Today I'm going to do something a little different. Instead of providing a tip that I've discovered, I'd like to share one that was sent in by Bob Chipps. Besides having a great golfing name, Bob had a fantastic warm-up tip that he wanted to give to a woman who recently wrote in about her problems getting to the T-finish position.
I'll address some other things in the video, but for the most part I want you all to check out Bob's great advice on reverse engineering your golf swing!
Don,
This is for the woman who couldn't finish her swing, as you discussed in The T-Finish video (Focus On T-Finish Position - 02/21/2013). I had a similar problem when I first started using this swing method. My solution was to assume the perfect finish position and slowly swing the club back from there to the top of the backswing and in one continuous motion swing back to the finish position. Keep repeating this, gradually increasing the tempo until it begins to feel natural.
I used to do this before every single full shot just to remind me of what the swing should feel like. It struck me how doing this made all the components of the swing work together. In other words, starting the swing from the finish position teaches you where the swing plane must be to achieve that position in the upswing. It just grooves the swing into the right place. Worked for me, maybe this swing thought would help someone else groove their swing.
Bob Chipps
As I've said before, I provide you with parameters which can be slightly altered to accommodate different golfers' abilities and limitations. Work within those parameters and you're sure to see improvement using the Peak Performance Golf Swing. I want to thank Bob for his contribution and I hope that it helps many of you with your finish position.
If anyone else has come across a tip or swing thought that has helped improve your game, please share it with us so that we can all become better players.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
If you can't view the YouTube video above try CLICKING HERE. You must allow popups from this site for the link to work.
Comments
DJ playing well
Deej now -5 after 13 holes and tied for 12th. He is really rounding into form now. great stuff. Looks like he may finish strong today.
http://www.pga.com/news/golf-leaderboard/pga-tour-leaderboard
Afternoon edit;
Final tally, -4 T15. Nice tournament for DJ. Congrats on some solid golf.
Congrats DJ
Nice work, Dj. Well played! T15 -4............:)
Great Finish (edited 4/8)
There is statue of the late, great Payne Stewart at my home course in Auburn, CA. (The Ridge) The statue features Payne's finish, which, of course, is a picture of balance and beauty.
Often, that's where I start.....at the finish. No ball striking. Just feeling and settling into the balanced finish....just swing thru and remain remaining there a few moments. Never thot of reversing from there, but that might be a dendrite builder. It's about results.
I'm sure it looks odd. But that's I how remind myself-that is where I want to go. Oh yeah, and having that statue of Payne is an inspirational reminder.
In golf, in life, finish well. And to DJ, well done. Furyk....nice finish.
Hood ornament
SG,
I liked the spontaneous hood ornament in the original post. It was a great visual as I'm sure it is for you. In any case the picture and visual of Payne Stewart and holding that finish is a good one. Dendrite building indeed. I'm missing many at this stage. Some of my connections were lost in the 70's. I think....... that is from what I recall...... ?
Hood Ornament Moment
Thanks, Robert. It just looked a bit odd when I read it back.
Yes.....I enjoy that hood ornament moment, that moment when i finish, in balance, and then just simply stay in it. There.....that's what the finish feels and looks like. Dendrite formation.
I think it's Dr. Amen that talks about actually increasing brain function as we age. Hmmm. Well, that sounds just dandy. Will see how that plays out. LOL.
Now....uh....where were we?
Good going DJ
GOOD finish!! If only a couple of putts had fallen!
But very good play - -specially on a windy day
Amos
Fun Day.
I went to Surges Spring Tune up today at Olde Plantation Golf course at Mint Hill N.C. I got to hear Don, Kenny Knox and Mike Bartholomew and got to see them in action. Don never looks like he swings hard but that ball flies straight and long and dead on target. Kenny Knox hits the same smooth vertical swing with a driver, and I can't reach his ball in 3 shots. WOW.
Kenny passed on some of his excellent training on chipping and I think that is gonna help me a lot too. He also showed us some secrets to make putts, and I have to admit that I may have just found a little bullet there that may help me score.
