago, when I was a young bull and could bomb the ball (with no control), I got beaten at Phoenix Country Club by a one-armed old man with 13 woods who just kept popping the ball down the center of the fairway, on to the green and one-putting for pars. I outdrove him by almost 100 yards on every hole and lost every hole. Would that I had known then what I know now.

Kevin

Kelly

Dan Marino made millions too. But, like Tiger, he is a young man who has had his body broken making that money. I will still be able to play golf for the rest of the time God chooses to let me live. I would not trade places with either of them.

What good does it do a man to gain the whole world, but then lose his soul? That is keeping it real.

He only has a half billion dollars. All those women he was shaking his other stick at cost him the other half, as well as, his wife and the chance to be there every day raising his kids. Is that the life of Tiger you are longing for.

Amos never said Tiger's swing was terrible. I think what he meant to say is that Tiger's swing was terrible for Tiger. Can you understand the difference? I can. Amos was right.

None of us on this blog would ever question Tiger's ability. He is a terrific golfer. As a person, as a human being, as a husband, as a father, and as a man, he stumbled. Heck, we all have. I know I have. I am not perfect, just forgiven.

Don't take every thing that is said on this blog as an attack on one of the game's sacred cows. Sometimes we just state our opinions on things. That is what this blog is all about.

Keeping it vertical, and living my life and no one else's, in Oklahoma
Dick

Hey Kevin, I live in Las Vegas, however my hands are recovering from trigger finger surgery so no go. Yes, Robert F lives here but not sure if he's available. Sorry, no one to recomend iether. I really have not sought out any golf buddies. I play with my wife or just whoever at the courses I play.
Hope you have a great time. Let us know where you play.

Dick. I'm sure Surge Nation exists in Heaven, but I want to wait as long as possible to find out!

Lol

Phillip

Dick, no I did not get your messages, but that sounds like a great idea. Not yet sure when that will be, but likely in August. I will blog you when I know for sure.

I saw Charles on a talk show recently and he said he switched to playing left handed to cure his wierd glitch. I think it was on Letterman, but not sure.

DICK:

I LIKE your attitude! we MUST keep our priorities STRAIGHT!! LOL

On a lighter note, the FedEx truck just left me a package containing a new golf bag. Wilson Staff model, red white and black (almost matches my maroon head covers) with a plethora of pockets. I spent the better part of an hour packing, re-packing things until I got it like I want it. It looks like the modern rendition of the old red and white bags of the Sam Snead era, except in nylon instead of leather,

Keep hitting them STRAIGHT and LONG

Amos

Kelly:

Please READ what I wrote -- I was only writing about the HEALTH issues -- and yes - for 10 to 12 years TIGER has had a fabulous career -- fame, money, endorsrments, 14 majors, etc, etc. But just look at him now.

Personally I do NOT regard the "more women than you can shake a stick at" as a PLUS for anyone.

Amos

Yepee

I have noticed in my setup that if I very slightly flex my knees (at address) I am in much better position to initiate the downswing with the bump & swing up to the T finish. On the other hand if I have too much knee flex (or you might call it knee bend), I seem to get too much lower body movement on the backswing and therefore have more difficulty 'bumping' to start the downswing, resulting in pulls, and mishit shots. Any comments?

An eye hook is a fastener with a screw head on one end and the other end bent into a circle. You can just loosely shove or screw one into the end of the grip of the club (there's generally a small hole there on the butt). One end of the string for the bob gets tied to the eye hook and the other end is the weight. You can adjust the length of the string so it is slightly shorter than the vertex of the triangle formed between the club properly soled at address and the ground. Just ask your wife and I'm sure she can help you. ;-)

Dragonhead

Great site. I put it on my desktop. I was just getting ready to hit the rack when I saw you post. Just wanted to holler at you before I quit for the day.

Hope you have a blessed day. Will talk to you later.

Your pal
Dick

Quite simple really. Arrange to meet them at a neutral site if they are really intent on working with you making sure you explain and give full disclosure as to why it is necessary to do it this way.

Phillip

I am with you on that pal. There is a country song about that. Heck, there is a country song about everything. The song says "I want to go to Heaven Lord, but I don't want to go tonight."

My whole life is like one long country song.

Do you know what a tornado and a divorce have in common?

Either way, some good ol boy is going to lose his mobile home.

Ok, I have time for just one more.

Do you know why us rednecks like watching sad movies about divorce backwards?

Cause at the end, the ol boy gets back his wife, his dog, his truck, and his mobile home.

I am done for now.

Dick

Jim

That would work out great. We are moving at the end of July. Just a short distance from my home course. We can work out the details as the time approaches. I will look forward to it.

Dick

I still think all Charles needs is to learn the Surge Swing!

DICK:

THANK YOU for the "assist" -- I seem to have an extreme knack for "saying the right thing in the wrong way" --- LOL

Amos

Amos

That is just me being me. Haha.

Congrats on the new bag. My loving wife just got me one for my birth back on the 8th of this month. It has the auto deploying legs and so many darn pockets. I love it. Like you, I spend a ton of time moving and then changing everything around in the new bag. Well, at least we have new gear and look sharp. Remember the old line "It is better to look marvelous than to be marvelous." At least I will look like I know what I am doing. I should just stand around outside the clubhouse and look cool.

