Today's question from Paul Myers of Franklin, Indiana is a really good one because it foucses on a key difference between the Peak Performance Golf Swing and almost every other golf swing theory out there.
It has to do with how we initially place the club into our forward hand.
"Should the club be set up square to your hands at setup or should the hands be setup forward of the clubhead at setup? One instructor teaches that the clubs were designed with a natural forward angle. What is your slant on this idea? In all your instructions, you have not mentioned the subject to my knowledge. This would de-loft the club slightly if you return to the same hands forward position at impact. I have heard both square to square and hands forward. Which is correct?"
As I point out in the video, most other golf swing theories have you grasp the club with your forward hand when the club is held at about waist level and the butt of the club is pointing at your belt buckle. You are then instructed to place the thumb of your forward hand directly on top of the shaft. If you then return your hands to a point directly under the area from your chin to your nose, as we do, you create a large cup at the wrist of your forward arm.
There are many reasons we don't want to do this, but perhaps the most important one is that by doing so the forearm muscles in your forward arm come out of Dynamic Balance. Also, by creating a cupped wrist at setup, you will need to introduce a wrist cock during your backswing which is clearly something we do not want to do. For more on this, search the daily video library for No Wrist Action Is Good Wrist Action.
So to be perfectly clear here, Paul, here is the correct way to get the proper grip on your club:
- Stand in front of the ball, approximately the correct distance from it.
- Holding the club at waist level in your rear hand, aim it parallell to the ground, in line with the ball, and with the butt pointing to your belt buckle.
- Now point the butt of the club toward your forward hip and grasp the club with your forward hand, placing your thumb at the one o'clock position, keeping it pointed up your forward arm.
- Place your rear hand on the club, making sure it is parallel to the forward hand.
After that is accomplished, continue with the rest of your set up routine, making sure the thumb of your rear hand lines up with an area from your chin to your nose. You'll find that doing this will set the club with the proper shaft angle and set the stage for a terrific swing.
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
Welcome to the NEW SwingSurgeon.com!
If things look a bit different today, that's because they really are! Thanks to a tremendous development effort, more than a year in the making, we have replaced our antiquated technical infrastructure with leading edge technology that will not only improve how we deliver content to you at present, but also pave the way for future developments that will surprise and delight all of our worldwide audience.
Special thanks go out to Brady Owens, Scott Weiss and Josh Rhame, our stalwart technical team, who put in thousands of hours of work, including nights and weekends, to complete this project.
One of the first things you will note is that the commenting software has changed. We no longer use Disqus and have substituted what we believe is a better commenting module; one based on tried and true open-sourced software that will provide all of us with an easy-to-use and STABLE system for many years to come. Because of this software change, you will need to be logged in to your Swing Surgeon account in order to make a comment. If you don't have a free Swing Surgeon account, just click on the Login/Register button located in the website's header area and give us a minimal amount of information. Then every time you want to leave a comment on the blog, login to your account before doing so.
You will also notice some additional capabilities with this new commenting module. You will be able to give your post a title, edit your comments, and even publish an avatar if you so choose. If you want to edit your account settings, first login to the website and then click on the My Account tab where you will be able to make a whole host of changes to your account, including your user name and password.
Tom Jans
Director of Marketing
Changing User name
I do not see a way to change my user name being logged into my account. I must be missing something.
How to change your username
To change you username click "My Account" once you are logged in. On that page click "Edit" this will allow you to change many aspects of your account. Let us know if you have any problems. You can email us at here and we'll get to questions as soon as we can. We are expecting a heavy flood of questions.
USERNAME
Brady, sorry but you are wrong. There is no way to change our user names under MY ACCOUNT, you are also posting my username along with others as their full EMAIL ADDRESS, this should not be taking place. You need to insert a block or space to allow us to change our usernames under MY ACCOUNT.
Username
Edit: Ha ha! I'm just glad I am not talking to myself.
username to Steve
Yes, I've logged in and out several times and there is never a place or spot where it shows Username, just my email and that is what they are using as my username. If you scan through all the posts over the last couple days you'll see others with there email address being used for a username also. Believe me, if there were a way to change it from my end I would have discovered it by now with all the logging in and out and checking I've been doing. I have no idea why some would see a username under Edit and others would not, but that is evidently what is taking place. I wish we had a place to see just the most recent posts so we could know what the hell is being said or taking place without having to keep scrolling through old entire blogs searching for new posts or replies. Forgive me people, but for now this thing really sucks over the old system.
username
I wrote to support and they said my e-mail was my username, (wrong) but when I signed in this morning, under my account and edit, I now have a block to put user name ,so, I think they got it fixed.
Questions or Comment
Hey everyone. We ask that if you have questions or comments. You are better served by emailing us rather than commenting here on the board. We read all emails but we can't keep up with all the comments that happen here on a daily basis.
So if you have a questions, comment, or need help with the new site email use using the form at the bottom of the page here and we will answer you as soon as we can. We are expecting to get a lot of questions about the site so bare with us as we get to everyone's request.
Where did the search function disappear to?