I think we had 16 Surgites there and I think Surge and Mike worked with everyone there. Surge pointed out one thing I couldn't figure out. He said my alignment was pretty good, but on my FUS I tended to get noodley and not finish my follow through, recoil and relax.
Once he pointed that out I got another piece to click. Sometimes it would happen even before impact and thus my ugly shots. It has a lot to do with my stamina, as I get tired I kinda forget to keep the athletic tone on follow through. Got to work on that.
I am really glad I got to visit a little with Kenny and Surge, was a great little outing, and I had a blast.
When I got ready to leave , he told me to make sure and tell all y'all HEY!.
If you get a chance, you need to try one of his schools. Kenny Knox sure fits in to the whole Peak Performance Swing system and really compliments it perfectly with the short game instruction.
I will be working on the range for the next couple days , but Next week, I plan on beating some friends in our course dog fights. Y'all be well, keep it vertical.
Cool
Mike,
What a treat pal. It is a privelage to hang out and learn from Surge and his fellow teachers. Sounds like you have got some memories for a lifetime. I still have Don, DJ with my wife and I 8x10 picture on my mantle. Yes I'm a nut but it's fun.
I too highly recommend a lesson, clinic or school with Don. I still work on a couple of key areas he showed me for personal improvement. Great teacher.
rotator cuff update
10 weeks since surgery and many rehab sessions including Airrosti therapy to relieve some symptoms of frozen shoulder. I had to cancel a one day clinic with Surge in Allen, TX. Good news as I will try to play my first round on Monday. I went to the range and my range of motion is almost there, strength is what I need to work next.
Tom
Clinic
Sorry you didn't make it out, Tom. The one-day I was at was fabulous, if a little on the frozen side. Probably not the best thing for a frozen shoulder. ;-)
Hope the shoulder is healing up well. Watch for the dates when Dave Seeman and Kenny Knox will be back in Allen teaching more one-days with the short game focus.
Rehab
Tom,
Glad to hear that your rehab is going well and you'll be playing golf Monday.
I have had some shoulder issues that may lead to surgery some day and it is good to know from others that recovery does happen. Please keep us posted on your progress in the coming days.
Hope your golfing goes well.
Down the middle!
INBee Park
Looked at Inbee parks swing in early 2012 on Youtube, this week at Kraft you see it is very different, shorter and much more up right.....I would think Don could comment on that smoth swing and hands being abel to cross over at bottom and give her swing the power to hit a 7 iron over 150 yards while looking like She is hitting a 50 yard pitch shot.
Inbee park x2
I too was watching Inbee park this weekend and thought wow this looks similar. Limited turn and vertical. I note some of the commentators were suprised by it but she won!!! Vertical all the way.
PPGS
Her swing is as close to a PPGS as anything I've seen (other than Surge of course).
Funny thing was that early in the week the announcer (Judy Rankin) was dogging the heck out of her and basically saying there was no way she could play well with that small a turn. She kept on and on about how in the past she turned a little more at the top of the swing and now she just wasn't turning enough.
Then on the weekend when it became obvious that she wasn't going to lose Judy quit dogging her so badly and went more into a mode of amazment that someone could possibly play with that small of a turn.
My son (who doesn't even use a vertical swing, but understands it) said he was amazed at the lack of knowledge of vertical swing mechanics someone around the game as long as Judy Rankin had.
Willing Ignorance
I think commentators like Judy Rankin and Sir Nick and others have a willing ignorance about the vertical swing. They've built their personal successes around the big-turn rotational theories, so anything else must be voodoo or trickery.
I seen that also. I do not
I seen that also. I do not think she was dogging her but was saying that her shoulder turn was a lot less than last year and could be a concern if she starts getting to quick from the top which may cause a pull hook. Inbee is a awesome player and will be around for a while .
