Since we’ve been talking quite a bit about professional club fitting, I thought Bill question was a good one to share.
Bill says:
The videos are great! I am hoping to save wear and tear on my back by using your method. One question: my clubs have standard lies. Should I look into getting them adjusted more upright by one or two degrees?
Thanks,
Bill Knox
The Surge says:
Glad to hear that the videos are really helping you Bill, and I am confident that they will reduce the wear and tear on your back.
Regarding your lie angle, a great question question. Just because you are swinging more vertical/upright does not necessarily mean that you have to bump your lie angles more vertical/upright. Lie angle is determined by the length of your arms versus the height of your torso when returning the club to impact, so that the leading edge of the club hits the ground soled flat. That is, not heel or toe up, which changes the launch angle and direction of the ball flight.
For example, I am 5′9″ and have an arm length of 35 inches, which is usually the length associated with someone well over 6 feet. My son, D.J., is 6′4″ and also has a 35″ sleeve. For his height and arm length, his clubs are standard lie. Whereas, with my long arms, relative to my shorter torso, my clubs are set 3 degrees flat. And, with my upright/vertical swing, my clubs at impact are soled properly. That is, the leading edge is flat to the ground.
So, since you have changed your swing to a more upright plane does not necessarily mean your lie angles must also be upright, as is seen by mine being flat. If your lie angles are too upright, your divots will be digging in the heel. If they are too flat, your clubhead will dig in the toe. And, if your divots are clean and level from heel to toe, your lie angle is likely correct.
I recommend that you visit your PGA Professional or local club fitter and have them check your lie angles of all your irons as they apply to your new upright swing.
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 
How important is it that golfers have a home course? I have gained playing knowlegde from your program (dvd inserts) and I can do these anywhere but I feel that I need to play and have a home course just to be able to hone and perfect my swing with confidence so thatI might take that confidence to another course. my golfing buddie seem to think i’m crazy for playing the same course approximately 5 to 1 of others. am I right to do so or should I not have a course by which to build confidence to take elshwere? By the way your show works for me….thank you.
Hi Don,
I’ve been looking at your daily videos and it looks like a good system. I’ve been away from golf for over 20 years and have just returned to it. I’m certainly not as limber, flexible or strong as I used to be, so I’m even more interested in learning your system. I just received information about getting your videos for 1/2 off of their regular rate. You show your video pack in dvd form, yet you say that I’ll get “access” to the videos, making me think that for the money, I’ll be able to view them online. Unfortunately, I need hard copies of your videos, as access to the computer is limited. How do I get the actual dvds rather than online access? Will they be at the same price as you say, or will their be a different price to get them mailed to me?
Please let me know, if you would. I think you have a great system, but I can’t be sure until I actually study the dvds and try it out on the course.
Thanks for you time and hope to hear from you soon,
Dave
Hey Don
,
Great stuff, going to purchase the DVD’s and use with my Power Stance for a total upper and
lower body workout.
Wondering will you be at the PGA Show in Jan. I look forward to your reply……Joe
my first 4,5,6 holes i drive pretty straight, then as the round gets going i suddenly begin to really hook or duck hook drives.
Don,
I’m 67 with an index of 7.3. Your method makes total sense to me. I’ve just started trying it and, generally like the results. I’m impressed that distance is not sacrificed with a shorter backswing. I have some issues with consistency, but think more video study with improve that. I do tend to pull the ball. You’ve addressed that. I will revisit the corrective action.
I do wish I had your smoothness and tempo. I’ll keep you advised of my progress.
Thanks again,
Rick
I’ve viewed the downloads and been practicing what I’ve learned for about two months. My driving has improved significantly – many more fairways hit. I think the alignment advice has been invaluable.
I’ve imroved my GHIN from 34 to 18 this past 6 months. I owe much of that to my local pro and driving improvement to PPGS. I used to hit a severe slice. Now it is more of a gentle fade and aiming correctly typically puts me in the middle to right middle of the fairway. Instead of 200 yards, I’m now averaging about 250. Golf is more fun now than ever.
