If you've ordered any of the PPGS instructional materials that are available through www.swingsurgeon.com, you've heard me talk about the "5 Secrets." I call them secrets to start off, but then they become rules for you to live by whenever you're playing golf.
I'll briefly talk about each one of the secrets in today's daily video as well as 2 new secrets that come directly from a Surgite. Deno Johnson attended one of our golf schools and advanced club fitting sessions in Reno recently. Being the first one to show up, we got a chance to talk before we got started for the day. Deno praised the PPGS for turning his game around and he especially took a lot of interest in the 5 secrets. He even went as far as adding 2 of his own secrets! I liked them so much that I wanted to bring them to you all today.
As I've said before, you'll get a much better understanding of the Peak Performance Golf Swing if you head over to Surge's Shop and dive into the full length material. The knowledge you will gain is invaluable and can't be compared to the daily video content.
I guess you can call these new ideas modifications to the Surge's 5 secrets!
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
Vision
Thankyou for the reminder Surge and the 'modified' additions by Deano Johnson. The five rules with a couple of add ons, makes sound common-sense to me, in an age when common-sense is not as common as it used to be ;- )
Playing by the rules is the only way to go~! Yesterday, my Golden ball retriever, caddy, fan, critic and now coach wife, made some comments I have already posted on the Putting comments. In addition to that, she said that," I go looking for problems that are not there"!!! "You play pretty good golf", she said, "So why go looking for problems that you don't have?"! In effect she was confirming Surge's comments today, on Fortune Cookies! Back to BASICS is the way to go!
On the subject of vision. Months ago I discarded my progressive lenses on the course or when practicing. They stay in the car. This is a decision I have never regretted. I am lucky[evidently], to be left eye dominant. For the scorecard marking, for those who need it, buy a cheap magnifying glass and hang it on your bag if necessary. Or if you have a Swiss Army Knife, use the magnifier on that. It took a short while to trust my eyes on ditching my glasses, but now much more confident on the hallowed turf : - )
The 5secrets, now Rules are simplicity itself. No more fortune cookies for me.
Thanks again Surge, now to JUST DO IT RIGHT! DH
5 (or 7) Secrets
Don,
Thanks for reminding me to go back to the "Basics". I played on Tuesday and was slicing my ball off of the tee. Could not figure out what I was doing wrong. After watching your daily about "Basics", I figured that I was not holding my hands perpendicular to the ground during my back swing, but was rolling my wrists to the left (I'm a left-hander) causing my forward up-swing to have a open face on my driver. I will be more attentive of the "Basics" the next time I play. I took your advice last year and had glasses made with the bi-focals at the top. They are not easy to use, since my regular glasses have Tri-focals and I really miss that in-between vision. Thanks.
Vision
Hello Surge,
As far as vision and bifocals go, I have no problem with my progressive lenses. The ball looks crisp and clear to me. Could just be my prescription. However, for others, and the notion that you can't play golf with bifocals I call BS. As Annika Sorenstam has said "I don't need to look at the ball, the ball doesn't move". Set up right, close your eyes, hold yer head still, and let 'er rip. Works every time.
Oh.....and I darn near bit on your Labor day special, but I realized, that like two years ago, I bought all this stuff and it never worked. Never was able to access the lessons. Glad I have a decent (not good) memory.
Contact customer service
You should find them under "My Account", "Your Products" .. you need to be Logged In with the Email you used when you made the purchase.
If you still have trouble, contact customer service. You will need the email used for the purchase. They can probably help find your products and access them. Your issue, is one reason I almost always pay a few $ extra to get an actual dvd sent to me.
Ultimate alignment video
Surge
Just been watching your ultimate alignment vidio and have to question your statements about parallel left.
What you say might work for better results, but a line parallel to aiming line has to be the same distance apart when you get to the target as it is at the ball. If they are 30 inches apart at the ball, they are 30 inches apart at the flag by definition of parallel. Just imagine they are railway lines. If it is 200yds away, the 30 inches will look very small from where you are standing.