Inbee Park
I too watched the Nabisco and Inbee. I thought I was watching Don swing except slower. Fairways and greens for four days. And Judy Rankin said she does not know the swing. I thought maybe Don was Inbee's swing coach. Good going for DJ. PPGS had a great weekend. All the best to Don and the Surge Nation and to the best in all of us.
Horizontal/vertical
As vertical that Inbee Park is Michele Wie is horizontal with the putter. Didn't that posture look painful? Putting is indeed challenging and can lead golfers to extremes. I hope she shakes out of her problems and reaches the awesome potential she started out with.
I too was a bit surprised at Judy Rankin's comments and lack of appreciation for the vertical back swing which was so common in the 70's and 80's during her prime. Of course other 70's guys like Johnny Miller seem to have foggy memories of how common it once was.
True vindication is how Inbee played and won.
LPGA
I had to laugh when Rankin talked about Inbee breaking her wrist. You could really see at the top that it was the same angle from address. Sam
They cannot imagine
They just cannot imagine any playing pro that does not have a purposeful wrist hinge in their swing and still get seemingly effortless distance. It's like the wrist cock is the Holy Grail along with the rotational swing.
Golf phases
Now the thing is to stress the turn even more than ever before (and I didn't think that was possible).
Now many are advocating letting the back leg completely staighten and the front leg bend more at the knee with the goal of having the back hip as much higher than the front hip at the start of the down swing as is humanly possible, while rotating the hips as far as possible.
That was considered a no no even among rotational players for years.
I figured the X Factor would go out of style sooner or later but I never figured even more turn and straightening the back leg would take it's place.
On Michelle Wie: If you practice something long enough you may get good at it but she certainly looks pathetic right now. Even my wife (who never makes fun of anybody for anything) couldn't help but laugh at her. She even went and got out her putter and started trying it here in the living room. I finally told her to stop it before she ruined her putting stroke.
Not much danger of her style catching on though because hardly anyone can even get in that position, let alone putt that way.
How she can bend at the waist to 90 degrees and still keep her back as flat as a table top I will never know.
Imbee's Personal Trainer
Kevin Duenas, the Golf Fitness Instructor at the Professional Golfers Career College in Temecula, Ca is Imbee Park's personal trainer. He got to jump into Poppy's Pond with her to celebrate her victory. It was a real hoot to see one of my teachers and a good friend get to take part in such a great tradition.
Enlow Grips
Hey Surge and Surgites,
A few weeks ago,I purchased some Enlow Grips. I have to tell you that they feel great.I feel that I have more control with my clubs,than I ever had before. My confidence in what I can do with each club,has never been greater.
These grips are larger than average grips,and fit more in the palm of the hand than in the fingers. Before buying these grips,I called the company. My questions were answered completely by Brad Enlow,the owner .My game is steadily improving,since I got them.The only drawback was , because the grips are bigger, getting a club out of my bag isn't as easy as it used to be.I may get a bag that has individual club tubes.
You don't have to buy a whole set, if you want to try them. You can buy a set of three, for around $29.
Pick Your 2013 Masters Champ
Who do you think will win the 2013 Masters?
Tiger and Phil dominate Augusta.
Rory looks solid coming of a solo 2nd in Texas.
Bubba with a repeat?
Lee Westwood or Luke Donald breaking through for 1st major?
Fred Couples and Tom Watson steal the show?
Keegan Bradley owns the par 5's on his way to the jacket?
Another South African wins the Masters?
14-year old Asian phenom wins Masters?
What's your headline?
Phil Mickelson win Tom
Phil Mickelson win Tom Watson second Rory will not make the cut.
KISS
Keeping it simple I have one headline for you,
"Tiger Woods wins #5 at Masters". Any one else winning this week will surprise me.
Unfortunately for them I do not see Lee or Luke winning. My sentimental favorite is Steve Stricker. My wild card favorite is actually Dustin Johnson.
smaller wood(metal) heads
Surge, Phil must have been watching your daily videos. He is now using a new driver that has a driver shaft, but a smaller head, they call it a Franknwood. Phil tells it this way. A 3 wood on go juice, or a 8 1/2 degree loft, on a smaller head, but a little bigger than his 3 wood. Also I have been trying to find out what hitting mat you are using and why the wood under the mat?