My goal for next year is to shoot consistently in the 80’s – low 80’s.
I know this isn’t on the “Lie Angle”, but wanted to drop a line!
I would like to purchase your golf stuff but i do not have credit cards. How can i send check?
Hi Don,
Congratulations to Kim on her forthcoming wedding. Very best wishes to all the Trahan family. Hope that everyone has a great day.
Cheers.
Michael T
Response to the “DARYL ANDERSON ” comments.
In my experience, “The Surge” is a reputable man and he’s showing us a way to play golf with a minimum of moving parts. I know it works but for it to work for each of us is not quite as simple as watching the video (not DVDs – those cost extra) and hitting a couple of buckets of range balls. If we were starting with a blank slate, it might be easier but any of us that have cobbled a swing from a tip here and a tip there will struggle to implement Don Trahan’s techniques quickly. It will take persistence and time but I can see and reason that it will work for most of us.
Getting back to the DVDs, don’t confuse the Marketing Company with the Trahans. One Trahan teaches and the other is a PGA Pro; they don’t spend their days selling videos or DVDs. Could the Marketing Company done a better job of making it clear that they’re selling downloadable videos and not DVD media – YES. But if you spent some time on the site you should have known that.
Here’s a non-golfing tip – “burn” the DVDs from the videos and save yourself some money. “Just do it”.
I am seriously considering buying your program but I am unclear as whether I will receive through the mail a set of dvds and video tapes or do I just get compute access to the dvds and video tapes? And if I just get computer access to the dvds and video tapes, will I be able to download all the dvds and the video tapes? Thank you, Steve Robinson
Surge, I’m using 1 Iron Golf Clubs of which promote a more upright stance and have found the transformation to the PPG swing easier to adapt.
I would like to know your thoughts on the 1 Iron Golf Clubs concept
Any chance that you will reduce the price of the driver DVD for Christmas?
I am having problems determining were to put the ball in relationship to my stance. I seem to get the best results with the ball back in my stance. This causes my ball fight to be lower. If I put the ball in the middle I skull the ball. PPs I never look up as I have a vision problem and I cant see the ball in the air anyway. Thank You for any help you can provide.
I must confess that I was unaware that Don teaches a “multi-plane” swing. That is, swinging upright but back down returning to plane. I have not subscribed to the PPGS system but continue to read Don’s articles and this blog as they are always very spirited and interesting. The issue of whether the PPGS works seems somewhat verified by the subscribers and that first-hand evidence is acceptable. The mitigating thing here is that age plays a big role. If you are physically fit and don’t have back issues like me then using this system is somewhat more difficult to learn than just plain staying on plane. Tiger, Phil, Anthony Kim, Stricker and a host of other tour Pro’s all stay close to plane and one must ask why? Because that swing is mechanically the purest. If the spine angle is the hub around which the arms swing the club and the wrist remains flat, the club takes a straight arc around the body and allows the golfer to utilize the torque he “uniquely” executes. There are golf “secrets” galore that hint at ways to best use various body part positions to gain more torque (too esoteric for most amateurs) but the true secret is no secret at all. That staying close to plane with a square club face is the swing one should always strive to make. But the exception is when you have physical impairment or back issues. Then the PPGS may be way to alleviate discomfort. The difference between staying on plane and swinging in multiple planes is this; which is easiest to duplicate repeatedly? Staying on-plane is a fairly straight line from point A to point B. With multiple planes the golfer must remember where to put the club. This causes him to remain conscious until he can put that swing behavior into background memory. Don and DJ have used their swings forever and don’t really need to consciously remember anything when they play. This is why they can go out and shoot lights out. They are thinking about distance , tempo and how they want to work the ball. Now, having said all this I don’t imply that the PPGS is anything short of what is claimed about it. And I don’t believe Don or DJ would say the PPGS is the swing everyone should be using. But for its intended purpose I think it is a fantastic methodology and this web blog a great meeting place for believers and skeptics alike. .
