Note from The Surge: We’re still in Orlando and the PGA Golf Merchandise Show. If you’re not familiar with it, there are about 1,000 exhibitors here, showing off the latest and greatest in clubs, gear, clothing, you name it. It’s not open to the public, just those folks in the golf industry. This is where golf pros from all over the world meet and greet. I get to see old friends, talk to the media (I’ll have a news flash for you shortly), and fool around with the latest and greatest driver.
Yesterday, I was approached by a pro from England. I recognized his name because he gets on the PPGS blog often. I guess this show — I’ve been coming for over three decades — is the best I’ve had for me and PPGS, mainly because so many pros are excited about the site. I promise, we’re working VERY HARD on getting our certification program for teaching professionals up as soon as we can. Anyway, he, among others, continues to point out that not everyone in the world knows baseball and, therefore, “in the mitt and up the tree” isn’t too meaningful a visual for them or their students. So I decided to give everyone the drill — with an illustration! We plan to do more of this in the future.
I’ve got a passel of exciting news to share with you, so stay tuned (or whatever you say that in “Web-speak.”)
So here it is, the “in the mitt and put the tree” drill:
BACKSWING: PUTTING THE CLUB IN THE MITT AND UP THE TREE
1. Ready address position with the club.
2. Imagine a catcher in position with his mitt on or 1” inside of your
aiming line — and there is a tree behind the mitt.
3. Turn your torso and put the club in the mitt with the toe of the club
pointing skyward.
4. Make the club “go up the tree” by lifting the arms up equally, clearing
your chest, while keeping your palms perpendicular to the
ground to 3/4 thumbs up with the left arm and club shaft over the
toe line.
Now, for all you cricket players and other non-baseball golfers, here it is, finally. With the putting video and the show, this week has been short of extraordinary. More soon.
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 
Should I try to extend my arms nearly straight out at address (like Monty appears to do) ? How much does centrifigal force play a part in hitting fat, especailly with vertical short iron swings. How much do the arms tend to “get longer” ie straighten-out at the bottom of the swing?
Thanks
“putting” the mitt up the tree. Putting was a unfortunate choice of word as I thought you were talking about putting.
Hi. I gotta say that your PPGS system is fantastic… as is the PPGS Driver DVD also. Congrats to you & DJ for cutting through all the BS and simplifying the game. SJ
Shouldn’t the tree be on the toe line instead of the target line?
find your articles very interesting and helpful…, sorry I can’t sign up for the Surge at this time,
being unemployed has put my golf game on the back burner.
Again, I thank you for the info…
Have a special year…
Point 4 of the mitt and tree drill is difficult to understand. If you could include another drawing of the golfer taking the club :” up the tree” it might be easier to visualize.
Thanks Don.
David
I’m sorry but I can’t hold my tongue anymore. I’ve been reading the forum daily and I’m amazed at some of the things I read.
David…Do you really need another illustration? Come on man. All up the tree means is UP. That’s all. Just UP. Vertical. If Surge had said up the flagpole or up the wall it would still just mean UP. Vertical. Period. Use some imagination for crying out loud.
Hey Susan. Have you ever heard of a typo. UP the tree has only been mentioned a thousand times in this forum so if you thought The Surge was talking about putting up a tree maybe golf really isn’t the sport for you.
And for all of the whiners who can’t seem to figure out that the website offered downloadable files and not hard CD’s and can’t seem to figure out how to download a file to your computer. Go to a bookstore and buy “Home Computing for Dummies”.
Keep up the good work Surge. I’ve already dropped my handicap by a point and I’ve only been working on the new swing 3 weeks.
I don’t mean to offend anyone. I just said what so many others are thinking.
Don,
Your system has already improved my game. I am very pleased. My only concern with “up the tree” is this vertical back swing has me coming down steep and I am hitting fat shots with irons and fairway clubs and ballooning the driver with height and no distance. I know I have sent this before but I need some specific guidance here.
Thank you!
Bob R
If you are standing at address and the club is resting on the ground comfortably and you are consistently hitting fat shots then you may want to have someone check you to ensure you aren’t changing your spine angle during the down swing and dipping the right shoulder. Also be sure you are standing tall and not bent over and reaching for the ball.
Gerry,
Go back and read earlier posts as your question has already been covered.
Thank you Joe.
Surge
In Scotland we dont do Cricket or Baseball, but we get the picture.
Hi
in the drawing the tree is right behind the catcher.
Would I be correct to assume that it should perhaps be in line with the players body or toe line??
Thanks
Pete
Pete H,
Same thing as to Gerry. Go back and read the comment section on the first page of the comment section. I explained it pretty well there.
I have the book and have the tapes and the swing is bringing me back to my single digit handicap and my back never hurts anymore. However, I can not figure out why I am fadeing all my iron shots. When I try to correct the swing path I then end up with a pull. Getting a little tired of the long putts or chips from range correct left and right…….any thoughts?
Like H J Sneed I have been billed for stuff which I can’t access and I am unable to get in touch with you. E-mails go unanswered despite a promise to answer within 24 hours, this is my 3rd, and your “Office” phone is never answered! What gives????
