Find Top of Backswing and Ring the Bell!

Written by dontrahan on March 17, 2010 — View Comments

- Audio version at the end of this post –

Yesterday’s article about weight shift, sit or sink over and onto your back leg, brought out a lot of good comments and questions. One extremely good one was from Bill Kerney. Bill asked, “I see now why the hips should have a limited turn. Is there some way to integrate the idea of the bump at the right time during the backswing with the right arm at 90 degrees?”

Well Bill, absolutely, there is a perfect time to do that. For starters, we have to reiterate the fact that the forward upswing starts with the lower body doing the lateral left shift or bump, as I call it, slightly before you reach the top of the backswing with the arms, hands and club.

That’s the same concept as a pitcher throwing a pitch or a baseball player throwing a ball, or skipping a rock on a lake. The lower body is already striding forward while the back arm is lifting the ball up to the air to throw it. The key is, you can find a point at the top of the backswing that would be considered “the top of the backswing” where we need to start the forward swing.

The best way to do this is what I call the Find Top of Backswing Test. You get into your normal posture and have your arms outstretched. Leaving your forward arm in a position of holding a golf club, take your back hand and place it exactly on the elbow. From there, I want you to take your back hand and lift your forward arm up to where would be the top of your backswing. That means you’re going to pull it up and lift, and you’re going to let your shoulders and hips turn, but making sure that, #1, your head does not move and #2, your spine angle does not change.

Now this is considered a somewhat static position, which means it’s the top of your backswing without a golf club. We know that, in reality, when you have a golf club and are in a more dynamic motion, your swing will actually be stretched out a little longer than that. So this is like our “pre-top” position. Now the key is, once you establish that position, this is where, when your top hand on your golf club reaches it, that’s when you make the “bump.”

I’ve always had this image that there’s a bell at the position . Whether it is a church bell, an upside down desk bell , I hit the plunger, that’s the one I use. If you want to use the liberty bell, that’s fine, any bell whatsoever.

I use the upside down desk bell because when my thumb comes up and hits that bell, which is ringing in my mind, that’s the split second when my whole body starts the lateral left shift, or bump, to start my forward upswing. We know the hands and the arms and the club will go a little bit higher, but the key then is that’s where you have to really hold on to make sure the wrists don’t break down. But ringing the bell from the position you find using the Find Top of Backswing Test, will give you the point that you’ll be able to start that forward upswing, that one split second before you actually reach that dynamically swinging top of backswing.

Find that point, ring you bell, get your bump started, maintaining firm left wrist and forearms at the top so you don’t have the club down cocking. Ring that bell the correct way and you will see how much smoother, faster, freer and more explosively your hips will slide and then start to pull your body so you can swing your arms and club up to the T-Finish.

I think you’ll find you’re hitting a lot more shots much more solidly, straighter and, very likely, with better distance.

The Surge!

- Use these controls for the audio version of this post –

Get Flash to see this player.

Tweet This Post

Please Leave Me Your Comments & Questions!

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 gravatar!

IMPORTANT: the purpose of this comment section is to foster constructive conversation about improving our blog reader's golf game. This area is NOT designed to answer customer support questions. If you have questions about a purchase or gaining access to our private members area, please contact our customer support team at 800-603-2706 (8:00AM to 6:00PM MST, Monday Through Friday) or click here for email support. We have a new team handling support and they are very good! Please also read the FAQs below as your first course of action.

"The Surge"

Top "Frequently Asked Questions":

Question: I haven't received the product(s) I ordered.

Answer: If you ordered the PPGS Foundations Video Series, or any combination of lesson videos, it's important to understand that these are delivered in a "digital format" in our secure members only area, click here to login and access this valuble content immediately. If you have never logged in before, simply click on the "First Time User?" link at the bottom of the login page and follow the instructions.