Cannot figure out how to search the daily videos
How to search the dailies
As Don mentioned in his email tonight, the Search function is still a bit of work in progress. For the time being you need to be logged in to use the Search feature. When you are logged in, a Search box will appear in the header. Type your search term in the box and click the magnifying glass or hit Enter on your keyboard. When the system responds with suggestions, you will see a second search box above the listings to help you search further.
Tom Jans
Search bar
I am logged in and there is no search bar that I can see.
Hey,
Hey,
It's in the header. Top right of the page next to Don's photo underneath the "Logout" button. That is the search bar. You see a magnifying glass in it.
Search bar
Not on my computer.
The Search bar only appears if you are logged in
Steve,
I don't know if you were able to login yet but the Search function is only available to those who are registered and logged in. BTW, the website has a security feature that will lock a user out of the system for six hours after 5 unsuccessful login attempts. Sadly, in today's world this is a necessary protection against hackers trying to gain access to our customer records.
Once you are logged in, the Search box will appear in the right hand portion of the header and will look like this:
Hope this helps.
Tom Jans
Fixed
Problem fixed.
It's there now!
I see you figured out the
I see you figured out the avatar :)
I do not see the search bar
I do not see the search bar either. Can't figure out how to change the user name either. I got block also for to many login attempts just got back in had to change my password.
I am sure they will have a lot of bugs to work out.
Tom
I was still locked out this mourning from last night and would think that I am a registered poster and do not see the search bar either .
Interesting.... You guys are
Interesting.... You guys are correct. The search bar is not there for you guys. Just added that to my todo list. Probably a permissions issue.
I'm working to adjust the lockout settings. Accounts are automatically freed up after 6 hours. But I'm working on this right now and will have it changed shortly to allow more attempts and shorten the lockout period.
No issue now
Fixed.
To change you username. Click
To change you username. Click "My Account" in the menu bar. Once on your user page you should see an edit tab.
After clicking edit you will be presented with a form that has your username in it. Here you can change your username. You will have to supply your current password to confirm the change.
USERNAME
The information you presented is wrong. Sorry but there is no username listed under edit in MY Account. I have
CURRENT PASSWORD
EMAIL ADDRESS
PASSWORD STRENGTH
PASSWORD MATCH
PICTURE/AVATAR UPLOAD
LOCALE SETTINGS
That is what appears under edit in My Account. There is no username listed or shown, let alone any way to change it. Again, you are using my FULL EMAIL ADDRESS as my username, this should not be happening. I do not like the use of my email address being displayed as a username, please change this.
That is the way it shows up
That is the way it shows up on mine also. But it is using a old username for me not email address like others.
Nice site and question
Love the new look of the site! Keep up the good work! Even though the focus here is swing techniques (thanks!!) I'd like to hear some tips on course management as well. PS - it is a real good sign that my swing is working better than ever to start wondering how I can manage the course better.
Thanks and keep it down the middle!
Jon
Course management
Every shot has odds to figure. Possible combinations of ball flight, club choice, spin, roll out, aggressive, or safe. Then the match situation has to be calculated into the odds of pulling off any given shot, and what can be gained if successful and what can be lost if not.
There is a hole at Desoto that has a ditch at about 290 to 300 yards from the tee. If the ditch is carried you are left with a second shot of from 60 to 80 yards. If you lay up short of the ditch you are left with a second shot usually from 100 to 120 yards. The odds of carrying the ditch are slim even for long players but it's amazing how many young guys that are playing with testosterone instead of brains try to carry the ditch (a few times a year they may pull it off).
WAY too much risk for very little reward.
Even shots as short as chip shots pose the same risk vs. reward choices to be determined by the lie, the slope to land on and amount of green to work with, and what kinds of shots you are hitting well on any given day.
Purchased Videos
I had purchased videos and in the past was able to retieve them from my account/my videos. I cannot find that link on the new web site. Please advise where I can find the purchased videos in the new site.
Thank you
Please contact us through the
Please contact us through the Support page and we will help you.
Here is some information on the videos:
All of the purchased videos are now available under the "Videos" menu item in the main navigation bar. If you are on a computer you can hover your mouse over "Videos" and you will see a drop down. If you are on an iPad tap "Videos" once if you are in landscape mode of your iPad. If you are using your iPad in portrait use the "Jump" menu to go to the Videos page then click the video you want to look at.
Change of Password
I am having the mother of all problems trying to log in and change my password. What happens if my original password doesn't work? It is becoming a proverbial pain. When it didn't work to start with, I tried others I have used from time to time. Then I am blocked for trying too many of them!!! Previously I have not had any problems at all. Teething problems perhaps, or is being in New Zealand a problem. Dragonhead.
Items in my account
The site looks good, and the bugs will no doubt go away after awhile, my only complaint is that when I checked the content of my account, I seem to have lost the Manual in transistion. I bought my intial package several years ago, and it was included, however, now it is no longer in my account. I would like to get it put back into my account, so I can refer to it. Thank you
How to re-gain access to purchased materials
Michael,
Thanks for your positive comments on the site. As I am sure you can appreciate, anytime you move several hundred thousand customer records from one platform to another there are bound to be a few that don't go as planned. As I see it, there are two possible solutions here.
