Because there are Surgites all around the world, the sun never sets on the Surge Nation. That means that at any given time of day, someone could be playing golf with the Peak Performance Golf Swing somewhere on the planet. Fortunately, that means I get a lot of emails and comments about the swing.
Some of these submissions include personalized tips that I like to share with the rest of you because I think that they can help by giving you a different way to work on your game. I'm going to start calling these daily videos "In Your Own Words." Today, I'm going to share a tip from Ted H. He wrote in how he cured his hosel rockets. It's a bit long, but I think Ted's observations are very good.
Surge,
I have been an avid follower of yours all the way back to the bow and arrow days. Your swing techniques have enabled me to continue playing golf, at a fairly high level (low to mid 80's), with my back problems and annual bouts with the hosel rockets. When the rockets were launching on a more consistent basis, I purchased all hybrid clubs all the way down to a wedge which allow me to continue playing golf without affecting my scores too badly and making my playing partners cringe (no hosel on the hybrid).
The past couple of weeks I dedicated several hours disecting my swing and trying to understand why my ball striking would be so good and leading me to believe I had finally solved the puzzle at the age of 60 after searching for 50 years, then suddenly, totally fall apart and struggle to make solid contact. What I discovered was during the good times I was on-on-and on with good dynamic balance but when the bad shots started appearing I was staying on my right side and not transferring properly in the forward upswing. I have to admit this part of the swing has always caused problems for me but when done correctly gives your ball majestic flight, causing me to say to myself did I hit that shot?
What I realized watching your daily video from the backyard driving range and seeing your opening swing was that you transfer your weight to the forward side completely and effortlessly to the point you are balanced on the toes of your right foot. I then went out in the backyard and used the image of you being balanced on the tips of your right toes as my forward upswing key and the results were amazing. I came to understand that I had been staying back on my right (back side) for the majority of my shots and the swing thought that may have have caused this was me holding my knees too long in order to hit the ball farther and when the timing was perfect I would hit powerful shots at my intended target.
For me personally I now understand the need to transfer your weight to the forward side and my new trigger to accomplish this is rolling on to my right toes just as you do, with this move I am able to skip the rock consistently. I thought I would share this with you to see if this is an acceptable trigger to initiate the forward upswing (for some reason I would overdue the bump and throw my timing off) and possible subject for daily video if other Surgites are stuck on the transition. Hitting up on the ball helped but some people may be doing as me and hitting up but staying back. I want to thank you for a swing system that enables someone with back/hip limitations to continue to enjoy the game of golf.
Thanks,
Ted (from Indiana)
I hope Ted's advice can help some of you that may be struggling with the occasional hosel rocket. If you've found something else that works for you, please share it with me and I'll published it here if I think it will help the Surge Nation.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
My own secret to my swing
Hi Don,
Love your videos and I for one love how you talk fast and get a lot of information over in a short time!
As a self taught 66yr old 6 hcp golfer I'd like to share a thought on what I think is a key to my swing when I'm hitting it well with max power I hit a gentle draw I'm only 5ft 6in so I find it easy to hit from the inside,
The feeling I get is as my weight is transferred to my left side and my left leg straightens my right arm straightens at exactly the same time,
So it goes make my backswing then down straight left leg straight right arm bang!!
I've got good Fundamentals
Keep up the good work,
Roger
Love the Surgite Nation~!
One of the many reasons I love the Surgite Nation is highlighted by todays lesson. Interpretation is everything. What turns the light on for some may make no impression on others. Often a Surgite will relate their experiences and BINGO! it takes on a whole new meaning. From todays video, I wonder if holding the wide knees too long is one of my faults!!!!! It might explain after yesterdays quick swing session [ checking for a second hand Noah's Ark on e-Bay hahaha ; - ], shortened by more of the wet stuff, noted a little discomfort in the knees. I put it down to the cold and wet conditions. Now maybe, just maybe todays video may have pointed out another reason. Food for thought indeed.
