Stack and Tilt after a wrist injury

I'm just starting to swing the clubs again after an eight month layoff for multiple reasons. The two main reasons are 1) I had an impingement problem with my right shoulder that caused my game to suck so badly last year, that I finally gave up after Labor Day, and 2) I shattered my right wrist while snowboarding in January, and had surgery to insert a plate and 15 screws (see picture in my avitar).

It's now 3 months post surgery and 6 weeks post cast removal, and I've had a full 30 days of therapy focusing on joint flexibility and strengthening. I started swinging the clubs 3 weeks ago, and could only hit off the tees with my wedges and shorts irons because the pain was pretty much unbearable. But in a matter of only 2 weeks, I was able to work through the pain, and now, I can make almost every shot, without much pain at all. The problem, as you might imagine, is after the extended layoff, not only do I have the wrist to deal with, but everything is off; timing, balance, distance, and accuracy. I've played about 5 rounds in the last 2 weeks, and I'm scoring in the mid to hig 80's.

With so many things to work on, combined with the fact that I've always had a very shallow swing path, and hit high balloning shots with all of my clubs, I thought that it might be a good opportunity to try something new.

I've been looking at the Stack and Tilt swing every since the 1st article came out in Golf Digest back in 2007, but never tried for fear of setting back my development. However, I ordered the DVD's a few weeks ago, and finally hit the range today ready to S&T.; After a few warm-up swings with a conventional swing, I set up for some S&T; drills. Right out of the box, I hit clean, crisp, still higher rthan average but not ballooning iron shots, and took some pretty impressive divots; a first for me. I hit around 200 balls, and 95% of the shots were dead center or 10 yards left of center after starting right and drawing back. The other 5% were miss hits with the 3-iron, or pulls to the left. All in all, I was pretty satisfied afterwards.

Now, I'm sitting at home, typing this while icing a somewhat throbbing and swollen left wrist, caused by all of the pounding into the turf my leading hand took. I'm guessing that about 60% of the shots that I hit, had divots just a bit bigger than they needed to be, but I chalked this up to the first time trying something new.

My question to everyone is 1) do you think that trying S&T; is a good thing given my recent wrist injury, 2) will I get better with time at taking slightly smaller divots, and 3) I know that there is plenty of S&T; negativity floating around, but given that I am almost starting from zero again with my swing, is it a good idea to give S&T; a try?

Thanks in advance for all of your comments and suggestions.

I think I'm in the minority of people who have actually tried S&T; and did NOT like it. Yeah sure I hit crisp iron shots, but I do that now with my 1P swing. You can't work the ball with S&T; or at least I couldn't. Just a silly 10yd draw always. I felt like Kenny Perry. And the driver?! Don't even get me started. I just hit low duck hooks with S&T.; I tried it almost 2 years ago at a 12 handicap and ballooned to 15 over a summer. Ditched it, went back to my old swing and just practiced practiced practiced. There really is no 1 way to hit a golf ball so if it works for you then by all means keep at it. But there's also a reason why most of the pros that were on it have since ditched it. Not to mention it just looks like a reverse pivot..

To me, it's fools gold.

It appears that most people who have tried S&T; have had similar results with the driver, or as you stated, they can only hit a draw (not exactly bad in my book) and have lost power in the process. Since I have been able to straighten my driver out, and probably average 280 right now, I didnt even want to try anything other than my normal driver swing.

My problem with the conventional swing is that I have never had much luck with the weight shift. Even when I am hitting the ball well, the move forward on the downswing is never quite right on my long irons, woods, and driver, and ends up looking awkward. Two years ago, I started working with a swing instructor, and by the end of '07, I was able to get my handicap down to about a 6, but still struggled with mechanics. That was the allure of S&T; for me. It seems to simplify things, and put me in position to hit those clean shots. I kinda like the click and swoosh of the ball compressing and the subsequent divot.

I'm willing to commit this season to the change, as long as its not going to damage my already damaged left paw. The divot thing is really new to me and I'm not quite sure what to expect.

I think you are doing great, mid 80s, after such a bad injury and layoff. Good luck to you.

Thanks for encouragement. Trust me, I need it!

Interesting enough, I had a session with my swing coach today, and he told me that I am progressing extremely well and suggested I stay with a conventional swing. He did however suggest more of a weight shift forward on the downswing, a la S&T;, to help with getting better compression on the ball.

good point. I think way too many people view the stack and tilt as an all or nothing proposition.

I have had a couple key parts of stack and tilt in the swing for a long time-- the lateral move promoting a strong hip angle and the lower left shoulder at address.