This position is perhaps the most critical in the PPGS posture and was the last part of the setup that I figured out. I discuss all the points and issues of Pre-Loaded Heavy Right (PLHR) in the Peak Performance Golf Swing Foundations Manual in Chapter 5, titled ‘Balance and Weight Distribution” on pages 36, 37 and 38.
I decided to write about PLHR after giving a lesson to Mike, one of D.J.’s former Clemson Golf teammates who is getting serious about his game, preparing for the USGA and South Carolina Amateur and Mid Amateur Championships. Mike informed me in our pre lesson talk that he was hitting a lot of heavy/chunky shots and a lot of blocks to the right. He also informed me that he bought the DVD series and an extra one for his mother and father, and has been studying them intently to fine tune his setup and swing. He called to get a lesson because he said that he just wasn’t quite putting everything together tight enough and knew I could get the fine tuning done quickly.
I started this lesson, as I do all lessons, by filling out my setup and swing diagnosis form. When I was filling out the diagnosis sheet, I wrote in the posture space “heavy left” for Mike’s weight distribution. Most of his setup was good except for the heavy left and, like 95 percent plus of all lessons, his alignment was off, aiming an average of 15 to 20 yards to the right of his target.
I had him hit some mid and long irons and his driver in the diagnosis stage. His swing was pretty good, keeping his knees quiet in the back swing, and he had a real good, limited turn to left arm over the toe line and ¾ length backswing for all his clubs. He had two swing problems that needed to be addressed. The first was his shaft position at the top of his backswing. His shaft was in the heavy position, pointing to around 10 to 10:30. He also was finishing with his hands a little wide from his head, which also pulled his torso left of the target and curling the club to a cut finish position.
With my diagnosis complete I began my evaluation with an overall compliment on his setup and swing, telling Mike that I saw two setup problems and two swing problems that would easily be fixed. The first setup problem I fixed was his alignment, as he knows the importance of the Big A, and only needed to be reminded to pay extra special attention to it. I decided to ask a question before I went into discussing his heavy left setup. I asked Mike to take his posture and tell me the weight distribution he felt on both feet. He mentioned that he was trying to get Pre-Loaded Heavy Right and felt he was. Since I labeled him heavy left, I gave him the weight distribution test for him to figure it out where his weight actually is.
I ask Mike to address the ball in his setup posture. I then told him to imagine a line from the center of the sternum/neck (like where one’s Adams Apple would be) going straight down to the ground. “Now, close your eyes and figure out which way you can shift your weight 1 inch and be able to pick up the opposite foot.” It took around 20 seconds for him to move 1 inch to the left and pick up his right foot. He stood up and pronounced in dismay that he is heavy left and not PLHR. He also added that he must not understand how to get into the position.
I asked Mike to explain how he moves to get PLHR. He said he got into posture with neutral weight distribution (weight evenly 50 – 50 on both feet) and then tilted his shoulders and upper torso to the right. There was the problem. When you stand neutral and just tilt your upper body to the right, it pushes your hips and lower body to the left and you will feel the right hip slip or collapse downward. When this happens, your upper and lower body is now disconnected. Your head and shoulders are leaning too far right and the center of your swing (the base of your neck) is too far right of your center of gravity (the base of your spine in the center of your hips). This creates the disconnect and poor balance where the upper tends to collapse a little at the transition and voila…”Chunky Monkey” impacts.
The correct way to get Pre-Loaded Right starts from the neutral 50 – 50 stance position. But instead of just tilting your upper torso to the right, YOU SHIFT YOUR ENTIRE TORSO TO THE RIGHT, PLACING 60 TO 70 PERCENT OF YOUR WEIGHT ON YOUR RIGHT FOOT AND LEG. With the narrow stance of the PPGS setup and the right foot centered under the right shoulder, your belt buckle will move only around 1 inch when you make this weight shift over and onto your right leg. You will notice that in doing it this way your hips and shoulders are less tilted and the right hip does not collapse downward. You are still centered over the hips and the body is in dynamic balance and the left side of your body has an outward bow toward the target. (See page 38 of the PPG Swing manual,)
The PLHR setup has numerous benefits: it keeps the body level, stable and in dynamic balance, which will end the chunky monkeys. Make too much turn and you loose balance. Over turn your shoulders and you loose balance. Let the arms go deep and behind the torso into the SBG and you loose balance. The PLHR setup is basically an automatic sensory system to help you make the limited turn ¾ vertical backswing.
The last swing point I needed to correct was the laid off heavy club at the top of the backswing. Like alignment, all I needed was to remind him and he was close to 12:00 in a couple of swings. I gave him the “Butt on the Wall” drill to reinforce getting back the vertical/light feel of the club at the top of his backswing. We decided that we will meet weekly for the next few weeks to make sure he gets his technical excellence of his setup and swing back in the groove.