So if having your feet aimed 10 or 20 yards to the left of the target works, there must be some other factors at play. Would you care to comment.
John Dickins
parallel left explanation
You are absolutely right about the lines being the same distance apart in the distance.
If you put an aim stick down the intended starting line and then put another stick so it looked like it is aimed at a point the same distance apart out in the distance the two sticks would not be parallel any more. They would intersect at some point depending on the angle of the deviation and can be calculated at what distance that would be. This distance would be much closer than one would suspect. Without having the formula for calculating the sides of a right triangle I would surmise it would be under 50 yards.
Proper parallel left will appear to be aimed well left of the aim line. The longer the club the farther from the ball you stand and the farther left the parallel line would appear.
The factor at play is our eyes triangulate when focused on objects. They rarely get near to parallel even at looking at distant objects. This focal triangulation then does make it appear that aiming parallel left is significantly farther left than the point in the far distance where the 30 inch apart lines would be.
The bottom line is that science can describe the nature of the world when given material measurements. The problem with said material measurements is they are conducted from the material world view point and not from the view point of what is actually there. Einstein tried with his Theory of Relativity and later the Special Theory of Relativity and still could not explain the nature due to it is not material and cannot be quantified.
A bit of veiled and convoluted explanation that what you see is not necessarily what is there.
I agree with thw Wizard.
Ever since Surge first talked about his shoulders looking like they were pointing well left of the target line, that's been one of my target checks. I Pick my target line like many of you by standing behind the ball and selecting a spot a few feet in front of the ball. Then I walk in and line up my feet parallel left of that line. However when I look at where my shoulders seem to aim, it's 10 or more yards left depending on distance to the target. It's an illusion, but it's consistent. On the course I play all summer, I now know which tree or landmark that works on most shots. When you're at address, you can't look down the target line, unless you lean way over, so I use my shoulders as a secondary check..
Reverse logic and Parallel left
John,
First of all most of us can completely understand your explanation of 'railway lines'. Indeed staying the same distance apart/100% parallel railway tracks will seem even closer together and it would seem that we should aim the same width left of the flag or target. Many of us believed that logic and physics should apply to golf and our parallel left set-up. We are going to ask you to for just for now to put aside that very reasonable logic as tough as that may be to do and consider the explanation that applies to Surges in the UAV and in dozens of dailies and discussions we've had here these past 4/5 years.
I read SGW comment and he is certainly correct about our long distance vision of things and how our eyes deceive us. Well put. Here's a little test that
may help you understand how our vision works and how it applies to golf and alignment. Take a seat in your easy chair in the living room do this- hold your hands in front of you at eye level and with the backs of your hands in view, place your thumb tips together (horizontally) and form the shape of a U or goal posts using your index (pointer) fingers (vertically). Now in reality there is maybe 4-6 inches between goal posts/index fingers (the left and right sides of your U). Now as you sit there looking across your room "frame" either the TV set or an actual painting frame (your window or what ever else would apply) across on the wall you face. Very likely the object fits well within that U of your fingers even though it is 3-5 FEET wide up close. Come on John just play along even though you still might not get it. Did you do it? If not do it first before you continue reading......................................................
Done? Good. Now as it applies on the golf course (next time your out there please do this) take two alignments stick (if you have them) or two similar golf clubs(say a 5 and 6 iron) and lay them on the ground perfectly parallel down your foot line and ball (target) line. Like
= make sure the aiming line (ball to target line) is directly at the target (ie., the flag). The toe line stick (or club shaft) will be parallel left of the target line obviously. Now that target may be say 100 yards away. Stand directly behind the the parallel alignment sticks with both of them and your long range target in view. Now if you lift your hands up in front of you, again as prescribed above with the right index finger along target line and the other index finger along the left stick (the foot line) you will see down range that it seems the left index finger is now not 4-6 feet wide of the right index finger as the spread became across your room but is now YARDS wide, yes even 15 yards or more left of the flag (or target). That, believe it or not is where your feet should be and will be aimed if you are sufficiently parallel left. Most golfers end up aiming well right of there intended target. If your feet at 100 yards are aimed just 30 inches left of your target you are actually aimed right of your target. I started applying this on the golf course several years ago actually by just trusting that Don with 40 years of teaching experience must know what he's talking about. Yes I too was a little skeptical and did not fully understand it. In golf, parallel lines actually get further apart as they move away from us in the distance. Reverse logic it may seem. This is why the very logical analogy of railroad tracks is not logical in application for alignment in golf.