The main advantages to this delivery method are; (a) you have access to the content immediately after ordering, (b) you have several different formats that you can view the videos in (including downloadable formats you can burn to DVD and/or put right on your iPhone, or other smart phone, to take them to the practice range and (c) you will get new versions of any products that we revise and/or improve for free without having to wait for updates to be delivered to you through the postal mail.

IMPORTANT: if you want actual hard copy DVDs sent to your home, you can call our customer support team at 800-603-2706 (8:00AM to 6:00PM MDT, Monday Through Friday) and they can get those shipped right out to you for the price of shipping and handling.

Question: I received 1 or more of the 10 free videos, but I'm missing 1 or more. How do I get the free videos that I'm missing?

Answer: You can simply follow this link, put in the email address that you originally signed up with... and you'll be able to view them immediately: http://members.peakperformancegolfswing.com/LostFreeVideos.aspx

Question: I emailed customer service and I never got a response back. How do I get support?

Answer: Unfortantely, email is not a perfect system. If our support team has received your email, they have responded to it... their reply just might not have made it all the way to your email "inbox". If you still need assistance on ANYTHING, please call our customer support team at 800-603-2706 (8:00AM to 6:00PM MDT, Monday Through Friday) and they will take care of you.

Posted in Golf Instruction

peter lacey

HEy Serg I purchased your golf lessons on line and Ilive in australia and Iam currently in America on holiday and I am trying too log on and i am having trouble can you help.Thankyou Pete Lacey
doug

Hi Surge,
Subsribed to your series 2 months ago.
My brother said it was another rip off.
I am a physician with a very bad back.
Today it was warm enough to go to the range.
Guess what? It WORKS!

Thanks.
Dale Hixson

A bit late for this as I have been gone.......But Mea Culpa Mea Culpa Mea Culpa Steve!!!!! I apologize for inadvertently calloing you Harry. Many excellent responses to all this and many far more eloquent than mine. One however hit it on the head.............Harry loves droping stink bombs and then laughing at the responses. Well so be it. I mean any one can have one lucky shot and hit a hole in one. My first one was at 16. Lets see that was the second time in my life I ever swung a club!! HMMMMMMMMMM Anyway. I want to thank all of the contributors (save one) for their insightful and worthwhile additions to this and many of the other pages on this forum. Lost of good thoughts and far more patience than what I demonstarate. Thanks All...........I will learn from your patience and deep thought.
Graham

To Harry,

If you're a 3 handicap, why the hell are you here? You don't need PPGS, and PPGS doesn't need you! Keep up the good work Don, it works for me!
Robert

Harry you stinker

Well what can we make of it all, Hank, Butch, Rick, Don, myself, cannot help everyone, but golf is like cancer, no one ever wanted to talk about it, but yet everyone wants to know. Everyone has different ways of understanding things, no not everything Don explains works but he has given all of us a base to work with which some of us has helped tremendously, myself I use 75 percent of Don's swing Method which I have incorporated into mine, it works for me and as I get older 100 percent of Don's swing method will come around full circle. Harry we need your input into this blog as we do everyone else. Everyone remember lets keep it positive because I bet we have different levels of experience commenting and asking questions and also guys helping one another with little timbits of help. I know when I tune in now and then I learn things from this blog.

Remember a day on the golf course beats any day at work.
Mike

Just a few thoughts on taking "it" to the golf course. How one practices is criticak in how one transitions to the golf course. On my website I have posted an article on the eefects of hit and scrape practice versus random and whole skill practice.

The whole skill of hitting a golf shot is more than the execution of the golf motion or swing, it involves self awareness, decision making and commitment to an effort with a clear objective in mind.

Hit and scrape practicers are in early stage development of thir skills and keep themselves there by repeating simple thought patterns as opposed to working to meld those thought patterns into the whole of their shot making process. Thus when they are out on the golf course they are ill prepared to execute the whole process.

