Swinging Up

Sat, 12/05/2015 - 14:00 -- Don Trahan

Today's video is in response to a comment I received from a Surgite who says he hits up on the ball. Though I'm a big advocate against hitting down on the ball, that doesn't mean I want you to think about hitting up on the ball. The proper term is to swing up to the T-finish. Swinging up is different than hitting up.

Check out the video and you'll see what I mean. Remember, in the Peak Performance Golf Swing, we want to take shallow divots. Instead of taking pork chops out of the ground, let's have our divots be like bacon strips!

Keep it vertical!

The Surge

Comments

b.rosen's picture

Submitted by b.rosen on

I started working with the PPGS about 4 weeks ago and the results have been amazing. I was normally shooting mid to higher 80's but my swing wasn't consistent. Now with your help I am hitting the ball a lot more solid and straighter. Last week I was able to shoot 78 and 79 on consecutive days at my home course. Also used to use a lot of different putting grips and then I read your tip where you said why not use your same grip as any other shot. Putting has also improved. You have made a believer out of me. I cannot wait to get to Florida in January and continue working on my new swing.

Bruce

Walburghian's picture

Submitted by Walburghian on

They say you cannot teach an old dog new tricks - but you can always remind them of ones they have forgotten! I have followed Surge for some 4 years now and still play to single figures in my seventies. However, I have had a lean spell recently and also have been inconsistent - which is unusual for me. Eventually, I found that I was not completing my Turn, as a result I could not feel my legs and my timing was awful. I am now completing my backswing and, lo and behold, everything is going straight, at last! Just thought I would post this because I have spent the last 3 months looking for an answer that was already there. Keep up the good work Surge

Dave Everitt's picture

Submitted by Dave Everitt on

Thanks for an other great video Surge. I've wasted far too many years trying to hit down on the ball. Trying to hit down on the ball, made me too ball bound, and gave me all of the problems that Surge discussed, along with way too many fat shots. After learning to clip the ball off the ground with the Surge swing, it was possible to hit great shots, with thin divots and full instead of incomplete finishes. Five years ago, before learning this swing , I thought that the reason for my incomplete follow- through, was a lack of swing speed. Trying to hit down on the ball with an inefficient rotary swing was the real culprit.

birdieman's picture

Submitted by birdieman on

I have watched many videos produced by about every teacher out there and this past weekend kept it simple with only 3 swing thoughts:
1. Swing into the catchers glove
2. BOTH hands carrying the club to a vertical 3/4 top
3. Swinging to the T finish.

I have never hit the ball better, longer, nor straighter with every club in the bag.

Just wanted to say I appreciate your take on the golf swing as I believe I was falling into the too flat camp and the game was getting more complicated than it needs to be. If my timing was not perfect, I did not know where the ball would end up. Now I do.

Mike Murray's picture

Submitted by Mike Murray on

Don, have you ever approached Tiger about looking at the PPGS. It has always been put forth as a better swing for reducing injury and as I believe you definitely can attain the low scoring required for Pro golf. I am not sure how many actual Pros use the swing but I do see that some have a variation of it. Some of the golfers that we watch you just know will not ever play for the duration without injury. Cases in mind would be the LPGA for instance, Wie and Thompson hit way too hard and we know that Wie is always hurt I do not believe that Lexi will not be far behind. Just thoughts.

Brady's picture

Submitted by Brady on

Don has never directly approached Tiger at a tournament, but we sure have discussed him many times on Youtube!

robb60's picture

Submitted by robb60 on

I was watching a little of the father-son tourney yesterday and saw an interview with Watkins and his son. Lanny said he's had 6 back operations. 6! That doesn't sound like fun. I then watched a slow motion of Nicklaus swing at 74. He still makes a big shoulder turn with his left knee going behind the ball with left heel up. Very few golfers I see, even in their 60s, can turn like that. I use to copy Jack's swing when I retired . It made me hurt. Couldn't control my ball and I was very inconsistant. It frustrated me because I was practicing a bunch with little improvement and my body hurt. I thought it was just me getting old. I was wrong. Don's swing fundamentals and tips are twofold. One. You can play some pretty good golf in your 60s and on. Two and maybe more important. It allows you to play without beating your back and joints up. I want no part of moving around like I saw Wadkins doing on the course yesterday. Even though I love me some Nicklaus, Palmer and all. I'm sticking with Don and his thoughts. A no Brainer as they say.

swdarsie's picture

Submitted by swdarsie on

Somewhere I've seen a video where Surge explains the PPGS; what is is, why it works, the science behind it and especially why it good for golfers with bad backs. It might have been an except form a broadcast. I have a handful of friends that I'd like to se it and benefit from signing up for the program.

Can you send me a link? Thanks!

goducks7's picture

Submitted by goducks7 on

If the ball is in the middle of our stance and we are in an athletically ready position 7 iron thru wedges, how do we get our head slightly behind the ball while still maintaining outward pressure on knees and remaining in athletically ready position? I seem to have my head directly over the ball.

I hope to attend your spring school in Phoenix or somewhere else in the west.

Best Regards,

Larry Hink

Kevin McGarrahan's picture

Submitted by Kevin McGarrahan on

Larry,

If you get in the Master Setup Position properly, your head should be slightly behind the ball. To visualize it, try this:

Put a pencil on the floor where the ball would be, pointed straight out in front of you and centered between your feet.

With your weight equally balance on both feet, address the pencil. Your nose should be pointed directly at the pencil. Ensure your club is not firmly grounded, but can move as your body moves in the next steps.

Next, slightly shift your weight to your back leg by moving your belt buckle about 1 inch in that direction. Your nose should now be pointed about 1 inch behind the ball and the club head should have moved the same amount.

Because Surge says the nose should be pointed at the ball, you need to slightly tilt your upper body to achieve this. At this point, it is imperative that you keep your spine straight. Do not drop your back shoulder. Keeping your hips level and your head in line with your spine, lean slightly toward your back leg. As you tilt/lean, the club head should move back to the pencil and your nose should now be pointed at it. This should have your head slightly behind the ball; in my case, about 2 inches

When I first started the PPGS, I kept my nose at the ball when I did the weight shift to the back foot, and did not realize that it was causing my head position to change relative to my spine.

Hope this helps.

Kevin McGarrahan