Note from The Surge: We’ve finally finished in Orlando. I always learn some new about our sport and make some new friends. Did a good interview, which I’ll tell you about later — don’t want to “scoop” the writer. All in all, a good show.
Going through my notes, I ran across a drill I’ve used for years to help students understand where the top of the backswing is so they know their “place in space.” You don’t need a club. In fact I suggest you do it several times without one. But it really helps if you stand at mirror. This is how you get a “light club.”
BACKSWING DRILL— FIND THE TOP OF THE BACKSWING:
1. Assume address ready posture position and extend left arm like
holding a club.
2. Put your right hand under your left elbow (see “A”).
3. Right hand pulls the left arm and torso back and lifts arm up, clearing
chest. Keep left arm and shaft of club over the toe line.
4. When you reach the limit of your torso turn and arm lift (see “B”,
put your right hand on your left hand (like gripping the club). This is
the “top of your backswing”.
5. You must now mentally visualize and physically feel this position,
and automatically return to it in order to achieve your full potential
from your backswing, with no angle change.
This is a good drill for any time of day or night. Remember, a mirror really helps.
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 
Dale,nice scotter!! Good comment!! Jim kreamer. Sparks Nv.
Hi Surge It,s Frank here these last series of tips and videos are great and I really like the two with the illustations as I can really get a clear picture in my mind.
I am relly looking forward to working outside with this swing as I am turning 78 in may and I have used every swing from Ben,s to Moe,s to eldreges and using this swing inside every day for the last couple of months with no back pains I just hope I live long enough to perfect at least part of it.
thanks again for this swing.
Frank
Individualized drawings to highlight specific points and positions is a great idea. But your illustrator is not “on the same page” as the instructor, so to speak.
Top of the backswing? I don’t think so.
When you feel unconfortable, have you reach the top of your back swing with this drill?
Thanks for all your comments. I am a regular attendent due to my natural swing flaw of being under the plane back and through impact. My hips have a Tiger Woods issue, they turn out too fast. I have to force my rotation to slow down. In the mit and The Hip bumb helps.
To Bill Hodes, who says “Top of the backswing? I don’t think so,” step 4 says
:4. When you reach the limit of your torso turn and arm lift (see “B”,”
So, to me, the picture in “B” may not be the top of your backswing if your
limit goes beyond the picture. It clearly represents mine.
Illustrations are really helpful! Can now fully understand the text tips!
Thanks!
John
Hello Don,
I have allways wanted to ask this question about “over the toe line.” Here it is!
When stating this are you saying on the backswing your arm should be across the front of the toes blocking the vision of the toes?
Thanks,
Rod
To Frank Sullivan: I too am an older guy (77) and can echo every comment you have made, particularly the swing systems you have used. PPGS is what I am working on this winter and like you I hope to perfect it or at least get it ingrained in my subconscious for the upcoming season. I really hope this is my last system to use for my remaining years. It does seem to accomodate all the moves I believe in.
To Surge: Keep up the illustrations. They are worth as the saying goes “worth a thousand words”.
Off topic, there is something I hope you clarilfy for me and I don’t see it in the rules of golf. It pertains to putting and the practice swing. I have always understood you cannot swing over top the ball on the intended line you wish to putt the ball, but I’m not aware in the rules that say you cannot do this. I think it is an advantage to do this type of practice stroke. Can you clarify this point for me? Thanks.
Roy C.
Don,
I’m still waiting for the opportunity to buy Larry Jacob’s program. I never got the “next day” email that your interview with him promised.
Thanks,
JK
To Bill Hoades
If you have read Surges instructions, he only wants you to take a 3/4 backswing as illustrated in picture “B”. He does not teach a “full turn” backswing.
Rod,
Now you’ve got it. Or at least close. By that I mean it doesn’t completely block you vision of the toes. If you were to take a piece of plywood, set it on top of both feet, notice where the plane of the board is. The object is to stop the club as you turn on this line and then lift the club up. Is it essential that it be exactly on the toe line? NO. It is essential that the club stay in front of the ankle however. Beyond that point is the SBG.
A lot of comments were made about the previous illustration of the “mitt” and the “tree”. Where there was room for improvement for sure, the concept was shown to those who did not understand the “mitt”. A better drawing would have had the catcher just inside the target line and the mitt close to waist high. At this point, the left forearm should be fully rotated and the toe of the club pointing straight up and the club parallel to the ground. The tree should be just a bit more inside of the catcher’s left shoulder,(right as you look at the picture) and the tree would be in line with the toe line. This is where you lift the club, UP THE TREE.
