Yesterday, we discussed how 7 of the 8 students had poor to bad alignment and were aimed no less than 20 plus yards outside wide or closed to their target, to the right for righties and left for the lefties. Inside wide or open to the target would be aiming left of the target for right handers and right for left handers.
Today, we will look at the other major alignment issue: that the aiming outside wide and closed causes a setup position I term “BAD…Back Arm Dominant.” BAD means the back arm is higher than the front or target arm and quite straight if not straighter than the forward arm. This has the upper torso, from the waist up, aiming open and inside of the target and the lower torso, starting with the feet and the toe line, is aimed outside wide or closed to the target. Thus we have the shoulders and triangle of the arms open and the feet and knees closed, placing the torso in what I term X’ed out because the toe line and shoulder lines cross, forming an X. The hips in an X’ed out body alignment are usually open. The back shoulder is always very high because the back arm is higher than the front/target arm.
An X’ed out body not only looks like an X, but is also X’ed out in power, as the upper and lower body is facing or aimed on opposite sides of the aiming line. The torso setup in this X position is out of dynamic balance. Since the upper torso and arms are open, the swing motion will be a weak outside to in swing path. The swing is made weaker by the fact that the closed lower body will cause a reverse weight transfer toward the back leg in the transition. This further causes more of an outside to in swing path and more of a glancing blow at impact and bigger fade to slice.
The Foundation Swing Manual in Chapter 11 on Page 96 in the “Picture Yourself Setup” in the “Face On” section states:
3a. Arms and shoulders form a triangle.
3b. Shoulders tilted from left to right… (for a right hander) or we can say front to back.
4. Right (back) arm relaxed and below the left (front) and inside of the elbow points up at 12:00
What this is saying is your back arm must always be below your forward arm. When in this position I call it the FAD, “Forward Arm Dominant” or higher position. This can be checked by just simply looking down at your arms to see that your forward arm is slightly higher than your back arm. Your shoulders will likely be square and over your toe line. If your back arm is higher you can bet the farm that your shoulders and upper torso are open.
Now, I must throw in a CAUTION here! The back arm can be forced down too low under the forward arm and this will close the shoulders. You not only can see this, but you will likely feel the back shoulder is pulled too far down and back and you will feel and be close to almost falling backwards.
The point here is simple. When the back arm is high (BAD), the club is forced outside in the takeaway and the lift into the mitt is limited because the back hand and arm are on top of the forward hand and arm, slowing and reducing the lift. The back shoulder rises causing a reverse tilt backswing. The on top back hand and arm cannot lift the club up the tree because they are straight. At around shaft parallel to the ground, the top arm has to snap at the elbow to allow lift. When it does, the hands and club are flipped and swing up to around 10:00 o’clock and will end up behind the toe line in the Sacred Burial Ground (SBG), deep and laid off and heavy.
With the back arm slightly below the forward arm (FAD), the takeaway is on line. With the back arm bent and slightly below the front forearm almost dead level, the shoulders turn level and the triangle of both arms lifts the club up into the mitt. Then, most importantly, both arms continue rising almost dead level as they lift the club up the tree, over the toe line to the ¾ length vertical 12:00 o’clock light shaft position at the top of the backswing. NOTE: This FAD (right arm lower than the forward arm in the setup) is a “must” setup position. It is a “crucial” and “has to be” setup position to achieve the PPGS ¾ vertical shaft position backswing.
The slightly lower back arm is the key to a level shoulder turn. It is the key to a straight back into the mitt takeaway and lifting of both arms to swing the club up to the 3/4 vertical 12:00 o’clock limited turn, with the forward arm over the toe line top of backswing position.
So, to lift the club to the ¾ vertical and light top of backswing shaft position to make the PPGS, your arms must have “FAD” arms in the setup, not BAD.”
The Surge!
Tell me what you're thinking... and what part of the golf swing, or this great game... you'd like to know more about. If you want your pic to show with your comment, go get a 
I am hitting greens in two (par 4’s) which I have never don e consistently.Drives are 30 to 40 yards longer and straighter!. Thank you
One problem , I ahve been learning via the emails as I have never received the discs I ordered.
Who do I contact to follow up on this?
Hi Don I was wondering if you are going to have any more classes for your inner circle students?
Thanx,
cowboymaloon
Mike Loth please contact me personally Ken Trahan PPGS Customer Service at 888-847-9464, thanks and have a great day.
Hi Surge-
Or you mean ” where the nose /eyes point – the toes should point – or a line throu the eyes
or nose to the target- (in a correct setup – ie rear back which
I miss often )- Should be parallel or almost coincide with a line
throu the toes to the target
Warner had earlier suggested the book by Ernest Jones “Swinging the Clubhead” – I bought this book and have to say, it’s a really good read. After reading the book, I realized that I was having too many thoughts prior to my swing. A lot of the things we try to think about like Shoulder turn, Bumping the hip etc tend to crowd the mind and come in the way of making a smooth swing. In Ernest Jones’ words, a golf swing should be a simple, rhythmic motion and if you have a smooth swing with good posture, the rest of the things fall into place automatically.
