Today I want to talk about one aspect of the setup position. With the Peak Performance Golf Swing, we have two major setup positions. The first one is what I call the master setup position, which involves the arms and shoulders, as I discussed last week. The other position is the one I'll be discussing today. It has to do with being set up preloaded heavy right (or PLHR).
When we get to the impact position using the PPGS, we are basically tilted a little behind the ball. This is important because it gives us room to straighten out our arms at impact, which will allow for much more consistency. Most rotational swingers are either at the ball or ahead of the ball, which doesn't allow both arms to be straight at impact. This can cause all sorts of problems from hitting the ball fat to super thin.
So what is preloaded heavy right? It's not the act of pushing your hips forward, which is what I often see from students. All you have to do to get preloaded heavy right is pick your weight up and shift or sit back on your right leg. It's almost as if we set up like we're on a slight uphill lie. When you're on the right leg, you should feel weight all the way into your knee cap up to the top of your hip. That way, when you turn, you will actually sit or sink into that back leg. It's only a very small amount, but that little bit allows you to push off and explode through the ball to the finish.
Too much turning of the shoulders and hips will straighten your leg and push your body forward. In order to combat that, you must keep your knees level. We maintain this levelness by utilizing our wide knees with outward pressure position.
The setup determines the motion, so don't overlook these two important aspects of the PPGS. If you'd like to review the master setup position as well, just click here.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
Enlow golf grips
Fellow Surgites, I would much appreciate your help. I am in the process of ordering (via email) a set of Enlow reverse tapered grips from a store that is able to deliver to a hotel in the South Florida area. On looking at the Enlow website a number of dealers are mentioned but no websites are given. Hence I would be most grateful for any Enlow dealer information, giving a website whereby I can make the purchase via Internet. Many thanks for any help given.
Jack Hill
Enlow Grips
If you just want to buy the grips you can click on "Surge's Shop" at the top of this page and then click on "Equipment".
Enlow Grips
Steve, many thanks.
Jack
PLHR
This has been one of my favorite fundamentals that Surge teaches sense adapting this swing over 4 years ago. When I am comfortably PLHR it makes the forward swing simple. It feels like there is only one way to go after the BUS is completing and the FUS has started and that's forward. I'm sure Surge is correct that many think they are loaded on the back foot and are not. Then on the follow through I will occasionally check myself to see if I have finished with most of the weight on the forward foot. I caught on to this early on while learning the PPGS. It again seems so logical and is one less thing to think about in the set up as it becomes automatic with practice. To me it does add easy power that feels effortless or as I like to say "buttery". When i miss hit the ball it is another aspect of set up and swing that I have not done right not related to the PLHR position but often because I have over swung past 3/4's and tried to kill the ball which is almost never good! I am always asking my wife if my tempo seemed nice and if I kept it 3/4's. She always knows and gives me feed back what I may not catch.
alignment
Hi Surge,
I switched to the PPGS a couple of weeks ago. WOW! After a couple of days on the range, I shot 37 for nine holes. The next day I carded 41. My drives were 20 yards longer and my irons were high & straight at the pin, My swing thoughts were right shoulder lower and forward upswing.
The next time out I earned a 92 - more in line with my 18 handicapp. My wife had taken videos of many of my shots. I was not lining up properly. I thought I was, but I wasn't. What visual clues or techniques can I use to ensure I am aiming where I think I am aiming?
I am 70 years old in great physical shape. We leave next week for a ski vacation in Utah. I will get a discounted lift ticket rate. About 45 years ago I had an eye injury while serving in the US Army. I see well without glasses, but my eyes do not always see the same thing.
I live on in a golf community in SE North Carolina. When you are in the area, let's hit a few together.
Thanks.
Joe Day
Visual clues .....
Joe,
The best recommendation I can share is for you to buy Don's recently produced "Ultimate Alignment" video. It covers everything in great detail and gives visual ideas you can use to all but insure excellent alignment.
https://www.swingsurgeon.com/shop/products/ultimate-alignment-video
I will give you one that you can use right away that has helped me tremendously. After you have determined what parallel left is for any given shot, lay a club by your feet. Then take a quick few seconds to back off and look at the club to see if it is lined up where you'll want your toe line. Then set up with your toes along that club and then simply pick it up and toss it aside (unless of course you are planning on using that club for the shot. Another thing I do to assure that I don't move out of correct alignment is I don't allow my eyes to then fool me. Once i have determined the best alignment and i have stepped in I don't move my feet again. If you look up and continue to adjust your feet based on your sight from the side view, you will likely 'dance' out of alignment.
I will leave you some of Don's best dailies on alignment with your challenge in mind. Watch these for more ideas;
https://www.swingsurgeon.com/daily-video-tips/djs-technique-proper-alignment
https://www.swingsurgeon.com/daily-video-tips/alignment-dont-play-golf-without-it
https://www.swingsurgeon.com/daily-video-tips/dave-seeman-derek-hardy-alignment
Getting to PLHR
Everyone waiting to putt tends to place their putter head on the ground (for balance), lean onto one leg, and then crosses the other leg over and rests it on the toe of the shoe. That's the image I use to get to PLHR.
staying out of grave yard
Don: I need help to get into the mitt and up. I am around and flat, behind me, never up. Help. radio
Here's some ideas
https://www.swingsurgeon.com/daily-video-tips/arms-swing-club-vertical-maximum-incline-plane
PPGS v Square to Square
I am a big fan of the PPGS, which has revived my game in a big way. I recently received a promotion from Doug Tewell's Square to Square Method, and I must say that Don and Doug are just about totally on the same page about the golf swing. I know that the competition among golf swing proponents is fierce, but whatever the swing is called, it is good to see more and more successful pros buying into the vertical swing, limited turn, and staying square way of moving the club.
Are there any differences between PPGS and Square to Square?
PLHR
Don, question, After organising to be PLHR at setup, once the hips move forward in the bump, does the PLHR remain until contact, with the arms and shoulders then carrying forward and upwards to the follow through, automatically moving ones weight to the left foot. This really keeps the head still until contact.
I do have trouble with the bump, but I achieve the same result by dropping the right shoulder straight down. I find this makes the left hip bump. I note that your right shoulder does drop straight down from the effect of the bump. Baz - Australia.
Enlow grips
Greetings Surgites--Am in the early throes of using a set of seven Enlow grips and was wondering if any of you have purchased and used these yet. For me the jury is still out---have used them only a few times because of our New England less than co-operative weather. I have them on my driver, 3 wood, 3 and 4 Adams hybrids, 7 thru 9 irons. MUCHO problemo with my driver so far, a shortened 10.5 Cleveland Classic that has not behaved "classically". It has the smallest head of that line and I'm really disappointed with it. I can hit my Adams 3 wood almost as far---anybody tried the Rocketbalz drivers (if your over 70)?
Here's hoping DJ Mac*Trahan loses his Scottish name soon--he's too nice a guy and talented to be on his current path. *"missed another cut