I met Anthony around 4 years ago at the PGA Merchandise Show’s Club Demo Day at the Orange County National Golf Club driving range. I was walking on the practice tee with Greg MacDonell, PGA, my head instructor, and saw Anthony getting ready to hit some balls with a club rep checking him out on a launch monitor.
The second I saw him, I grabbed Greg by the arm and dragged him toward the crowd that had gathered to watch Anthony. As we hastily walked I told Greg that we were about to see the poster player for the PPGS. He exemplified all aspects of the swing to the max, probably even better than me. How can that be, you are probably thinking to yourself as you read this? I have said I do the PPGS as well as anyone and use myself as the model for the PPGS. Now I am extolling Anthony as probably the epitome of the PPGS.
As I said in yesterday’s article, Anthony has some unique characteristics. Anthony’s full name is Anthony Netto. Anthony is a South African golf professional who had an automobile accident and now is a paraplegic golfer. He called me Tuesday from Germany and we talked for two hours. We had not talked or visited since last August when I saw him at the PGA Tour’s Deutsche Bank Championship in Massachusetts. The Deutsche Bank Championship, like many PGA Tour events, offers all military personnel free admission. Anthony was there to do a hitting exhibition to show the benefits of playing golf to help disabled soldiers in their rehab and future lives.
Anthony knew after the accident and his paralysis that he had to find a way to keep playing golf. Present day wheel chairs only allow paraplegics the option to play sitting down. This is difficult as the swing is so flat. Hitting the ball any distance is basically nothing more than like hitting wedges, even with a driver. So he helped invent the most awesome wheelchair. He calls it the Para Golfer.
It has the shape of an egg, with the golfer sitting in the rounded end which has two wheels and one at the back or pointed end. The Para Golfer can turn circles on a dime. It is operated by a joy stick that, when put in I guess we can call it super fine mode, can be used for adjusting alignment and move in fractions of an inch.
The major feature of the Para Golfer is that the seat is powered by a lift system that can raise golfers to where they are literally standing up in a golf posture position to make a vertical golf swing. This way they are able to swing their arms and hit the ball considerably more solid, straight and farther than sitting down. In fact, they can hit the ball as far as able bodied golfers.
This standing up feature of the Para Golfer is important because Anthony told me that it has been MEDICALLY PROVEN that standing up often, as happens when playing every golf shot strapped in the Para Golfer, really helps paraplegics overall well being. He said that it helps their blood pressure, activates nerves to re-generate, stops ligaments from shortening and stops pressure skin sore problems, to name a few benefits.
Anthony Netto is on a mission — or two or three. He is driven to getting paraplegics and all disabled persons the proper equipment and help to become active and play golf and other sports, and do other life tasks that add value and heath benefits. Anthony is especially focusing on helping disabled veterans returning home from the wars and getting them out on the course and playing fields, and just plain into the real world. Anthony also does a lot of work with junior golfers. For that matter, he’s there for anyone who wants and needs help to be active.
I hope to help Anthony get his message out and get his Para Golfer in the hands of more veterans and anyone who needs mobility. Heck, I have seen the Para Golfer, and as motorized wheel chairs go, it has no match in performance. So, if anyone needs a motorized wheel chair, the Para Golfer is the answer. I can’t say for sure, but I believe it is price competitive at around $15,000.00.
Now, let’s get back to Anthony and his hitting golf balls and his PPGS. When in the Para Golfer, Anthony is strapped in with one strap at his knees with his feet resting on a platform. There is another larger strap just above his waist. Anthony told me he has no weight shift in the backswing or weight transfer in the forward swing. He has no torso turn because he is strapped in. He said all he has is a little shoulder turn to where his “forward arm is over his toe line” and his swing is “ALL ARMS!”
Because he has no weight transfer and turn to the finish facing the target his forward arm has to break down in the follow through after the club reaches parallel to the ground to swing his arms up over his front shoulder. This is the same thing I have to do when I demonstrate a no body movement swing, except for swinging the arms to show how far arms alone can hit a golf ball.
I asked Anthony what his average driver club head speed is and his average driving distance is when he let’s one fly for show. He said with pride, “120 plus MPH for club head speed and 300 plus yards carry for distance. Number 1 in driving distance on the PGA Tour is Robert Garriugus at 312.0 yards and Phil Mickelson is #13 at 300.1 yards. At the Deutsche Bank ball hitting demonstration and clinic last year he told me they measured his drives with laser devices and one drive, with roll out, went 340 yards.
