Today I'm going to explain exactly why the Peak Performance Golf Swing is the only swing you should be using. Not only is the PPGS the easiest swing on the body, but it's also the only swing that's based entirely on fact.
When I hear golfers say that the best way to get better at golf is by trial and error, I think they're crazy. While it's important to utilize what works best for you, golfers still need to follow some sort of swing fundamentals in order to gauge their progress. If you are just swinging and swinging on the practice range with no direction or idea of what you're trying to accomplish, you're never going to get better.
Watch the video above and you'll hear how I developed the PPGS and what makes it work better than any other swing being taught today.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
Comments
"Vertical" vs "Steep"
I find that going to the more vertical swing plane ("catcher's mitt / tree" swing thought) is a lot more comfortable for my gimpy back. But I'm confused about whether this vertical plane is creating too steep a swing path. Can a reasonable "flat spot" be attained with a vertical swing? Thanks for any tips that can help me understand this.
Do the bump
Before learning a consistent way to do the bump my tendency was to often be too steep at impact. No problem at all hitting a 3 wood or a driver off the deck now. The bump is so much easier to do now that I have an idiot proof way to keep the knees stable before triggering the forward upswing. For what it's worth, my recent comments provide more detail. I've probably bored every body enough lately with my latest doing the bump epiphanies.
Recoil and relax as a test of release
The following link gives another good reason for doing the "recoil and relax".
http://www.golf.com/node/2114023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c35tfULTAD8&index=38&list=UUuCHII1OANmNDqBAUXQKw_A
Now that I'm able to generate enough swing speed to have a full follow through, it's easier to do the recoil and relax. After relaxing the club the shaft is parallel to the target line and over my heel line. The club face is perpendicular to or pointed slightly toward the ground. I assume that the club face being more pointed toward the ground,indicates a correct release as well as the amount of release. I hope that this is a good way to train and test my release during the long winter months when I can't hit real balls.
I rode this swing thought all week at Myrtle Beach
Just got back from Myrtle Beach. I know. Our group is cheap, but the weather was perfect. Don had a video since he came back about the master set up. He mentioned having your right shoulder relaxed at address. That peaked my interest because I had never heard that before from anyone. I tried it one time before our trip and it felt very comfortable and I hit the ball well all 18 holes with all clubs. I wrote it down on a torn piece of scorecard and had it attached to my driver head cover. I saw the note and read it on the first tee on the first day at Grand Dunes and voilà. It worked all day! Then all week! I kept it on my head cover so I wouldn't forget it each day. Speaking of my trip. I can remember 4 or 5 years ago standing on the tees on some of these courses. Looking down the fairway and thinking, man, where am going with this? Now, thanks to the Surge and the PPGS swing, I'm thinking. Where do I want to put this thing? What an enjoyable feeling that is!
On, on, on square and solid
I forgot to mention that when Surge stated those words in this video. It reminded of my golf trip partners saying how solid I was hitting my shots. The only thing I could think of that I was doing differently was Don's 'relaxed right shoulder' advice and also saying it is a must to do for the PPGS swing. Over and out.
What is the best way to get feedback on a question?
I have an account and I'm willing to pay for more products if I can get an answer to the question below. I've submitted it more than once on a few blog posts and have not heard back from anyone. Just let me know how to proceed in getting feedback:
I am a big guy, about 6 ft 1 inches. But I Have a big chest and short arms. My son is 2 inches shorter than me but his arms are 2 inches longer than mine. The bottom line I think the peak swing still creates width with the left arm despite the limited turn. But since my arms are short, if I limit my turn like surge suggests, my left arm does not get far enough back and I cannot swing down correctly to the impact position, and thus I generally pull the ball or hit a weak slice. Do you think the peak swing is good for someone with a stocky build and short arms? Maybe shorter clubs are the answer.
Thanks. Ken from Chicago
Feedback
Ken,
If you want feedback from Don, you need to send an email to Don through Customer Service.
I will try to answer your question. Although I am not as tall as you, I have short arms and a big belly. I had a similar problem with my swing. I thought I was doing the PPG swing correctly and was, for the most part. Last May, I had a lesson with Stretch Condor in Phoenix and found that I had one major (minor?) problem - I did not turn enough! The limited turn is supposed to be about 70*; I was only turning about 60*. Once Stretch got me turning the full 70*, all my shots straightened out.
One of Surge's points is the concept of the ferris wheel. Basically, I attempt to keep the butt of the club over my toe line. At the time, I was getting outside the toe line. Stretch pointed out that, when I get in the master setup position (MSP), the base of my neck is almost directly over the toe line. When I swing to the top of the BUS, the shaft should be vertical between the base of the neck and the shoulder joint, which means the butt of the club is over the toe line as well. To do that, I had to turn the additional 10*. What you need to do is have someone look at your swing from down the line and get you to turn that little bit more. Good luck.
Kevin from Alabama
Thanks Kevin...
Kevin... thank you for the feedback and I will try what you suggest. It also seems that I would get value from a lesson and club fitting. I believe I want to try to make this swing work for me. There are times on the range that I get into a groove. Perhaps I am turning more during those times and not realizing it.
Thanks again for your help.
-Ken
70 degree turn
Kevin,
Thanks for the reminder. When the turn gets to short the back swing can become a sway with a lift instead of a turn with a lift. Before reading your blog, I had a problem with getting lazy occasionally and not always getting that 70 degree turn. I was focusing too much on lifting after the turn and that can result in shortchanging the amount of turn. That extra 10 degrees is very necessary for building up sufficient back swing torque.
The key for me now, is to focus on constantly turning while letting the lift look after itself. The Surge swing setup and my swing key for the backswing, of holding and then allowing the turning/pressuring of the left inner ankle bone clockwise, at the end of the backswing ensures a 70 degree turn with a rock steady lower body and no sway. HOLD AND TURN is my backswing as well as tempo thought.
PPGS Fundamentals
Have your reviewed the PPGS Fundamentals Video and the PPGS Manual? While the Daily Videos are free and we constantly post them, they are never the complete solution. And yes, this is on purpose - we have to pay our bills right?
In our golf schools we do not take beginners that are new to the swing because it would literally take a week to convey all the information in the PPGS Fundamentals to them. The video is over 250 minutes long and the manual is over 100 pages - it is a tremendous amount of information to consume.