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 
What is SBG?
I feel like my lead wrist rolls on my backswing and my downswing feels like it is trying to roll back and my shots are inconsistant. I have tried many types of golf swings and my wrist rolls on all of them. Any suggestions?
i am interested in the club position at impact because i tried a vertical swing when i started but i came down in an arc and the ball gained a lot of height but not much distance . also i have purchased your system do i receive the dvd,s as shown or just watch bits on the computer so far your swing is still a mystery to ne
Hi Don
I live on the Gold Coast, Queensland Australia, do you know of any PGA coaches, who coach your method down under. I would love to purchase your DVD series but I feel I would benefit greatly if I could reinforce what I see on the DVD’s with a coach who understands your methods.
DN
What purpose is the comment section if there are no answers?
Hi Don. Still struggling, however, took the game to the course today and have inconsistant shots with most going left. Thoughts.
Thanks Mike C
Tried out new swing today for first time on driving range. Lots of chunky and slice shots to start off with. Eventually started hitting better shots. However most of them sky shots not much distance. Playing in a golf outing tomorrow, maybe better conditions will help.
Also, as far as right loaded is concerned, how on earth do you move your entire torso with out shifting your total alignment? Doesnt make much sense.
What is butt on the wall drill?
SBG is Sacred Burial Ground. When you set up you have a line that crosses the toes on both feet. It runs parallel to your sight line. Behind that line is the SBG. You can stand there but if you swing there “you’re dead”.
Don, been paying enough attention to learn a few things. Want to learn more. Thanks for the free lessons. I took them to the range and in less than a bucket noticed a difference. On the course, of course, I tried to “think” my way through became too mechanical. But I am encouraged. I’ll keep working and check in later.
God bless
Morris
Hey Don!
Game is still a work in progress but, without a doubt, much better then it was since using PPGS!
I have an issue that I’m sure you have come across before in your teaching career. I am teaching my wife your system but she keeps running into a big problem. Well, let’s say ‘two’ problems. She is rather ‘blessed’ on top and once she gets to the toe line, she has trouble going up the tree without interference! She claims that because of this she can’t lift the club straight up to the light position and resorts back to her rotational style. I know that you have an answer to this dilema.
Thanks and God bless,
Joe
I would love to try your DVD series. But in the past I have tried a couple of sure fire golf improvement series that just didn’t work out. To get my money back there was so much red tape and argument that I just gave up and took the lose. If your system is as good as it sounds. I would be too glad to try it out and if it works I will give you my credit card number but if it doesn’t I will give them back to you. With an improvement as stated one would be foolish not to pay for it.
Wayne
How come that when i hit my wedges I feel they are crisp& solid,and when I go to my 6 & 7 iron it seams to me that they are not solid, actually they are some what topped.
Would it be that the ball position is not correct or is it allignment.
Always work in progress, lots of improvements with the new system, my match play is this weekend and could use help with my longer irons.
Johnny V
Hi Don; Been away from golf for 36 years, I’m 71 now. Been out trying to find my old swing without success and found your site. Bought the downloaded lessons and 12 bucket of balls later I’m still lost. Some of what I feel is that I am a left handed while I swing right handed. My left arm and hand seems to want to dominate on the downswing and the follow cross over at the bottom of the swing. Often even though I practice well on turning my body to the left with my weight on the front foot on the down swing, often I find myself at the end of a real swing with my weight on the back right heel. Certainly I hit my shorter clubs much better than the longer one’s. I am having my clubs checked for the proper fit next week as you have stressed the importance of that especially with one’s driver or longer hybrids. Am I hopeless being left handed and swinging right handed?
The pre-load to the right , I’m trying that tomorrow see if it helps me. thanks.
Brett,
You get access to the dvd’s on computer, if you want actual DVD’s you can get them at added cost.
HI , FOLLOWING YOUR WEB SITE , GREAT , KEEP IT GOING .
WENT TO SC IN THE 80S AND 90S , PLAYED MOST OF THE COURSES , CAN YOU GIVE ME ANY NEWS ON DON BARNES THE PRO AT COLONIAL CHARTERS PLEASE ,
LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR TIP THIS WEEK , BEAT REGARDS FRED VEAR.
Surge,
Got the DVD’s and manual. They’ve completely transformed my iron play, especially 6 – SW. Havent managed to translate this success to driver and fairway woods. Like LOTS of other correspondents I would find it incredibly helpful to be able to watch a slowed down video of you and the driver. Why not put something on Youtube – seems so obvious and so easy…………….also do you have any teachers of the method in the UK?
My putting from ten feet in is mostly missing short left or right six out of ten times. How to correct this?
