Hitting Your Driver

STEVE:

Ain't it the truth -- Every time I play 2 or 3 "good" rounds, they are always followed by 4 or 5 "not so good" eounds' -- Sometimes it is almost like "3 steps backwards equals 1 step forward"

The problems are usually different -- onr time the driving and puttinf is good, but second shots are bad - specially the FW. Next time out, the driving is bad, the putting is off -- but ht FW suddenly go fantastic. "It's always something" -- Rosanne Rosanadanna of SNL

Keep hitting them STRAIGHT and LONG

Amos

Assuming you know how high to tee the ball up in the first place.
My drives have got a lot better but struggle to get a medium to low trajectory, mine just seem high, full stop lol, so this post is very relevant for me.

Robert, he's getting somewhat vertical, but his hands are over his heels instead of his toeline. The verticality comes from really letting his elbow fly, such that his right elbow is actually higher than his left (they should be even with each other). Then, before he starts down with the hip bump, he lets the club lay off which gets him further into the SBG, probably because he can't maintain that high right elbow. He's not over-turning, as his shoulders do not go beyond 70 degrees. It's all rather baffling.

I think what he has to do is to practice just swinging his left arm back without a club and to concentrate on not letting his arm follow his shoulders around, but to simply go straight back and up over his toeline.

Dick: You're at it again! Excellent and very funny! Your mind starts working very, very well at this time of nite. Have fun and keep smiling. R2

Steve

I am so far behind the 8 ball that the only way I could get ahead was if I had a jet pack.

Dick

Sounds like he's probably over-turning. Make sure he has his feet properly flared and his knees with outward pressure. Also check that he isn't over-rotating his left arm on the way back. The Palms Perpendicular drill really helped me with all of this, as well as being sure that my right foot was sufficiently flared and receiving my weight, in the back swing.

It'll be interesting to see if all involved really stop talking about this finally. I find myself skipping over lots of posts by my favorite people. Sad really.

John, If you do not have real player, it's a free download, at Realplayer.com. If you then right click on the video it will open an option box where one of the selections will be download this video to real player. If you use your default settings in you control panel to select Real Player as your default player, it's even easier. A little box will open at the upper right corner of every video you play asking you if you want to download it to Real Player, one click and it's in the player system library. From there you can download it to any mobile/portable device. Good luck

Jim,
It sounds like basically he is not getting vertical, correct? If so I always go back to the live lessons Surge did with"Chris". They are found by looking up "flying right elbow". There in Surge says that allowing the back elbow to come away form the side and come up fairly high)actually short of 'flying', is the KEY to vertical backswings.It is more natural for the left arm to cooperate at the top if the right arm stands the club straight up and does'nt fold under and back. This will keep the left from "angling back" into theSBG. Also make sure he sets uo in the master set up position- again the right or back arm makes the difference. Review these videos to find your answer.

note: Jim be sure and watch both videos on "right elbow" with student Chris.
Then the revised"set up" video concerning the 'master set up' position.

This is exactly what Surge was saying. I proved it to myself today at the range. Setting up with a lot more weight pre-loaded right and more of a spine angle tilt definitely made my drives go higher.

Depending on your particular operating system, there are a number of free or inexpensive programs available for downloading YouTube (and other Internet) video to your hard drive. From there you can transfer it to other machines, and depending on the software even transfer it to mobile devices like your phone or tablet.

Marcus

I just saw your post. I don't know how I missed it before.

Sounds like it is coming together pretty well for you.

Welcome to the Surge Nation.
Dick

Dragonhead: Good to hear from you. Surge did a similiar video to this one last year (you couldn't see that one either), but it sounds like you've got all the information. Just in case you have any questions, Don was basically just changing his spine angle to change ball loft. The more erect he stood, and the more he "equaled out his weight", the lower he hit the ball. As he tilted his spine more toward his back foot, and loaded that foot more, the higher he hit the ball. He actually teed the ball a little higher to hit a low shot, and instead of completing the FUS, he finished the low shot with the club almost pointed at the target (no high hands and very little "relax and recoil". Last year, he baffled the camera crew druing a blog filming by lining up about 20 balls, various tee heights, and then said exactly where they would go when he hit them, regardless of tee height (high flight off low tee, low flight off high tee, etc). He called every shot, and no one could figure out how he did it. When he finished, he showed them his "trick". It was just a simple change/adjustment to his spine angle! Anyway, hope this paints a little clearer picture for you. Take care, R2

Robert

At least you have it going right up until then. I can't even have a great game in my dreams, with out a 100' tall dad coming up out of the water and grabbing my ball.

Dick

My first thought was also to wonder if he is over turning. I also recall the clearing the chest lesson and thought it might be of help. Other than what Robert has suggested, that's the only thing that comes to mind presently.
Here's a link to the lesson.
http://www.swingsurgeon.com/Ho...

Talking about what? LOL

If Surge played his low shot further off the toe for his normal shots that would be perfect -- put do the full follow through. That would cause more target oriented movement without moving forward. On his normal shot Surge has left too much weight on his right foot. This causes other people to stop hip rotation and stand up as well as chicken wing - we saw that in his student videos from winter.