Bless all Surgites for their support for each other and dedication to the PPGS Swing.
Perhaps a certain American golfer [ +13] might benefit from the PPGS Swing ; - ) DH
Ted may have nailed it for me...
I have recently been struggling to keep my swing consistent, and have put that down to the winter blues (downunder in NZ), but Ted's letter and Don's response today make me think they are locating at least one part of my current problem ...that I am holding my wide stable base on the FUS instead of driving through and up to the finish. Why do I suspect this? Simple - no matter how I was struggling in several recent rounds, whenever I had to loft an approach shot over trees, I nailed it right by the flag. My predominant swing thought was to clip the ball cleanly and lift right up to a high finish. Bingo! We have one more day here in Napier before the storm hits, and I will be on the course tomorrow for sure! Eat your heart out DH in Wellington.
Ted may have nailed it for me.....
Hahahaha! Eat your heart out DH in Wellington ; - ) Played golf in Napier some years ago. Nice place when the weather is fine. Good luck on the morrow Howard.Forecast and Civil Defence warnings today for Thursday, 'Hurricane force winds up to 150 kilometres an hour travelling from the South Island northwards across New Zealand! A good time to practice shots into and with the wind perhaps? Hahaha.Hope it doesn't come through earlier and spoil your plans. The south to expect minus 15degC ! That will make their eyes water ; - ) We are well prepared.
Like you my stable base too long during the swing into the FUS! Into the mitt and up the tree in both the BUS and FUS is critical. Anything else leads to pulls-the dreaded 'S' Word etc. Have a great round. DH
You've got the nail and hammer
Howard,
You my friend have set off a loud bell and a flashing red light for me. You have put into words exactly what happens to me nearly every other time I play. I play two to four days a week normally so it happens frequently. Almost every time I have a super difficult shot that requires I hit a near perfect strike to get over one or more really tall tree it comes off with amazing accuracy. I will clear a tree at precisely the narrow spot above the tree(s) that will have the ball drop exactly where I have aimed at. Like you I will often (in that situation) clip the ball cleanly and lift right up to a high finish. It always amazes me and I have often tried to imagine a tree blocking my line so I can repeat this when I am in the middle of the fairway with an apparently easy shot. I have been unable to repeat that same crisp strike and pure high shot with any consistency when I have no obstruction. Why? I think you and Ted may have supplied the key that unlocks this mystery.
I would love Surge to weigh in on this and it is such a lights on moment that I am going to ask him to cover this in a future daily.
Here's my guess;
When I am in those situations where precision is an absolute must I become shot focused.
The normal routine likely has me getting caught up in mechanics and whatever other swing and results thought that can cloud my head and move me away from sight and feel. As Surge says "feel the swing and swing the feel" and might I add focus only on where you want the ball to start and go.
My question is, how can we repeat that same feeling and focus of having to hit it high and land where we want it to. If we can harness that kind of focus when we are in the fairway and for that matter from everywhere the results could be consistently good to great golf.
Certainly there is nothing new under the Sun and Surge says and teaches repeatedly that we need to swing up to the T finish. For me, Howard's experience reflects mine and likely that of other Surgites. I will ask Surge to cover this but would love to hear the thoughts of the Surge Nation on this topic.
Hammer it home
Robert,
The critical word in your comment for me is 'FOCUS'! I have little problem except for the odd lapse, at hitting scoring shots with the clubs from 7iron-LW. The problem comes with the longer clubs. The reason? It is something from my pre PPGS days [and guilty of recently : - [ It is not focusing on a particular distant target,eg, a distant tree, rather than 'an area' I want the ball to finish. Specific targets on every shot are vital. As soon as I focus on a definitive target and set up, the results are always better.
I agree that being too focused on the swing mechanics takes away focus from where it should be. I must again be more TARGET orientated in future. To have Surge cover this topic in detail would be a boon to so many, me included.