Now John, even after sincerely doing my above offering for understanding above, you may not agree. There are those who never get it or agree. Oddly enough they are usually the very analytical mathematician types. Without fail there will be someone else who will argue otherwise (there always is) unless they decide to remain silent. So be it, I know this is not easy for some to ever accept. All I can tell you is I apply this on the golf course always and hit a lot of balls on line. If you just do as Don suggests in his alignment lessons, particularly from his UAV you will improve your game.
I will leave you with some of Surges videos on the subject that may help if you are willing to learn and be open to a bit of reverse logic.
Here's an almost identical discussion from 2009
https://www.swingsurgeon.com/daily-video-tips/parallel-alignment-defined
https://www.swingsurgeon.com/major-golf-mistakes-amateurs-make/fifth-lesson-alignment
If after everything is studied and you still don't agree than just DO THIS
https://www.swingsurgeon.com/daily-video-tips/dave-seeman-derek-hardy-alignment
Hope some of this helps John and whom ever else needs better alignment which includes most of us!
Parallel Left & optical illusions
John,
Although SGW and Robert have very good explanations, I have a slightly different take on parallel left that may make it easier to understand, as I have posted in the past.
First off, I select the target line in the distance, whatever that may be. I then pick an intermediate point on that line no more than 24 inches in front of the ball and picture the line segment between that point and the ball. Good so far?
From that point on, I do NOT look at the target again. My focus is on the line segment just described. I then place my toes on a line parallel left of the target line. If I were left-handed, I would use a line parallel right. This parallel left (right) line is only as long as the distance between my toes and does NOT extend out to the target. I am basically looking at a box of which the 4 corners are the ball, the intermediate point, and my toes, and the 2 sides described by the ip-ball and toes are parallel.
The problem with trying to use the upright index fingers is that the fingers are not pointed where the parallel lines point. To using the fingers correctly, the fingertips would have to be pointed in toward each other slightly, creating the disappearing tracks. Using upright fingers creates an optical illusion. For some, it helps prevent aiming to the right (for a right-hander), while others end up aiming too far left.
The key is keeping the focus on the box with parallel sides, the far side of which points to the target. Parallel left (right) really only applies to the box in front of you. If you've played baseball, think of it as the batter's box. The line closest to the plate points to center field and the batter normally sets up with his feet parallel to that line, unless trying to hit the ball to the left or right.
Hope this helps.
Kevin M.
Edit: A thought that just occurred to me - in all his videos, Surge uses his alignment sticks for the target line and toe line. In placing them down, he puts the first one pointing at the target (the camera). He then places the second one parallel to that, making sure they are actually parallel. He doesn't point the second stick somewhere left of the camera. Surge gets his aiming line and then finds his toe line parallel to that - Parallel Left (or Right).