Hit and scrapers tend to be highly motivated to results because results at the range seem to happen faster in the less challenging static condition provided at the practice area. random practicers are forced to answer more difficult questions and progress seems slower initially but transfers better to playing the game because random practicers are more used to practicing under more challenging and realistic conditions. Also because random practicers are constantly thinking about the new skill in the context of changing problems they learn to trust the new skill and continue to work on it thus integrating it rather than giving up and wishing the ball to the target.

In summary, ensure you go through your whole routine and be certain that the inspiration behind each shot is consistent and you will find your skills tranfer better out on the golf course.

PS Most golfers love new information to try (Cognetive early stage learning) and are eager to use it expecting it to work as though knowing of it makes it (automatic) but really don't so much enjoy the critical (training) that it takes to actually develop and own the skill. A good coach who provides appropriate feedback and guided discovery will make training fun.
Harry

For all you miseries taking golf too seriously , I play off 3 , and that is after spinal fusion, not caused by golf, but weight training when I was 25 , I never played for 20 years until after the surgery, I may or may not use some of the ppgs but I also may use a bit of every style ever in history,, here's the best tip you will ever get , lengthen a sturdy old putter, put a normal grip on it and without thoughts of backswing or follow through just do what comes naturally to send the ball straight along the ground and in a straight line, you will find you just do it naturally, when you can do it consistently, take a normal club and you will be shocked at your new striking ability with a natural easy hit, this will work for you all, golf should be natural, oh and I got a hole in one my first full round after surgery , makes you sick , good luck to you all, and lighten up a bit , debate. Is therapeutic
Jim Wile

Let's just ignore Harry from now on. He seems to enjoy dropping stink bombs and watching how people react. There's no point in arguing with him because he makes no sense, as evidenced by the fact that he thinks the responses in this forum prove his point. He has chosen to ignore the many thoughtful responses from those folks whose games and understanding of the swing have greatly improved (and whose pains have been drastically reduced) by employing the PPGS.
Jim Morrow

Good morning Don and bloggers. I just read harry's comments along with most of the others. I can't help but make the following comments. First, golf is the most demanding sport that I have ever undertaken. It is physically demanding and the most exciting game I've ever undertaken. It requires the application of good fundamentals and training of both the body and the mind to work together to achieve any level of competance. Now having stated these things, it is also the most rewarding game that I have ever tried bar none. The rules of the game, the places we play, the friends we spend a couple of hourswith, the history, all make it a great undertaking. I have played in Scotland, Ireland, and many of the great courses in the United States. I have read birographies of Ben Hogan's, Byron Nelson, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, and others. When you build some depth to your game, the history, the rules, the swing, etc. You'll start to understand that it is a priviledge to read Don's writings and his teachings and how they contribution to the body of knowledge of the game of golf. There are a thousand ways to hit a golf shot. Go to any range and you'll see what I mean. There are millions of people with different physiques attempting to learn the game. Don has created a simple, easy to understand, easy on the back method for striking a golf ball with increditable consistency. And he is sharing it with us. Enjoy,

On a personal note, I have employed your swing methodology and am achieving tremendous results with trajectory which gives me distance control. I just went through a bad spell where I was standing up too straight. I discovered it Sunday afternoon after a weekend of okay golf on the practice range. I've been back to the range with correct posture and within 3 swings warming up its there dead straight with repeatable trajectory. I've got the shoulder turn into the mitt, limited hip turn, the bump, and standing up fast as I can. The shot is pure and enables me to control the ball. And I can take it to the course. A long drive in the middle of the fairway, a long rescue club, medium, or short iron into the green....and thats when golf becomes exciting. Do these things in a tournament and you'll feel an adrenalin rush you can't believe. That's when golf pays you back for all the hard work. And harry, you will never experience it until you built depth in your understanding of the game.

Don, keep up your fine contributions to the game. There are a lot of us out here that appreciated it. Thanks, and have a great day. I'm going to be hitting balls later today.
Frank Sullivan

Hi Surge
I too have wondered where DJ has been.
as for those members who are having trouble with the bump if they where to watch the videos of DJ and you they would realize that it is not a huge slide but a very small move I have watched it quite a bit and am not having any trouble with that section at all.