Dick

Ronnie

I know when I don't do the bump right, cause my ball slices right. Haha.

Glad you got some range time and some sun today. We had no sun here all day. Got stuck with work calls to customers and writing reports. Never did make it out to the range. This work stuff is starting to interfere with my golf. This is not acceptable. Some thing will just have to give if this keeps up. I can get rid of my clubs or my inspection tools and equipment.

Anyone want to buy some inspection tools and equipment?

Keeping it vertical, and keeping my priorities straight, in Oklahoma
Dick

Sorry for the mix up. Robert Meade might not be too much fun to play golf with right now. I'm thinking his hands are still too sore to swing a club, but he probably knows a few fun folks to play with.

Hit'em Long and Straight,
Bob

Great news on the hands and fingers. Your 'In house' masseuse nurse, is a blessing, no doubt about it. I have used the Sesame oil a couple of times on my 'very tight' second finger at the base. Now I can actually make a fist for the first time in years. I am sure with tender loving care, you will be back in no time, to practicing the SurgeSwing with the rest of the family of dedicated Surgites.
"Lying Eyes" was a tip I wrote for a UK Golf Mag, which they printed.Your eyes are like the guns on a WW2 Spitfire fighter, vectored to meet in the distance. When we turn sideways, our brains are being lied to by our eyes. Surge has said about players 'Shuffling and moving their feet at address prior to striking the ball. Same phenomena, the eventually believe their lying eyes, compensate and miss the shot.
Good luck, remember, think lucky,be lucky.Keep on PUTT ering along ; - )

Dick.

Can you do Home Inspections in Chicago?

I do rehab loans for a major bank.

This way you can do my inspections, then meet me for golf afterward!

Lol. Phillip

Went out yesterday to the range and sliced every drive I hit. Everything felt right. I made numerous adjustments and nothing worked. Given the limited backswing, what might cause such a problem? I'm apparently out of sync somewhere and coming across the intended flight path but I can't pin down the cause. Any ideas?

Thanks Dick,

I appreciate the kind words. Like I said, I probably know the right answer to the problem already, but am just looking for some re-enforcement from friends.

Once I get done with school, you are more than welcome to a free lesson or two. You will have to come to Alaska during the warm months to get them, but I promise a fun round or two and maybe a fishing trip to go along with the lessons.

Hit'em Long and Straight,

Bob

Doc's got the right idea Bob. If these folks really understand that you are not ,quote"credentialed" yet, no one is mislead. Simple indeed. And as far as your idea to start school soon, awesome Bob, I too have been looking into and considering how I might enter a golf career. I have actually been looking at becoming a club fitter. Initially I will just start in my garage and hope to attend a school too. Actually most of the fitter studies are 3-5 days offered by Golfworks,Golfsmith and a couple others. But like you, I realise the only way to experience it is just do it. I am not in a gifted position of finances so I need to start real small, basically working on my own clubs. We'll see.I would love to apprentice for a top fitter hear but we have none. I guees working at like a Golf galaxy would at least put me in an atmosphere of golf like you and Dick are in now.
Good luck Bob,I'm excited for you. Go for it!

It sure couldn't hurt.

Robert--great news. I'm glad for you. If it is not me that's on the putting green, I'm glad it is you. I can go out late evenings when I feel ready, and it will be any day now. I keep my putter and some balls in the car in case the moment hits me. Then light chipping. Let me know if you get any "Aha!" experiences when you figure out things. I'll do the same. Best wishes for a speedy recovery through all that PT you'll be getting.

Dick :

Me too! when I returned to golf in 2009 after spending 4 months of 2008 in the hospital for various surgeis and re-hab including having some diseased muscle mass removed form the area around my right hip, my old vertical rotational swing, in the manner of Nicklaus, was KILLING my back. The first 12 or 13 holes were OK -- but somewher between 13 and 15 the pain arrived. By the time I finished, I almost had to helped to my car -- and someone else definitely had to load my clubs in the trunk!

Then I found the SURGE SWING -- it took me about 1 bucket of balls two get the "basics" working -- but about 6 to 8 months of range time and playing to get "all the pieces" in place -- specially the timing/tempo of the bump.

Now, when money and time permit, I can play 36 holes and handle my own clubs. 'nuff said about the physical benefits of the Surge Swing.

