Three weeks ago I did a piece on Hitting Knockdowns The Correct Way and it generated a good back-and-forth dialogue on the blog. Here's an exchange from that day between frequent commenter Keith Kent of Nottinghamshire, England and Craig Sadgrove, a.k.a. Craig63, who hails from New South Wales, Australia.
"Even though I am a committed and regular Surgite, I still do search YouTube and the 'net for video clips, and once you do, it is surprising what good stuff you come across. I have a great hunger to learn and am someone who does a heck of a lot of research and gets in deep when I put my mind to something.
When I saw this post, I went over to the "dark side" [Revolution Golf] to have a look and some of the golf 'sins', or whatever they call them, were interesting. I find most golf instruction is very similar--they all have something different which they claim as their own, but the basics should all be the same. Just because you don't want to swing with a big turn doesn't mean you won't find something useful somewhere else that will help. I have posted a couple of times on here with videos I think are worth sharing, and if Surge and Co. don't like this, they can remove them--I won't be offended as it is their site. But I don't think they are that selfish like the "dark side" was-- banning people when their customers had a difference of opinion. And yes, my IP address got banned [at Revolution Golf] so I couldn't post my support for Surge!!
Regards, Keith"
In his comment, Keith espouses the view that "most golf instruction is very similar" and that he can often find a useful pearl of wisdom in unexpected places. I can't argue the last part of his point because it's true. There are parts of golf where the mechanics of most swings are very similar--putting, chipping and short pitch shots are some that come to mind. But I feel I must issue a word of caution regarding the first part of his comment for those of you that might be tempted to take Keith's advice a tad too far.
When it comes to a full swing, there are definitely two sides of the street. There's our side, where a limited turn, 3/4 vertical swing has proven to be one that many players of varying physical ability can achieve highly consistent results in accuracy and distance. The consistency derives from the fact that the Surge Swing is based on physics (how the club works the ball) and the limits of human physiology (how your body works the club) and not on personal experience, untested theories, supposition or conjecture.
On the other side of the street, there is...well practically everyone else who believes that a big turn and a wide finish delivers better distance. And here's the important part to remember: How often do you hear the words "long distance" and "consistent accuracy" in a definition of a rotational swing? Not very often, I'll bet. Why? Because at any given time there may be several tens of thousands of pros and top ranked amateurs that could say that about their swing while the millions of other golfers around the world cannot consistently hit the ball straight. That's because the basic tenets of a rotary swing are out of alignment with the laws of physics and/or the God-given limits of what the human body can do.
And the belief that a rotational swing delivers better club head speed than a vertical swing is pure supposition and myth. A number of years ago, a Cal State-Fullerton study measured the club head velocity achieved by a group of rotational swingers against that achieved by the same set of golfers who spent less than an hour with me learning the basics of the Peak Performance Golf Swing. The key take away: The rotational swing did NOT produce more club head velocity than a PPGS. In fact, the Surge Swing delivered slightly more speed where it counts most--at the moment of impact. (The rotational swing actually decelerates and loses club head velocity as the hands release through impact.)
So, please, be careful of what you incorporate into your full swing. I would say, if you can satisfy yourself that the advice is based on good science, then by all means listen to it. If on the other hand, it doesn't do that then look at it as an example of something that you don't want in your swing.
Finally, I would like to close with Craig's elegant and simple "sniff test" when it comes to heeding a particular piece of advice:
"I'm with you Keith on this, sometimes you get to smell a nice rose amongst the BS :-) I guess the challenge, then, is to be able to distinguish between the flowers and the BS! :-()
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
Jim
Jim
That right there is funny.ÃÂ You just keep it vertical, and the horizontal will happen.
I believe in you,
Dick
Surge nailed it on the headÃ
Surge nailed it on the headÃÂ talking about consistency.ÃÂ I, personally, am trying to be consistent. My friend commented on my swing as he has watched it develop over the last year. His comment was that he would like to hit the ball with the same kind of consistency that he sees from me hitting the ball now. He swears I will be a scratch golfer soon. I owe it all to the Surge and the ppgs. I recently realized that I no longer aim my 5 iron out to the left because it will be fading into the target, no,ÃÂ I take dead aim when I address the ball now. I've had a few light bulb moments in the past year with the ppgs and I've managed to improve steadily. We may be the minority but when it comes to hitting the ball consistently straight, this method is the ticket to success and enjoying the game more.