You can all meet my friend, Anthony Netto by clicking on this link to his personal website: . You can also Google Anthony Netto and find many places to see his swing and hear his message.
I am sure you, like me, will agree that Anthony is the epitome of the PPGS. He is proof positive that big torso turn and rotation is not needed. And, as I have been saying and preaching regarding the limited turn ¾ PPGS, the “going green” pure energy alternative, plain and simple, is: “SWINGING YOUR ARMS FASTER.”
The Surge!
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Surge,
Can you recommend a PPGS pro for golf lessons on the West of Florida?
Bert Burke
Sarasota, FL
Don,
Great article.
Thanks,
Ray
Anthony Netto is an amazing confirmation of the PPGS – it has motivated me to learn it and use it. I also like the redesign of your home page on the website. Matthew
Italians shouldn”t read this, I am having trouble seeing the keyboard, thanks.
Domenick Salvatore
Surge,
This stuff sounds interesting.
I am always looking to learn new things.
I believe the moment we think we know what we are talking about we are lost.
That goes for all aspects of our life.
TP
Great person, I have seen the Para golfer in action it’s fantasic.
Do you know of any PPGS pros in the metro-Detroit area?
I continue to have trouble hitting fairway woods.
Some are “topped”, many swings hit behind the ball.
Can you help?
Chuck
Surge: We spend our winter in Ft Myers, FL I am wondering if there is a place that is somewhat close to Ft Myers where I could get asome PPGS lessons?
Guess it proves your point. You need little or no lower body to create speed.
Hats off to Anthony Netto!
It appears that you have not discussed the ball position at address and weight transfer during the golf swing.
Surge,
Great uplifting story. I coach at the local First Tee program and this article gave me an idea to possibly add a ” disabled group” section to our local chapter. We could utilize many of the same support services.
Thank you for the inspiration
Hi Don,
I have purchsed your set of downloadable DVDs and have attempted to follow the instructions that you provide for the PPGS. Initially I noticed improvement and greater distance but of late this seems to have slipped back to what I was before. I suspect that some of my old habits have crept back.
I would like to know if you are aware of an Instructor in Auckland, New Zealand that is a disciple of the PPGS swing that I could approach to have them check out my swing and set me stright.
Regards,
Iain.
do you habe french version of your dvd ?
Well done Andrew
As president of the Disabled Golf Association NSW (in Australia) I became involved with disabled golfers of all categories. In 1993 I arranged with one of the TV stations in Sydney to film a group of golfers to appear on our local Golf Show. Two of the participants were paraplegics Roger Lynch HCP 10 and a Michael Hoy. Roger had developed a stool which conisted of a bycicle seat attached to four foldable legs which they used to sit on to play all their fairway shots. The seat by todays standards were crude but very effective. They both used three wheel motor bikes to travel around the course.
Michael used to push himself around in his wheel chair and play seated and play bunker shots on his knees. For putting he used a modified broom stick putter wich he could velcro to his arm and putt with deadly accuracy one handed. Roger could also play difficult bunker shots one handed.
Why don’t you post a photo of Anthony in his Para Golfer? I think a lot of your readers would be interested in seeing this picture and would enjoy the article more….as they say….”a picture is worth a thousand words”!
Most people are visual learners.
Judy
Where can I find a PPG instructor in North Carolina’I have your DVD set and eveything I hit straight high but alas no distance. any help is appreciated maybe I am not doing it right
Surge
What a wonderful example Anthony is to us all. At the age of 81 just startin to adopt
PPGS. Are there any pro teaches of the system in the UK? Thank’s for a great site
Great Story..with my shoulder problems I’m wondering how you can help???
Surge:
In the PPGS, I am aware that there is no wrist cock. However, is there any deliberate wrist turn involved on ball-impact?
I have read the PPGS manual and also watched the DVDs. There is no mention of any wrist turn, but wanted to check with you to be sure.
This wrist turn upon impact is touted as a way to add distance to shots. Any truth to it?
Thanks,
AJ.
TO Judy Kurtz,
I agree with you that a picture is worth a thousand words and a video I guess is worth ten thousand or more.
That is why in the write up about Anthony, I included his web address as it is full of pictures and videos. I also mentioned that googling his name brings up a lot of sources with info, pictures and videos.