Parallel left
Kevin,
On the golf course I do a bit of both methods of checking long range and then close as you do. In the end as far as walking in and setting up I do very similar to you. That's why I listed the daily by Dave Seeman and Derek Hardy and said "just do this".
https://www.swingsurgeon.com/daily-video-tips/dave-seeman-derek-hardy-alignment
My main goal with the explanation I gave John was to help him understand why Surge says we need to have our feet that far left visually. Every inch we are off at 3 feet in front of our ball is 10 yards off line at 100 yards. That is one of the reasons Surge says poor alignment is the cause of 90-95% of all poor results. So our approach is not all that different. Again, it was in fact a way of educating not particularly an instruction on how to align. Understanding all the stuff about vision and distal parallel lines as it applies to golf is not mandatory to achieve good alignment but I have always been fascinated by the subject.
alignment - again !
i use the method described, pick out something about 5 to 6 inches between the target and the ball, step in at right angles, set my toe line parallel to the line between the ball and the object in front of it. now my question is this, that seems to me to be a pretty foolproof method of getting correctly aligned so how come Surge is still running at 0% of his students being correctly aligned? its not that difficult is it? i am convinced i am correctly aligned but the chances are i am in fact not. where do we go wrong?
cheeers richard in the UK.
Aligned - Not?
Richard,
As I stated, once I get the intermediate point and my target line, I don't look at the target until after I have hit the ball. In the past, Surge has mentioned the problem of getting set up, looking at the target, and then adjusting the feet. This is what my brother and some of my friends do repeatedly. I try to get them to stop readjusting their feet after they set up, but they keep reverting. So, over 90% of the time, they are lined up incorrectly and miss the fairway. If you don't move your feet after you get aligned, you will probably stay aligned.
Glasses
Hi Surge
What I have done is take the old frams as you suggested and just had the lens placed in for distance. Keeping score for me is not a problem. I can remember ever shot I took during the round. Can't remember anything else I did that day though. (LOL)
Frank
Glasses
I have been wearing bifocals since I was 4 and I am very near-sighted. So, bifocals have been part of my life for 54 years now. I don't look thru the bifocals to see my ball, and it does not appear to effect my hitting a golf ball. But I would be curious to know if it does in fact effect me. Perhaps, I need to take my glasses off and have someone watch where my ball goes. Surgites, any recommendations. Thanks!
bifocal swing issues
If you have bifocals that don't cause problems with swinging properly, you have a product that could make a fortune with golf oriented sales.
Here is the problem with bifocals. To see the ball through the distance part too often the head has to be tilted down until the eyes can look through that part of the lens at the ball.
The head being in this position creates a problem with the impact position. The tendency is to bottom out well behind the ball if the head is maintained at the level it started.
To avoid hitting it fat two compensations can be created and/or used together. Raising up which can lead to topping the ball. Pulling the forward shoulder back towards the SBG which brings the club head in closed and swinging left with no chance of a on-on-on square and solid hit.
If you use one of the golf swing apps that can draw lines, squares and circles you can watch all manner of head bobbing and weaving that is reminiscent of how Ali boxed. It is also why so many good players can hit some really bad shots that make you wonder what in the world was he thinking.
The bottom line is use glasses than aren't bifocals for golf and don't buy the ones that are narrow from top to bottom as they create the same problems as the traditional bifocal arrangement.
L2 update
I mentioned the day that I purchased a new putter after attending the PGA show in Las Vegas. I also have been trying a couple of new (smaller headed) drivers and working on my ball striking. During Wednesdays round of golf both my putting and general play was good. The driver is the KZG 355cc SP700. A fellow Surgite who knew I was interested in using a smaller headed driver offered his used KZG. He later mentioned by e mail that he just never was able to adjust to the 355cc head.
I wanted to go to the range first and at least get a feel for it but we were asked when we arrived at the course if we wanted to tee off right away ahead of the foursomes getting ready. We agreed and I teed up the KZG on the par 5 first hole hoping for the best. Being that it is 14 degrees I consider it as a 2 wood (remember those?). So I teed it lower than usual and set up to go down the middle. Went straight down the middle on my very first swing ever with it. Wow, happy boy!
