Many moons ago when I was a head pro, I had a member, WR, become a new student. I knew his setup and swing well. I had watched him for years andhad played with him numerous times. His big issue was his posture. It was awful. He was slouched over, his head was down, with his chin into his chest, low hands and the club was toes up big time. His swing was somewhat vertical in that he lifted his arms and club up, but in a narrow arc, with his left arm breaking down and just wrapping around his neck. The good thing in his favor was he actually was a descent player. His handicap hung in from 9 to 12. The motivation for the lesson was his handicap. It was at an all time high and he wanted to get back down to his low handicap of 3 to 5 that he played to many years earlier. He was confident he could do it, but knew he needed help.
I really didn't need to watch WR swing to fill out my diagnosis and prescription form because I knew his setup and swing well. What I did more of while he was hitting and loosening up was to find out how much he was prepared and committed to change in his setup and swing, and practice to get his handicap down. 'Whatever it takes' was his answer.
Since 'Setup determines the Motion' is my # 1 priority for swing changes, the first thing I adjusted was that he had to stand taller, in an athletically ready posture. He had no problem with that and was in a good posture position in a few minutes. He liked it because it felt better on his neck and back.
The next issue was that I had to get him to lift his arms more and keep his left arm extended and relatively straight. He lifted both arms and club up to a higher and more extended ¾ vertical club up position. He did it well, but then said he couldn't really stand this way and swing this way. 'Why not,' I asked. 'You're doing it well right now.' He came back with 'because I can't stand and practice swing this way in my house because the ceilings are too low.' I came back with, 'What about out in the yard.' He was good with swinging in the yard and we worked on grooving the setup and the limited turn ¾ PPGS to a tall and square T- Finish. He was hitting it extremely solid and straight and was well pleased with the lesson.
A few days later I got call from WR's wife, whom I also knew from club activities. She called in a combination of sarcasm and joking to tell me that WR was practice swinging the previous night in the front entrance of the house which is the only place with the ceiling high enough for his new taller setup and vertical swing. She said thanks a lot as WR really liked his swing, and it was really good for his back. She said that the only problem with his new swing was that he hooked the chandelier in his backswing with his clubhead and pulled it right out of the ceiling, destroying it and leaving a big hole in the ceiling. Mrs. R said, 'Thanks Don,' again with a little more sarcasm. But she ended jokingly and genuinely saying she really was thinking of getting a new one anyway and now she was heading off to the lighting store.
I knew WR didn't die that night as he showed up at the club the next day to practice at the range. He said that swinging in the house was now off limits. I did mention that we could cut down a club and make him a short indoor practice club. He liked the idea but decided he better observe the in house cease swinging truce.
The final outcome of this story has a really happy ending. WR came by the club around a year later and invited my wife, Susan, and I to come to dinner at his 'NEW HOUSE' which he had just finished building. It was very close to the club and he wanted to show me some really good features he built into it. When we arrived, WR took us straight to his 'Vaulted Ceiling' living room with a space set aside with a mat for practice swinging in front of big windows so he could see his swing in them.
The cease swing truce was lifted.
The Surge!