Dave Bories is a relative newcomer to this blog, having registered back in June. He recently asked a question on the website that I would like to address today. Dave writes:
"I've read and heard that distance is obtained by getting maximum swing speed. Exchange of momentum between club and ball, but that accuracy is sometimes compromised. I've also read that "dragging" the club through the ball (to maximize compression of the ball) at a lower swing speed, about 80 mph, will give nearly the same distance with much greater precision. Do you have any comments?"
I most certainly do, Dave! First off, the concept of "dragging" the club through the ball is not something that applies to my limited turn, 3/4 vertical Peak Performance Golf Swing in any way, shape or fashion. It is a theory associated with rotational swings where you first create lag (where the club head "lags" the hands down the swing plane) by cocking your wrists, then dragging the hands and club through impact by pulling with your arms and rapidly twisting your torso. You then hold that cocked wrist position as long as you can after impact before you release.
I don't believe the claims that distance is derived from dragging the club through the ball. The laws of physics just don't support that concept. And from a physiological viewpoint, all that torso twisting and hitting down on the ball creates abnormal stresses in our back, hips, knees and wrists that will eventually take their toll.
From a pure executional point of view I think that lag, drag and hold is a very complex set of movements that for most amateurs really lowers the odds of hitting the ball straight. By contrast, the Surge Swing is a much simpler set of movements--slightly rotate the arms to put the club toe-up into the Catcher's Mitt, then lift until your thumbs point up and then back to impact where a controlled amount of arm rotation and gravity-fed arm speed allow us to release at impact (with our palms perfectly perpendicular). Then it's up into the forward mitt with the club toe-up to another thumbs up position and a perfect T-Finish.
So to Dave, and all of you out there who are trying to see if my swing makes a significant impact on your game, do yourself a favor. While you are learning the swing, please put aside everything you have ever learned or heard someone say about how to make a good golf swing. If you are playing with your buddies and one of them tells you that you are swinging the wrong way, just smile at them. You see, whatever it is they would have you change will most likely not apply to a limited turn, 3/4 vertical swing. In fact, my body-friendly Peak Performance Golf Swing runs counter to just about every aspect of rotational swing theory. That's because it is based 100% on physics and physiology whereas rotational theory is just that- a collection of opinion, supposition, speculation or just plain trial and error methods.
If you commit 100% to learning the Surge Swing, I know you will quickly be hitting the ball straighter, with far greater accuracy than ever before. As for distance, there is nothing in this swing that prevents you from hitting the ball a long way off the tee. Just look at my son DJ's stats last year on the PGA Tour. He averaged 301 yards off the tee and was still in the Top Ten for Greens In Regulation. And the PPGS is the only swing he's ever had.
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.