I also have a response to the Daryl Anderson and Robert May posts:
I was extremely satisfied with the quality of the entire transaction! I watched all of the “free” teaser lessons, and then ordered the course at a half-off special ($48). The price for all of the lessons was less than one lesson with my PGA pro! It was very clear during the whole process that these were “instant access” online videos – not DVDs that would be mailed. Who wants to wait for DVDs in the mail these days when you can get it NOW online?? The Silverlight streaming video quality was exceptional. I even downloaded the videos to my computer so I wouldn’t have to go to the website.
The process of ordering these types of videos is fully automated with autoresponders. Plug in your payment info, and get an email link to the video site. No human intervention required. I’m sure The Surge will have someone figure out why you didn’t get yours.
Bottom line: Great job, Don and D.J.!! Can’t wait ’til a little warmer weather to really work on the new swing, but am certainly impressed so far! I’ll order the driver video when you run a special on it. too!!
I read the comments on the page after your tips. Some of the questions are good. The only problem is that you don’t print your answers. Can you help?
Don,
The video,s you sent have inproved my game 100 percent
Before I could not stop sliceing the ball woods mainly but also
some of the irons as well.
With the more upright swing woods and irons are gun barrel straight.
Also back, shoulder and neck pain has gone.
As a lefthander and the links course I play on the sliceing got me into
a hole lot of trouble.
Now my hole game has changed thanks to you.
Have passed video,s on to a friend and he has had great success as well.
Thanks again Don and you and your family have a great Xmas your way.
And tell DJ to keep clocking up those golf Titles.
Rgds,
Leon
As a result of a car accident 29 years ago, I have a “nail” for my right femur. It is a titanium rod instead of a femur bone, with screws in the knee area and hip. I am now 64 years old and I am experiencing a great lose in distance. I know that age alone has something to do with this, but I have lost about 30 yards on all my irons. 3 years ago, I was hitting a 7 iron 150 yards, for example. I am right handed and have a difficult time on my backswing because I cannot place the required weight distribution to my right leg when I swing. I have tried to compensate by having more of an arm swing and less body rotation. Sometimes this works and sometimes it does not work. Do you have any ideas as to what else I could try. I’m not looking to hit a 7 iron 150 yards, but I would like to at least be in the 140 yard range.
There is no help available to golfers with physical handicaps in my area. I’d like to change that, but don’t know how.
Anyway, do you have any ideas as to what I could try to get more distance with an arm dominant swing?
Thanks,
Mike
Hello Don:The PPGS makes alot of sense to me..my son has seen DJ play and he sure does the swing very well and he is very very long off the tee and accurate, I can’t wait to get back to Florida to work on the PPGS. I am in good shape for a guy who will be 74 in May..have been playing since I was 20 years old. My handicap index has slipped a bit over the years and now about a 10. I bought the deal and have it on my computer did not go the DVD route. Would love to have the driver one but thought $67.50 was a bit steep will wait to see if you will cut a deal for us poor golfers. I have no back issues and still quite flexible..Will start to give this a go in early january..anyway Merrry Christmas to you and your family…Jim…
To jerry foley,
Hi Jerry. You are an excellant wordsmith and your comments are well expressed.
I do not have back problems…yet! I was initially drawn to the PPGS 3/4 swing as a cure for my overlong – not quite Dalyesque long – but past horizontal. I would sometimes get my right arm trapped behind my torso, resulting in poor shots.
Often, when hitting a layup shot, I would use an easy 3/4 swing and the resulting shot would turn out better than expected. For me, the PPGS is now an extension of the easy layup shot. I wasn’t one of the lucky golfers who mastered the swing after hitting 2 buckets of balls. The real problem is in deprograming the old swing – particularly when faced with a pressure shot. It has taken me 3 months to finally get to the stage where the PPGS is now ‘my’ swing. I’m 73, so I look to the PPGS, with its relative simplicity and fewer angle, to extend my enjoyment of golf for as long as possible.Many of the forum bloggers appear to have physical disabilities and/or are elderly. If the PPGS enables such people to get out and enjoy a great activity then it is a valuable addition to the many other golf teaching methods on offer.
