The Peak Performance Golf Swing setup is highlighted by wide knees with outward pressure. But, how wide should your knees be? This was Skip Fraker's question, who has slowly been introducing my swing theories into his game.
I am 67 and slowly introducing your swing theories into my game, working on my irons first and am seeing improvement in ball trajectory and accuracy. Driver next year, have always hit it consistantly well with distance & don't want to loose a summer of decent golf.The question as indicated above is how much thought do I need to concentrate on this considering my knees are already slightly outside of my ankles. I have always had a slightly wider stance than normal (especially on my irons, typically just inside my driver stance and is almost identical on all my irons).
In Skip's question, he states that his knees are already slightly outside of his ankles. That right there tells me that he might already be set up too wide. The right amount of width could be compared to a baseball shortstop in a defensive stance or a tennis player awaiting a serve. My back leg is always directly under my shoulder while my front leg moves only slightly wider when moving up to the driver.
The knees are the levelers and stabilizers. Keeping the knees stable allows for a correct limited turn and a vertical swing. When the front knee starts moving in too much, it leads to a bigger turn. Also, the correct amount of outward pressure is just enough to stretch the insides of your muscles, and to keep the knees put. You only want enough outward pressure as to keep the weight centered on both feet. If your weight is getting to the outside, that means you're bowing and buckling too much. This will cause you to get back on your heels and have too much knee bend as well.
The bottom line here is that if your knees are outside of your ankles, then that's too wide! Try narrowing your stance up a bit and keep those knees stable with outward pressure. Also, don't be afraid to hit the driver using the same swing as the irons. Remember, the ball doesn't know what club you've got in your hands, Skip!
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Knees too wide
Thanks Surge, I have been looking at this problem area of late. My problem I thought was too narrow a stance!!! Contrary old so and so. Have been trying to sort out the width of the knees. Your knees look much further apart than mine have been. Must have my 'golden retriever' [new name for my ball hound wife, well earned ; - ], assist me in this area. Back to basics as the man says.
Ball striking and accuracy coming along in leaps and bounds. Weather here meant to be GOOD all week. So from tomorrow it will be big smiles all around. Out onto the hallowed turf to continue the quest for as good as I can be. PPGS is the real deal. A thankful Surgite, hit it long and straight consistently where ever you may be. DH ready to rock!
Results of the check on the width of my knees
Just had a good session on my golf mat on the back porch/patio/deck.
It looks as though my stance was a little too narrow with the longer clubs. It was good I did check. At the same time I checked my 'ball positions'. An interesting result there too. Those lying eyes of mine, in hindsight, I may have been playing the ball too far forward in my stance. It is easy with aiming arrows or other guide sticks etc, but on the course not so easy. I spent a good deal of time working out with the shorter and longer clubs and was pleasantly surprised with some of the minor changes I made. The changes allowed me to 'burn the turf' on the golf mat leaving marks on the bottom of the clubs. I used two irons from two different sets of clubs of the same brand name, supposedly my fit! On pair had uniform marks across the whole area on the underside of the both clubs. On the other pair, the marks were more towards the toe!
The marks on the Driver and 5W were spot on and both were whipping through at speed and up to the the T Finish and recoil! So now tomorrow will be the proof of the pudding or not.
I used an aid cobbled together to judge the alignment of the feet and their width. It worked a treat and will accompany me on the course until I am certain it does what I believe it does for me. So nice positive thoughts for the morrow. Good luck from me to all other PPGS guys and gals, lunch on the table and I am starving hahaha DH in overcast but DRY Wellington NZ.
Wide Knees
Sounds like you may be onto something, DH. Keep us posted on your results tomorrow. Unfortunately, I'm nervously awaiting the arrival of hurricane Sandy. Needless to say, no golf here unless I can retrofit my golf shoes with pontoons. Hit em straight and long.
Wide Knees: Reply to Lynn 42
Lynn,
Will certainly let you know how it goes tomorrow, good, bad or indifferent.
My thoughts are with the folk on the eastern seabord and inland a bit. Stay safe and healthy. Our weather of late pales by comparison Lynn.
Good Luck with the hurricane and the inflatable pontoons ; - ] God Bless and keep you all safe to hit it long and straight when Sandy has vented her spleen. DH on an early sunny evening[surprise, surprise] in Kiwiland.