Hopefully this has helped and as always, you got questions, I got answers.
Hey Don,
Really enjoy reading your daily writeup’s! I wanted to tell you about a swing thought I use to help me “go up the tree” to a 3/4 swing. Just before I start my swing, I think about my hands being next to my right ear (I’m right handed”) at the top of my backswing with no wrist cock. I know if my hands are next to my right ear, I haven’t swung too far back and I’m not in the “Sacred Burial Ground (SBG)”. Thanks!
Looks an interesting drill, as we would all like to know what’s going on in the back swing. However, I can’t hep feeling that, to get the idea across, there should be one or two more pictures to describe the sequence of movement.
B. When you turn the torso to its limit it should be followed by “C”
C. Raise / lift the arm followed by “D”
D. Grab the left hand as though you are holding the club. This is then the top of the back swing.
Or don’t I know what I am talking about!
Roy C,
The rules permit a practice stroke at any time during a round as long as it does not breach the rules. The rules do not stipulate how a practice swing should be taken or where for that matter. The danger of taking a practice swing over top of the ball becomes the unintentional possiblity of ball movement.
Surge, unfortunately you have people who have not taken your lessons commenting on this site. Oftentimes the comments of these folks confuses people which lead to more confusing comments. I like the illustrations. However, I wish there could be some responses by you to comments that muddy the weaters of your teachings.
Surges instructions are right on. they have taken my game to the level I had 25 years ago, with no back pain or tightness at all. I have been doing the retraining with the various instructions from Surge and I am absolutely amazed that something so simple could make this much difference. After practicing in an indoor range for the past 3 months, I have my old distance 290 yard drives with alot more accuracy back. I will be hitting the fairways as soon as they thaw out here in Saskatchewan. Golf doesn’t work at -30 celcius.
An addition for those who have not tried your instructions with the criticism they put on your page I suggest they make a valid trial before they be such bad critics. I have been playing golf for 50 years and this is the first time I have felt comfortable with the game. These nay sayers should try it as it will only help thier game as it did mine on the indoor sinmulator at our local golf club I beat my averages from 25 years ago by 25% consistently with alot more consistancy, length and accuracy.
this is a good illustration, compared to the mitt and tree which would of been for a cut shoot
With me, I know once I reach the point of a little discomfort I went past the top of my back swing. This drill works good for me. I am now a 3/4 back swing supporter.
I have thought that I finally ” had it ” and then discovered that I had lost it on the next trip to the range or the course that I don’t even want to think ” I’ve got it now”.
However,having said that I do feel that I am on to something that has me hopeful.I live in the Denver area and trying to will enough of the white stuff off the ground so that at least one of the ranges around me would open has been difficult but it happened yesterday.
I took as many of the Surgeisims as I could remember to the range and tried out into the catchers mit and up the tree and keep the palms perpendicular to the ground for quite a while with mixed results- a couple of fat hits’some good misses with a slice tail,,some that were close to ok but didn’t have the distance of my good swings and didn’t feel solid, mixed with some good shots.
I was trying to heep my hands perpendicular to the ground on the downswing but when I started the bump and allowed my chest to bring my hands to the left at the start of the downswing, even though they are perpendicular to the ground I wound up with a slap( short hits) topped shots or the dreaded fatso. Whereas, if I start the bump and rhe resultant move of the chest which brings the arms along for the beginning of the ride and make certain that I keep the left hand in a neutraposition or alternastely, remaining on the path it is pointed at the beginning of the backswing it and my right hand gets very active naturally where it is supposed to. I wind up with full extension of the rirgt arm after the strike, I wind up going up the tree in front and magically I stay in much better balance at the end.
I hope this makes sense, at least it seems to be working for me presently.
Incidentally God, I say this in all humility. I fully understand what you giveth you can take away, but please don’t, I.m so much happier
To Lyle Hodge
I am so happy about your big success with PPGS. I agree with you some people do such bad critics about the approach and they never give a valid trial. Some people too didn’t buy any video or manual and they say they are confused. Be honest and buy the products you need to really understand the PPGS. A lot of my friends and I have a big improvement with PPGS without back pain. Also you have some people who say they have no problems with short irons and it doesn’t function with the long irons and the driver. It’s impossible. Follow all the instructions the ¨Surge¨gave you and you will achieve the same result as your short irons.
Regards
JK,
Here’s the link to the Larry Jacobs program that I received from Don:
http://www.DonsOffer.com/Major-Discount-Offer
I started Larry’s Thin for Life program about 6 weeks ago after I saw the what he did for Roger Maltbie in an article in Golf Week. The results have been nothing short of fantastic for me. More
energy, clothes fit a lot looser, look better-feel great, eating better & sleep better. Taking much better care of myself.
