| In a recent issue of Golf Digest (June 2007) a | | | | Or have a close look at the famous 1930s videos |
| "new" golf swing being promoted by golf coaches | | | | produced by Bobby Jones. There is no obvious |
| Andy Plummer and Mike Bennett is featured. This | | | | shift towards the back leg. Jones remains |
| new approach to the golf swing is called the | | | | centered over the ball throughout the swing and is |
| "Stack and Tilt" swing. | | | | more concerned with rotation around the center |
| In describing the Stack and Tilt swing, Peter | | | | point than he is with the lateral weight shift |
| Morrice, the author of the article, indulges in a bit | | | | characteristic of the typical modern swing. |
| of overstatement when he says "Their | | | | Points of Interest |
| secret...contradicts almost everything being taught | | | | There are clearly some aspects of the Stack and |
| in the game today." But is this swing really that | | | | Tilt swing that may help the average golfer hit |
| unique? | | | | the golf ball more squarely and more precisely. |
| The Key Difference | | | | The first is the lack of emphasis placed on the |
| The biggest difference with the "Stack and Tilt" | | | | weight shift. For many golfers this idea is |
| swing is that it completely downplays the idea of | | | | misleading and results in a lateral shift that basically |
| shifting your weight to your back foot when | | | | turns the golf ball into a moving target. Shifting |
| making the backswing. In fact this "new" swing | | | | one's weight to the back also results in a |
| encourages the golfer to keep his or her weight | | | | "shallower" swing which increases the chances of |
| on the front foot, and, if anything, move it more | | | | bottoming out too early. Depending on a variety |
| directly over the front foot during the takeaway. | | | | of factors this can either result in fat shots or thin |
| Some older golfers will think this looks like a | | | | ones. As an alternative, pressing into the front |
| "reverse pivot" where the golfer seems to be | | | | foot as you take the club back very definitely |
| leaning towards the target at the top of the | | | | forces a steeper approach to the ball and should |
| swing. Teachers of the typical modern swing have | | | | result in fewer topped shots. It also results in a |
| their golf students draw the club back and stack | | | | lower trajectory since it de-lofts the club, and this |
| their weight over their back leg when the club hits | | | | may give you greater run on certain kinds of |
| the top of the swing. But Stack and Tilt | | | | fairways. |
| encourages the golfer to lean towards the target | | | | The second point is that Stack and Tilt promotes |
| while the club is taken up. | | | | a flatter swing. A flatter swing is less vertical and |
| Some Subtle Differences | | | | more rotational, and is the way Stack and Tilt |
| For many golfers it may be hard to spot the | | | | compensates for being more on top of the ball |
| differences at first, but there are some significant | | | | when the downswing is begun. |
| ones. For one thing with the typical modern swing | | | | The third point is the fairly advanced idea of the |
| the back leg remains bent with a slight flex at the | | | | "pelvic thrust" which the Stack and Tilt teachers |
| knee. With the Stack and Tilt the back leg | | | | claim helps get the club approaching the ball |
| straightens out. The photos featured in the Golf | | | | correctly. This is probably where Stack and Tilt |
| Digest article (p.122) demonstrate how the back | | | | becomes too difficult for many average golfers. |
| leg straightens out as it pushes back towards the | | | | With Stack and Tilt, since one's weight and |
| target. | | | | shoulder position are forward, the approach to the |
| As a result the front side of the body is | | | | ball will be significantly steeper than normal. The |
| "stacked" over the front foot, and the trailing side | | | | pelvic thrust, along with the more rotational swing, |
| of the body is "tilted" towards the target. | | | | helps to "shallow out" the swing. You achieve this |
| For a comparison with the typical modern swing | | | | by rapidly rotating your hips around and pushing |
| look at photos of Tiger's swing of the last few | | | | your front hip up and towards the target. This |
| years, or see the photo of V.J. Singh's swing on | | | | creates the sensation of almost jumping up and |
| page 43 of the same issue of Golf Digest. Singh's | | | | striking the ball while on your toes. If you've ever |
| upper body is "stacked" over his back leg at the | | | | seen Natalie Golbus swing a golf club you've got a |
| top of the swing, and the trailing side of his torso | | | | fairly good idea what this looks like. |
| is perpendicular to the ground as he pushes his | | | | If these seem like technical points that are |
| weight back over his back leg. This is quite | | | | beyond your level of expertise, just give the |
| different from the way the torso is angled | | | | "weight forward" idea a try. All you have to do is |
| towards the target with the Stack and Tilt swing. | | | | start with noticeably more weight on your front |
| It's All Been Done Before | | | | foot, and then press into that foot as you take |
| If you are familiar with the teachings of most | | | | the club up. You will probably find that it feels |
| modern golf coaches this may sound like a radical | | | | quite different from what you are used to. This |
| departure from golf orthodoxy. But the fact is, | | | | move should result in fewer thin hits. But it may |
| there have always been alternative schools of | | | | also result in more pushes, especially with the |
| thought which questioned the simplistic "weight | | | | longer clubs, so you may have to adjust the |
| shift" idea. In particular, look at old photos of Jack | | | | positioning of the ball. You may also find it more |
| Nicklaus, Ben Hogan or Sam Snead. None of these | | | | physically taxing - requiring more body contortions |
| golfers make the major shift over the back leg | | | | - and for most of us that is not a good thing. |
| like you see with Tiger Woods, for instance. | | | | |