What happens with his raising the ball( is that he is hitting up on the ball with less spin. By raising the ball he is lowering the amount of spin. That is exactly what you want hitting into the wind. So Surge is getting the right result for shots into the wind but less spin is the goal for all shots. Playing the ball forward raises the attack angle. That is why long drivers have 4 degree club faces. They are hitting up on the ball to get the right trajectory.

Excess spin (a spin rate above 2,400 RPM) raises the ball's flight trajectory and causes it to balloon - you especially don't want that hitting into the wind -- low spin shots bore through the air. The "moving around and swinging your arms" creates a visual reference to the words.

Robert F - Cool. Thanks for the info. I still have several videos to catch up on, so I will check that one out. Thanks again.

Hey Lynn,

Dropping the back foot out may be helping you if you have a problem with an over-the-top or out-to-in swing in the FUS, as it's moving your toe line (and consequently your actual swing path) a bit more from the inside to out. It's something I do when I'm trying to draw the ball.

As a temporary fix in a round, it may help, but long term you'll be better off getting the secondary spine tilt and bump working properly to clear the slot for the club. You won't develop weird alignment and aiming problems that can only get more pronounced as you try increase the changes to try to get the better result back.

Kim, after 10 minutes of endless scrooling on the blog from two days ago I finally got to the post you responded to me eariler today about my therapy. I saw your resonse on Dique first then went to tha blog to respond only to find that there was no way to respond because the only option was "like" Not "reply".Crazy, so that's why I'm responding to you here. ANYHOW!..................
"Did they set me up with some resting splints?" you asked. No, however I have one from before and used it last night a and I think it helps so I am off to a pharmacy in a bit to get one more.#2 My hand writings fine thanks but I'll keep you in mind:) #3 I already know your hubby's identity already but will not say unless you or he make that known. Lips are sealed, lol. #3 I was surprised but understood how you went off on "that guy" Wow, don't cross a woman feeling scorned. Don't blame you however (I'll speak to you as a younger sister) We all need to just ignor him. I have been but others have felt the irepressable urge to speak up even though they said they were done. If it makes folks feel better fine but now let's move on as we promised we would. The only way that will happen is if the comments directed to him and around him as jokes or serious retorts stop totally. The disscussion with or about him has not stopped. Sad, especially if he is mentally disturbed. If he is then our words are truely wasted on unreseptive ears and we are wasting uplifting blog space and our precious time.Opps, I have gone and talked about it too. Take these thoughts as well meaning, okay?

N/A

 Please let me know what happened to the short game videos and the videos of don and dj's golf swing.  I can't find these on the "new web site ".   Thanks for checking on this

  Richard Alpert

Bud, Thanks for the advice. Your admonitions are correct. What you do not understand is that there is a kind of on going family/domestic squabble taking place on this blog. You know what they say about domestic fights, stay out and don't get involved. I allowed the wicked stepchild to get to me yesterday by accusing me of lying in this blog. After that, he directly insulted the instructions given by Surge in his daily video. Both of those, I felt ,needed a sharp reply and correction, which i attempted to do. My rant as you called it, was meant as a stern response to him only. Your admonitions are correct, and i hope to be able to resist the urge to any further taunts from him. Cheers

Robert Meade:

Most of my "one putts" are the result of good chipping or wedge shots. If you have 10 or 12 "first putts" in the 3 to 4 foot range - or closer -- you will naturally make a lot of them.

The down side -- all too many of them are to "save bogey"

At least half of my practice time is spent on the putting green, with anoterh one third at the chipping green and the practice sand bunker.

A good short game is a great "equalizer"

Keep hitting them STRAIGHT and LONG

Amos

Kim, step away from the exclamation point key. Now breathe. Okay.

:)

N/A

T

One of my favorite quotes, not sure where it came from, is "Of all the things I have lost, I miss my mind the most."

Remind me again, what were we talking about.
Dick

Hey Don. Great Lesson. It was nice to hear you talk about the preload right. I'd like to understand how the show works as much as you BUT I must say that I am having a lot more success hitting the ball to where I am aiming it. I spend a lot of time before each and every shot on ball position, stance, alignment, grip and have been reaping the rewards of having the ball go where it should... .... straight where I am aiming. I'm starting to feel like I should be playing par golf all the time and there is no reason why I shouldn't be. I'm a 12 handicap which means I still have some bad shots, which you have to forget about instantly, but I had 2 birdies today and looks at a couple more. I have played all winter around Vancouver, Canada playing under wet and cold conditions. I can't wait for dryer conditions when the ball doesn't plug, carries farther in warm weather and the greens can be mowed.
IF you ever want to come up to this part of the country I would be thrilled to organize an event. Thanks for all you help so far. Sincerely,

Greg C/Event organizer for www.bcgolfpages.com

Bud

Dan was kidding. That is an on going joke with the regular posters on this blog about the people who complain all the time about Surge doing his daily videos from the back porch. We all love the back porch. You would have to be on this blog every day to understand how funny Dan's post really was. One little clue you should have noticed was the "LOL" in the lower left corner of Dan's post.

