Radical Swing Thoughts That Work

Thu, 09/19/2013 - 15:00 -- Don Trahan

Do you have an unconventional swing thought that helps you hit the ball more solidly and consistently? If you answered yes, you're not alone. A lot of golfers use unorthodox swing thoughts in order to get the club positioned correctly at impact. The idea is to give yourself the best chance of repeating successful shots, and a radical swing thought may just be what you need.

Jeff Springer wrote in to tell me about his own unique swing thought. The words he uses to describe it scare me a little bit, but if it's working for him than there's not much I can say that should change his mind about using it.

Hi Don,

Thank you for all your videos, including the dailies (I have bought almost, if not, all you have). I corrected slicing with my driver that used to force me to choke up by simply not turning too far on my backswing past my toe line. I realized that when I did go too far back it would tug on my left leg. Also, I can see out of the corner of my eye my left arm when it is in the correct spot.

When I have tried to generate more speed by bumping my hips to the left, I've found I have to go too far to the left to generate any power, leading to being out of position at the ball strike thereby producing mishits (e.g. topping the ball). Measuring my swing speed with the Medicus device, I found the fastest speed I could produce came when I twisted my right hip towards the target (after first correctly performing the vertical back swing) as forcibly as I could without moving my head and keeping my weight on the inside of my left foot. Any commencts you can give me on this will be much appreciated.

Regards,
Jeff

The thing I like about Jeff's comments is that he's using his senses. I always say that the more senses you're able to feel, the stronger your feedback is going to be. The only thing that I worry about is Jeff's use of the word "forcibly." However, the proof is in the results and if he's repeatedly hitting his target, there's not much I can say. As long as he's maintaining a vertical swing, I'd recommend that he keeps this radical swing thought intact.

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

rick.reynolds@verizon.net's picture

Submitted by rick.reynolds@v... on

Surge I think you misunderstood the 2nd paragraph of Jeff's post. I believe he wasn't talking about his backswing at that point but rather the downswing. He was saying that in order to deliver more power using the bump he was finding that he was going too far left (what I would call sliding left) and this was causing him to have mishits (topping the ball). He then went on and implied that instead of focusing on the bump left on the downswing he focuses on forcibly turning his right hip toward the target while keeping his head in place and his weight on the inside portion of his left foot.

ian.shaw@destination-magazines.com's picture

Submitted by ian.shaw@destin... on

Yes, I believe Rick has hit the nail on the head, but it is an interesting swing thought and one I may try on my next trip out (hopefully tomorrow). I have found my commitment to the turn and subsequent follow through is weak. And if I do not do a full follow through I am finished. Worth a try in any case.

Lynn42's picture

Submitted by Lynn42 on

Ian, I can relate to weak follow through. I've always had a tendency to hit at rather than through the ball. The man that taught me the game used to call me Arnie due to my sawed off follow through.

My practice swing is fine and then that pesky little white ball gets in the way. I think the problem starts with grip pressure. My tendency is more toward an 8 out of 10. With what feels like a 3 or 4 gets me more clubhead speed, but as Surge says too "noodly" at the top of the BUS and the ball may be long and straight or more often "long and wrong". Less grip pressure gets me through to a T finish, but often with iffy results. It's trial and error, but I'm just stubborn enough to keep trying til I find a consistent happy medium. BTW...suggestions welcome.

Kevin McGarrahan's picture

Submitted by Kevin McGarrahan on

Lynn,

I think you may be slightly confused about what Surge says. His 3 for grip pressure is 3 of 5, not 3 of 10. That equates to 6 of 10 which is closer to your 8 of 10. I believe Surge finds saying 3 of 5 simpler than 6 of 10; I know I do.

Kevin

Lynn42's picture

Submitted by Lynn42 on

Kevin, You are correct, Surge uses a 1-5 scale. My point is my struggle to find a happy medium. When I get it right the results are usually good, but consistency has been easier said than done.

peter saika's picture

Submitted by peter saika on

This has been a bit of a bugaboo for me also. Then I applied something that I learned in Aikido sword classes. In sword work most of the pressure of the grip is applied with the pinky and ring fingers. A very firm grip can be applied while the forearm stays quite relaxed this way. It is working for me. Just an idea.

Take care.
Peter

Robert Fleck's picture

Submitted by Robert Fleck on

Surge has mentioned this in instruction before, but it doesn't get enough reminders, I think. We want to grip with the last two (or three) fingers of each hand as this activates the outer lifting muscles of the forearms, not the inner throwing muscles. Thumbs and forefingers should all be relaxed, while the pinky and ring fingers take most of the grip pressure. Middle fingers should be, well, middling. ;-)

peter saika's picture

Submitted by peter saika on

It does make a difference on being able to stay relaxed with strength. I'm heading out first a.m. with my musclebacks and a few hollowbacks to do a comparison. I also have a very unique "guest". My next door neighbour bought a 1 iron years ago at a club auction. It was a charity of some sort, and Moe Norman donated his club up. So, I am taking Moe with me tomorrow. One added thing. It came to me tonight as I was swinging in he back yard. When I hit well, deep on the ball, pun intended. I feel that I am down and under the ball hitting it on its Antarctic Circle rather than the equator.

Robert Fleck's picture

Submitted by Robert Fleck on

Just to clarify, I'm not Doc. ;-) Doc is J Lynn "Doc" Griffin, Swing Surgeon Director of Club Fitting Operations.

