As most of you well know, I don't like the phrase "hitting down on the ball." Instead, I prefer to say that we swing up to the T-finish. However, some of you might be misunderstanding what I mean. Tom C. posted a question on our Facebook page that I decided to pass on to Doc Griffin, our Director of Club Fitting Operations and PPGS Certified Instructor. Tom was confused about the concept of swinging up versus hitting down on the ball.
Don how do you compress the ball if we're hitting up on it. If we hit up, we lose the club face angle and that causes topping or blading the ball. Please expain, thanks.
For years, conventional teaching has said that you want to hit the golf ball with a descending blow. Yet, what that does is deloft the club and traps the ball, which gives it additional spin that you cannot control. For example, the effect is basically like turning a 6 iron into a 5 iron.
The loft of the iron is what's going to get the ball airborn and started on the proper trajectory, not striking it with a descending blow. Now, hitting up on the ball doesn't mean that we're trying to scoop it. Instead, we want to think of the swing as an elongated "U" shape.
There could be many reasons why you're topping the ball or blading it. You could be losing your spine tilt, losing knee flex, or you might have the ball too far forward. Doc uses some really great visual aids in the video to help drive home the benefits of hitting up. One of the biggest benefits of the PPGS is that by avoiding big divots, we save our bodies a lot of shock and avoid injuries. This is one of the reasons the swing is so body friendly.
So, pay attention to Doc in today's video as I think he does a great job of distinguishing between hitting down and swinging up.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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DJ
wow! DJ is in a very similar situation as he was 12 months ago! 126th!. played well so far. need one more good day. good luck !
DJ
Yes he's cutting it close again. One more 68 or 67 and I am sure he'll be in. Pulling hard for his success tomorrow.
Close
DJ may need better than a 67, or some help from other players. I don't like to hope against players, so I want to see DJ really tear up the course today. He was leader in GIR for Saturday's round, only missing a couple coming down the stretch. I'd love to see him hit them all today and watch those putts fall.
DJ is 1 over through 16.
DJ is 1 over through 16. Looks like Q school is on the horizon
Hitting up with iron
Hi Doc
Liked your lesson today. I understand how your lesson applies to the driver. However, with forward shaft lean on an iron the you showed, how does an elongated u-shape swing work? If the handle is ahead of the ball it must also be moving well inside. Can you show a visual in how everything could move, without taking a deep divot, and having some semblance of an upswing?
Thanks,
Louie
Hitting up with an iron
I don't understand the assumption that because the shaft handle leads the club head that it must also be coming from the inside. I might be real clear on just what you mean. The fact that the hands lead the shot does not determine the path that the club takes. Again, swinging up is the verbiage used to describe the thought process of getting into the high (over the shoulder) T finish as opposed to the around (flat, below the shoulders) finish. The point of contact of club face and ball is somewhere very near the low point of the pendulum motion of the club. In the "other" swing, the ball is struck as the club is still moving downwards and not "bottoming out" until after impact. Think of it like you would a chip shot where your hands lead the club head through impact and you just pick the ball off the turf rather than "hitting" down at the ball. I do hope this helps. The whole key here is the angle of attack.
Heading south
Good luck with your up coming trip down under Doc. I hope you have been brushing up on the Australian language, but I'm sure you'll work it out. I also hope you have factored in a few extra days for a bit of time out and a look around. There's some lovely spots to be found.
Heading South
I am going to be gone for 18 days. My only time off will be the days that I fly between cities. I do have Monday before I start fittings on Tuesday to kind of try to get acclimated to the difference in time zones. That will be my only down time unfortunately. The thing that has me more concerned than the language is the aspect of driving on the "wrong" side of the road. :)
GPS
Have you got a GPS? Might help you to focus on your driving without having to worrying about where your going as well. Are you sure its us who are on the "wrong" side of the road? When you come to NZ , I'll pick you up at the airport, as long as its Auckland
gps
I'll have my iphone which has a gps app.
Of course, we drive on the RIGHT side of the road.
I will be renting a car ib each ity.
Thanks though.
Right side eh?
Hey Lynn. What a cool trip I am sure it will be for you down under. You know much of the world does drive on the left however many of their autos have the drivers side set up on the Right side of the car. That may also really be an interesting challenge for you. I actually first learned how to drive when I Iived in the Bahamas, formerly part of the British Kingdom. It was strange at first then easy.
Funny thing was after returning to the States I had to learn to drive on the right while sitting on the left. Oh btw, a fun factoid for you; did you know the water flushes in the opposite direction south of the equator?! Have fun:)
Aussie Flushes
Thanks and I had heard that before and will be interested to see this phenomenon.
Wrong way
Hey Doc,
Maybe it will be easier to drive on the wrong side of the road there, since you're on the wrong side of the planet. ;-)
Of course, if you think about it, in the US we drive on the right side of the road but the wrong side of the car, in Australia they're on the right side of the car but the wrong side of the road.
Right Hand Driving
I find the hardest thing to be shifting gears with my left hand, the driving on the left was easy to me. Luckily the clutch was still on the left side and gas on the right; however, I peered into an Aston Martin that had the pedals reversed! This was on a two week trip in England and Scotland.
Right Hand Driving
Goodness, I hope I have an automatic as I don't think I could handle it otherwise. :)
Driving on the wrong side of the road
One thought when driving on the opposite side of the road from what you are used to is that the driver should be near the center of the road, not near the curb. The passenger side is near the curb. Divided roads are much easier.