Don: I’m from Missouri! “Show Me” So, I received your DVD’s. I tried using the “in the mitt, up the tree” concept for my irons on the range, for just one practice session. Guess what? IT WORKS!! I have not hit “fat” or shanked or sliced any of my irons (my biggest weakness) and I was actually surprised they went straight at the target. I hit an iron to a green yesterday; but I forgot to check my alignment–it went pin high ,straight ,on the right side of the green in the rough! But it went where I was aiming. I’ll aim correctly next time. In 2 rounds of golf I have 100% more confidence in my irons. Got a Par on a Par 5, that is 536 yards. I’m not a long hitter, an 18 handicap, and 58 years old. And shorter in stature than most every other golfer, excepth Ian Woosnam!
How do I get your Manual, since I have the DVD’s? — thanks, paul
Tony,
On those short putts…
It’s sounds like you might be “decelerating” through the putt. Just like any other shot in golf, you need to be “accelerating” through the ball to get and keep the ball on line. One trick I use to “get myself” to do this is…. rather than thinking in terms of 10 inches back and 10 inches through (50% / 50% – for a 10 foot putt), I think more like 33% / 66%. In other words, for that same 10 foot putt, I would take it back 6 inches and make a smooth forward swing of 12 inches (finishing and holding the putter on my intended line.
One other thing you should be thinking is having the ball finish past the hole if it misses. If you are “thinking” 18 inches past the hole on every single putt…. that will also help you accelerate through the putt and makes it a lot harder to finish short of the hole
Dean
Don,
I purchased your dvds and received the book and training aids. I’m hittitng the ball consistently while I had many bad hits previuosly. However, I haven’t been able to add any distance to any club and am the shortest hitter in my group. I asked this previously, I need someone to watch my swing and tell me what I should be doing to increase club acceleration which, I beleive is the crux of my distance problem. Are there any other PP instructors other than yourself and, if so, where and who are they?
Thanks
Don, purchased the DVD set a couple of weeks ago. I’ve had some success but my ball striking is inconsistant. I’m getting very steep coming in to the ball and of course the shots are going right. Any advise on what I should do to fix the steepness and path? Thank you.
Don, I have had your DVD set and your manual for about 1 month now and have gone to the driving range about 6 or seven times, along with 2 rounds of golf. I have had back surgery, with rods and screws going from my sacrum up to my shoulder blades. I can’t seem to stop my swing at 3/4, but I am not laid off at the top. I am letting the club come over my head. This seems to work well with the short and mid range irons, but I can’t seem to hit anything more than a 5 iron consistently. Do you have any thoughts? Where do I go to see your response?
Surge,
My friend I received your dvd’s about 4 mos. ago and I thought that I was supposed to receive a written manual with the set of dvd’s, apparently I was mistaken? Since you refer to this often on your site I would appreciate it if I was able to receive one, purchase one if I am not entitled to one with my dvd order.
Please let me know in an email where or how I might get a hold of one of these manuals.
Thank You Surge and many thanks for the improvement in my game. I am 66 yrs. young and had Polio as a youngster and my spine and back hav given me fits in my golf game for years, until that is, I viewed and tried your system. I am now pain free and am attempting to put my game back in order.
P.S. May God Bless You .
Hey Surge,
I have been trying pre-loaded heavy right and it works most of the time for me but sometimes I stay on my right foot and forget to bump my hip forward. Is there a key you use to start your takeaway and /or downswing?
thx,
Surge-
You’ve never mention anything about ball placement set up. I’ve always been told that ball placement or perhaps I should say foot position is different for irons and woods. What is your opinion?
I’d love to see some shots of you hitting 40-50 yards wedge shots if possible.
slow motion vid of your own swing would clear up a lot of confusion as it is a lot easier to see how as opposed to trying to visualise your explanation as i was going great & straight until swing planes got into the picture !!!!!!!
I CAN;T SEEM TO DOWNLOAD THE MANUAL ,IT IS ALWAYS SCRAMBLED. HOW CAN I GET ONE ? DO YOU SELL DVD,S THAT ARE REGULAR DISCS?
I am also questioning as to how does one get your responses to questions asked? Do you only respond to the one asking the question?
Don,
I bought the access to the website last week and have been trying to really practice what you preach at home, just swinging the club. I finally got to go to the range yesterday. I have to say, Im still pretty discouraged. Im not a very good golfer, but I am taking a step back. I still consistantly block to the right or slice, especially when I really try to keep the club up at 12oclock. I feel like when i am copletely vertical, the shot will go 30 yards off center. Can you help?
Hi Don. I’m working my way through the DVD’s and trying to groove the “up the tree” move. I’m finding it hard to absorb the concept of no wrist cock or hinge, especially when I look at your position at the top of the backswing. If you are not cocking your wrists how on earth is the club standing at right angles to your arm, at 12 o’clock? Would it not be in line with your arm, at 9 o’clock if there is no wrist cock? Rotation of the forearms does not explain this angle.