Becoming a Better Ball Striker

Sun, 08/18/2013 - 12:00 -- Don Trahan

Being a good ball striker means you can consistently hit the ball at your intended target time and time again. It's about repeating shots, splitting fairways, and hitting greens. DJ has always been one of the better ball strikers on the PGA TOUR, and it's because he uses the Peak Performance Golf Swing.

Roy is interested in improving his contact with the ball. He blames the problem on poor hand-eye coordination, but that may not be Roy's problem. Today, I'll explain how becoming a better ball striker stems from your setup and takeaway.

Dear Surge,

I began working with your swing principles about 2 years ago. I have been able to play and enjoy golf again. I am most grateful for that. I have noted that more professionals are using and promoting your theory. I recently watched some videos of the "square to square" method, which is very similar. My main problem is poor hand-eye coordination. I don't make good solid contact on the majority of my shots. When I do, I love the result. Is there anything I can do to improve this deficiency? I watch the pro golfers bounce a ball off their club heads effortlessly. I could never do that. I know I will never be 100%, but I sure would like to improve this facet of my game.
 
I really enjoy and look forward to your daily videos and I'll watch for your next school in Central Florida.
Thanks,
Roy
Longwood, Florida

I'll first start by saying that even if there are other swing methods out there that promote some of the same ideas as the PPGS, none of them are as complete and proven as the Surge Swing.

I don't necessarily think that poor hand-eye coordination can inhibit someone from becoming a better golfer. As long as you get set up in the proper positions, you should be able to return the club to the impact position. In fact, I usually demonstrate this by closing my eyes and taking a swing. Without being able to see the ball, I'm still able to make solid contact with the ball because I trust my setup.

The setup determines the motion, so remember to always work on that aspect of your game.

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

snupgolf@cox.net's picture

Submitted by snupgolf@cox.net on

Why do I continually receive emails asking me to buy the same videos, same products, same reference material over and over when I've been a party to your system for over four years? I already have most of these products and continue to be unamused by your system.

Also, if this system is as result oriented as you claim over and over and over again, why isn't DJ in the top 125 of the money list (given that there is no physical or emotional nightmares)

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

We have a winner for the most stupid comment of the year.

By your logic I should see the kids of Harmon, Leadbetter, McLean, Haney, Hardy, Utley, Flick, Stockton, and Pelz out there on Tour.

(Assuming no physical or emotional nightmares of course).

mtimbs@grapevine.net.au's picture

Submitted by mtimbs@grapevin... on

Hi Steve, good to hear that you are alive and full of fight. I've been away for several weeks, and this is the first post from you in a little while.
Mark Twain had a pithy saying about vexatious complainants: " some folks would complain if you hung them with a brand new piece of rope".
Cheers.
Michael

Lynn42's picture

Submitted by Lynn42 on

I counted six "overs" in your comments. We have an official limit of five, which you have exceeded. If, after four years, You've gotten nothing out of Surge's system and are "unamused", might I respectfully suggest you look for amusement elsewhere.

As to your second point, in the words of that great American statesman, John McInroe, "You cannot be serious"!!!

Life is short, best of luck in your quest for amusement.

Terry Medley's picture

Submitted by Terry Medley on

Dear unamused. You've been with this site for 4 years and still don't even know how to unsubscribe to emails. If you're too stupid to figure that simplest of things out, how can you possibly understand anything remotely connected to a sport as complicated as golf. Four years and still cannot read the clear instructions for unsubscribing. Stupid is as stupid does.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJe6-afGz0Q

TinaB's picture

Submitted by TinaB on

WHERE is Dick Lee when we need him?
Snupgolf, I have been on this blog for about 2 years and have NEVER received marketing emails from the Surge. But if you are, and don't like them, why don't you just unsubscribe and stop visiting? Apparently there's SOMETHING here you like! The rest of us really aren't interested in your sniping. You can email customer service directly, if you have a complaint. We aren't interested in reading it here.
Thanks, and have a nicer day!

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

Tina,
Get down with your bad self. I felt the Spirit of Dick in your words. He'd be real proud, I know I am. BTW, I am amused:)
Thanks!