As to the 2nd guy you mentioned, if you come on here very often, you will learn to not even bother to read his trash. It is always the same stuff, just arranged in a different order. It saves him time to just cut and paste his saved novels and then send them out on the blog a couple of times a day. Do yourself a favor and learn quickly not to waste your time.

As to T, he is spot on about the fool you mentioned. He like all the regulars have suffered for a very long time with the ranting of a mad man. We have just been ignoring him for the most part. Apparently He managed to find T's button today. None of us take it very well when anyone attacks Surge, Doc, any of the other instructors, or the Surge Nation.

Until you have been reading and posting on here for a while and get to know the people and the history with some folks, I would suggest you take your own counsel and take that deep breath, sit back, and just watch what goes on.

It won't take you very long to figure out which of the regulars you want to chat with, take advise from, or would want to play a round with.

Dick

A smart country boy like you should have figured it out by now, Steve. If you keep sliding down the ladder, just turn it over.

Here are the Don and DJ videos. For short game, just enter short game, or chipping, pitching, etc into the search block at right.
Don
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
DJ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Great video today, Don. I love when you show how to apply the knowledge that the setup determines the motion to deciding what kind of shot you want to hit and then working it back to the changes you need to make in the setup to do that.

Dan

If only you guys knew how much of a computer star I am not. I am getting better, just got a real late start. I told my computer tech savvy friend who helps me out on mine all the time that I had helped a couple of folks on the blog. He got a great laugh from it. He said it was the blind leading the visually impaired.

Glad it worked out for you.

Dick

R2 Much appreciate the word picture you have taken the time to further expand the information gleaned off the other blogs. The Surge Nation in action. Off to watch the last round of the Golf in an hour and a half. An interesting one in prospect. Too lazy to get up for it at 0300am our time ; - )
For the Masters I have two choices so far [probably 4 in total] Star Sports Taiwan and ESPN HongKong. Taiwan early 0330am start, HK 1pm-5-30pm hmmmm! Decisions, decisions hahaha.
Dick, Steve and others [maybe you too] will know the meaning of "Reverse Cycle".For the Masters, for me a distinct possibility.
Working the ball will be a priority when I settle with the SSGS Swing when I arrive in NZ.
Think Blessed, Be Blessed[Dick Lee 2011] and with our fellow SurgeWarriors we are.
Have a great week and keep it High/Low at will Dragonhead,Dalian,China.
Thanks again

Jim

I did the same thing. The new video was posted just as I was getting ready to go to the range. The timing was great. I need to work the launch angle down on my drives. I just did a little less tilt and it did the trick. I had a 20-25 wind right in my face. I hit some the way I have been doing, and with the wind, they soared. Then I hit some with less tilt and they stayed lower and just cut right through the wind.

I love how the Surge always knows what we need to have reinforced to make this swing work better for us. You would almost think he has been doing this for a while and knows what he is talking about, in spite of what some think.

Glad it worked out well for you,
Dick

Thanks, that makes me feel like less of a loser! Haha. Sometimes when I'm struggling during a round, while everyone else is hitting, I face the sun and breathe in deeply and remind myself to enjoy the day, and that a bad day playing golf is better than a good day at the mall. Or something like that. Whatever it is.

Thanks Surge.

Need clarity from fellow Surgites. What is correct hand position at address with driver? I was under the impression that shaft should lean somewhat forward center with all clubs.

Thanks. Phillip

If you mean the videos you purchased, they should be in your My Videos section under the Account tab at the top if you are properly registered on the site and logged in. If they're not there, contact Customer Support with a copy of your original purchase receipt email and they should get that taken care of for you.

Also, in addition to the links T gave below, the videos of Don and DJ swinging through their respective bags are available in the Inner Circle section under Account.

Hey Jim,

If his right elbow is getting higher than his left, but the club is still tilting backwards, his wrists have to be breaking down a bit and not staying firm and perpendicular to the ground. Also try actually putting something in his left breast pocket (a deck of cards, his wallet, whatever). That should give him better feedback about his left arm getting too tight to his body. For his hands to get all the way back to his heels, in the backswing, he has to be crushing the left side of his chest. If the setup is good, that's the next place I'd look.

Surge

Thanks for another great daily video

I guess all you guys that want to see some action, and Surge hitting a ball must be happy today. I know you will find something else to whine about. We look forward to reading what you have to say. Stop touching yourselves.

Dick

Dragonhead

I will be so happy for you when you get back home to a place where the government is not afraid to let the people watch a video.

I did not think you would mind if I modified your normal wording just a bit. Still gave the proper credit for you. I did not want anyone to think I was plagiarizing you.

You are so right when you say we are blessed to be part of the Surge Nation.
Dick

Good video. Wish I had watched it before my round today :) Quick question. Before moving from ppgs to swingsurgeon.com, there was a push to get instructors certified to teach Don's swing. Did that continue? Is there a listing of certified instructors?