Another of Surge's golden nuggets is talking about the importance of the short game. Fortunately i have a yard where I can practice chipping. It all starts with the driver but it ends with the work around the green and on the green. When I shoot the lower scores, it's because my short game is good. Thanks Surge for your tireless support and dailies. In appreciation, cheers.
Greg C
Director of League Operations www.bcgolfpages.com ÃÂ
I know next to nothing about
I know next to nothing about those things.
May be possible that the one you have could be off in it's calibrations.
???
Would be a huge waste of money if it didn't work any better than that.
This guy had one that was way off and when they fixed it it worked like it was supposed to work.
http://www.mygolfspy.com/danci...
Ted, You are certainly free
Ted, You are certainly free to utilize whatever swing methods you like, however in my experience with several other golf gurus before Surge, this swing cannot be successfully blended with Revolution Golf or really 99% of the other methods out there. If this is" the only true swing to have" why would you stay with a contradictory site?
I stand diagonally on my 4X4
I stand diagonally on my 4X4 and stick a tee in the ground along the edge at the corner when I hit the driver. Using the holes in the mat for the rubber tees is the problem since they're in about 4 or 5 inches from the edge so you only get a little over 3 1/2 feet on a 4X4. 3X5 would work well also. I checked my stance on a tiled floor to see what I needed before ordering mine, and figured 4X4 would be great. Then when I got it I realized I hadn't allowed for the tee inset.
Rusty, I'm still waiting for
Rusty, I'm still waiting for them to offer me a no strings attached free club or something to try to entice me to stay :-).
You're starting to repeat
You're starting to repeat yourself, Dragon. Must be your age. Seriously though I was going to tell you to leave our metres alone, but then I thought, ' Maybe if I change to yards I'll be able to get an extra 10% distance to my drive. Anyway, enjoyed your tale and look forward to more adventures as the summer finally arrives.
Bob
Bob HinesThe mat Don is using
Bob Hines
The mat Don is using is a standard driving range mat, that he had to modify because his yard is not level. He placed some boards underneath to level up and stabalize it.
Hal
Steve, I hope you get in a
Steve, I hope you get in a round later today, I think they have rain back in the forecast for tomorrow. Matt is going to play the 3 par in Morris with some friends this afternoon but I wasn't invited, guess he didn't want me to show him up in front of his pals,ha ha.
I hope it is ok to do this..
I hope it is ok to do this...
I am down in the Green Valley, AZ area for couple of months and using the practice areas frequently and wonder if any other "Surge swing" folks are around this area and would like to get together and work on the swing?john.ranch@gmail:disqusÃÂ .com
Hi surge like your previous
Hi surge like your previous comments we are all looking for the best swing we can use and I have searched high and low and your swing is the only one that works on all levels. It allows you to swing without pain, it allows you to swing in a straight line and it allows you to do this with power. When I moved and could not find your site (my fault) I went to the dark side and lost my swing. Now I have got your site back and ordered all your hard copy DVD's I'm in 7th heaven because it all makes sense. My only problem at the moment is consistency as I'm going from shooting 64 to 86 to 67, but I have worked on it and now I'm generally shooting low 70's which were I am at the moment, so god speed to you and thanks for all your help.
Regards
Mike Ackrell
Western Australia
Australia
Terry, that clip reminded me
Terry, that clip reminded me of "Attack of the killer tomatoes" Do you recall that one. It was a finalist at the top worst horror ÃÂ movies of all time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
Glad you got in a round Dick
Glad you got in a round Dick.
I haven't hit a ball in over a week but tomorrow it's supposed to warm up a little.
I don't think learning to read a green from a golf game qualifies as learning from two systems. ;-)
Haven't heard from Ronnie for a very long time.
Oops, didn't mean to post
Oops, didn't mean to post this twice.
Ah... There is indeed only
Ah... There is indeed only one true Peak Performance Golf Swing as taught by the Surge. ÃÂ Having finally bought myself an iPhone, I transferred all my Surge videos onto it and have been rewatching them when i have some down time during the day. Well! If we just do what Surge tells us and shows us.... what a difference. ÃÂ Had a Aha! moment when watching "Master Setup" sections again; went out and played 9 holes in 35km (about 20-22mph) wind and nailed everything long and straight. ÃÂ Such an easy swing when the "setup determines the motion"! ÃÂ Thanks Don.