Frank
Dan Battles

You gotta love Harry.I've moved from the polite mid west to NY and, over time, I've grown to love the testy, edgy perspective, even though I don't practice it much. Question: Do you know how many new yorkers it takes to change a light bulb? Answer: None of your freaking business! It's all good.
Jim in CT

Surge,

The diagram of lifting the forward arm with the back arm shows the forearm past the toe line. Is that correct?
Harry

Well thanx for proving my point you obsessed tragic grafters, the point was that if you can roll a piece of paper up and land it in the waste bin 9 times out of 10 , you will be able to hit a ball with a purpose built stick better than the bin misser, if you ignored the slope on the face and just hit it in the right direction you will get a result, meanwhile keep on disecting the million theories and getting no further than if you tried any new style
david irvine

Don, with regard to ringing the bell in your audio post you state that as a right hander the top hand at the top of back swing is your right hand , would that not be the left hand, ie the left hand as in the top hand holding the club. ?
Kelly

Hey, add me to the shirt, hat, and windbreaker club (just don't make the logo too big and gaudy -- I'm not a billboard). I would gladly wear golf attire announcing my commitment and belief in the PPGS. I wear a Titleist hat and Nike shirts right now, and this swing method has done more to improve my game than either of those two company's products have.
Roy Reed

For Brian in Salt Lake: I experienced the same problems (sore elbow and even slightly sore shoulders and back) after my first range trip this season. I think it is just the long winter that did us in, even tho we tried to keep in shape! But the pain went away after 3 days and I'm now playing 3-4 times a week with no pain at all and my back is perfect! Hit em straight! R2
Pedro C.

I have been using your method for about 2 months but only about 4 times on the course.
This is only my 2 year playing golf. I was lucky to hit in the 100s at first. Since I have used your method my score has gone to the high 80s. My tees are much straighter (although I have lost a little distance) now only about 180 but I have been able to make it up on my next shots since they are pretty much on the green most of the time. I still have a little problem teeing off, my ball seems to go right. I have notice that it is going much too high. What do you think I am doing wrong that is causing this?
I will keep you inform of my progress since the weather is getting better and I’ll be able to practice more.
Thanks so much for all you email, I make sure to read them all and save them for future references
Pedro
Brent

I'm very happy with this program and the emails. Surge, if you read this, just know that there are golfers out there like me that are benefiting from all you hard work and patience. In a frozen scamble this weekend I made at least 10 shots that I would have never ever made in the past. Been playing 2-1/2 years now and am positive this will be my best season yet. My biggest treat was the three guys using five of my drives on the front nine, and then bypassing two great shots on the back just because a kid on the HS golf team that was playing with us flat out did better. He had a tap in eagle on a long par-5, first I've ever seen, but my 5-wood from 260 was on the back of the green.
John S

I should add, I am 70 now, had a bad car accident a few years ago, My right side from little toe to shoulder were badly smashed( for want of a term) hence my fall from 6 to 26 HC best part of 20 years between swings, my lower back also dmaged, had many operstions. But now I can play pain free. Thanks Don
Terry

I have trouble getting my hips to move (coordinated?))after completing the backswing. Do you have a sure fire drill to get the hips to move towards the impact zone from the backswing to to the ball with power.

Can't seen to get this hip turn to go through the ball. That seems to make making a divot very hard.

I hope I'm saying this correctly for a proper reply and solution.
John S

Range practice and course play are definately NOT the same. Reason, NO penalty for bad shot on the range, why worry you have a bucket full to go again. Course play, simple, wayward shot adds stroke, water right, hazard left and so on. SO, consequence of that can be negative thoughts. what if ? in turn detracts from concentration on what your swing should be. Just enjoy, I know I will never return to my single figure handicap, was 6 now 20, but so what, I have fun. Dons tips have helped in many ways, lost 6 from my 26 HC, Maybe I can lose more, who knows and who cares beside me. Dont bitch at Don, he is trying to help a lot of golfing morons like us. Just try, and most of all, enjoy your day in the sun when it comes
The Surge!