I played a really good round of golf on Sunday with just 2 swing thoughts –
A) I made sure I got the “accordian effect” the Surge always talks about. Setup to the ball by leaning from the hip and reaching down to the ball with the club and flexing the knees one one motion. Once the club reaches the back of the ball on the ground, maintain that position. This is the perfect posture from where you are athletically oriented to make a good shot
B) During the backswing and come back toward the ball in the downswing, maintain the same posture. I.e, don’t get up or crouch down or in other words, maintain the posture from the accordian effect. Watch the clubhead swing the ball and then stand up to the T-finish.
I did the above 2 consistently on every shot and did not have a topped or fat shot in my entire round of 9 holes. Very satisfying round, especially because I wasn’t thinking of anything else. Helped keep my mind clear and allowed me to play simple, pleasurable golf.
This book is a great read and I would recommend it to all my fellow inner circle members!
-AJ.
Seems to me Surge, if you went back to one of your original teachings (which you haven’t touched on in a while) “preloading the right side at address,” you could have saved yourself alot of needless verbage. I know I”m sorta dumb for an old fart and get confused easily, but it works for me. Sid
Hello,
Thanks for all your encouragine emails and wonderful instruction. Unfortunately, it looks like my golfing days are over. I have crippling arthritis and it has attacked my limbs severely as well as my left knee which is in constant pain and my walking is severely restricted.
Best to you in your lessons…I’ve enjoyed reading them, but if you would, please refrain from sending me any more emails. It’s bittersweet to enjoy something that you know you cannot play probably anymore.
Sincerely,
Lathan Hudson
What wonderful stuff this is !!
If you’re in the mood for a good laugh then get hold of a copy of this book, you’ll split your sides:-
“The Science of the Golf Swing” by Dr David Williams D.Sc., F.I.Mech.E., F.R.A.e.S., C.Eng.
[ Formerly Deputy Chief Scientific Officer at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough. ]
Pelham Books: ISBN 7207 0326 3
Small wonder this tome disappeared almost without trace; now so rare it costs several hundred dollars. Think how gullible the author expected people to be to believe such nonsense !! And he almost in charge of the RAE – how aeroplanes didn’t rain down from the sky in their hundreds is a miracle !! It’s as well the charlatan was recognised for the purveyor of crackpot ideas he was, in time. Get your copy; or band together with friends and buy what’s left. It’s a riot !!
I have read all you e mail watched your dvd a friend got me.I bought new clubs. The new clubs have helped but know matter what i try I can only hit the ball 140 yards with my 3 iron hybrid.the new clubs added 30 yards when i hit the old one the best i can get is 110. Guess my ? is how do I fix what i don’t know what I’m doing. And i would like some more of your DVD but is see a lot of comments most people don’t get them.
When I hit the ball i’m off line by 25/40 yards right of target and when i put clubs down then i’m a good 30 yards left I m right handed. i’m I just wasting my time and yours. thanks
Mr trahan,
It really is a pleasure to hear all the in`s and out`s of Golf. I save all your e Mails so I
can go back and refresh my swing. The psychology of swinging to fast has been my downfall,
I follow your instruction to a T except I pause at the top before hitting thrugh the ball, I have
found this helps me get to 12:00 and straight most of the time. I am 75 years old and my
striking ability has never been better. Keep up the great work, Bob
Thanks for this lesson… It gives me hope. I had just returned from the range and hit two buckets of dying quail shots (bad cuts with no power at all.) I purchased the DVD series about a week ago and have worked very hard to perfect the swing. Study…Film Myself..Hit balls..Study…Yesterday, I thought I had it. Today…dying quail… This sound like it might be what is causing my problem (BAD). I knew the club face was open when I was stricking the ball. I could feel it was a glancing blow…But I just could not fix it.
The good new is my back is great even after hitting 2 buckets of balls. I have a bad disk in my lower back and was going to have to abandon the game before coming across PPGS. I have made the decision to do my best to perfect this swing. I joined a range for unlimited ball for a year yesterday. Hopefully I will get it. I have 363 days left.
Hey Surge,
When you “pre-load” to the right at set-up what is the feeling you should get. Any good acyronms, similies, or metaphors for this part of the setup?
ps – left wrist is the first domino is great, along with in the mitt up the tree, NAB is only ok
With a chronic back problem, going back over 30 years, your reduced turn swing has changed my game immensely. Not only am I striking the ball better – I am now playing twice a week with virtually no pain, during or after my rounds. Thanks Surge!!! (By the way – I only received the download lessons, did not get the manual either.)
Fellow PPGS students. You can find the manual on the website. After you sign in, go to My Products and you will find it for viewing or download.
My state’s weather has changed and it looks like I’m done playing for this year. I haven’t mastered the PPGS yet, but I can’t wait to lower my 15 handicap next Spring. (Maybe I need a vacation to somewhere warm!)