Thanks for your contribution, Jerry.
Cheers
Don! I have viewed the videos of you and your son hitting the clubs. Thank you very much. I had asked for what you produced in an e-mail some time ago. There is something I need cleared up, though. You advocate no wrist cock yet watching the videos face on, there is a lot happening in the hands/wrist area. Your pre-swing waggle has a definite “hands/wrist only” action that seems to bring the club up and parallel to the ground (into thecatcher’s mitt?) without much movement in the arms or a discernable shoulder turn. On the down swing, there also seems to be a lot of hand action through the hitting area. My confusion comes from your “no wrist cock” directive which means to me the hand/wrist area is quiet through the back swing and until the release through the hitting area on the down swing.
Norm
Don, I’m a fairly new golfer, and I’m 5′2. Does the length of my clubs which are shorter compared to the guys I play with from my church have an effect on my drives, and playing in general?
If you scroll down to the bottom of this website there is a phone number for the customer service questions all of you may have about purchasing and not getting your videos. The number is 1-800-603-2706 with people to take your questions Monday through Friday 8:00AM to 6:00PM MST.
Over the past twenty years my fingers have split in the winter months. During that time I have tried every type of tape I could find. None of them were very good. Thanks for recommending the new tape from the 3M company. It’s by far the best tape for finger joints that have to bend. One golf problem solved. Thanks again/
With a foot of snow up here,golf really looks good,and I love reading your stuff.Would like to aquire your swing D.V.D. but have to learn how to download first.Soon I hope…so I can work on it in Florida.
I have recently purchased your videos. After reviewing the three video’s, I went out and played a round. I have never hit the ball straighter and consistently further. I hit all but two greens in regulation.
The technic’s are great and they really do work. The geometry behind the up right swing makes sense.
Thanks,
Bob
Hello Mr.Trahan bought your videos one night while sitting at Pinehurst the night before my 6 year old was playing at the us kids world championship because I like millions was frustrated with my iron game.My only question and pardon me if i missed it in other comments is should I still release my hands through the ball at impact because your swing is great for my back but I am pushing my shots from driver down .what are the finishing touches to the swing? I know tour players release heavy through impact for distance and power is this something I should be looking at…..
Thankyou for your wisdom and paitience for golfers like me.
Mike
Hola, 2 things…!st… Your ideas make sense to me, but not a having you , or a disciple watching my swing, I’m never sure if I am swinging the right way…You know the little things…2nd….Many of the comments you show on this page I would like feed back from you…Many great Questions, no answers…I know this a busness, but,maybe you can come with a solution…Frank Reed
Hi, I am not but a weekend warrior at Golf. I am serious about cutting my handicap down to single digit. Irons are good. But why can’t I take advantage of my 5′6″ and put it into my Drives. Is there a path of staggering my release so I can feel it flying at least 240+ yards and beyond.
Dear Surge, I purchased your video series this last summer,and have some great shots when I have the proper set-up.( The set-up determines the motion) I find this is nothing but pure fact! I have hit the ball straighter and further,and have had a lot of fun with the group of guy’s that I golf with. I shared the video series with a fellow employee,that golfs with us and I have watched-first hand how his game has improved. Every now and then when we are matched up in the same foursome,we will give each other a knowingly wink or nod. Its our own best kept little secert. Just thought that you would like to know! I apreciate you constant e-mails Good Job! Jim Stafki,Lindstrom,MN
hi been follow ing short online leesons its great not hard to follow i see so me emails saying how long it will take to learn rubbish im a 12 handicaper and this year ive had consistency problems its freezing damp cold and foggy here in shropshire uk iplayed nine holes yesterday and could not see ahand in front of me i followed the simple lessons don sent me i was straight down the middle never lost a ball and i was 2 over in those conditions brillant i dont think my swing is up right but in front of me and on plan not now getting tied up with my body i have put other swing thoughts out of m
y head and follow the position of body arms and hand that don tries to get us in
open your mind to it and throw of the old baggage
ps i only played 9 as they closed the course because of the cloing fog
many congratulations Don, on your daughters wedding, have a great day…..Barry.