To Robert Thompson,

Regarding your wanting to buy some of the logo shirts we wear in the videos is interesting. We are presently having some made for PPGS Golf School participants as well as hats and a few other things all with PPGS logos and some with my Swing Surgeon logo on the shirts and windbreakers as well as a gift for coming to the schools.

I think we may look at starting a "SURGE STORE" and making these available to everyone. This may take some time as right now with summer coming we are working on improvements to the site and making instruction videos. But, I like your suggestion and hopefully we can get the Store going in due time.

The Surge!
Tom Stopski

To Ron & Harry:

Evidently you simpletons can't read either.....ever wonder why so many people, myself included, are reporting so much success with this method? Sounds like you are both frustrated. Suggest you change your attitude and perhaps you too can begin to enjoy the game more than you obvious do at present. You sound like some players we all know....who only take to the course..never practice...think the golf swing should come naturally to them...and remain frustrated golfers. Too bad.
The Surge!

To Dan Battles,

Your advice that the bump may be overdone is absolutely correct. Too much of a good thing can be bad as too much bump can be.

The bump is a lateral slide or shift of only an inch or 2 max. Slide more and you have just slid ahead of the ball, the club comes in late and open and hello blocks, pushes and slices to the right.

The Surge!
The Surge!

To RIck near Seattle, Washington,

Right now there are no certified instructors near you;

We are close to launching the PPGS Certified Instructors course hopefully in the next 60 to 90 days. So, hang in and maybe there will be one or more near you soon.

The Surge!
The Surge!

To John Cadwallader,

The bump is a small lateral forward slide or shift that then turns to release the club to impact and swing up to the T - Finish.

The biggest cause of coming over the top is turning too much in the backswing and getting the arms and club behind you in the Sacred Burial Ground. So, if you make the PPGS limited turn backswing and bump, which pulls the arms and club straight down,,,your over the top problem should be no more.

The Surge!
Robert Thompson

To Surge,

A few weeks back, I made a suggestion at the Inner Circle that you make available, some of the shirts that you wear in the Driver Video. If you do, I would gladly buy a couple of them and proudly wear them on the course all summer long.

Hit'em Long and Straight,
Bob
The Surge!

To Edyie Flaherty,

A big loop at the top I suspect is looping behind you in the transition. If this is your problem you need to add grip pressure and support the club more especially in your lower hand (closest to the clubhead), which at the top of the back swing is now the higher hand.. What this means is when you transition, the change in direction causes the club to be pulled backwards. If you do not fight this and try to keep the club as vertical as you can, using your lower hand, it will absolutely respond to gravity looping behind you, laid off and heavy and becoming very difficult to get back to square at impact.

The Surge!
Robert Thompson

To Joe B.

Welcome to the Surge Swing. I am a fellow Alaskan who lives and swings in Anchorage. I too am anxious for warm weather and green grass. If you haven't heard, Fish hook near Palmer is open. Maybe I'll see you there or in the Dome. I'll be the guy riding the skinny horse.

Hit'em Long and Straight,

Bob
The Surge!

To Walt,

You wonder if you may be un-cocking your wrist too soon. I suspect that is not the case.

For starters you are hitting the 3 wood and a few other clubs well. So, the swing is working. SInce you are having issues with blocks, I would suggest that maybe the problem lies with the arrow not the Indian. Instead of you un-cocking too soon there is a good chance your shaft is not un-loading and coming into impact late and slightly open. This would mean the shafts may be too soft or flexible for you. I would suggest seeing a club fitter to have the shaft flex checked on the clubs you hit well and compared to the ones you block right.

The Surge!
Shayne Murphy

Okay Surge, I think I found my “pre-top” position, which for me is my left arm is parallal to the ground, or slightly higher. I took my club and than swung up and you're correct as usual that my true top position raised my arm about 1 1/2 inches.