First, the way our customers access their content is different than the way they did it on the old site. Have you hovered your mouse over the "Videos" tab in the navigation bar above and clicked on the "Foundations Manual in the drop down box? If you haven't, please give that a try first. If your account is functioning as it should, clicking on any title you have purchased will give you access to it. If you have not purchased it, then you will see a full description of the material with an option to buy it.
If you still cannot access your content, please use the Support tab in the upper right portion of any page on the site so that we can create a support ticket for your situation. When you fill in the contact form, please give us as much information as possible about what is missing and we will work to get your privileges restored.
Best regards,
Tom Jans
If you need help on missing products
Please contact us via the Customer Support page. If you post a problem here you may never get an answer. Our customer service agents work via our support ticket system and they don't actively read the blogs. We will answer every request as soon as we can.
This is a completely new website from the ground up and took us about 11 months to complete. In that work we undertook a massive data migration (150,000+ user accounts, 1400 blog posts, and nearly 75,000 comments), by the sheer law of averages we knew it wouldn't be 100% perfect but we can fix any problems.
Shaft lean at address
Don,
Thank you so much for clearing that up for me. I just marshalled for the BMW Championship in Indy and had opportunities to stand right in front of those guys to observe their setups. It is truly a mixed bag there off of the tee, but they are mostly using the slight forward lean with their approach clubs. I think you are 100% on target with your teaching. Keep up the good work. You give us duffers some hope.
How to Make a Peak Performance Golf Swing
I purchased on of the spiral booklet on the Peak Performance Golf swing; and really find it very helpful. It is easy to read and understand; and if I struggle with a particular part of the swing I can do a quick review and look at the pictures; make some minor adjustments to my swing. The last couple of months I have struggle with a slice and could not figure out the problem; until I look at the book and went back to the left arm and shaft over the toe line with a limited turn. It is amazing how the slice disappeared and I am playing back in the fairway. If fact I shot 1 over for the round; otherwise it has been bogey + golf. Thanks for the book it stays with me anywhere I go.
Scott
Right Elbow on downswing
Hi Surge,
I have been using your PPGS for almost 2 years and have maintained a 9 handicap. I have had a problem with cutting across the ball, mostly with the driver. I studied your swing and DJ's and it appears that when you do the bump that the right elbow also comes in toward the ball. I have been doing that for a few weeks and am very pleased with the way I hit the ball. I am starting to hit draws which I could not do before. I would always hit a fade or sometimes a slice. The ball would go down the aim line then move right. What do you think about this observation???
I love your swing and it is the only reason I am still able to play golf at age 68. I took many lessons from Golf Tec and got really good at the rotational swing. However, my back hurt so much that I had to give up the game until I discovered your swing. Thank you so much!!!!
Roland Siegfried
Knoxville, TN
same subject
I may have known this at one time, but this post sure was timely. I have had issues lately on the grip and I recognize I was doing the cupped wrist with not good results. Thanks Surge.
P.S. I like the new look, but am having a hard time seeing posters name. Maybe as I get used to the Avatars I will just recognize everyone again. Possibility of bolding posters name?
Thanks to the backroom Staff
A big thankyou to the backroom Staff for helping a silly old duffer to be able to log in at last.
Like the look of the new site, and will comment further once familiar with it.That may be later today. Weather may keep us off the hallowed turf. Played 10holes yesterday after a few wedge shots on the practice hole, using the 'point the butt of the club at the left hip' then take the left hand grip tip. Ball striking good but direction off. Just another 'too much point' to start with. Both tired out after climbing the steep holes pushing the golf trolley on the soggy ground. All in all a good practice. Another case of over doing it. Keep hitting it long and straight.
Sorry to hear about the injuries to Boogm and others. Get well soon. Thanks again to the site crew, for their help. DH
Answers
After two back Surgeries in 07 &08, I played some in 09 but had to stop due to back pain. I purchased your program and for the next two yrs. worked on it a little at a time. Started playing again this year and thought I was doing pretty well. My handicap had gone from 11 to 17 and early going jumped to 21. I started playing in mid & low 80's when the wheels went off.A few weeks of discouragement and trying to get back was aided by your daily tips. Everything everyone else was having problems with I was doing . Finally Monday, I played 15 holes well, and although I collapsed on the last three holes with an 8 over for an 83, I was really encouraged. I enjoyed the tips and probably would have been forced to quit. Biggest problem came with driver, & I am sure I moved that left knee on my back swing. Thanks for your tips, as well as the swing which allows me to continue playing. P.S. I am 79 & can still hit the ball 240. Don
Shaft Lean and the grip
I have watched this several times and must be missing something. Or maybe my left hand is wierd. :)
When I put my hand on the grip so my left thumb stays in line with my forearm I cannot do it without some cup in my left wrist. If I switch to a palm grip I can get there but that contradicts the written manual that says the left hand holds with the fingers.
What am I missing guys?