Lead knee pain?

@Ryan P - Your V1 swing uploads offered some very definitive clues as to why that lead knee is bothering you. I hope my analysis and recommendations will help to alleviate this while also putting you on the path towards much-improved ball striking.

My knee's been feeling a bit better, so I made my way down to the range again, this time with the camera. One thing I noticed was that I was really shifting hard onto the lead leg in the backswing, basically with 100%+ on the lead leg at the top of the backswing. My right hip was moving drastically toward the target (probably 6+ inches). So the rest of my time at the range I focused on just slight weight forward, keeping that about the same in the backswing and moving more forward on the downswing and follow-through. Of course, this was my feel (yours may be different). Also, focused on keeping that trail hip from rotating so much behind my lead leg toward the target. Basically less drastic S+T.

The results so far have been good. Along with doing a bit more stretching of my legs before and after, including IT band stretches, it seems like the knee pain is better. Ball contact is probably even better. I will post again and send video if it returns.

Hello, all - First, loving Saguto golf and the Stack and Tilt (S&T) method. It is the one method that I can use that gives me crispy, clean, contact on every shot. Simply hands down the best out there, and Tom does a great job teaching it!

Truth be told, I started using S&T about 4 years ago but had to stop because of lead knee pain. Basically, after a round of golf, I hobbled around the next couple of days because the sides, and lower front portion (below the kneecap), of my knee, were SO sore. Because of this I tried to find other swings (besides S&T) and changed my swing no less than 5 times. Each time, however, the methodology was nowhere near as consistent as S&T. However, now I am giving S&T a second shot.

Obviously, other people use it with no knee pain; so what gives with me? I have the S&T book (red book) and follow its (and Tom's) guidance. However, if I hit about 100 balls at the range I get soreness. Any ideas as to what I am doing (wrong)?

Right now I flare my feet out about 20-30 degrees so as not to put a lot of torsional (twisting) force on my joints, but alas the pain still comes. Also, I would say that I am a pretty "fit" person as I cycle, run 5Ks, and am enrolled in Karate (plenty of kicking, use of the knees, etc.) and experience no pain doing any of those activities.

Any ideas would be very helpful! Thank you all!

I'm facing this very issue myself. I've had to stop swing all together. I don't feel pain all the time but, every so often, I move a certain way and it like someone kicked me in the side of my knee toward the back. the pain then fades away. The worst I've felt was during the golf swing. Those few times were blinding and put me on my hands and knees. I've got a call into the Dr. but, these types of things are not essential now with hospitals overrun with covid patients still...

It totally sucks and I'm probably losing progress but, what can you do...

It's been happening for some time. At first it would only happen during practice on the mat and I wasn't wearing the best shoes. It's never happened on the course. So I thought maybe try something different. I remembered somewhere that said Ben Hogan practiced barefoot. So, I was doing that. But it continued to worsen. Now it can happen just walking and pivoting wrong or if I step up onto something with my right foot extending the left leg and pushing off. This is something I do often climbing on and our boat or around docks and such. As I said those are just pings and not the pain I felt during a few practice sessions.

Thanks Tom. I'm going to lay off it for a bit, but after that, I'll take some video.

@Roland Maynard - The lead knee should only work down and up in the slightly flared out direction that was preset at address. There should not be any twisting/torquing type of action involved unless some type of incorrect motion is being executed or if you are swinging beyond your body's natural stopping point.

Perhaps a V1 Analysis may be in order so I can put my eyes on your swing and identify the issue. Alternatively, you can post your swing in the Forum community's Video Analysis Room where fellow members can have a look and offer their thoughts.

Either way, I agree with comments from others that you should limit your swinging until the source of your pain is detected and resolved.

I have not watched that section (I have pretty good flexibility, so did not look there). I'll check it out. Thanks for the suggestion.

Have you ever tried to preset your weight (shown in Senior golfers with lower mobility) or preset the tailbone to tarket position, in this case you need no shifting except tugging but under hips while straighten left leg.

Thanks Doug and Rudi! I'll lay off it for a bit. I have been using the "goofy" foot stance with my practice and play, so that's probably not it. I'm wondering if I need to track my knee a bit better in my downswing. I think the kneecap tends to rotate forward rather than stay more-or-less pointed the same directions as the toes.

Best wishes, get well soon. First answer is, stop that move until you know what you did wrong and being sure that there is no damage in your knee and ancle. Starting golf 20 years ago I played with pain and killed the meniscus of my right knee.

The left knee should move in the direction of your left toes. Left foot should be plain, means no weight only at heel or toes, no rolling of the feet.

As there is no video of your move even Tom has to guess what is wrong.

Knee to much to the target, to much weight on the knee, straightening of left leg to late ... or Doug's guess ?

Sorry.

@Roland Maynard Oh man, I'm sorry to hear this. I haven't had any of those issues. Is your left foot turned out enough to the target? If you watch Bryson and long drive hitter Kyle Berkshire, they turn there left foot through the swing to prevent knee damage, they have to because they are literally hitting it with the wrath of God.