Daily Video Blog

Authored by: Brady
Posted on: 21 March 2026

Don Trahan's analysis of his own swing with different clubs reveals golf's most misunderstood concept: it's your arms that swing on plane, not the club.

Most golfers focus on getting the club on plane, but Don's demonstration shows this is wrong. At address, your arms start below the plane—especially the trail arm (right arm for righties, left arm for lefties). This is correct and necessary.

During takeaway, Don rotates the clubhead first, moving the toe toward "the catcher's mitt" and "up the tree." This rotation naturally lifts his lead arm onto the plane, where it stays throughout the backswing. At the top, his lead hand and forearm align perfectly on the plane while the clubhead passes through it.

The downswing shows his lead arm maintaining plane contact until just before impact. After impact, physics takes over—the trail arm moves onto the plane while the lead arm comes off it, demonstrating equal and opposite reaction.

Don's vertical swing style... Read More

Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 27 May 2011
Comments: 257
What is it with golf publications? I understand they need to report on the latest swing that promises you an extra 50 yards or gives you the ultimate tip to sink that 30 foot putt. Fine. If that... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 25 May 2011
Comments: 148
Mike, from Ireland, said he got in the catcher'€™s mitt and up the tree in the backswing, but was having trouble understanding where the hands were supposed to be in the downswing. Good question... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 24 May 2011
Comments: 61
You may remember my advice about practice swing. I always say you take a practice swing (or two) to feel the swing. And when you'€™re ready you swing the feel. But it was pointed out on the blog... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 22 May 2011
Comments: 164
At one of our golf schools, a student had the Surge Swing down pretty well. In the mitt, up the tree, good T-Finish. But he was lacking one important part: power. Watching him swing was like... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 21 May 2011
(A Surge Classic) The Surge Squad has been going over video tips from the past that drew some very good response last year. Since we'€™ve got so many '€œnewbies,'€ they suggested we occasionally... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 20 May 2011
Comments: 140
The Surge and Derek Hardy finished off the final day of the Swing Surgeon golf school at Golden Bear Training Center in Carrollton, Texas with a discussion on how much the students improved. They... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 18 May 2011
Comments: 114
The Surge reviews the second day of the golf school at Golden Bear Golf Center in Carrollton, Texas, just outside of Dallas. He'€™s talking with Certified Club Fitter, Russ Ryden, who helped... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 18 May 2011
We are proud to give you a great conversation with Don '€œThe Surge'€ Trahan and the head of our West Coast golf schools, Derek Hardy. Derek joined Don for a golf school at Golden Bear training... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 16 May 2011
Comments: 208
In the Surge Swing, there are two '€œcenters'€ to consider: the center of gravity of your body and the center of your swing. You'€™ll find them at the bottom of your spine and the top of your... Read More
Authored by: Don Trahan
Posted on: 13 May 2011
Two of the signature aspects of the Surge Swing are narrow stance and wide knees. The knees should be over the ball of your feet. This allows you to keep your body in dynamic balance as you make... Read More