More stack and tilt...

As we have discussed previously in this blog...the stack and tilt form of golf swing is one of the hot catch phrases in the game today. Both words are very accurate for a good swing, but we do need to understand their exact meaning in order to execute a sound swing.

Where and what are we tilting when we use the word to describe this technique? The tilt refers to the spine tilting toward the ball at address and turning your left shoulder down toward the ball in your backswing. Basicly, you are looking to keep your spine centered over the ball through your entire swing. Staying centered is another way of saying "stacked". Aaron Baddeley makes a great example of the positions in a "Stack and Tilt" golf swing.

If you look at Mr. Badds in the down the line photo, you will notice the club is "laid off" which will require a re-routing of the club to the outside and a early release or disconnection from his power source. (Draw a line on the club and extend it towards the ball...if this line is pointing to a position outside of your target line, then you are in a "laid off" position.

If Mr. Badds would create more extension (not tuck his right elbow in his side) with his backswing and tilt over his right side, instead of staying centered...I believe his club stays more upright and on plane to the ball. typically a club that is "laid off" is open and also under the swing plane. Open and under are two variables that don't equate into very good golf shots for the average golfer. Jerry Kelly is the best tour example of a player with an open and under move into impact. Notice his follow through and how he always leans excessively to left after contact as though he has missed his shot to the right. This is from him having to over-rotate his forearms to square the club face.

The changes I have made in the last 18 months were to eliminate this open and under position I had in my golf swing. My errors came from a different set of problems, but at impactl, my big miss was high/right indicative of swinging "under" the swing plane and the clubface being "open"to the swingpath. Under and closed could work...ala Kenny Perry. He swings under the swing plane with a "closed" clubface. (This is what translates into a draw/hook shot...The ball must start outside the target line and curve back to the target).

Most beginning to average players are the exact opposite of Kenny Perry...they are outside and open. It typically can work, but generally players will overwork their arms in this swing resulting in very, very inconsistent ball flight. Some very good players with outside/open swings are Bruce Lietzke, Hale Irwin and Craig Parry. Johnny Miller's commentary during Parry's 2004 win at Doral, described Parry's swing as "enough to make Ben Hogan puke". Parry won the tournament in a playoff over Scott Verplank with an eagle "2" on the famed #18 at Blue Monster.

"PRO"

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