Take Dead Aim

Wed, 02/08/2012 - 19:53 -- Don Trahan

With the Peak Performance Golf Swing, we hit the ball relatively straight. I say relatively because it's okay to have a slight draw or fade on your golf shot, as long as you're landing the ball within 5-10 yards of where you were aimed. I hear it all the time at my golf schools. Students tell me they have to aim to the left because they know they're going to slice the ball. Well if you don't want to slice or hook the ball, then don't play for it! It's as simple as that.

DJ's playing partner at this week's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am is reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers. It's safe to say that the Green Bay Packer star knows a little bit about taking dead aim at his targets. His are usually running routes to get open, but the idea of being accurate is the same. If Aaron wants the best results, he's going to train and practice the techniques that are going to help him do that. Don't you want to hit it straight every time? Then start setting up to the ball with the intent of doing just that. Instead of compensating for a flaw in your golf swing, practice the right techniques that will get rid of the flaws for good.

Since you're now going to be hitting it straight, it's absolutely essential that your alignment is always correct. Hitting straighter balls will also give you better feedback on your alignment because if you hit a good shot but it missed your target, than you know it was an alignment issue. If you're playing for a hook or slice and you miss your target, there's no way of knowing if it was your alignment or a bad shot. So start taking dead aim and you'll start having more looks at birdies and pars!

After you've watched the video, let us know your pics for this year's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am below.

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.

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Golf Instruction

Comments

CharlieY's picture

Submitted by CharlieY (not verified) on

Doc, those of us who have recently had our own health crises know full well how comforting it is to know that people are thinking about us, wishing us well, and saying a prayer for us. You can be sure that I will be saying prayers for Vaughn.  

Mike Bode's picture

Submitted by Mike Bode (not verified) on

Surge, It appears that when you are hitting balls off your mat you are playing the ball
well back in your stance. With your irons it looks like it is off the inside of the back foot
and with your woods looks like you are playing it between your feet vs. off the inside
of the front foot which is the conventional taught position.

Do you do this on purpose because of the more vertical plane you teach to swing on?
or is this just the way you teach where to position the ball in your stance.

Mike Bode

Craig63's picture

Submitted by Craig63 (not verified) on

Thanks for the info Cerv, I knew that there was special rules designed to protect the QB otherwise the game would not be the spectacle it is.   I wasn't so sure about the rules regarding play for running backs and receivers etc.

BTW, a question regarding timelords.  Why is it after ten regenerations, of which the new Doctor has to be a younger version of the previous gen, that we don't have a "Doogie Houser" type Doctor? :-)  I guess the answer is that they haven't got there yet but the time will come that eventually you will have to have a Doctor that is the equivalent of an Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars episode I - perish the thought!  :-(

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

 Will do Doc.

Maybe another job will come up for her so she won't have an interruption in coverage.

I've been paying over $800 dollars a month for COBRA since September. Doesn't take long at that rate to drain the bank account.

Robert F's picture

Submitted by Robert F (not verified) on

Great video, Surge. Just a note to the tech folks that there's 10 seconds of black at around 5:30 on the video.

And, since my Mom grew up in Green Bay, I'm definitely cheering for DJ and Aaron to take the pro-am, and DJ to take the Pro. ;-)

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

Imagine how nice we could have it if we could get a "do over" on all of the money that we've wasted hand over fist, and put someone with some common sense in charge.

Cat's out of the bag now though and I can't see an end to it.
Who was the politician that said "a few billion here and a few billion there, and pretty soon it adds up to real money".
Pretty much sums up how they think.

Rbborksart's picture

Submitted by Rbborksart (not verified) on

I live in Chicago But am an avid Packers fan thanks to Bart, Brett and now Aaron. If he can play golf like he plays quarterback then look for him to join the tour after football. Good luck to DJ and Aaron this weekend , I'll be watching. Richard "Bork" Borkowski

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade (not verified) on

You and me both Dan. Not a cheap trip but one that would give memories for a lifetime :)

Rhig1's picture

Submitted by Rhig1 (not verified) on

Surge - Great video and lesson abouttaking dead aim I pullrd the ball for so long I sometimes aie right. Guess what, the ball goes straight right.This is a good wakeup call. No problems wit my video. My picks are DJ and Aaron GO DJ!!!!!

Hilbridan (NZ)'s picture

Submitted by Hilbridan (NZ) (not verified) on

Hi Doc. I trust I can be included in the 'brothers', and truly join in adding my prayerful best wishes to Vaughan and you, as well as the rest of your family, as you face the future. You will be in my thoughts and intentions when I next go to mass, that you will know the love and provision of the God to whom Robert Meade referred in a post above.  God bless.

Bob Burke.

Lynn42's picture

Submitted by Lynn42 (not verified) on

I grew up in New England a huge Yankees/Giants fan..(Some people are just contrary I guess) ;0)).

I feel good about DJ's chances this week and I have no problem rooting for Aaron Rodgers.  The man strikes me as a class act.  Let's hope they do well and get some TV time.

Robert F's picture

Submitted by Robert F (not verified) on

If you're having trouble getting the club to drop inside at the start of the FUS, it's most likely a combination of things which all roll up into the attempt to hit at the ball from the top of the swing. There is a perfectly natural movement that will result in the club approaching the ball from slightly inside which begins with the thought I careful phrased at the beginning of this. Don't try to swing from the inside. LET YOUR HANDS DROP from the top of the BUS. When your body knows that's what you want, your hips will shift slightly forward to allow for the drop, and the club will end up slightly inside. I can throw in a pretty good slice or a pretty good hook (Robert Meade has seen me do both), but those always result from trying to hit the ball rather than focusing on the pendulum of my arms swinging around the base of my neck.

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

Hey Mike,
No Surge teaches to play the ball in the middle of the stance from the shortest wedge through the 7 iron and then move it progressively up with each ensuing club until the driver is just inside of the front foot heel.
If the camera is even a little bit front of center the ball will appear further back.
The video at this link demonstrates it.
http://player.swingsurgeon.com...

Here is one that talks about the correct position.
http://swingsurgeon.com/DailyV...

Another very important point:
Even though it is a vertical swing the club does not come into the ball more steep than a traditional rotational swing. In fact it comes in more shallow and takes very, very little divot, if any.

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