Five Stars, I highly recommend it.
-A
The mitt and up the tree and A & B diagrams… Who needs C &D? I’m female and my brain works fine. Surge and I play a similar game of golf. 3/4 backswing.. Spot on. Thanks Surge
to J. Griffin :
I agree with your “improvement” to the catcher mitt/ tree diagram.
I know that for me personally, the mitt seems to be above the catcher’s left knee (right as we look at the picture) with the tree slightly inside that knee(a little closer to the toe line)
I any event, I seem to end the backswing “up the tree” with my hands near the level of my right (rear ear) club shaft at 11:00 or 11:30 viewed down the line, near 1:00 viewd face on.
I think this may be slightly into the SBG — but I do manage to hit very straight shots with all clubs from this position.
Keep hitting them STRAIGTH and LONG
Amos
David M,
You didn’t buy actual hard copy DVDs. They are downloads. Go to the members page and look under MY STUFF. Your downloads are there. Then, if you wish to make hard copies you can. I got all the info on one DVD.
Hi everybody:
I had tried everykind of swing before trying the PPGS. All other swings seem to work for a short time and then they crash down. Since the last 4-5 months, I am a PPGS golfer and it just keeps improving the game. Have patience and the results will be there as PPGS is the easiest, simplest and safest golf swing one can build. It never breaks down.
shailesh
Hi Surge , would appreciate you explaining the toe line with pictures similar to the cather mitt/tree diagram
Cheers
Andrew Singh
J. Griffin
Firstly I think the Surge through his PPGS, and regular instruction articles here, must be giving many golfers of all ages and skill levels great assistance with their game.
However the illustration regarding the “mitt” and “up the tree” must have (like myself) a whole bunch of readers fighting to save their wigs from destruction.
It could be best described as a FAILED ATTEMPT to re-invent the wheel, and I have a hunch that the Surge could not have seen this illustration before it was published.
Now I know like you said that it was intended mainly for those who did not understand the “mitt”, but I have to say that it has turned out to be VERY CONFUSING for those of us who THOUGHT until then, that we did understand the role of the “mitt” and “up the tree” in the PPGS.
Your explanation of the illustration has for me, and I’m sure a great many others helped clear up any confusion, but it also leaves me with some uncertainty in the following areas: You say the catcher would be better shown just inside the target line with the “mitt” waist high, and the club (toe up) parallel to the ground, and the tree in line with the toe line. This for me would leave the clubhead at this point in the catchers mitt (waist high), and somewhere about halfway between the toe line and the target line. I had thought when the clubhead was waist high and parallel to the ground, that it should also be parallel to the target line.
I think that since this element “the mitt” and “up the tree” is one of the key images (or visualisations) in the PPGS instruction, it would really be an immense help to a great many golfers if it was accurately re-drawn and re-published.
Thanks for your clarification J. Griffin
to all that have trouble with the DVD thing and to Surge:
Maybe Surge, you should call it a download site instead of DVDs that we are buying. Most of the audience would understand it better. It is complicated for non-geeks to create DVDs unless you are on a mac and even then…
I shoved all the downloads into iTunes and tehy can then go on my phone or tv or anywhere I want.
You could help J. Griffin and others with this name change and reduce the incessant questioning that disturbs us form chatting about this f….. up game.
J. Griffin, love the plywood visual. I struggled out there today but hit enough shots to have fun.
Next outing , no SBG.
Everything that I have learned, so far has improved my scores. I had bariatric surgery, and I had to change my swing to your 3/4 swing, and I love it. 90% of my fairway shots are in the middle,of the fairway.I was in the 100+ range,,now I am in the middle 80’s..Thanks again.Amos
Surge,
Continual experimentation with several golf theories has led me to believe that many of us amateurs who come over the top comes from one of two reasons. One is allowing the left shoulder to open before striking the ball. My personal reason for doing so is hitting with the upper body (and mechanics ignorance). I think I really struggled with the PPGS because I don’t understand (or feel) how you drop the club into the slot. It looks like you lay the club off some and drop your hands (”for free”) with your bump.
Clarification?
I downloaded my CD just fine. The only problem I have is making a hard copy to play on my TV. My Nero burn will not accept the zip files. Can anyone help me.
I love you site ,Don. I have learned a lot. Thanks for the daily tips.
My sincere thanks to J. Griffin and to Randy Erickson.
All is now revealed. An early explanation from Don’s staff would have helped greatly however.
Thanks again.