I'm just some guy who frequents the blog and acts like he knows stuff. ;-)

ribenjamin@cox.net's picture

Submitted by ribenjamin@cox.net on

my contribution to weird swing thoughts. When I am concentrating on popping up fast and finishing high and I do it successfully I can feel a twinge in my right groin as I finish the shot.

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

gsquires,

If you look above at the headings you'll see "certified professionals". You'll see listings for both swing teachers and club fitters.
It looks like Dave Seeman may be the closest.

NeilofOZ's picture

Submitted by NeilofOZ on

I think this aspect is well underrated, if you to ask 100 good golfers a question about what sets up their swing or even what makes a good swing, i know you'll get a hundred different answers. I was once told by a good golfer that 90% of power comes from the shoulders, think what he was trying to say was his key thought during a swing was the shoulders, although he was adamant about the power. This is why I would love to have a 1on1 with the Surge as he understands this phenomenom, because my senses are all screwed up, LOL.

resumez@cox.net's picture

Submitted by resumez@cox.net on

my swing thought is in 3 parts -- 1)remember to PLHR (I played for years starting from a neutral weight setup) 2) rotate and LIFT ( for a 71 year old, I am very flexible and tend to continue rotating a bit as I lift) - these two are actually immediately before the swing) - 3) "see the club hit the ball" - this to keep my head anchored to combat a tendency to "pop my tart" too soon - followed by the reminder from Coach - "Feel-ing Groo-vyyy"

as for my week in golf, I played 3 times - Tuesday scored 88 - hit a lot of good shots. but a few very bad ones also, putting was good, but "they just weren't falling" Wednesday, shot 83 - better ball striking, and several putts found the bottom of the hole. Then today Friday -- shot an 81 - still hitting weak, but straight drives, followed by monster 3W near the green, chipping very good (holed one from 28 feet!), putting was also very good again. The most unusual thing though, I had 6 GIR, rather than my usual 1 or 2. Parred all 4 of the par 5's, 2 of the par 3's and 4 of par 4's.
Got there a little strangely --my "typical" 43 on the front nine. followed by a 2 over 38 on the back nine. The back nine is certainly "less difficult" than the front nine, but it is NOT that much easier!!

Keep hitting them STRAIGHT and LONG

Amos

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

I've never yet played my best golf with ANY "swing thoughts" in my head.

One swing thought and I might play fairly well.

Two swing thoughts and a blow up is coming (just a matter of time).

More than two and I might as well pack up the clubs and head home.

No thoughts of anything except where the ball is, where I want it to end up, and what flight it needs to get there, and I'm probably going to have a REALLY good day.

"Practice your swing off of the field. Trust your swing on the field."
(Ron Polk)

Having to break that rule means you didn't practice enough.

Lynn42's picture

Submitted by Lynn42 on

I agree with you, Steve. When I play my best it is with ZERO swing thoughts. I play with a guy who talks incessantly about all of the tips he gets from every online guru you can imagine. He's a good player, but every time he misses a shot all I hear is...according to so and so I should have done this or I shouldn't have done that.

I told him yesterday he needed to delete all of his guru emails and just play. He agreed that it was the best advice he's gotten.....lol.

NeilofOZ's picture

Submitted by NeilofOZ on

Steve, I envy guys like you as I can practise all I like, but if I don't have a swing plan when starting a game, I know the ball is going everywhere it shouldn't, even sometimes when I'm playing by myself and in a groove and take it to the game the following day, it can still be all over the place. Looking back on my game it's never changed, probably due to never playing any sport when young and also the fact that my body is very wiry and loose. I can remember when I could push my thumb backwards onto my forearm and even have someone forcing my elbows to touch behind my back, with hands on hips, not very good attributes for golf, LOL.

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

Ha ha! Don't ever include me in a group to be envious of (in golf).

I'm not a good ball striker and never have been and very likely never will be.

I have to figure out what's working at the time and go with it...And figure out how to get the ball in the hole in par or less.

Most of the time they are very ugly pars.

NeilofOZ's picture

Submitted by NeilofOZ on

Steve, a par is a par is a par, they don't show pictures on the score card, just numbers and Iv'e seen your numbers, LOL.

Steve Smith's picture

Submitted by Steve Smith on

I'm not going to lie. I am glad that I make as many pars as I do after playing a hole like crap...But would rather have a nice little stress free putt at birdie more often.

The golf pros that I play with just shake their head and say "That was ONE UGLY par" about 10 times a round.

I think I must be a distant relative of Walter Hagen since he said "Three lousy shots and one great shot can still make par."
(Thank goodness). LOL

peter saika's picture

Submitted by peter saika on

I went out with Moe today, his 1 iron anyway. I had one of those moments where it all came together and OH what a shot(s). Nothing radical, just all of the setup instructions and swing instructions and it just started to happen. Straight and true with all of my clubs when I did it as per the guide lines.The big thing was keeping the other noises from the years at bay and just doing PPGS. If you can stay focused for that 1 and a half seconds it will happen. It seems just as important what NOT to think about. Don't analyse the bad shot just do the next one right. Thanks Don. It is starting to come together and it didn't take a whole season or two to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I did figure out that I wasn't turning my waist on the takeaway and was just moving my shoulders, much more complicated that turning a bit. It took care of my constant hook.