The Peak Performance Golf Swing advocates a limited turn, vertical swing. That means there still has to be some turn. The same concept applies to the movement of the left knee (or right knee for lefties). It shouldn't move inward very much, but it still has to move slightly. But, how much?
That's the question Jim Karran sent in after he thought he noticed that I was moving my front knee in too much during my backswing. I'm one to never say never, but in this case I have to disagree with Jim because the movement and setup of the knees is one of the staples of the PPGS. So, today I'm going to briefly discuss how the knees should move and exactly how much.
Surge,
I have been watching your videos for some time. I am 70 years young with back problems, but the PPGS has helped to no end. After watching today's video, it looked as if your knees were moving too much. I always like your saying "the knees are the bees and they will sting you." Can elaborate on this subject?
Jim Karran
Winnipeg, Canada
I can honestly say I don't ever move my knees too much. Heck, it's part of my DNA! Nevertheless, the left knee has to move a little bit, but only about one to two inches.
The reason the majority of golfers kick their front knee in is because that's what they've been taught by rotational swing instructors. Their reasoning for kicking in the front knee is to help you get more turn. However, if you are a vertical swinger, you don't want to have more turn so there's no reason for you to kick the knee in. Remember, Special K is for breakfast, not golf!
I think the key term here is that we "resist" the left knee from moving. I didn't say you cannot move it or that it has to stay absolutely stable. Think of it as resisting the knee from moving, which will help you suppress the movement to a manageable one to two inches. Anything more than two inches and you'll start moving your knees too much. Remember, the knees are the bees…move them too much and you'll get stung.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
Putting aid
First, Enjoyed Surges reminder about the knees, especially the front (left for most) knee. It is indeed a key component of keeping us stable in the back swing and helps restrict our back swing and to not sway.
I came across a cheap but likely effective putting aid we can make at home.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcRio3FvQJU
Putting aid
RM: This is a great idea! I've been tracking my putts per round this year and found that on most days, I was 2 or 3-putting too many holes. The rest of my game has really improved but my putting has just not been what I expected. I made up a couple of those "alignment-tees" today and, presto, I could see instantly what was wrong with my putting stroke. Thanks for sharing the cool tip. Now if the snow here in Utah would just quit! Thank goodness for an indoor putting matt. Take care and enjoy the good Las Vegas weather! R2
putting aid
R2,
I'm up at Brian Head in southern Utah (your beautiful state) here with my son and brother and one of his sons. Father son ski trip. So no golf this week:)
So wow, I must admit you are ahead if me with that cool low cost putting aid.
Glad it already helped you!
I will get set up for that one next week. And you have already tried and endorsed it.
Hope you are having a nice Holiday season.
BTW, which putting mat do you have? I have not settled on one yet but is on my Christmas requests to Santa.
Putting Mat
Robert,
Have you looked at www.birdieball.com? Click on putting mats under products. They currently have a 50% off sale going on up until Christmas. I was torn between the 2' x 13.5' but settled on the 3' x 18'. Can't give a review as I just ordered it and waiting on delivery.
BTW, are you still using your L2 putter? I am currently having a love/hate relationship with mine. I play just for fun and don't care about all my scores. I have had a low of 33 putts and as high as 43 putts since I started using my L2 about 3-4 months ago. Still got my old Doc 14* driver in your bag?
Ed
L2 and Doc 14
Ed, though I was hitting that driver well I wasn't getting the distance and the trajectory was a shade high. Do like it though and will no doubt use it again in the future, especially as my swing speed slows down. Still find my current 10.5 degree working great. If you look at Surge and my discussion a few weeks back on the bump and slot, Well it's that driver that is helping me drop in and then produce a medium high trajectory and a nice soft draw that lands and rolls out well (most of the time:)
As for the L2 putter I still love it and am sticking with it. The only tweak I am going to make is to switch to the Flatso 1.7 grip.
I will add 100 grams to the grip end to maintain the same feel. Changing grips is something I've wanted to experiment with.
Regardless though, I still like the heavy weight and pendulum stroke.
I'll look at that putting green.
Thanks for passing on the info Ed.
Happy Holidays
New Subject : Looking for a feel to complete the T-Finish
This is an excellent example, for me, of what a wonderful resource the Surge web site archives are.
One of the things that I've been trying to improve lately is the quality of my T-Finish. My tendency has been to not finish totally square to the target at the finish with my chest and shoulders aimed a little right of the target. Surge's daily video of 06/11/2013 about " coming over the top", was the answer to my problems. Near the end of the video he describes the action and feel of the upper right arm brushing the chest before impact. He says that a pack of cigarettes in the right chest pocket would not be crushed.
Thinking about getting that brushing feel, after dropping it into the slot, is all that it took to get me turning, more aggressively, to a now perfectly square and full T-Finish. This simple thought is a great timing and swing path aid.
https://swingsurgeon.com/daily-video-tips/outside-swing-path-causes-cures-and-drills
By the way, I always make it a point to read Robert Meade's excellent summations of the daily videos because he is very good at highlighting any new points made by Surge. I missed the boat though, when he made the following comment.
"Submitted by Robert Meade on Wed, 06/12/2013 - 16:46
A-T & T
#1 Alignment
#2 How much we're TURNING
and
#3 Timing (bump lower body first)
Alignment, Turn and Timing
To my memory, that was the first time Surge detailed how he moves the right arm as it lightly brushes the side on the move to the ball from the top. Yes he has talked extensively many time on the roll of the right arm and hand but not just like he did today. I really appreciated the clarity."
It may be 6 months late, but thanks once again to Robert and the archive keepers.
Good stuff
Dave, we help each other brother. If we see something that clicks for us and feel it may help someone else we pass it along. It is not always from Surge but often (if not always) ends up fitting in with the PPGS. Surge warns us to be cautious with outside teachers and I think as educated far above average golfer (golf wise) we often just know if it does or does not fit with the 5 rules.
You are 100% right about the archives. The wealth of available answers we have now is awesome and I am never surprised when I get caught up in hours of research and sometimes something he covered months or years ago suddenly clicks and is just what I need.As they say, "when the student is ready the teacher appears". AND FREE. That's why I never hesitate to PAY and buy any new golf program he produces.
Glad to know you are one of the many Surges who utilizes the archives:)!