The problem is that somehow in editing it was omitted. S, if you want to go to Anthony’s website and see the Para Golfer and see him swing and here it is: http://www.standup-and-play.com
The Surge!
To Joe,
Concerning the half price offer. Call customer service and tell them you were out of town and missed the offer and Don said to please take care of you.
The Surge!
To Emil Del Vera,
I have discussed ball position in articles, the PPGS DVD Instruction Series and in the PPGS Foundation Swing manual in Chapter 5 on page 39 the section is titled “Ball Placement.”
The Surge!
To Shaun Swiful,
I sent your comment to Ken in customer service. He will look up your invoice and contact you and help you get logged in.
The Surge!
OK, got the downloads and have learned a lot from them, However the vertical swing and I do not work together. I have yet to swing the club back and still be able to hit the ball without hitting it with an across right to left swing that cuts across the ball causing it to slice.
I’m not giving it up but I will need time to get the hang of it. One other thing that gets to me is the left shift of the body as the club returns to the point of impact. I end up casting the clubhead out of the swing path.
Any help is appreciated.
To Ajit,
There is no wrist anything in the golf swing and wrist cock and wrist turn are all mis-conceptions, myths and incorrect. I wish I could get them vanished and banished from all golf talk, writing and out of every golfers mind and vocabulary.
The key as I have said, written and shown on the videos is that the arms, which include the upper arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, hand and fingers ROTATE in the back swing mitt toe up and then in the forward swing mitt toe up squaring up at impact. The entire arm from the connection in the shoulder socket to the fingers rotate in unison and in the same degree. Baseball batters and golfers do not hit with wrist cock or roll,,,they hit with arm rotation.
The Surge!
Do you have Danish version of your DVD Thanks. Niels Ole
Love this article and your lessons. I haven’t had much luck with the driver and 3 wood but I have never been as accurate with the rest of my clubs. In fact I am getting my 4 irons over 230 yds consistently and withing a small target area. Thanks so much and keep it up.
Don thanks for talking about Anthony and his swing and using only the arms (faster arms) sure put those people that insist that lower body controls speed and distance in their place.
All I have to say Don is that you and your PPGS have been a dream come true for many struggling golfers. I have played for over 30 years and have tried just about every golf training video or gadget out there. I have played every year in the single digit handy cap but had to constantly work to stay there. Since getting the PPGS and using it now for a full golf season I find it so much more controlled, less back and neck pain and enjoy the rounds of golf I play. I now score rounds constantly within my single digit handy cap. Taking all the garbage I have collected over the years on the golf swing and simplified it through your swing keys has improved my game faster then any other program I have tried. Keep up the great site here and your Peak Performance Golf Swing program. I would love tohave the chance to be certified to teach this swing in VA.
I really can’t stand to see negative comments about your method of teaching. Some people just don’t have the ability to play well. That should not be on you. I stopped playing for about 25 years but like most people here I have great passion for the game. I started back and got down to a 12 handicap and stumbled across your website. I understand the concept and respect your credentials, however after trying this swing for 2 months I am unable to execute. My drives went from 250 to 200 yards. Iron play is even worse. I now can’t break 95. I started lying to my friends faking illness and physical problems to stay away from the course due to embarassment. I tried to perfect this method on the range and got worse. It got to the point were I came home one day and cried. That is not like a Viet Nam vet to do that. I wish you the best. Since I can no longer go back to the way I was playing I am quitting the game I live for.
Surge,
I’ve been practicing your goofy swing for a week and a half at the range and put it to the test at Houston National yesterday. I played with my usual friends and they were amazed. They have seen me hit golf balls all over the place. With PPGS, I hit longer, straighter, beautiful shots with more confidence than I have ever had. I kept hearing “great shot” after every swing.
Thank you for making my game more enjoyable. It flies in the face of every lesson I took and what I’ve learned in the past, but it works.
surge, went out and played yesterday and was consistently hitting left or digging my irons into the ground. HELP!!
to Ronnie Mccurrie I hope your note was just written on a bad day…………I hadnt played golf in 30 years till last year..taking it up again and loving it……..my best game from middle tees is about 95 . I hope you reconsider and get back at it, even if you get back to the old way and hit 250 again Good luck to you and my respects to you as a war veteran…not all canadians love draft dodgers