I enjoy when younger players take to the Peak Performance Golf Swing from a young age because it will most likely add to their longevity. Avoiding injuries is one of the most important things for collegiate and professional athletes. In golf, having a big turn from an early age can really put a lot of stress on the body and have a negative impact on a career.
One of my college students, Ian Long, sent me an email because he was starting to lose some distance and was struggling with the bump. Ian has adopted the PPGS and has had success with it, but even great athletes like him need reminders as to how the swing should be executed.
Mr. Trahan,I have been having a couple of issues with my swing which I have not been able to figure out and would greatly appreciate hearing your thoughts on. I took several videos today at the range and noticed that my shoulders were still turning to around a 90 degree turn, and that my hips were not rotating at all.I have also noticed a loss in distance from shortening my swing from having the club at parallel to where it is now (just slightly longer than where you are). I find that when I do not rotate to around 90 degrees I have the sensation that there is no "motor" to start the FUS and feel like I have no coil in my body at all. I feel as if my lack of hip rotation is making the bump impossible, while my lack of a bump is allowing my swing to be longer. This seems to always be a problem for me. I have worked on this a lot but have not had much luck in doing it properly. I am not completely sure of how to fix not turning to 90 degrees as well as bumping at the correct time.I was wondering how you were able to practice these things and eventually put them in the right sequence when you created this swing and changed yourself to it? I look forward to being home soon so I can have a lesson (chipping and pitching need some work as well!)Thanks for your help,Ian Long
After reading Ian's email, I wrote him back right away.
Ian,The key problem is not the lack of hip turn, but too much shoulder turn. As long as you turn your shoulder too much past 70 degrees with the left arm over the toe line, you basically cannot bump correctly. That is, when you bump with too deep of a shoulder turn, your shoulders will first bump out to the right, which will cause hits out to the right like power blocks or pushes. So, the big issue for you is to work on limiting your shoudler turn to your left arm over the toe line, ring the bell and bump. This will pull your arms straight down and then swing up into the forward mitt and up and over the left shoulder to the T-finish.Call me when you come home,The Surge
The very next day, Ian fired back another email and said I hit the nail on the head and that he was hitting the ball great. But, let's discuss why Ian was having these issues.
He was having a problem with not hitting the ball as long. It's all happening because of too much movement in the body. The number one key issue for the limited turn PPGS is that we limit our turn so we can swing our arms faster. Again, it's like the rock on a string example I like to use. We generate our power not by creating greater rotation like most teachers suggest. In fact, we do just the opposite.
We maintain our normal, relatively narrow stance (compared to others). With the wide knees outward pressure and resisting movement of the left knee, we're going to cut down our body turn so we can swing our arms faster. DJ once gave the best answer when asked what he does to hit the ball farther. He simply stated that he holds his knees more and swings his arms faster towards the target. So, we reduce the body turn so we can swing the arms faster.
Once you start turning too much and getting close to parallel it means you've pulled your body out of position and lost your spine angle from address. If you get to parallel, the first thing you have to do is pull the club up instead of just letting it fall from a vertical position. Most golfers pull the club up fast, but they've got to stop it, which tends to move the body forward and puts you ahead of the ball at impact. These are all tremendous power leaks.
The whole key is to setup with wide knees outward pressure so that you can just lift the club in the mitt and up the tree. We only turn 70 degrees. That means we turn only to where the forward arm gets over the toe line in the backswing. Once you've reached that point, there's no more turn...just lift. We can control our spine angle by solidifying our knee angles. When you bump, the club comes straight down slightly from the inside and rotates right back into impact. You turn just to the toe line! From takeaway to the top nothing moves except your arms. A limited turn is all you need.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
Good reminder in today's
Good reminder in today's video. I am having a hard time in dropping the club in the slot for the downswing. When I turn to much I throw the club to the outside which is bad news. Working hard on keeping the knees flexed and turning the 70 degrees.
Newly Minted Golf Professional
Good news Fellow Surge Swingers:
I graduated last night from the Professional Golfers Career College! Here's a link to a video taken by my daughter. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=458430940869693&set=vb.100001083744664&type=2&theater
I was the Valedictorian, won the Tom Addis III Service Award and the Old Tom Morris Award for the top GPA in the class. I learned a ton of great stuff, and can hardly wait to get back home and get to work.
I had a lot of help along the way and feel well prepared for a long and satisfying career in the golf industry.
I'm still swinging vertical and had a lot of help while in school. In fact, two of the instructors went out of their way to learn about the Surge Swing just so they could help me.
By the way, my daughter is doing great and is expected to make a full recovery. Thanks for all of your prayers and support during the past year.
Hit'em Long and Straight,
Bob
Congratulations
Congratulations Bob on a job well done. All the very best for your new career.
Your a very lucky man. Let us know how the new job is going when you can
Congratulations!
Bob: Way to go and thanks for sharing the nice video. It is great to see you doing the things you really enjoy in life! Take care and as always, hit 'em striaght! R2
Congradulation Bob
Congrats on your graduation and especially on the added awards. I wish you all the best with this life changing endeavor. You give me cause for thoughts towards a similar effort. It is also good to hear your daughter is doing well and expecting a full recovery. Best wishes for you and yours. Which of the 3 campuses did you attend.
Double YEAH!
Fabulous news about your daughter, Bob! And congratulations on graduating as Valedictorian! I'm sure the folks back in Alaska are going to love all the great new stuff you can teach them. I look forward to hearing more about your journey's next step.
Too Much Turn
Surge: Interesting video and a wonderful reminder at the 8:08 mark about using the "Cactus Drill". Whenever my swing goes south, the first thing I check is the amount of turn I'm making, and this drill is a fast, easy way to get me back on track. Thanks again for everything you do for the golfing world! R2
Thanks!
Surge,
Thanks so much for your email lessons and your wonderful state-of-the-art website. I am impressed with your backyard driving range and suggest that you consider selling the best nets and mats plus instructions concerning how to make a functional long-lasting frame on your site. All of the nets and mats that are available on the Internet don't compare with your backyard setup.
Regards,
Roy