24th of June, weather here forecast to be SUNNY and DRY for at least 4days, Yeeeeeeeeeeeha! Bring it on! Keep hitting it at a specific target in Las Vegas. DH
Lifting the Ball
This aspect came to me a while back, but didn't put much emphasis on it until now, just thought is was something that was unique to my swing, like I do it this way and you do something else. To me thinking about lifting the ball ensures a complete follow through and Tee finish, no divots for me just sweeping the grass. Had a dogleg par 5 yesterday and the second shot had to be high over a tree and nailed it with my 9W and still got 160M with it.
Lifting
Interesting Neil. I will add that to my thinking and see if lifting can be a key for me too. It never seems to be a problem if I have a tree in my line but if I have a clear shot some times I will have less height and length than desired. Seems to be more of a visual and mental thing. If I think I must clear the trees I will often hit a beauty but if not though I think I am setting up and swinging up I am less consistent. Oh I'm playing some fairly good golf over all I just could really identify with Howard's comments. I think I'm going to have my wife video tape me on the course so I can analyse and see if their is a difference in my swings that's notable when hitting over trouble verses from the center of the fairway. Golf is played so much between the ears.
Cart before the horse
Came up with a crazy idea. In order to force myself to hit the higher trajectory I will place my golf cart in the path of my shot on purpose when playing! This will force me to hit it high. Theoretically, after doing this for a while I can then just use it as a visual cue or reminder. Maybe, just maybe this will help me build the habit of the trajectory from the fairway I want.
Cart Cup
You might consider getting a cup if you plan to do that. Just sayin'. One hole at the course I play here is a par 3 that plays a LOT longer than the listed 148, with a big swale the whole distance from the tee boxes to the green. About 20 yards short of the green is a big boulder formation. Last time I was there, one of my playing companions landed his ball about 10 feet short of it. Should have been easy for him to clear. His next shot was from the edge of the woods 40 yards left. ;-)
Fun
Ya, a cup is a thought. Actually may use my pull cart for this hit it high idea most often. Less ricochet likelihood. Sounds like your getting some golf in Robert. How are your old clubs holding up? Still doing the job I'm sure. I'm still constantly tinkering from week to week.
Good old Las Vegas Summer now. 100+ temps. are you getting used to the humidity there or is it not bad? So dry I'm spitting up dust here. But play on I do.
Still playing at least two early morning rounds which are the best and then Cindy and I play another two during the week in the afternoon. I ordered some umbrellas for our pull/push carts on line today. They should arrive in a few days. They are ray/heat reflective and should help alot, especially when i am not in the trees- lol!!
We'll be out there at muni at 4pm today.
Keep on truckin' in Dallas and play some golf pal:)
Thanks for your responses
Thanks for your lengthy response, Robert, and the same goes for DH, Neil and others who have teased this out further. When I was in my golfing prime 25 years ago I modelled my swing on Jack Nicklaus - near vertical, high finish, a fading shape to most shots. It all fell apart about the time when I bought into the argument that aging golfers need to develop a draw to maintain distance, swinging lower like Player and Hogan. Bad mistake, which I am now rectifying with the Surge's help.
Main point I am coming to ... Nicklaus emphasized visualising the flight of the ball every time, before setting up. This is what we have to do to get over the trees. Same thing seems to work when we have a narrow gap to shoot through. It also works when the target is very specific, namely the pin itself inside pitching range. The discipline we need is to be just as specific about visualising ball flight when the fairway is wide open.
Maybe we should extend Don's maxim to something like this - "A Visual image of ball flight informs the setup, and setup determines the motion."
Focus
Visualizing, planning the shot, knowing the result you want to see. When I set up for a shot and don't have a clue what I am doing, I get the expected result...
Of course, club selection plays a role here. But, mostly, knowing what you want to do with the shot, rather than "Hail, Mary" makes the difference for me. It's still a work in progress.
