Today's question is pretty unique. It's so interesting that I wanted to share it with you all. Gary Kinne has a physical feature that forces him to alter his alignment slightly and it got me wondering if anyone else has ran into the same situation.
You suggest alignment through the toes in your method. I have a left foot that is 3/4" longer than my right. I have tried compensating by turning my left foot more toward the target. What are your thoughts on this compensation?
Gary's actually got the right idea and I'm completely okay with the compensation he's made. Remember Surgites, as long as you're in a position where you can make a full swing straight up and straight through while remaining dynamically balanced, then having more flare of the front foot is no problem.
I've actually done videos in the past where I've demonstrated my own unique ability to turn my front foot completely at the target. I'm able to hit good shots and stay balanced, however, the key is that once you get passed 45 degrees of flare, you need to start moving your front foot back so that your ankles remain in line parallel left of your aiming line. Balance is the key!
All of our bodies are different and our physiology dictates what we're able to do with them. The great thing about the Peak Performance Golf Swing is that as long as you stay within the basic parameters of what I'm teaching, you can make slight adjustments like Gary did in order to play to the best of your ability.
If anyone else has a similar story, please share in the comments section below.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
Physical challenges
I am a left handed golfer with severe right thumb arthritis. I am not able to use a traditional gripping motion due to the pain. I have to place my right thumb on the back of my left hand to avoid the pressure of the grip, regardless of how light I grip the club. I discovered this approach by goofing around, trying to avoid the pain. It certainly is an adapted Vardon approach but it has proven very effective and I offer it up to anyone interested in addressing hand pain. Cheers.
Issues
Pretty well documented on this blog that I have nerve damage in my left leg and foot so I am seemingly always tinkering with combinations.
I have to find a balance between consistent alignment and balance in the finish, all while not losing power or performance.
I can super flare the front foot and have decent balance in the finish but miss my target a little more, or I can flare to about 45 degrees and let the heel come up in the back swing and replace it at close to 90 degrees (which Surge hates and so do I, but works the best for me).
I would never recommend it for people that don't have the nerve damage that I have because it takes quite a bit of unnecessary skill to be consistent doing it. The key is that my back leg never really moves at all in the back swing, and my front knee doesn't move back at all toward the back knee. As it bends it actually goes away from the back knee.
Unrelated to any physical problem: Started putting my right thumb along the shaft at 1 o'clock while still leaving my palm in a neutral position. Gives me the best control of the club I have ever had. Wouldn't recommend that either because if it was the best way to grip a club everybody would be doing it, but it's great for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY_ExufUMlI
Steve
Steve
In that video your swing looks more in control now even though you had a good swing to begin with.
You trying to get ready for the senior tour Q school.
I have always said that we need to as individuals make little adjustments to this swing to adapt it to us as individuals. As much as we would all like to have swings that look exactly like DJ and Don's they are going to be different theirs is not exactly the same. We have to find the little tweaks that work for us. The main thing is to eliminate the back pain which I have had none in 2 yrs.
To add
I rotate the front left almost 90* at address and am using a little wider stance now that is letting me have better balance through the swing up to a in balanced finish.
Ha ha!
Not a chance of playing with those guys. (Yet anyway). LOL
Set up
Hi guys, A very good daily tip. I have a habit of swivelling the toes of my front (left) foot towards the target some time near impact. It allows my hips to really open to the T finish and get the club through the ball-even though it is not technically correct. Although I draw absolutely no comparisons, I notice that
Bubba Watson has his front foot pointing down the fairway when he rips a drive. I'm sure that I once saw a picture from years ago of an ancient golfer at address, with his weight almost all on his back foot with a deep knee bend. His front foot was pointing straight down the fairway (ie at right angles to his back foot). the idea was a shortened back swing, but a huge and free follow through. Have a go on the range!
lined up with the target
Surge, The golfer I play with tell me constantly that I am not lined up with the target. I can't carry sticks with me to line
up so what can I do when I address the ball to make sure I'm hitting toward the target? Thanks
Earl
Lining up on the course
One thing you can do, though it will add a few seconds to your setup routine, is to lay the club along your toe line, step back, make sure it's aimed to a point visually parallel left of your target (assuming you're right handed--parallel right if you play left handed), fix it if not, then set back up to that. As long as you pick the club up before you swing, it is perfectly within the rules of golf. You cannot have any artificial alignment aid during the swing, but you can use your standard equipment to check your alignment prior to the swing.
ALIGNMENT CHECK
In addition to what Robert says, you can use the method I use. When in position with my club, I lay the club against/across my hips or thighs, either will do, and ensure that it points to the predetermined spot. Note: your hips and thighs will and should look as though they point to a spot even slightly more left than the toe line target spot you have predetermined. If after hitting the shot you find that it is errant, Then lay the club at your toes and check to re-affirm your alignment. After a few holes you will quickly learn where the club against your hips or thighs needs to point, in order to correlate with your proper ball and toe lines. It takes a little practice, but once you get it down it is a fast effective way to check alignment. Good luck.