GJ, I thought your comment s were a little harsh! Don can’t possibly to respnd to the many questions we all have. You’ll notice that sometimes he takes a common concern and addresses it.
first off surge, thank you for pain free golf. i never thought i would play this game without pain. even on days when my back is out i can still play a round of golf. with PPGS my ball striking is better than ever. i see more fairways now than i ever have in 20 yrs of golf. when things go bad its usually old habits creaping in and i go into the sacred burial ground. but its only been 2 mths with this swing so things will get better. i see people with questions all the time after these e-mails about whats going wrong in their swing and i can’t help but think of the best tip in your instruction. who cares what you did wrong in your swing!! do everything right in your next one. this piece of advice gets me back on track pretty quick without negative thought all day. remember this the next time you play and you won’t drive yourself nuts. just concentrate on doing things right and the game is more fun. thank you again for a pain free game of golf.
hi don it is christopher from australia Iam 65 yrs only a hacker of a 27handicap trying to improve my drives are about 180 meters my fairway woods are about 150meters my irons I cannot get distance I use either a 3 4 5 woods to get my distance I have troubles with my back I try to pratice every day to try to improve my swing but hitting irons for distance and hitting down on my irons is my main troubles is their anything I can do to help me hit the irons better thank christopher
Hi Don,
any advice on hirrinf FAIRWAYS CORRECTLY. I’m using my 7 wood and seem to strike into the ground quite often. Apprecaite some tips. Connie
Hi Surge, my posture is bad and effecting my alignments upon setup…how can I improve my posture? I am an 8 handicap and would love to be a little more consistent with my irons.
Hey Surge! As in my prior post I mentioned I shot the best round of my life a 78, Just reading this e-mail and checking my set-up with my driver,3-wood, 4-wood low and behold I found my right forearm just a bit higher than my left, brought it in a bit just below my left and guess what? My takeaway is now correct-straight back. NO MORE BAD JUST FAD, Can’t wait to try it out on the driving range friday. Mabe my dreaded slice will all but disappear!, By the way traveling to Monterey Calif. tomorrow, plan on playing a course called Pacific Grove Municipal from what I hear it may have been the original Pebble Beach course. My family roots are from there and there’s a cemetary on the edge of one of the tee’s my familys plot is there going to pay my respects and play a round, never played there before. George Haas
Surge, You say the front elbow should face 1200, what about the inside of the right elbow?
My problem for several years is the opposite of most. My swing is too much in to out which is underneath the plane rather than over the top. Please help.
Pat Hawkins
FOR GJ says:
November 18, 2009 at 12:18 am
GJ if you would spend a little more time on what Don is recommending rather than looking to blame some one for your Runined Golf Swing. Surge is trying to help all of us who have a positive attitude about the the game of GOLF……..your negative approach to the whole process is MOST oF YOUR PROBLEM……….take some responsibility……….and take some advice……….or STAY OF OF OUR SITE……….with your negativity!
Charles
I liked when the video was at the end of your article, then I could keep making dinner while listening to your article. Will you be putting it back into the emails at the end? I hope so.
Carolyn
Don
Many thanks for your wisdom and understanding of addressing the issues of golf from various angles as we do not all learn things the same way. I have been using PPGS for under 2 months and when I strike the ball well, its as good as I always knew it could be and I know this instruction will bring about the consistency I need to reduce my handicap and give me a solid foundation to build the rest of my game on.
Happy Golfing Surge!
Ken
Golfer for 20 years
Hdcp: Lowest 11 (Played 4 times a week)
Currently 16 (Play 3-6 times a month)
I purchased your book and cd down load, of which I haave greatly benifited and enjoyed. I s there a way to get the actual dvd’s. It would be nice to watch them on my TV and the pixals probably wouldn’t jump around like the do on occassion on my computer. Thanks
at what point during the swing should the wrist cock and should it be slight or a pronounced cock?
I just had a knee replacement and can’t swing a club for 3 months. I’m a lefty,and for a month before surgery I started experiencing pain in my right arm on top just below my elbow. it’s golf related. I’ve always been right hand dominant and it’s NEVER hurt me. Part of the reason I’m changing to your method is to stop whatever it is causing that pain. if you have any ideas on that please psot something to the group.
as a second request .. do you have videos of people using your swing? I think people would get a better feel of whats going on by watching somebody swinging different clubs regular speed and in slow motion.
thanks
Mike
Sorry Surg. your my last hope. I bought your dvd in august 2 times I wrote to Maven Marketing
with no reply.I hope I haven been ad.
PS. I read your golf tips every day it helps a great deal my game.
Hi Don, Thanks for the first lesson on grip and pressure. Will put this into practice tomorrow at the range plus setting up position with flaired feet and knees. Will see how it goes and give you a feedback later. Meanwhile, impatient to receive more of your instructions and tips.
Don
What is the cause for hitting “fat shots”. I have tried adjusting ball position, flatting my swing to sweep the ball off the fairway, however just this past week, these menacing fat shots reared their ugly heads. In all cases my irons were the worst with some problem from my fairway woods
Thanks for your help
To Paul Goevert
You’ve replaced swinging the club with leveraging it. You must return your game to a swinging action. Read and reread the post on this site entitled “Words from Warren.”
Once you return your golf to a swinging motion, the PPGS will serve your game magnficently!
http://worldchampionshipteam.com