Every time!
Howard, you have helped stimulate some creative thinking. More than 'thinking' I feel that you are on to the heart of it by saying we need to VISUALIZE the flight every time. Todays round was another great example of what we have been agreeing on. I hit my drive on the par 4 #5 way, way right of right into the next fairway. By laser I had 215 yards to the flag. The only chance I had to get it close was around a giant set of trees that would require a draw that had to start some 30 yards right of the trees (couldn't go over these guys this time they were too close) then the ball had to move back left to the flag. Basically impossible because I wouldn't be able to work my 5 wood that way and I don't hit my 4 iron 215 yards. So I never had a negative thought and took my 4 iron and applying Surges directions on how to draw/hook the ball I set up feet and swing prepared/aimed 30 yards right and club face toed in at the target. It felt so good and so powerful as it came off the sweet spot and as I looked up it curved beautifully around the trees and kept climbing and turning. It landed pin high on the right side of the green missing a bunker by 5 feet and rolled another 35 feet up to the middle left back of the green. Well over 225 yards. Again I don't do that (normally). I hit my 4 iron about 195. But under the circumstances and having no choice but completely focus there it was. I trickled it down to the hole and then tapped in for the improbable four. Perhaps it is the "no way out but one" which gives us the absolute commitment to the shot that gives us the results.
Actually just because of all the thoughts and study I had done over the last 24 hours I really hit quite a few solid shots today. My putting let me down so my score was not quite sub 80 today but I am seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. Or as Metallica might sing, "It's just a freight train coming my way".
Any how, although not all golfers are visual I agree with your set up mantra suggestion:)
Good golfing to you my friend and let's chat more often about this amazing game called golf.
From 'Golf State of Mind'
Iv'e given this golf's mental side web site several times in the past. They sent me a good one that relates to our discussion here.
http://golfstateofmind.com/2013/06/19/justin-roses-mental-coach-explains-why-he-won-the-us-open/?utm_source=feedburner&u...
Some of the great recommendations are,
"Get out of golf swing and into target"
note: That one reminded me of the phrase from Surges putting video with Jack Moore. He said, "If you've got mechanics there can be no target, if you've got target thee can be no mechanics"
" There are no hard shots, no easy shots, they're just shots"- Tiger Woods
Three recommended books;
"Golf Flow"
"Fearless Golf"
and while not a golf book but great for correct mental attitude;
"The Peaceful Warrior" also available in movie form.
A Blessing in disguise!
The very wet weather here has perhaps been a blessing in disguise! After viewing this video and reading the comments, I did some checking : - ( Imagine my surprise at what I found! The set up determines the motion. How very very true.
Went back to the beginning on fundamentals and received several rude awakenings, prompted by comments made by those who wrote comments. Thankyou ALL! Due to being unable to swing indoors without causing possible damage, my wife made a suggestion [don't they always, bless them ; - ] She suggested I swing etc with "the short club", as she calls it. So I took said club and retired to practice my set up and swing in front of a full length mirror. After setting up I viewed my stance from all angles. In this case 'more angles' was better. With the constant "tweaks" to my swing, I had changed several things, none of them good in promoting a consistent PPGS swing!!! I couldn't believe what I was seeing in the mirror, staring me in the face. Going back to basics I found swinging much easier. Just finished doing what I [and I'll bet quite a few other Surgites don't do often enough?] should do on a more regular basis. I went back to basics and re-read quite a lot in the PPGS Manual. Something this naughty wee chappie has not done for some time : - ( Suffice it to say my mid year resolution is to visit the PPGS Manual more often and make more frequent checks particularly on my setup!!! I made mention during the past few days, of a slight discomfort in my knee. No wonder the way I was set up!!! The left knee was collapsing slightly during the BUS. IMO due to my feet not being flared sufficiently.That in conjunction with my 'poor' set-up I now feel have been more than responsible for some 'strange' results on clubs when using the longer ones.