Hitting Up
Enjoyed your video today, Doc. I can vouch for elbow and wrist problems resulting from hitting down taking divots from my rotational days...not something I ever want to go through again.
Since converting to PPGS I seldom hit the ball thin, but I do fight scooping the ball occasionally resulting in a loss of distance. Not much fun since I'm distance challenged to begin with. As near as I can tell it usually is caused by ball position being too far forward and having to lean into the shot if that makes sense. Trial and error lead me to taking my practice swing beside the ball rather than behind it to check ball position.
Snow is pretty well gone so I'm hoping to get out Monday. Good luck with driving on the "wrong" side of the road. ;0)
Got everything crossed for DJ to finish strong tomorrow.
Interesting challenge for you Lynn
It can be challenging to consistently strike the ball from the same position each time out (or even from one swing to the next! lol!) Even pros can have that challenge. I recall a suggestion from Fuzzy Zoeller. He said to do as you stated and that is to take several swings beside the ball and see where you are striking (brushing) the ground or making shallow divots. Of course where the divot starts is where your ball position is. Again this sounds like what you are doing.
Go DJ!
Challenge
Robert, the key for me is to make it a routine. It's very easy to pick my spot in front of the ball and get caught up in what I'm trying to do with the shot and lose focus on ball position.
It's a fine line between just seeing the shot and hitting it and getting too involved with the nuts and bolts of the swing. You know me, the chronic overthinker...lol.
Doc heading South
Hi Doc.
When are you planning on being in the Sydney area?
Kind Regards
Michael
Hitting up on the Ball
Doc,
The audio was as clear as your explanation.
You differentiated all the keywords properly.
I'm using the 'U' and the 'sweeping up' for my own guide.
Thanks a lot.
Love your accent.
I'm an Asian Hoosier and I heard you loud and clear.
Keep it up, Doc.
Audio quality
I think the issue with audio quality is that it is harsh, almost has an echo. I think it's because you are in the shop and have a lot of hard surfaces bouncing the sound around. I would try moving to another spot to see if the quality can improve. I don't think volume is the problem.
DJ
Good luck today ! I'm rooting for you
Audio Quality
Doc, swdickie has a point. In addition, I'm a retired tv/video producer and a/v specialist. The ideal situation if for you to use a lapel mic, wired or wireless. You can be in any situation and you will sound clear.
Nevertheless, keep on plugging Doc and thanks for the great tips.
Audio Quality
Doc, swdickie has a point. In addition, I'm a retired tv/video producer and a/v specialist. The ideal situation is for you to use a lapel mic, wired or wireless. You can be at any situation and you will sound clear.
Nevertheless, keep on plugging Doc and thanks for the great tips.
Lapel Mic
Did you hear Doc not only SAY he has a mic on, BUT ACTUALLY POINT TO IT, at about 1min 5sec in. Maybe he should have worn a jacket with a lapel to clip it to. Then it would qualify as a lapel mic instead of a shirt mic.
Hey everyone, enough of this childish nonsense about sound quality and video length, I couldn't even see Doc's eyes clearly. We all know you can't trust a man if you can't see his eyes.
We really are a bunch of needy little so and so's, aren't we?
I can see his eyes
I have a 27 " monitor I can see his eyes in full screen mode. If that helps.
THE EYES HAVE IT
Good to know Mike. What color are they. I can't tell on my phone or Pad.
Brown but I do not have my
Brown but I do not have my glass's on. I was just messing with you anyway, Is they weather getting cold up your way upper 20's for lows here most of the week.
Brown eyes.
I kind of figured you were just having fun, same with me. Just feeling a little ornery tonight and taking a swat or two at the whiners. I actually have a 26" monitor myself.
We were planning on playing today, but nothing but rain here. Only supposed to be 39* tomorrow. Still hoping for a Thursday or Friday round. Should be close to 50* both days. The weekend through to next Tuesday look fairly nice and close to 50* each day, so we may still have our Monday round next week. I hate the long winter lay off, but that's part of living in Ohio. I hope we have another mild winter like last year.
Good Night Dick, where ever you are.
No Golf Today
Thanks for sending me your rain, Terry. No golf today without my swimmies and a snorkel. ;0) I did manage to get in a round in yesterday, high 60s and a nice day. Sandy and then 6 inches of snow from the nor'easter kept me away from the course for 2 weeks and it sure showed.
I played a skins game with a friend which pretty much turned into a "you take it, I don't want it" round...lol. My "driving for show" was just that...a horror show. My "putting for dough" should easily qualify me for a GM type stimulus package. I'm sure I could have putted better with a sledge hammer.
Our games all show a little rust after a layoff, but I can safely say mine was totally corroded....LOL.
Now, before I get a lecture from Surge for violating rule number 5, there were some bright spots. I was in 5 bunkers and managed sand saves on 4. I also had 2 great recovery shots with hybrids from the rough thanks to DH's ti-ming and and tem-po friends and not trying to do too much with the shot.
All in all we had some laughs and agreed it was a great day to be out in the sun and fresh air. Maybe it's something that comes with age, but we both never take ouselves too seriously and agreed that a good round of golf is determined more by the people you play with than how you play on any given day. Here ends my philosphy lesson for the day.
I'll cross my fingers and eyes for some good weather for you, Terry, before old man winter sets in.