Stay safe, Lynn, and everyone
Stay safe, Lynn, and everyone else on the Eastern Seaboard. That's more than just casual water hitting you.
swinging with back problems
3 years ago I had surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis which still causes some pain in spite of analgesics . I love golf and walk the course but over the time my handicap has gone from 22 to 35 . I have been working on your swing and only hit an occasional good shot . My old swing still rears it's ugly head .
Otherwise , I am fit for 77 years and my build is short and stocky . I would be grateful for any hints .
Thanks ,
David .
Sydney , Australia .
Hints
The 14 Drills videos in the basic training set are extremely helpful, even more so if you do them in front of a full length mirror so that you can be sure you're doing them properly. Also, practicing the swing in slow motion, speeding up to more normal speed, in front of a full length mirror is VERY good for combining the feel with the proper movement.
Wide knees and the bump
Hi Surge
I was struggling with the bump until your previous video,and the current one on wide knees made me look at my stance.Sure enough to wide.However I practiced with the my right leg in a slightly forward position to take account of the narrow stance. ie Pre-loaded in a bump.
Low and behold all 18 drives and fairway woods drilled down the middle.
Have I found something that only suits my swing.I do like the PPGS great for guys in the over seventy's club
Therefore it appears I am in a position of readiness to pop- up quickly to the T Finnish.
It works for me,Should I change?
Regards
Art from England
Jbe' Kruger
Have you ever seen a more vertical swing! And he can play! Surge, is he a student or a proponent of yours? Jbe' Kruger, anyone out there know his background? Thanks
Kruger
Well he is a South African golfer that has won twice on the Sunshine Tour and once on the European Tour giving him a 2 year exemption on that tour.
His swing has very little resemblance to a Surge Swing. More than 90 degree turn. As far as he can reach into the SBG. Even the hands are close to the butt line and the entire club is behind the butt line on the back swing. Not quite that deep on the forward swing because he raises the club up at the end of the back swing during the transition.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRJi2e3-waA
Jbe'
Thanks, not sure I have ever seen a pro golfer with backswing so vertical. Small guy, hit it big
Vertical
Really? There are lots of them out there much more vertical than Kruger's.
Here is one that never hits the butt line at all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjRrD7i8tXI
And here is a completely vertical back swing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7jePVzL47E
And another.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1VMegdj29o
Jbe'
Thanks, swing looks vertical but perhaps I'm confused by fact that he appears to have zero wrist break. Regardless, very ususual swing but sure works. Bubba is for sure vertical but huge wrist cock. Gene
Wrist vs. Vertical
Whether a swing is vertical or not really has nothing to do with wrist hinge.
As Mike described they are different subjects. Steve Stricker and JB Holmes use very, very little wrist hinge but their swings are less vertical than Bubba Watson with a lot of wrist hinge.
In other words you can have a flat swing with no wrist hinge or a vertical swing with wrist hinge.
To do the Surge Swing correctly both would be used. No conscious wrist action AND a vertical swing WITH a limited turn. DJ is really the only one on the PGA Tour whose swing follows all three, and of course even his swing has some individual characteristics apart from Surge (mostly because he is much younger and more flexible).
Kruger
His swing is almost as laid off as Matt Kuchar's. Kruger does not have a upright back swing .
Here is a vertical golf swing of the greatest player ever until his major record is tied or broken.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=jBhlkNKjO6s
Jbe'
Thanks, guess I'm confused by what seems to be zero wrist break by Jbe' and club appears to be sticking straight up in the air. Strange look but really works, Jack video is awesome! Gene
jbe
Gene
When say looking at Don or Dj's swing from down the line behind them the club would be vertical not necessarily looking at them from face on if that makes sense. The no wrist cock thing IMO is we do not cock the wrist but that is not saying they do not cock a little from the momentum of the swinging of the club. If I am wrong about this I am sure someone will correct me on this part Steve, Robert F. and Robert M. are the resident expert's on the swing more so than I am. Hope this helps.
When I took up the game I modeled my swing after Jacks so I probably have aspects of both Don's and Jacks swings in mine now right are wrong it works for me and have no back pain.
Mike