So now, as just told J. G. earlier in another blog (he is trying to help me feel the bump), I'm going to take my bag of round rocks to the pond across the street and skip rocks across the pond like a time far ago in my life. So help me I'm going to get this bump melded into my upswing.

Thanks to both of you for the tips and lesson. I can see it with my minds eye, just can't perform it...................yet.

Regards.................Shayne
The Surge!

To John Maloney,

Kerry's answer to you was very good. Play the course on the practice tee is good.

What I would check out on the course is your alignment. On the range it is easy to hit shots and pretty good ones but still off line enough to miss fairways and greens because of alignment.

So, on the range, aim for targets. Set up what would be a green to see if you hit it and fairway widths to also see if when hitting drivers you hit your practice tee fairway. This is another way of bringing the course to the practice tee.
'
The Surge!
The Surge!

To Ed Dunphy,

DJ is missing his 2nd tournament this week. He was suppose to take only 1 week off missing the Puerto Rico Open and play this week in The Transitions. He strained his back fishing last week, pulling in too many fish. and has been seeing a PT for treatment, He has had an orthopedic Surgeon X -Ray his back and the diagnosis is strained muscles. So, he is being worked on and hopes to be hitting balls in the next day or so. If all goes well he is planning on being at Bay Hill next week.

The Surge!
Steve the Husker

Harry = Troll

Ignore him.

I can't wait for spring. Drove out to the course after work and actually saw some bare patches of ground!! Two more weeks maybe?? Augh! I'm going nuts practicing in the house!!!
john cadwallader

Hi Surge....I've played golf a long time and am now 69 yrs old. I've a history of back issues for at least 12 yrs. My tragic flaw is coming over the top. It can happen @any time but mostly on fairway shots. Living in a cold weather climate, I always feel that each spring I have to endure a few shanks and thins. Yesterday I incorporated your approach and found I could utilize some of my former swing thoughts re: the down swing without coming over the top. My question is: Can I expect a cure for "over the top" by being more vertical and gaining more width in the back swing and utilizing the bump to initiate the down swing rather than turning my hips to the left? Also, I've been told that Hogan was a "slider".........can the bump be called a slide? Sincerely JC
Rick

Hi Don.

I really like the way my game is coming around using your swing philosophy. My question is are there any teaching instructors in my area that teach your swing. I live close to Seattle Washington.

Thanks don

Rick
Joe B

I have Been working on the PPGS In doors and outside ranges in Alaska. Have increased my yards for my driver by 75 Yards and have brought all my clud swings to the center and a little right and left. Still working on the right and left. For the most part they are center. Thanks to "The Surge" my wsing has invproved 150%. I look forward to the grass in Alaska to play on the courses. Keep the lessons coming please. And Yes I have bought the lessons and would have paid more for the best I have been playing in a long time.
Kevin McCarthy

Don, I believe I have found my personal connection to the bump thanks to your insights. I take the swing back to the mitt and up the tree. Once I feel my left arm (at the bicep) touch my chin, I ring the bell and do the bump. That produces not only a mental but a physical sensation that I have gone as far up the tree as I need. I have the visual that I am in a boxing ring, just got tagged on the chin, so ... Ring the Bell.
A side note, I have been leaving so many of my drives and hits to the right, that I went back and focused on your grip setup tips. After 4 years, I realized that I was always setting up with a strong right. Cannot thank you enough. Many readers will be like me where they think they have it right, but once you understand your details, may come to find that it can change their swing dynamics tremoundously.
Dan Battles

I think the reason most people complain about leaving the longer clubs' shots to the right is because they actually overdo the bump and move ahead of the ball. It's a little move, not a lurch.
Gene Galvin

To review;

1-To ring the bell , you mean pull down the rope/plunger outside the bell?

2- The T Finish is the club along your shoulders behind your neck or recoiled
back in front of you pointing at the flag so to speak?