JohnfromGA's picture

Submitted by JohnfromGA on

In defense of snup, in recent days, I have been receiving marketing emails from 'don@peakperformancegolfswing.com'. It is like the original site has returned to life with no knowledge that I am already a member of the nation.

Robert Fleck's picture

Submitted by Robert Fleck on

Those would, I believe, be fake spam from somewhere. All the real PPGS folks use @swingsurgeon.com email addresses, or generic GMail or such. Brady can hopefully confirm that the ones you're talking about are not, in fact, from Surge and the SwingSurgeon.com staff.

Robert Fleck's picture

Submitted by Robert Fleck on

Good to know. Okay.

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

Robert, On another note, I am curious about the possibility of building an Alpha driver and am trying to remember which model you had built by Doc. Could you remind of the model and specs (cc's)? i have been looking on line and the 400cc and under is tough to come by.

Robert Fleck's picture

Submitted by Robert Fleck on

Hey Robert, Mine is a 355 cc KZG head, not an Alpha. I believe Alpha manufactures the new DOC driver heads for Doc Griffin (360 cc I think), but in their standard stock they do not carry anything that small.

adel's picture

Submitted by adel on

Robert, maybe I shouldn't be interfering but I found a stainless steel 265 cc head at Thell's, very cheap.
I had it shipped and assembled locally, but Thell's can also assemble it according to your specs...

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

Adel,
Your suggestions are always welcomed.
I will look at the Krell too.Looking at lots of options is what I do. After all I only think about golf like 18 hours a day! Lol:) I have learned a measure of restaint and only buy after careful consideration.
Well usually!

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

You let me try it out briefly at Muni and I was not remembering it was KZG. Thanks for reminding me. I am actially doing fine as far as the driver but my need to constantly tinker and trial varlous options is a continuing hobby.

I still play several 460's but would like to try either the Alpha and or KZG (or a comprable) in the 400 to 355cc range if the price is right. Expensive hobby:) and I rarely pay full price for anything and am mainly interested in the head(s) as the shafts are rarely right and I would replace it anyhow.

Thanks Robert. I have enjoyed your comments too. Seems Texas is working out for you.

boogmc's picture

Submitted by boogmc on

Robert, I had my fitting and clubs built by Doc the week before the Official launch of the DOC driver. Mine was,and is indeed, an Alpha V2 360cc with
a Fuji 005 Blur S-flex shaft 8.5 degrees @ 44.5" and tipped with Golf Pride Tour
Velvet midsize grips.
There for a while I would find some V2 360cc heads on-line but lately everything I come across,like you said, is 400cc or bigger. *cringe*

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

Opps, hey Boog yes I still play a 460cc but have always been open to the less than 400 idea. Yours sounds sweet and I know Surge has been happy with his.
I have recently been looking on line for one as I am motivated because of my recent success using my 3 wood off the tee. BTW it is the Adams F11 built new for me during my PPGS fitting 3 summers ago:)

Dragonhead's picture

Submitted by Dragonhead on

Robert,
Just had 20 holes of the most enjoyable golf for a wee while. I put my smaller headed Driver,3W and 5W [the neanderthal blonde wooden woods] to be altered and shortened. The driver had been 45 1/2", way too long for me, sawn off at the knees ; - ) Picked them up on the way to the course this morning. I had been playing them on and off recently, choking down on them with good results. Without even having swung any of them after them being shortened, no warm up period [naughty me], and straight down the middle off the first tee we teed off on. All three played impeccably with two bad ones only off the tee in the 20 holes. The indian not the arrows. A touch of reverse tilt on two 'rushing' the swing! Apart from that a good day all around. Tried some shots with my 5iron and couldn't believe how good they were. Never left the pin from woe to go! Up and down the shaft on it, I added a few different but very successful shots to my repetoire.
Punching a low shot from rough with the 5W to avoid overhanging branches. It went way, way down the middle of the fairway leaving me with a lovely shot to the pin with a PW. And so it went on. Reviewed the whole round as I cleaned each club when we got home. Not much I would do different. I noted a couple of things which I will tweak until totally satisfied.
Improvement is indeed only a fit away. Why would I be expect to hit a
45 1/2" driver well every time, when even at his peek Eldrick Tont Woods was using a 43" driver!!!!!! Doc is only a call away. Hit them consistently straight in Vegas Robert.
DH in sunny [As said earlier, now there's a change ; -]NZ

