Most of the golfers who migrate to the PPGS know about the T-finish position. But, do you know why I call it that? It's about more than just the position of your arms!
If you stand up correctly after striking the golf ball, your spine should be vertical to the ground and your shoulders will be parallel to the ground, which creates the "T". It's also very important to remember that your eyes should be horizontal to the ground as well.
The Peak Performance Golf Swing is all about physics and physiology, married together. Everything I tell you that relates to the mechanics of the swing with relation to science is a fact! Our bodies weren't designed to swing with a big turn and a wide finish, so why bother?
Check out the video above to see just how important the T-finish is to becoming a better ball striker.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
Comments
Hitting down on the ball
Don—
I enjoy your videos, and I’ve been practicing the vertical swing for a few years, which has improved my handicap! Now I wish to improve my short game by pinching the ball to impart more backspin & halt/reverse the ball on the green. Hitting down on the ball is the only way to achieve this. Why can’t hitting down on the ball be combined with the vertical swing? Otherwise, if not that, then how to impart sufficient backspin for reversing the ball on the green?
Thanks.
Doug Chevrier
back spin
Why in the world do you want to reverse a ball on the green? That cannot be controlled. How do you back a ball up 2 yards or 2 feet? Wouldn't it be wiser to hot the ball how far you want it to go snd stop?
Spin is a function of speed, loft, ball composition, and yes, the angle of attack. However, when you create a large amount of back spin, you can't control the result.
Simply Golf
Doc, you are so right. Backing the ball up, in a controlled/consistent manner, is no small task. Don't know about ya'all, but I do not have the time to develop that shot.
But I do have time to work on my distance control, which (hopefully) comes from a quiet, informed swing. The Kenny Knox video series addresses this. He brings his perspective that is effectively tweaked (in places) , but essentially on the same page as PPGS. Play the percentages, friends. Keep it simple. Do what you are capable of.
And enjoy watching the professionals do their thing.
Backspin
Doug,
Hitting down on the ball to get more spin is one of the common misconceptions in golf. Backspin is generated more by club head speed and timing. Keeping the wrists and grip firm with as little wrist action as possible, combined with making the Forward Upswing (FUS) as fast as possible (AFAP) will let you achieve sufficient backspin. Done properly, the PPGS will achieve maximum speed with a slightly descending arc just at or slightly in front of the ball, without digging into the ground.
I could never get backspin until I learned the PPGS. I don't get so much backspin that it backs up more that 5 feet. I actually prefer to get just enough spin to stop the ball as close as possible to its pitch mark.
PPGS
Have been working the Surges swing now for a few weeks and thought I would pass on a comment for any of you struggling a bit with it.
Played 18 yesterday with mixed results the worst being low quick hooks with driver and a few weak block fades with irons which by the end of the round were really starting to get to me. On the up side when I got it right it hardly felt like I hit the ball and that happened on quite a few shots and boy it got my attention as to how good it can be. Hit drive 6iron 420metres (460yards) so distance is no problem. Anyway back to the bad stuff, went to the driving range today and hit it really solid and straight with all clubs including the driver. What I found was I wasn't getting it upright enough in the backswing and when I got the club at or close to the 12 oclock position or vertical to the ground I hit really good shots so I concentrated on that and my left arm(right hander) not crossing inside my toe line.
The other tip I found helpful with this was the wall drill. Standing inside a door opening and swinging without hitting the wall. Line up the outside of the wall with approx. the ankles and take the swing, you shouldn't hit the wall if done correctly.
So Im a happy chappy again hope this helps someone who is experiencing the same shot issues.
Glenn McFadgen
Split screen chipping video
This is a linc to a neat video on chipping. Excellent production values with the split screen presentation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4ixwf23zg8
Having succes but don't forget to turn some in the back swing
I went from very flat and deep in the burial ground swing to the PPGS in quite a short time frame. My old swing was all wrong but I managed to shoot in the 70's to low 80's with it. Main issue was consistency esp. with the driver. In fact I had so much trouble with the driver I quit using it. I always came over the top but didn't know it. I spend a lot of time at the range (retired guy) and I'll get something then it comes and goes but have confidence I'll get there. Today I was concentrating on keeping arms in front during back swing. I started hooking everything. Finally I realized, like Don said in a video, I wasn't turning my hips enough in the back swing and my LEFT side was getting stuck. When I turned my hips more everything started working again. For me plenty of hip turn while keeping my lead arm parallel to toe line is a new must.
"Vertical" vs "Steep"
I posted this query some time back, but never noticed a reply. When does a 'vertical' swing become too steep, leaving very little flat spot and very little 'sweeping' through the impact area? Does increasing the vertical aspect increase the likelihood of a chopping motion through impact?
Thanks,
Zach
Too steep
Zach,
In the normal course of the PPGS limited turn, 3/4 vertical swing, there is no danger of getting too steep or using a chopping motion. Two key parts of the PPGS are the Back-Upswing (BUS) and the Forward-Upswing (FUS). You will notice that there is no mention of DOWN-swing. The idea of "hitting down" on the ball is what causes getting too steep and chopping down on the ball. With PPGS, we swing UP to the top of the back swing and UP again to the T-Finish. The down part occurs automatically with a sweeping motion, as long as you think about swinging up from the top of the BUS.
Kevin
Too Steep....?
Thanks Kevin. Will give this mental picture (BUS to FUS "sweep" a workout.
ZK