What you have to realize that
What you have to realize that anyone with an upright two plane swing will have a swing that looks similiar to other upright two plane swings.ÃÂ Folks, this isn't a re-invention of the golf swing.ÃÂ It's an adaptation of one particular swing, the upright swing.ÃÂ You have two swings, flat/rotational or upright/vertical.ÃÂ There is no third swing.ÃÂ So, the differences come in the nuainces such as the outward pressure of the knees, limited hip turn, not rotating the shoulders to 90*, and some others.ÃÂ But, a vertical upright swing performed by Tom Watson, who is a vertical swinger, or Bobby Jones, Payne Stewart, Steve Striker, or what have you, will have a basic visual simularities.
Did the same for me Doc.
Did the same for me Doc. Takes the initial rating and applies it, BUT, when I refresh the page, it takes it away again and will not allow an additional attempt.
Hey Surge Nation,
Hey Surge Nation,
I live inÃÂ arguablyÃÂ the golf capital of the world, SE Florida. ÃÂ There is a golf course every 3 miles in almost any direction. ÃÂ We play all year and with all the competition we have cheap rates.
Yet we have no certified instructors in this area. ÃÂ I have asked some instructors about getting certified, but no luck. ÃÂ Are there any other Surge Swingers in this area? ÃÂ Could we have some Surge Rounds and compare notes?
IÃÂ challenge all on this blog to find fellow Surge Swingers in your area!ÃÂ
"Slicers of the World Unite"
CJÃÂ
Do you have to take into
Do you have to take into account the size of her butt?
There are so many brands and
There are so many brands and styles of mats that it is like picking out the right pair of running shoes. You never really know if you made the right pick until you go for that first 5 mile run. If you made the wrong pick you'll know it when you get about 2 1/2 miles from home.
Robert, I have seen the
Robert, I have seen the infomercial quite a few times in the wee hours when coming in after work but other than that I am clueless.Have a good day out in Vegas,my friend.
I doubt if you are going to
I doubt if you are going to get much sympathy on the closest instructor being a couple of hundred miles away.
The boys down under would love to have one that close.
I am 78 play from forward
I am 78 play from forward tees, shoot low and mid 80's slide in a high 70's once in awhile....love the vertical swing am always straight with control, but short...takes a 4/5 iron or 7/9 wood for 150 yard shot.....back yard demo by Don looks to position ball well to the rear foot....is this just camera angle or intentional....need review of ball position.
Terry, Roger, Boog and Steve
Terry, Roger, Boog and Steve andÃÂ Jim,ÃÂ Ya'll handled that dumb comment by Ron just fine. I'll add no more:)
Steve
Steve
Hope you can get out there tomorrow.
Glad you don't think I was cheating on Surge.ÃÂ I will admit that I was drinking cool-aid while I was playing wii.ÃÂ I prefer the strawberry lemonade flavor.ÃÂ Actually I prefer a little of the captain, but did not have any there.
Dick
As the Surge once said , ÃÂ
As the Surge once said , ÃÂ " paradigm shift ". A point well taken . ÃÂ As a fellow vertical swinger , my ÃÂ shots are consistent , especially my ÃÂ irons , which i make full use of. ÃÂ Using ÃÂ my ÃÂ long ÃÂ irons as well as hybrids ( not ruling out ) ÃÂ but ÃÂ again ÃÂ consistent . At the driving range , ÃÂ i ÃÂ watch other golfers around me , all ÃÂ swinging rotational . ÃÂ I ÃÂ " hear and see the frustration and it's constant . I'm not in anyway drawing comparisons , ÃÂ but ÃÂ consistency ÃÂ is the bottom line . Also ÃÂ i hear the " thump " ÃÂ of ÃÂ clubs ÃÂ hitting ÃÂ the mat ( sacred burial ground ) ÃÂ . ÃÂ My ÃÂ use of ÃÂ my driver also improved , hitting ÃÂ a lot ÃÂ of fairways , ÃÂ truthfully ÃÂ i even lowered ÃÂ my handicap and looking forward ÃÂ to lowering it even more ! ÃÂ Thank you ÃÂ Surge ! ÃÂ
Never did get to the course
Never did get to the course today. All I got around to was to hit a few balls into the net.