Lynn42's picture

Submitted by Lynn42 on

John, are you referring to emails like the recent one about the tournament being held in Germany during Oktoberfest? I experienced Octoberfest while stationed in Germany in the mid sixties. That trip was compliments of Uncle Sam, but a bit out of my price range this time. ;0))

Dragonhead's picture

Submitted by Dragonhead on

Lynn,
I too was stationed in West Germany in the mid sixties! My ex-wife was at the Oktoberfest in 1972. She and friends were at the Olympics and she was about 1km from the shootout etc when it went down at Fuerstenfeldbrueke and heard it all. Their host was a gentleman and his wife, by the name of Oskar Himmler!
I was doing my own Olympics at the time for 4months in Northern Ireland.
Travelled down to Frankfurt by car with a colleague for a Frankfurter!!! hahahaha. Had not started playing golf until after 31of May 1975 when I quit smoking. Money saved bought my first clubs.
I too would love to have been going to the tournament. I have a son living and working in Germany. My German is as natural to me as my English. Wonder if Surge needs German speakers? Hahahaha.
Just back from 20 holes with my cut down woods. From the get go, straight down the middle: - ) One happy laddie. As Don and Doc say- 'Success is only a fit away' Yeeeeeha! I agree.
DH in sunny NZ [Now there's a change : - ]

adel's picture

Submitted by adel on

Sorry for my previous comment!!!
The devil made me do it....

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

On becoming a better ball striker. The simplistic truth about all that Surge teaches is especially clear to me when he says that great eye sight is not mandatory and he demos that by hitting a ball or two with his eyes closed at his clinics. Stable knees as levelers and maintaining our spine angle getting back to the ball. Just those two thoughts have helped my game more than anything. The other one is to swing up and focus on the finish. Many days I have gotten back on track mid round just by those three. The other day I found myself finishing too far left and pulling a couple. Simply got back to basics (rule #5) and finished up and at the the target. Hit to lasers both the drive and the 8 iron into the 18th green for an easy two putt par. That's why the recoil and relax is so important because it shows us where we finished- facing the target or not.

We are blessed to have Surge freely telling us how to keep striking the ball well. Thanks again and again Don Trahan.

49latour@gmail.com's picture

Submitted by 49latour@gmail.com on

Snup, you are correct and I experience the same thing. However, I like and value some of Surge's comments and therefore keep coming back for more in spite of the numerous solicitations I receive. But this forum is replete with folks who love to come down on others who comment with anything but their own view. I and many others have commented on the poor audio quality of Doc, the clubfitter Surge uses. Yet, just try making a comment about the poor quality and the rath will pour down on you. Oh well...I've said my piece and no doubt it will soon start raining while I'll just keep viewing Surge's videos and deleting Doc's. :)

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

DH,

Remind me again which make and model your smaller headed driver is. I am looking at buying one (likely used off of e bay or the like) and then adding the shaft of choice, length and grip in my garage.

Meanwhile I have continued to play more off the tee with my 3 wood using it three times this morning with nice results. Actually I have been working on drawing the ball with the 3 wood and on my last hole today was shocked to see the ball flying some 245 yards with just a beautiful flight. Extremely happy with that and may be using my current driver(s) more rarely in the coming days. Most of the golf courses I play have more of a premium on accuracy than distance. Like Surge says, "fairways and greens".

Again that is why I am currently looking and smaller headed options. surprised how few are out there.

Keep hitting 'em long and straight in NZ between storms.

ret7191's picture

Submitted by ret7191 on

Robert,
I have a used KZG SP700 Titanium 355cc headed driver sitting on a Fujikura Fit-On 160 R2 Flex shaft (43.5") that was built by Doc about 4 years ago. I haven't used it in about 2 years so its yours if you want it. LMK

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

LMK,

Sounds good. Contact customer service and ask them to please forward your e -mail to me. I can then talk to you about it off blog.
Thanks and talk to you soon,

Robert M.