Hi Surge,
My 15 year old grandson wants to learn how to play golf.
He lives in San Diego.
Would you recommend a good source for basic instruction out there?
Thanks
I have tried to explain to the teaching pros at my club your swing but they are very negative about it and all I asked them to do was have a look and see if i was doing it right but they say it is too steep and all arms (which is probably true) – do you have someway to let me show them just the demo of your swing? Is it OK to show them some of the video on my laptop?
To Mike,
As a result of a car accident 29 years ago, I have a “nail” for my right femur. It is a titanium rod instead of a femur bone, with screws in the knee area and hip. I am now 64 years old and I am experiencing a great lose in distance. I know that age alone has something to do with this, but I have lost about 30 yards on all my irons. 3 years ago, I was hitting a 7 iron 150 yards, for example. I am right handed and have a difficult time on my backswing because I cannot place the required weight distribution to my right leg when I swing. I have tried to compensate by having more of an arm swing and less body rotation. Sometimes this works and sometimes it does not work. Do you have any ideas as to what else I could try. I’m not looking to hit a 7 iron 150 yards, but I would like to at least be in the 140 yard range.
There is no help available to golfers with physical handicaps in my area. I’d like to change that, but don’t know how.
Anyway, do you have any ideas as to what I could try to get more distance with an arm dominant swing?
Thanks,
Mike
Ernest Jones did not have a right leg from the knee down.
Jusr occured to me Don that you could very well cover much od the cost of Kims wedding if
you did offer us a deal on the Driver Video for Christmas and make us all happy. Best wishes to the bride and Groom. fred
Question. When I hit a wedge it sometimes digs the toe of the club in the ground to take out the divot. It also seems like the toe is going under the grass and taking out the dirt underneath. I don’t know how else to say this so I hope you understand. Thank you.
A simple way to check your lie angle is to get a plywood board, paint it green (or any color), stand on it & swing the PPGS technique. The paiint will come off on the bottom of the club head & show you if it’s in the middle or toward the toe orr heel. Do this several times to get consistant feed back. You’ll know what to do then to your clubs (or swing).
Be sure the board is large enough to stand on & address the imaginary ball.
Hey there surge; Just wanted to give some feedback on my progress…I’ve owned your system for about 2 months now and I play minimum of 1 course a week on my weekend time. I’ve been playing golf for about 2 years erratically over that time period with the last 6 months found myself more involved in the game and loving it. With my scores being so awful it may have hindered me in playing regularly. But before my purchase I relied on my father-in-laws coaching with some disappointments. I was hitting around 140; lots of slicing and lost balls. Last weekend on Saturday I hit a 119; and Sunday same 72 par course…a 113 (one lost ball). I am so excited by my improvements over this 2 months and wish I could play so much more. Its my new drug. LOL. Anyway I keep referring to my PPGS system in my learning and I’m so hoping to keep getting better. Breaking 100 is my goal right now and I know where that needs to happen (short game). I’m usually taking 2-3 on my putts per hole and sand shots hurt my game as well. My alignment is so much better than before. I hope to get your Driver DVD in the near future although I did have my Driver shortened as you have said. My drive is still not perfect but improved; sometimes referring back to my 3 wood off the tee; which I tend to hit with much better. I’m only hitting my driver a little over 200 yards right now. You and PPGS makes me believe that it will get better. Thank you and wish me luck. Orlando, Florida
Don, if you are 5′9″ & D.J. is 6′4″, why, on your web site you look like you are 2-3 inches taller
than D.J.?
Only kidding.
Have a great day
)
Have thoroughly enjoyed your DVDs and emails over these past months.I have learned much from them and really enjoying my golf
May i wish you and DJ a Happy Christmas and good golfing in 2010.