Bob H,
From the two types of shots that you’re hitting it sounds like you may be coming over the top just a bit. Remember, the down swing starts with a slight left hip bump that starts the club descending, the right forearm is rotating bring the face of the club back into square, and you have to be getting the weight over to the left side at the finish which also helps get the club head coming through square and on target line. First thing to check is to make sure that the first move at the top of the back swing is not a rotation of the shoulders. It would help to have someone watch or do a video of yourself.
Mr. Hammers,
Try going to the top of any page and log in under members and see if the video is listed there under MY STUFF.
John Frost,
If you’re calling this email, it’s not. This is a blog. If you want to send email try the “click here” for email support below the PLEASE YOUR LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS.
I will try to find out why the phone is not being answered.
i have the same question s pete and garry. there is no comment to answer
Dave,
Go to the bottom of the posts. Right about PLEASE LEAVE ME YOUR COMMENTS & SUGGESTIONS you’ll see, <<Older Comments
Click on that, it will take you to the first and older page of posts.
Your responses are only in writing. I think that at some time the main principal of the lesson and explanations should be a short video. It is easier to get your message when we can see the correct visuals. The little illustration does you no justice. Very amatuerish
Thanks,
I originally had a problem with slicing the ball, after getting the lessons you sent. As it turned out, my swing path was out to in. The correction for me was to think about “throwing my clubhead at the target”. This kept the swing path going “down the line” to my target and allowing it to finish high instead of around my body. I think the key on the follow through is to keep the clubhead going down that target line or a least have that visual in you head. This will keep the left arm from dragging the club around you body instead of more down the line.
I don’t know if this is correct or if it will help anyone else, but this is how I corrected my slice. By the way, I was not a slicer until I tried the new swing. My swing feels totally differant now and with good results.
It would help me and I suspect others if you showed a complete face on swing if regular time and slow motion. I have seen all the part, now I need to see the whole swing.
Surge: Some of us do get it so please don’t get discouraged.
Thanks for hanging in there with us.
I found the hip bump to start the downswing,then the arms then the club made the straightest shots.
Hello Surge !
About a month ago I noticed something while watching PGA tour players on TV. The majority of them swung the club outside their toe line on the backswing. It was astounding to see how many great players had their left arms (for a right hander) parallel to their toe lines, and with a great number of players going to a shorter backswing, this became a remarkable revelation. So last night just before midnight here in Arizona, I found your website, and immediately was intrigued. I joined up and right away started watching your videos. I was amazed at how many fundamentals you cleared up for me. I have always noticed for instance how much better I played with an overall firmer athletic tone in my body, as well as my grip. I spent the whole night watching and practicing my set up and take away outside my toe line. After staying up all night, it was time to get some sleep. Once I got up, I headed straight to the gym to get warmed up, and then to the driving range. I can honestly say that I have never been so completely blown away with a golf instruction concept before ! I purchased a large bucket of balls, and within 10 swings or so, I was making incredible contact ! I brought a buddy of mine with me to keep an eye on my backswing in relation to my toe line and the sacred ground. I am a lefty so I specifically told him to watch my right arm. I guess because I practiced the swing in front of a mirror last night for so many hours it payed off, cause I only pulled the club inside slightly the first few times, and then it was off to the races ! The feeling I get is that the hands wrists and forearms don’t really change position at all. The arms just move up the upright axis to the three quarter position, I bump my weight over to my right side (lefty) and I feel as though I hit through the ball with my entire body. The solid impact, and trajectory is incredible, and that sound ! I’ve been playing golf my entire life, and at 45 I can finally say that I have found a golf swing that is not only incredibly simple, but also it’s one that I really like ! No silly wrist set, no wondering if I’m in the correct top of the backswing plane, just firm up, lift up, bump and POW ! The sensation of clobbering the ball with my entire body is phenomenal, the sound, the trajectory all amazing. And all after watching a video, I just can’t believe it. I’m so incredibly happy right now, I will keep you abreast of my scores. Currently I have been playing to a USGA handicap of 8, but I’m very confident that this will be eliminated shortly. After watching those tour players, and then having this experience, it’s as though you let out the secret to great golf that all the tour players have known for years. Thank you so very much !
A friend of mine from the Delta Golf course (John) sent me these “saying Trahan teaches the way you swing.” Most of my mates down at Delta say that my swing “ain’t a golf swing”.
I started with the swing taught in these clips but was completely self taught (by what worked for me) and was scoring good but never had the feeling I was golfing correctly (mainly due to comments from other golfers on the course). Even though I was beating most of my buddies (most of the time) I tried to get a “real golf swing”, took lessons and lost control and 6 strokes on the handicap.
Over the past year I have been trying to get the swing back that I started with (and that is described in these clips) and my scores are coming back down. There are a couple of refinements that I learned from what Trahan puts into words and it is nice to hear someone say that the way I swing is the right way (it works for me).
Thank you! My swing has been validated and now I can stick with it and learn and work on the drills and pointers given on your site.
Do you have putting tips? I am using a Jack Nicolas approach of flat face, straight back and thru on some days and rolling the face on other greens. The finer points of reading greens and any putting tips always helps and if they are as good as your swing lessons, I’m sure the scores will come even further down.
RD