Keep hitting them STRAIGHT and LONG

Amos

HI BOB
I APPRECIATE YOUR PREDICAMENT BUT AS A FULLY QUALIFIED PGA PROFESSIONAL WHO HAS GONE THROUGH ALL THE MANY DIFFERENT VARIOUS ROUTES WITHIN MY PGA TOP GET ALL MY QUALIFICATIONS AS A VERY GOOD PGA PROFESSIONAL I CAN ONLY SAY THAT YOU CAN NOT FIND A CHEAP AND QUICK WAY JUST TO GET SOME PIECE OF PAPER AFTER YOU HAVE ATTENDED A COURSE SOMEWHERE TO SAY YOU ARE NOW A PROFESSIONAL TEACHER.
THERE ARE MANY OUT THERE WHO ARE DOING THIS AND I TOPTALLY DISAGREE WITH THIS SYSTEM AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ARRANGING SUCH COURSES SHOULD BE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS ONCE AND FOR ALL.
IF I WANT TO BE A BRAIN SURGEON SHOULD I FIND A COURSE SOMWHERE THAT OFFERS A WEEKS COACHING AND THEN THEY WILL GIVE ME A PIECE OF PAPER TO SAY I AM QUALIFIED TO MAKE OPERATIONS, OF COURSE NOT !!
THE CONNECTION HERE IS THE SAME MANY PEOPLE GET MESSED UP AND CONFUSED BY LISTENING TO PEOPLE WHO PRETEND TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT OR DOING RATHER THAN LISTEN TO THE GENUINE PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO DOING SOMETHING THEY GENUINELY BELIEVE IN AND HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO LEARN THE INDUSTRY THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO MAKE A CAREER OUT OF.
STICK TO YOUR NORMAL DAY JOB AND MAKE SURE THE GOLFERS GO TO THE HEAD PRO AS HE IS THE ONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO TEACH CORRECTLY.
HAPPY TRAINING AND GOOD LUCK.

We'd have to be able to see your swing to even start answering that. Most likely you're not doing what you think you're doing, though. Have you videoed your swing? Are you somewhere that a Swing Surgeon Certified instructor might be available to you (that would be the best solution, really)? You can check your region here: http://www.swingsurgeon.com/Go...

Elements you're likely doing wrong: Not really as vertical as you think you are; Still turning too much; Not properly keeping slight outward pressure on the knees; Not properly shifting weight to start the FUS. Oh, so many other possibilities. If you can't see a professional, you can post videos on YouTube like a number of us do (click my green-highlighted name for an example) and we'll happily see if we can offer any advice.

Amos

You were right, and said what needed to be said. He just took it wrong, and he has a severe case of Tiger worship. Even the big boys make mistakes and Tiger has made several.

Dick

Jim

Good point. I just realized in an effort to get a little more distance into a really tough wind today I was doing exactly that. My normal shot is straight to a slight fade and I hit some ugly pulls today. Thanks for the tip. I'm hoping to go out tomorrow and I'll definitely use it

Lynn42

When that happens to me, it's usually because I'm taking a bigger backswing than I think I am. Once in a while it's from not finishing. But usually, for me, I'm turning too much. I then force myself to take what feels like a really short backswing, and voila! Problem solved.

Bob

Like you, when I already know what I should do, I still like to hear it re-enforced by those whose opinions I value.

I would love to play some golf and go fishing with you. Lets get our day planners out and pick a date in two years.

Night pal
Dick

I cannot find the right way to send a message directly to the surge so hopefully you do not mind I am using your reply side to do this Robert.
I would like to know and hear the explanation from the Surge how the PPGS SWING works when you used an Extra Long Club for example.
I can easily see the theory when using a normal club or the short one that Surge is always using but could you demomstrate the PPGS SWING with a very long golf club as surely when standing at the side of the ball in an very much extended position this would make the Vertical Swing very difficult..................I would imagine so please help me Surge.
I really hope you get the message and can explain this enquiry to me and the many other golfers who are also interested I am sure.
Thanks for a gresat web page and all the excellent tips and very interesting info you give us.

Keep Good & Vertical
Harry.

Robert, you are most kind.

Hey all I'm going to be in Vegas this Fiday and Saturday and will be looking for someone to play with. If anyone in the area is interested in playing I posted my contact info in the Southwest area portion of the Inner Circle forum. Hope to hear from a fellow member or two.

Hey, Robert. Got something for you to try, now that you'll have time to try things. I posted this once, but got no replies. Maybe I wasn't clear enough. It is a way to see what your line error is when you sight the line by standing at address compared to standing behind the ball. I'm going to write this in a step 1, step 2 form to make sure I get it clear.

1. Find a flat green so you don't have to contend with any slopes.
2. Place ball around six feet from the cup.
3. Place main ball marker one foot from the ball, the spot you said you picked.
4. To make sure your spot is as correct as possible, put three markers at one foot intervals.
5. When you are sure your markers are on line (ask other people to help you), remove all but
the first one, your spot.
6. Now stand at address and look at the line from your ball to the marker, to the cup, and you
will see how much error you get if you were to have simply lined the putt up at address.

For me, when I do this, the line from ball to the marker goes around 2" to the left. So, that's why I miss right if I don't line up the putt from behind the ball--Since my eyes see the right line to the left, my brain moves the line to the right, and this line that my brain sees is actually a couple inches to the right. I seem to recall the Surge using a laser to show this error of aligning the putter face. I hope you try it and let us know if your line from behind the ball and at address were the same. For a few people, it seems, they see it the same--lucky golfers.

There are way too many contradictory ideas, opinions and suggestions out there. Before I quit going there a couple of weeks ago, I think I spent too much time looking at the old PPGS website. OMG, I have developed Paul Wilson's loose wrists. Help, I am a poor lost golfer trying to find his way back to the Surge Nation ;-)