Cheers Don and Congratulations on your daughters wedding and the addition of your new son-in-law. I have recently purchased the PPGS system and like many others can not wait to put it to practice on the links. North of the 52 parallel we have this annoying snow hazard to contend with for the next little while. I am confident your technique will improve my score and enjoyment of this great game. The lads and I have a yearly week in Myrtle Beach mid February and I cant wait to unleash my secret weapon and see their reaction to my lower scores. For the time being, practice is confined to an indoor dome which is golf dedicated. Success is only possible if you believe…then put it into practice. The only problem is that “work thing” getting in the way of my golf time. Thanks, Ottawa, Canada
To Linda and Others
Taking the PPGS to a pro or to your personal pro is going to prove difficult seeing that more than likely the two or more systems of teaching they subscribe to will not intermix with the PPGS, and while I liked my pro, it became obvious to me that him or Don was going to have to go, so I tried Don’s videos, waited about 2 months to make sure that I could play with the PPGS system and since I had immediate success with it, I called my pro and told him to cancel my membership. I think you are going to have to make a difficult choice just as I did.
On another issue concerning many of the comments that I see continually, allow me to say that I played a golf tourney today, it was a 3 club tourney, I walked a hilly course and I had 4 layers of clothing on, it was misting for part of the round, I used a 3 wood, 6 iron and sand wedge (I bladed the ball with my sand wedge to putt!), I shot 44 on the front and 39 on the back, I hit 9 greens in regulation and 12 fairways and had 36 putts, I struggled a little with my sand wedge approach shots catching a bit too much grass, the point I am trying to make here to everyone is that it is very unusual for any golfer to be on top of all aspects of their game all the time, even when the pros are coming down the stretch on Sunday, we see mistakes and they are the best golfers in the world and all they do is work at golf just like we do at our jobs, so while I know that with persistance and practice of the PPGS and short game, I am going to get better, I think its crazy to expect to be anywhere near their level considering that we do not do this for a living, therefore, we must all learn to make the best score with what we have on the particular round we are playing.
Happy Golfing
Ken
15 hdcp
to MIKE:
YES — sort of — it is more a “release of the forearms” — un-rolling them so to speak. It is all a matter of timing and rhytm.
Practice releasing the forearms — and the PPGS will work for you.
Keep hitting them striaght
Amos
Your videos indicate a consistent swing, difference being length of club and ball location at address. Trying to mimic your swing I still find I am doing the same thing which is hitting down on the ground/mat before I strike the ball. I have a short backswing with little pause and cannot figure out if hitting the ground is influenced by my right arm or left arm? I have tried all your suggestions but so far nothing is working.
53, neck fusion 1 year and a tired back from construction work. I am a believer in PPS and enjoy your feeds.
Thanks, Randy
Congratulations on your daughter’s wedding. May god bless the couple with good health and a long life together.
Surge
Sorry cannot seem to get / find the “simple check for lie angle.
I am 59 years old and beginning to feel the wear and tear of the years – especially a whiplash injury I got in a car crash about twenty years ago. I find it difficult to keep my eye on the ball in the back swing. In fact I lose sight of it if I do not concentrate hard.
Your three quarter swing appears to suit me. It was what I was doing intuitively – but not really as part of any system.
I have been losing distance regularly over the past few years. I thought it was due to a loss of strength – due to a heart attack I had two years ago. Recently however I have been trying to concentrate on 1 keeping my hands and arms relaxed / tension free 2 releasing the club head through impact to a high finish – up near my left ear. This appears to giving me a huge increase in distance. I am still a bit erratic – need to achieve a greater level of consistency – but your “catchers mitt” model with a straight up and down has helped me with this greatly.Hopefully in the spring time I will see the benefits of the work I am doing over the winter.
Many thanks
Mike
Dear Don, I have been attempting to use your swing now for about 6 months. I have developed pain in the left medial epicondyl ( golfers elbow) and right lateral epicondyl ( tennis elbow). These injuries may be due to keeping my arm too straight. Can you comment on this?
Michael
Dear Don,
I have enjoyed reading your frequent Emails re the PPGS and found much good advice. I would like
to continue to communicate with you but the emails appear to have ceased after December 11 2009.
What must I do to restore access to your great store of Golfing Wisdom.
Sincerely
Bryce Swadling