After hitting my 5 wood pure I was left with about 60 yards over a bunker. Wedged it 10 feet under the hole, nice:) Then using my L2 for the first time ever on the golf course I drained the putt. Birdie 4. Hmnnn.... I like it! And so the first 9 went. After finishing the last (9th) I mentioned to Cindy that "I think I broke 40 today maybe, not sure." Added up the nine and had a 37 on the par 36 front nine. What? Taking a closer look I had 3 bogies, 2 birdies and 4 pars. Indeed I shot a 37. Yippy!! On the nine I hit 5 fairways (out of 7) 6 greens, 3 up and downs and 15 putts including one three putt from 50 feet and 4 one putts of 10,18,14 and 5 feet. With the L2 I really only had two putts that I mis-judged, the 50 footer I thought it was a double breaker and would move left the last 15 feet but moved right leaving me 6 feet. And then the 6 footer I saw moving left to right but it stayed left. So it was miss read not miss stroked. So as suspected I love the putter. Again it is over 940 grams (heavy) and center balanced with a wide mallet face. Keeping stable through the stroke is easier and it promotes a dead hands, shoulder pendulum stroke. Very happy with it. The driver. A little surprised, didn't know what to expect because the shaft reads R2 Fujikura 160 fit-on and the head is 14 degrees. I normally use s/xs shafts and 9/10 degree heads. However this thing almost launches itself with no effort. Guess who gets the credit? It is actually a Doc Griffin built driver. I'm finding that because of the loft and the shaft dynamics I can take a normal level swing and it just goes straight! High yes but long enough. I hit several over 230-240 yards and in play, most in the center of the fairway. Happy boy I am. So I give a heart felt thumbs up to the smaller headed driver that Doc and Surge have been recommending for years now. Next round today with my son and my brother and his son at 2pm.
For another look, here is the putter and driver;
http://www.kzg.com/sites/courses/layout9.asp?id=588&page=63669
http://www.l2traditionalputter.com/
L2 Nine
Robert,congrats on the one over nine. I bet that left you with a nice fuzzy feeling! I was intrigued with your description of your putting with the L2. I,like Terry, may go ahead and take the plunge and order one. I watched the video on the link and was impressed. I've used a Boccieri "Heavy Putter" for the last two years,trying to steady my shaking,trembling hands & arms with some success.Perhaps, the center-shafted L2 would calm my quaking down that much more. Congrats again,my friend & my best to Cindy.
Heavy putters
Hi Booger,
Nice fuzzy feeling for sure. Of course everything needs to happen well on the same day for good scores and that's how it went the other day that the 37 happened. It seemed I could really read the breaks perfectly and the stars all aligned with the strokes too:)
I took some time reading about the principal thinking of the Boccieri putters.
Without holding and stroking them side by side I can only share a limited comparison. The Bo has a 70-72 degree lie angle with 3-4 degrees of loft. The L2 has a more upright 76* lie with 2 and a possible 4* loft. Not sure about the MOI effective comparison but I have found the L2 very, very stable.
The goals of the two putter companies are really similar. Passive hands and wrists and use of the larger muscles for a more pendulum stroke. Seems the Bo's physiology is not only heavier over-all but an especially heavier grip. The L2 has a stock 200gr grip (16 inches legnth -no tapper/one inch square shape ) and the Bo a 155gr. {optional up to 250gr. with grip end back weighting?}grip more oval shape), Terry feels he may want to increase the size of his grip later which may work but he would need to back weight it for balance as most Super Strokes are designed lighter weighted. Likely a heavier giant grip in the 200gr. range can be found if we search enough. The L2 has a 640gr head and the Bo a 465gr. Total weight of the L2 is over 900gr (including shaft and not sure about the Bo though it seems their heaviest is around 200 grams less).
As far as how they might compare in use? Can't say. I do know that I really like the L2 Traditional. It is super stable and may indeed help further quiet your hands Boog. Not sure. It is almost time for the early Fall Christmas gift though (lol!)
Hope you are well and your son and family,
Robert M.
37, Out of my league
Robert,
Congrats on the 37, save the card and frame it.