Another comment on non-receipt of DVD`s, this time from an irate Dave McAllister. The complaints are growing Surge, and hurting you. Attention to detail is the key, as in all aspects of golf, and being ignored is far worse than getting an answer you don`t like.
For Dave McAllister`s benefit, and any one else who is as bemused as I am at not being treated with courtesy and consideration, I have now learned that the DVD that you and I paid for is only accessible on your computer screen, and like I said yesterday, it appears that the only way you are going to be able to watch and practise at the same time, is to take your laptop to the range with you, or maybe you could strap it onto your golfbag
Daft as it seems,the lack of a download facility is even more silly.
Get onto it, and solve the problem Surge., it isn`t going to go away.
Eric,
If you had a hard copy DVD, how would you play it and practice at the same time? A portable DVD player? If so, then burn the downloads to a DVD and take them to the range. It really isn’t hard to do.
For Judy Also:
Click on each lesson seperately where it say beside the ADOBE logo, click to view lesson #_
on your computer
This will bring up a new page. At the bottom, it says, CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD DVD __
This will bring up another screen that you can save to computer or tell it to go directly to your DVD burner by selecting that driver. If you do it one DVD at a time make sure you are using DVD RW so that it will continue to add to the DVD.
JohnOB,
You assumption is correct. When the club is in the mitt, the shaft is parallel to the target line. It’s just not directly over the target line as the shoulder turn moves the club from target line, to inside that line to the toe line. So, with the tree being right there by the mitt, we simply lift the club up the tree.
I was a powerlifter for many years and have had reconstruction work done on my left shoulder. I have limited flexability in my backswing, however I still can drive the ball 250-270. My issue besides my friends laughing at my very short and low backswing is my Irons. My S/P wedges are only about 30-60yards, then 9 hits ok at 70 or so, 8 is near 100, 7 is about 125 and 6 gets me almost to 150. With my very limited backswing what can I do to get more distance from my Irons? ie if it’s more than 160 I have to use a hybried other wise I’m way short..
Surge,
For further simplicity and clarification, perhaps you could show the butt on the wall drill, down the toe line. This would help both to show staying out of the SBG and if you added the mit and the tree(in the same drawing) this would nail the visual for all those need to see it folks out there on how stay verticle. I suppose that would be in the mit up the tree and in front of the wall. This would be the ultimate VERTICLE VISUAL. Spell my name right when you send me a check.Challenge your staff to draw that!
Down the middle,
Robert ps kidding about the check
J. Griffin
Thanks for your reply to my posting regarding the earlier “mitt illustration”. I am now back on track again, where I was before this confusing illustration was posted.
PS. Surge, doing a great job, but I still feel that a re- positioning, and re-posting of this illustration would be worthwhile for a great many subscribers to your PPGS instruction, and webpage comments.
JohnOB
Darrell,
Something is drastically wrong if you can hit a driver 250yds and only hit a sw or pw 30 to 60 yards. Something is amiss here. Just how far are you taking the club back on the irons?
Surge and J.G; Really enjoy these daily tips! Keep up the illustrations when your able to, but I would say that once I bought the PPGS “On LIne” program there is so much more detail and illlustrations there. I agree with Rex that many of the confused or critical comments come from not buying into the system and reading the material and viewing the the movies.
I downloaded the lessons onto my PC Hard drive and it was pretty easy. But for those that have not and are viewing the program on line, download them. I was really impressed how much clearer both the picture and sound is. Also, for those that need pictures, I just stop the video at the point of the swing that I need further help on to view Surge’s or DJ’s position. I have just begun to read the book and that offers another demension of aid to help understand/practice with.
For those that have not bought into the On Line lessons, you really should. I did after the 8th email letter as at that point, the proof was there that the PPGS was really working for me. I still have lots more to practice, but am going in the right direction and vertical.
Surge,
Help! I ordered your driver swing DVD way back on January 4th and still have not received it. Any idea when I will get it? Thanks for checking. BTW, love the rest of your website.
Steve
Steve,
The Driver Swing video is in the members area. It’s in a digital format. You can go to the FAQs page and see exactly how to access it:
http://www.peakperformancegolfswing.com/faqs/
Dean
this is the best yet . now i know where the mitt is and i can make my own dvds. i was trying to copy from the zip file.
.. I had to have a friend watch me to give me a correct measure of my back swing. So if 0 is at the base of your feet my backswing is only to @ 50 degrees. I played baseball for several years and with my driver I can pop my hips into the swing and throw my hands toward the target. My friends laugh while I’m hitting it straight or at the target. I just can’t seem to find a way to pop my hips into the Irons..