Consistent Stacking to Fix Other Issues

Still working my way through the Complete Golf Game Training Program, but I believe Chapter 6, the downswing, Tom addresses starting the downswing with the hip toward the target, crunching the right side, to get the reverse of the backswing tilt. In addition, he makes the point of doing this but not moving your head, which for me, with the driver, I find I really need to concentrate on this, to keep from shifting my contact point toward the target, thus 'hitting down' on the ball with the driver. With the shorter clubs, you can get away with some variability, but everything seems magnified with the driver. Hope this helps! Believe me, I'm still working on it 😂

@GolfLivesMatter @Tom SagutoThis video didn't do much for me...it seems antithetical to every thing Tom/SnT teaches. Tom always says that the swing is the same for every club...with some adjustment of ball position. This video also enhances my appreciation for Tom's ability to communicate on video...this guy never used 1 word when 10 would do! Just MHO.

I have done SnT with the driver for about 3 years. It has worked in terms of more consistent drives. But, I learned early on to not load on my lead side at address. After some time, the stack part was far more important than loading on my lead side. Then there's lead side extension....hmmm.

The driver swing is about distance, then reasonable accuracy. That said, in about any sport the trail leg is used to create power. A MLB pitcher pushes off the mound when throwing. An NFL QB plants on his trail foot then pushes off to throw. Long drive guys load on their right side. The list goes on and on.

Per all the instructors I've had, none of them had ANY problem with SnT for the irons because SnT promotes a descending AoA. But for that same reason, they didn't like SnT for the driver. They want a pressure shift off the right side for maximum swing speed and distance. This is not anything new because that's how I hit 300+ yards in my younger days with now inferior clubs and balls.

I think Bennett and Plummer knew/know that most folks who played the game for many years, struggled because they "shifted and lifted". Let's face it, most folks rarely broke 90. However, while better players shifted, they shifted into the inside of their trail heel. Plus, they didn't lift. That was me.

As such, for me, loading on the trail side with the driver has resulted in 20+ yards without any loss of accuracy. I'm back to my old swing. I can also rotate to the top much easier, but then again, I am very flexible. Allowing the trail leg to straighten with SnT definitely allows less flexible folks to get some trail side extension, but most stop short anyway. The argument over the trail knee position, straight or bent, and pressure shifting, will never end. But I think there's a happy medium, and SnT's stack and tilt piece paved the way for me to allow a trail side loaded setup. I just stack to more to the right.

The last data on Trackman for both swings, right side load vs. SnT left side, showed me going from a -5* AoA to +2.2*. Spin rates dropped into the 2,300 range from >3,000. Launch angle moved up to 15-17*. I use a 9*, stiff shaft Ping G driver for reference.

That said, the SnT driver setup can be a "go to" for me if I'm off one day because it's a more controlled swing with less variables. Thus both swings work and it's nice to have two different setups when needed. The caveat for me with the SnT swing is to move the ball more up in my stance to minimize a negative AoA...AND...get a LOT of lead side extension on the downswing. One way to curtail the negative AoA is to bump the lead hip at the top, but I have found that to be somewhat tricky. It does work, but I can easily get into a reverse pivot. I have to make sure the lead knee doesn't move inward on the backswing, then I'm Ok.

As for tour averages, I think the LPGA tour is probably a better overall benchmark. Their average AoA is +3*. And this is interesting. The swing speeds on the LPGA tour represent more than 2/3rds of the male golfing population. Thus, folks could be chasing equipment, AoA's, launch angles, and using golf balls that are suboptimal for their swing speed.

In consideration of the LPGA tour, and sprinkling in a little of the long drive video, I thought more about weight distribution and AoA. A more loaded lead side promotes more negative AoA's. Therefore, a more loaded trail side will promote more positive AoA's. In theory, 50/50 should be neutral or 0* AoA. That's my 3W setup.. It's not hard to discover what works because the proof is in the distance gained, or lost.

The driver is very important to get right because an additional 20+ yards can make a significant difference in scoring. No matter what one does, whether load on the left or right, stack and tilt is required...again...required. LOL. Plus, staying behind the ball on the driver makes or breaks a long drive.

I linked some articles regarding the subject that folks might like to read.

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This story was selected as one of the 15 best GolfWRX stories of 2015! Did you know that your club speed is much more likely to resemble that of an LPGA Tour player than a PGA Tour player? Sure all golfers want to swing like Rory, Tiger, Jordan or Jason, but due to differences in […]

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A recent hotly debated topic has been, as golf instructors, should we encourage golfers to hit up or down on the ball with their driver? While there have been many points of views and arguments, I wanted to take a stab at trying to explain this conversation from a scientific perspective with a real-world application. […]