Don't know what tomorrow will be like up here. The last I saw it was just supposed to be cloudy but weathermen aren't very good at their job anyway.
Steve - I see your comments
Steve - I see your comments quite often and enjoy them - my question is - has Sarge ever said how tthe artificial mat he hits from is made?ÃÂ I would love to have something like that in my yard,
Good morning T. So bad it
Good morning T. So bad it cracks me up. It probably was in the theater, that's where I saw it first (and only). once was enough. Still terrified! Love those sideburns. Did people really dress like those folks in 1978? Guess so :)
Your Peak Performance Swing
Your Peak Performance Swing works and it works so well I use it in my teaching. ÃÂ However, you speak about hitting the ball straight all the time. When I play, I either hook or slice every shot depending on the shot in front of me. ÃÂ I hardly ever try to hit the golf ball straight. ÃÂ Using your PPS making a slice or hook is easy. ÃÂ I wish you would speak to this in your daily video some day.
Careful, or soon we'll be
Careful, or soon we'll be asking about how close to the butt he takes his grip.
Doc,Isn't Stack and Tilt
Doc,
Isn't Stack and Tilt considered as another type of swing?
I doubt if I would ever be
I doubt if I would ever be able to afford the optishot, plus if I did buy one I would have to build a building to put it in, but I have actually thought about it. I think it would be really great and would probably spend most of my spare time using it.
If you have a good way to hang it from the walls and/or ceiling this is the kind of net I have. It is designed for close range high impact, and most of the golf nets they sell are not.
http://gourock.com/mcart/index...
SurgeSent this in last week,
Surge
Sent this in last week, didn't get any feed-back from you or your people, maybe I missed it. You don't have to post your response to this, just give ME your thoughts if you want. I received Tom Watson's Lession for a Lifetime, and to my eye, Tom's swing and your vertical swing look very similar, am I wrong? WhateverÃÂ YOU think is important to me because I know what a student of the game you are, thanks for whatever insight you could provide.
DS
It is the camera angle.Don
It is the camera angle.
Don says to play everything to a 7 iron in the middle of the stance and move progressively up in the stance with each club longer until the driver is just behind the left heel.
http://www.swingsurgeon.com/Da...
Boog,I still want to get a
Boog,I still want to get a mat and cage combo and yes the ones on dwq are cool but $$$$!! I am a working man and that's seems step to me. I'm still looking around.....
Have you ever had any of that
Have you ever had any of that Chocolate wine?
We bought a bottle of it just to see what it was like.
Tastes like Yoo Hoo so I liked it
Surge - watched your putting
Surge - watched your putting video--once I got a cy that worked!ÃÂ One item you did not cover is keeping your eye on ball.ÃÂ I saw a comment on golf channel that you should focus at the BACK of the ball where your club hits--just as you look at the head of a nail when nailing. It has greatly improved my accuracy. Where do you focus?
http://www.youtube.com/watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
I have a serious question ...
I have a serious question ... Do you all really think there is only one way to swing a golf club? And why is not the entire World swinging like Don who admits he has the shanks ?
Drink whatever koolaide you want... Putt better... Chip better .. And play better
Though spendy, I guess if
Though spendy, I guess if they last and are as quality as you say it'l be worth it. I'm also looking into an indoor/outdoor cage/net. Big enough to catch even an errant shot and small enough to bring inside because were contemplating getting the optishot maybe.ÃÂ
Great timing Surge.ÃÂ Just
Great timing Surge.ÃÂ Just yesterday I was on the range.ÃÂ I was hitting with the vertical swing as consistently as I have ever hit.ÃÂ Then, I had a blasphemous thought.ÃÂ Um, I wonder if I can still swing rotationally?ÃÂ Hello banana slice!ÃÂ The most apparent change I felt was the stress I felt in my lower back!ÃÂ I have not felt that in the last year, which, coincidentally, is when I started the Surge swing.ÃÂ That, by itself, is all I need to know to convince me that I am on the right track with Surge.ÃÂ Don Trahan, thank you for your dedication and your daily tips.
Hi Keith, I too have been
Hi Keith, I too have been struggling with my BUS, going too deep into the SBG on the takeaway and swinging the club back too far to the horizontal (you can see that in one of my down the line videos attached to my name - watching frame by frame the takeaway, as the clubhead reaches the toe line I'm saying to myself "LIFT UP, LIFT UP" but no not until way into SBG).