Thanks T
The only sad thing was that we had to bail on our back nine after 5 holes because a serious lightning storm was approaching. I was one over after 14 for thosethe 5 holes or a total of 2 over. What I failed to report was that the following day I shot a more normal 81.
Putting two super nines together is my current scoring goal. Still hovering around a 9 handicap.
You are right about putting, it's the most important part of scoring.
L2 PUTTER
Robert,
In regards to the L2 putter, have you been able to determine the effects of off center contact. Does a little towards the heel or toe still deliver on line putts. I have been watching some of the older videos on the putter and see that it was first marketed to be used in a lateral or side saddle putting style. Have you tried it in that fashion. I was also surprised by the one which mentions the missed putts being due to off balance balls. Fortunately, I already have a balance spinner, but really haven't use it the past couple of years. I might have to dig it out and start using it again. Keep me posted, I'm close to placing an order.
Side Saddle
Terry,
I also saw the side saddle videos. R2 says that's the way to go and loves the side saddle method. I thought about it as an option too. May do that some day who knows. I do know that I feel in love with the 'Traditional L2' at first look and stroke at the PGA show. He was not displaying the Longer side saddle version at that time. John is a very down to earth Ohio boy and I was really impressed by his explanations as I messed around with it at the show for nearly an hour there.
One of the very interesting things he said was how 'feel' can be a big time deceiver. It is why we pick up those $200.00 blade putters at golf galaxy and think or say how good it 'feels' but then go out and putter poorly again. FEEL is mainly experienced in our smaller 'tiny' touch hand muscles. those are the muscles that we DON'T want to use in a true pendulum putting stroke that is done with rocking shoulders and tempo not with our touchy feely fingers. That really made me think. Kind of shockingly true. Think about the times we pull or push our putts. most times we know it as soon as we stroke it even without looking up. This heavy, shaft centered, center balanced putter wants to be moved by the shoulders. the weight actually helps stabilize the wrists and hands and in my words (not John's) i think it helps promote completely quiet 'dead hands' . If you want to learn how to use this putter you have to be willing to give up control. yes give up control of the fingers and hands.
Off center strokes? Barely noticed any difference. I hoping to always strike the center of course but even slightly off center putts were rolling on line. The main thing I am getting use to is taking a larger arc (bigger swing). There is no 'hit' in this stroke. It is tempo and sameness back and through. It is helping me do what Surge advises in the full stroke with the other clubs. Keep the muscle tone the same back and though without any 'twitch' or change in muscle tone.
Note: I did get the 35 inch version. I am find that a comfortable posture and arm hang with this rather vertical putter has my hands with about 2 inches below the top of the grip. At 5'11" and a 34 inch arm length a 23/34 inch may have fit better. No problem as it still flows fine and the 16 inch grip that that has no tapper.
Heading out now to play.
L2 Putter
Robert,
Thanks for all the info, guess it's time to buy.
L2 Putter
I play with a fellow who uses a very heavy mallet putter and is an excellent putter. All of his puts look like he is deaccelerating through the ball but his grip pressure is so light that that the putter head just moves through on its own. It makes for a unique looking, but very effective putting stroke. He does, however have just as much trouble as me this year when he plays on our variable speed greens. I have a little more hit in my stroke and would find it very hard to trust the free swinging weight of the clubhead to do the job like he does.
The putter that I've been using for the last few years is a center shafted, medium weight, mallet, Medicus overspin putter. I bought it sight unseen over the internet and it has lived up to the advertising hype as far as performance goes. It is the first center shafted putter that I've ever used and works better for me than any other putter I've tried.
All that being said, I'm a firm believer in buying well engineered equipment that will help me play a better game. The odd assortment of clubs in my bag, is a testament to the buy a better game philosophy. The only thing that stopped me from purchasing an L2 putter today was the $65.00 shipping fee to Canada.
We only have about a month of golf left in Alberta, so I'll just wait in the bushes for a while and watch for further L2 putter reports.