On the backswing if one draws a circle around the head is the goal to keep the head within this circle. I do note that I tend to lower and move to the right on the backswing. Also at the top of the swing with the spine extension how much weight do you feel on your left foot. I find it difficult to initiate the lateral hip move of the weight is predominately on the left side.
top of page
bottom of page
Yes - interesting indeed, Rick, but not surprising at all. Stack and Tilt is a model of the golf swing based on data from the best golf ball strikers. For this reason, someone can be doing Stack and Tilt without even knowing that they're doing it. This is because there are basic requirements that must be met to hit a golf ball consistently on the center of the clubface with the club bottoming out in the same place every time on the ground. There are also requirements necessary to add power to the golf swing without sacrificing accuracy. Stack and Tilt determined based on a study of the best golfers of all time that they all had 3 things in common (the 3 main golf fundamentals): 1. Hit the ground in the same spot every time (consistent crispy contact) 2. Have enough power to play the golf course well (wrath) 3. Be able to have a predictable curve (accuracy). A golfer MUST be able to do those 3 things to be good at golf, and Stack and Tilt is a system and a model of the golf swing that accomplishes these incredibly well.
With respect to the specific elements of S&T, let's take Ben Hogan as an example: Did Mr. Hogan tilt, turn, and extend while maintaining his swing center? Yes. Did his lead arm match his tilted shoulder plane at the top of the backswing, signifying no independent lifting of the arms? Yes. Did he take his hands in deep to access the tremendous power source known as "angular momentum"? Yes. Aside from the brief temporary shift of pressure into his trail side at the start of his swing, was his weight otherwise forward throughout as evidenced by his bending front leg and straightening trail leg? Yes. Did his motion facilitate an unrestricted 45 degrees of tilted hip turn to promote another 45 degrees of effortless tilted shoulder turn (for a full 90 degrees)? Yes. Now then - they can call it what they want or not call it what they don't want - but the bottom line is that this is what Mr. Hogan did, and it just happens that these same swing elements happen to be shared with The Golfing Machine, M.O.R.A.D., and - yes - even this dark sorcery known as Stack and Tilt!......
Tom: Thanks for the great feedback. I like your new format. I just returned from Florida playing the Blue Monster and had a frustrating time. Your are right the old habits are to break. Now stuck to indoor work with no hitting nest. Once the weather improves plan to do another V1 session and try again to get on the right track. It is interesting as I look at other video sites the stack and tilt concepts are common to many of them.
Hi Rick,
Those pesky "ghosts of swings past"... The ones you mention - especially flattening out and shifting into the trail side - certainly die hard.
Regarding weight ratios: You start with your weight forward (55/45 on the front side; 60/40 for the longer clubs), increase that same weight forward to the top of the backswing (70/30), and further increase the forward weight during the downswing from halfway down (80/20) through impact (90/10) and to the finish at 95/5 forward. There is no prescribed shift into the trail side at any point during the swing.
As for keeping your head in the "circle" and not shifting off the ball: If you tilt toward the target while keeping your head in place you will introduce the other components of turning and extending to put your body in the perfect backswing position with your shoulder oriented downward towards the ball. To get a feel for the coordinating of these elements we can reverse engineer it like this: Without a club in your hands rest the top of your forehead against a wall to keep it in place. Without allowing your head to move execute the side tilting motion and watch what happens. Magically your lead shoulder has turned downward and your spine has extended!!
Here's another way to go about it:
1) Get into your setup posture
2) Stand up straight (extend)
3) While standing erect (extended) tilt your upper body towards the target, keeping your hips in place.
4) Now that you are extended and tilted, turn your upper body as you would in your backswing, keeping your weight forward while allowing your hips to turn 45 degrees and your trail leg to straighten.
There you have your backswing - tilted, turned, and extended!!
Finally, we regard to the lateral hip move, try working on This Tailbone-to-Target Drill from the Indoor Training Program. I refer to it as the "Grail" because if you execute this properly it puts everything on autopilot and you don't need to worry about getting those hips forward because they already are!
Please keep us posted!
Tom