Fortunately I received in the mail the Swingtech and the Plane Trainer which have been a huge help. ÃÂ ÃÂ With the Swingtech I've been working on the transition near the top of the BUS getting a feel of "skipping the rock" with the arms falling vertically into the slot with the help of the device. ÃÂ With the Plane Trainer I try to make a full swing like Surge, DJ or even JB Holmes and the device reminds me to keep my arms swinging in front of my body and on a vertical plane.
Ronald, I drink diet dr.
Ronald, I drink diet dr. pepper, thank you. Many ways to swing a club,not to many that can give you consistency unless you really trust your swing.Which is what I get from Surge's swing, since I know I won't be hurting my back,knees,or shoulder with it. Without the "is this going to lock me up come morning" thoughts I can swing freely,more naturally and have no fear that I'm about to tear something up.
ÃÂ Now as to your saying, "Don admits he has the shanks", I take exception to that, your statement implies that Don or whoever else you would say that about is shanking the vast majority of his shots. Surge, most of his friends and students call him that, admits to hitting the occasional hosel-rocket it can happen to anyone. Like this fellow...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
I, myself, hit two in my 36 holes last week both on short,delicate pitch shots where I was more concerned about the proper carry distance and backswing length than execution. Mental breakdown on my part. I recovered nicely from both, why, because I chip better and putt way better. Don has videos on those parts of the game too.
ÃÂ
Some mats have a spot in the
Some mats have a spot in the center of one side to put a rubber tee for a driver. A tall person with a wide rotational stance could very well have his back foot off the mat with the ball too far forward.
Are you over weight?
Are you over weight? Serious question . Ronald
I don't know what all Tom
I don't know what all Tom says in his Lessons for a Lifetime. All I've seen of it is excerpts.
If he is teaching his swing as it is today it would be closer to what Surge teaches and if he teaches his swing as it was back in the 70s it would be further away.
Steve
Steve
I know what you mean.ÃÂ That is the same reason I don't keep the captain around home, I like it too much.ÃÂ I have not tried the choc wine.
I would get in trouble,
Dick
Vertical swinging is the ONLY
Vertical swinging is the ONLY way to go. I have spoken. Surge, you have been as honest and open in today's video as you always are. No BS, just the sweet smell of success IMHO!
Today in very, very windy conditions, decided to just take a couple of clubs to the practice hole. The PW and the 9iron. Only took a handful of balls. Started from 80 yards out with the PW. First easy swing, over the back of the green, approx 100-110 yds. So down the grip to the metal shaft. Next ball less than 2'feet left and a few inches passed the pin.Next 2'feet to the right of the pin a few inches passed the pin. The next two aimed at the centre of the green, dead level pin high. So a pretty consistent striking of the ball. The four balls on the green I clipped them off the green in all four directions. Uphill, downhill, and two side hill with the first one in rough aboveÃÂ a mound. Chipped all five to easy one putt distance. Then walked back to the 100mtr [bejaysus I hate mtrs on a golf course] 110yds marker and with the 9iron, repeated the process. First shot hit it fat and it finished 30yds short of the green. Down the shaft again and proceeded to mortar the pin. Those four balls all on the green in one putt distance. Repeated the chipping from off the green, including the one 30yds short [approx 50yds to the pin]. Chipped it to within 9inches of the hole. The others all close. During the practice there was a loud 'Keraaaaaack!' as a particularly strong gust of wind, snapped a thick branch high in one of the large pine trees down the right hand side of the hole! I looked up in time to see it drop. It hung up about 35 or 40+ feet above the ground pointing straight down. Decided to call it a day. Called into the clubhouse to report it. Would hate to hear that some poor individual had been injured or worse by the falling branch while looking for their balls.
More rain on the way. The sky ahead of me, is black as thunder. Will watch the Jo'burg Open in SA in just under 3hours time. A late night in prospect. My confidence in my short game is hopefully infectious and will spread to the rest of my clubs. To all the Surge Nation as Robert Meade above says, my accuracy and consistency [as Surge mentioned today, MY holy grail],have given me "a great feeling" PMGAS
I asked the same thing
I asked the same thing several months ago. ÃÂ I feel like the last time we heard from him was before the tornadoes in Alabama...
Pages