My advice to ALL Surgites [and visitors to the site] is to review the Manual more often checking fundamentals too. For those who do not or have not got the Manual, you do yourselves a grave disservice. It is probably the most cost effective Golf item, I have ever purchased. I am still shaking my head at what I saw in the mirrow~! A Blessing In Disguise indeed!
We are all so keen to progress that we skip doing the basics by rushing to the course or range to hit balls!!! Stupid is as stupid does in my case : - (
A chastened but determined DH in Wet NZ
A Blessing in Disguise addition : - (
Dear All,
So stunned by the results of my checking fundamentals, I forgot to explain the "Short Club" : - ( The club is a short, weighted neutral grip trainer I have had for some time. It is excellent for swinging in a restricted indoor space. I removed the centre weight for the purpose of swinging. Sorry about that. DH in NZ where the course is closed at least until Friday due to rain and much more expected. So nose down and derierre up reading the Manual, swinging and watching the videos. Not all bad ; - )
Back to the drawing board
Yes DH, I too will go back to basics. Aside from the manual and fundamentals video and even the revised one Surge added, I am going to review the 'working the ball' vids. In there of course he teaches hitting low, high, hook and slice among other points.
Hope you get some swings outside when the dryer days comedown in NZ:)
EDIT;
Okay so I just went back to Don's "Working the ball " video. Of course there is clear instruction there on how the spine angle determines the launch angle. There are many more details there but one thought was interesting, Surge uses a golf cart in front of him to demonstrate hitting a ball low under the cart, medium through the seating/head area of the cart and then high over the cart. This may sound a bit nutty but maybe as a training aid I will put a cart in front of my line to the flag so I have to hit over it!! Sounds crazy to put block my line but maybe it will help me gradually be able to visualize when there is no tree or hazard to hit over. We are playing later today so I'll test this out. Certainly this is something I can do on the range too.
Great Stuff
Great stuff. Like many of you I am distance challenged. I've found part of my problem is PLHR too much and not getting weight transfer through to my left side. Hanging back will consistently give me short,fading right tee shots every time. As Steve mentioned the other day I've found that staying more centered with my weight during setup and allowing the BUS to load my right side allows me to get to my left side and definitely improves distance and accuracy.
A couple of things that help me also: 1. Not getting too wide in my stance (ride a skinny horse). 2. My left foot is flared about 30*, but my left foot about 15*. Less flare with my right foot allows me to feel my PLHR on the inside arch and not sway off the ball. It also keeps me more vertical and out of the SBG. As DH says, we all tend to stray from basics and I'm the poster boy for that. :0))
On a personal note, had some fun in Pa with my son-in-law's Father's Day scramble last Friday. Our foursome included him, his Dad (85), his Dad's friend (75) and me so distance was a challenge. None of them had gotten out to play so the thought of me carrying the load was pretty laughable. ;0))) The thought of not coming in under par in a scramble is embarrassing to say the least. We came to 18 at even par so the pressure was on. It's a 90* dogleg left with the approach over a marshy area to a well bunkered raised green that sloped left and back to front. Leave it to the old guys to giterdone. His dad had the best tee shot to the center of the dogleg and left us about 150 yards with the approach. My son-in-law was the only one to hit the green and left us about 40 feet up hill with a left to right putt. I putted 3rd and thought wouldn't this be a great way to finish a fun day. I saw the line, the golf gods smiled, the ball went in the heart and we all walked away feeling like we just won the US Open. One of the guys said 10 years from now that putt would be at least 75 feet and a triple breaker. LOL
Memories, it's what the game is all about.
Beautiful day here, no rain today, DH. I'm off to chase the little white ball.
Great Stuff Lynn
Enjoy your chasing the wee white pill Lynn ; - ) As the rain continues here boohoo! hahaha. Expected storm still on it's way ho-hum. Keep hitting them long(er) more consistently straight. DH