Phil Schwenck, Abita Springs, La, 70420
Wow
Saltydog, I swear I didn't see your post before entering mine below. We both must have seen Phil's interview and had the same mind. Interesting stuff. we'll see how it plays out this week.
240cc driver for Phil???
Hmmmnnnnn......No not the Razrfit. So Phil is the latest to indirectly agree with the Surge (and Lynn Griffin) about the advantage of a smaller headed club off the tee.
He will be using a 240cc driver which he calls a 3 wood on steroids. The first article I will post says it is like 12 degrees but Phil said it is 8.5 degrees as indicated in the second article. If you saw his interview (or watch the replay later on GolfChannel.com) you can see him talking about the new club he will use off the tee at Augusta. In any case it seems that if he plays well with it this week the golf world may see the smaller headed driver as a viable option and as we have actually discussed before, the smaller headed driver is the logical latest and greatest because they have gone as far as size limits allowed with 460cc drivers and(in my opinion) they will start marketing the smaller headed driver as the newest, latest greatest, watch! Don't be surprised.
http://golfweek.com/news/2013/apr/09/callaway-confirms-phrankenwood-leftys-mystery-club/
http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golftalkcentral/mickelson-to-unleash-phrankenwood-at-augusta/
Phils 3W
The shaft that he had put in it was a driver length shaft which he plays his driver shaft at 45 ".
I do not think a lot of people will be able to control it at 45" and 8.5 loft.
Phil's club
He said it was 45 inches.
Edit: No problem.
Phil is on an entirely different skill level than I am but I wouldn't mind trying one of those at 44 inches and 10* loft.
I stand corrected thank you
I stand corrected thank you
Phil's Club
Yes, I agree with Steve that it would be cool to try that club out. We can make it any length we want any way. I would likely play it at 43.5 and at 9 degrees. Then I'm sure it would be offered in 8-12 degrees eventually. One of my points of my original post was that "they" Callaway and other big box golf club marketing companies will jump on this in the coming days as an opportunity to sell more clubs. They have gone just about as far as they can with the 460* driver. Adjustable, et,et., blah blah blah! Now this would be promoted as the newer, smaller, easier to hit (like a fairway wood verses a drive). Marketing rules and the public will buy into anything especially if someone like Phil is successful with it. Besides, it likely will be easier to hit along with the other characteristics of a smaller club that Don and Doc have talked about for years. Let's see how it goes:)
Surge looks smarter all the time:)
Phil's New Club
Surge, Phil must have been watching your daily videos. He is now using a new driver that has a driver shaft, but a smaller head, they call it a Franknwood. Phil tells it this way. A 3 wood on go juice, or a 8 1/2 degree loft, on a smaller head, but a little bigger than his 3 wood. Also I have been trying to find out what hitting mat you are using and why the wood under the mat?
Phil Schwenck, Abita Springs, La, 70420
driver head and length
I didn't have a 3 wood to use so I went to the Salvation Army, and got one for $1.98, which was way less than having it re griped. It hit very nice, so I had my driver cut down to 43 1/2 from 45 and it is putting the ball right down the center and almost the same distance. The 3 wood was 43" long.
Inbee and Michelle Wie
I've been looking for a woman's swing to watch, and found this link after all of your comments regarding Inbee's swing. I didn't think to look for one face-on.
Regarding Michelle, her posture appears the same as the weight training exercise called the dead lift, which is an exercise to strengthen the glutes and hamstrings. Performed correctly (with a straight spine and the "stress" put on the HIP muscles, seems like it would be a tougher test of her glute strength than a strain on her back. The leaning forward, when I tried it, seems to allow a true pendulum feel from the shoulders. We'll see whether she can putt better consistently that way :)
http://www.golfswinggallery.com/2013/inbee-park-golf-swing/
I edited this and put in a different link; when I tried the first one it contained an ad for Revolution Golf - god forbid! I hate even saying the name. So try this link instead :)
Dead lift and Stiff legged dead lifts and Michelle Wie
She looks similar to a stiff legged dead lift.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3njBx2Yquvc
I think she's nuts, and if she gets good at it I'll still think she's nuts. All it will prove to me is that anything can possibly work if you practice it enough.
(But I doubt if it will hold up under pressure).
Just in case somebody wants to lift some weights to gear up for changing to the Wie putting style:
A dead lift is performed by squating with a straight spine. Not bending over at the waist like Michelle Wie's putting stance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3Q2NWyZc28&feature=player_embedded
Stiff legged dead lifts are bending over at the waist but are usually using much lighter weight and even with lighter weight one better not have any back issues. I have no back problems but wouldn't do stiff legged dead lifts because there's no reason to take the chance.
When the stiff legged are done correctly the knees are very slightly flexed and the legs are running at an angle back so the weight is not as far from the body as it would be if the legs were vertical.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfPOgqBBzVA
Follow through
Inbee's follow through is less vertical and she tends to have her upper body facing left as she finishes. This aspect is less like the PPGS than Don would do or recommend. That is by no means a criticism, only an observation as I think her swing is awesome. The first video is closer to her swing now while the second and third posted seem to be from less vertical days. It seems her vertical back swing is a more recent development. Her simple in the mit and up the tree BUS is a super example for our ladies (and all of us) and my wife loves it and has been inspired to emulate it to get a little better power and distance.
One more observation. Inbee is a model for a steady, still head and posture during her BUS and similar to Anika and some others he allows her head to rotate and follow her spine and shoulders under and around as she does her forward swing. While not recommending it Surge did say it would be okay to allow the head to do this if one could still get through solid and on and on.
I may start to allow my head to turn more in the future as I have had some neck issues as of late and perhaps there will be less stress letting the head come up sooner through impact and up.
https://www.swingsurgeon.com/daily-video-tips/releasing-your-head-early-forward-upswing
As for Michelle's putting posture, forget about it. It looks like a low back nightmare for any one over 30!
After Impact
When the club appears over her left shoulder after impact it's not as far off of Surge as it appears in real time.
She just makes no effort to re-direct it upward at the end like Surge does and she just lets it continue on around.
Both are considerably flatter at that point than I am, and that is something I'm working on. No way in the world to get the shaft to line up with the right forearm in the down swing like they do and still have the shaft as vertical as I do as it appears over the left shoulder in the follow through.
Enlow grip
I have the grips on every club except putter. I am I smacking my driver. Can't say enough good things about these grips
Inbee's Personal Trainer
I assume that is for physical fitness training. Who is her swing coach? I am curious if the swing coach has any relationship with Don or a similar philosophy. She is swinging like Don. I call it (with loving good intention) "Donny Ball".
They were talking about it
They were talking about it and it seems like they said she was only working with her self and boy friend / fiancé
Finding how to move
In regard to reverse engineering the swing, I have tried working backwards, too. It's one thing to get the arms up in the front, and also to get the arms up in the back, but what you do in the middle is awfully important. You can look pretty at the beginning and the end, but still might be botching the middle.
In experimenting and trying to find how to move through the ball--to get to that pretty ending--I found that what your knees do makes a big difference. You have mentioned in your videos that the knees have to remain level. Also, in a video on hitting on downhill slopes, you mentioned that you needed to accordion down to the ball (rather than leaning forward to reach it). I find that if I accordion down until I feel stable, and then see if my knees will let me move back and then forward--swivelling a little bit on a level plane-- I can swing through the ball pretty successfully.
My local pro used to tell me to move my hips as fast as possible forward, and I always thought that I was going to break my knees if I did that. Once I got my knees working the right way, it helped a lot. If your knees will move, they'll let you finish the swing up high.