AK Employs Mini Stack-and-Tilt Move on Sunday at Masters

[iacas]

Though virtually every pro employs a big majority of the S&T; principles, I always find it interesting when pros actually admit to certain things. For example, on page 38 of the most recent Sports Illustrated Anthony Kim says about his Sunday round:

"I couldn't get the ball in the fairway saturday, so on Sunday i decided to stay on my left side and swing as hard as I can!"

What'd he shoot Sunday? 65. Sweet.

[Keep It Simple]

But he still kept his right leg firmly braced and restricted his hip turn in the backswing (he had almost no hip turn) which is quite anti S&T.;

[iacas]

But he still kept his right leg firmly braced and restricted his hip turn in the backswing (he had almost no hip turn) which is quite anti S&T.;

Yes, he does that, and that's not great but it's fine if you can get 100° of upper body turn without any hip turn. Can you? Does Tiger Woods? Did Ben Hogan?

[Rexx]

Since it's popular to quote "feel isn't real" here, how do we know if AK actually kept his weight on the left side? It's possible he just used less (or no) weight shift during the backswing from a balanced position. It would be interesting to get him (along with other pros) on pressure plates.

[iacas]

Since it's popular to quote "feel isn't real" here, how do we know if AK actually kept his weight on the left side? It's possible he just used less (or no) weight shift during the backswing from a balanced position. It would be interesting to get him (along with other pros) on pressure plates.

Thing is... your weight doesn't actually stay on the left side in a Stack and Tilt swing either. It still goes right because your chest and arms weight a good bit. But it doesn't go as far right as in the "conventional" swing.

Even in Stack and Tilt there's a weight shift back (right) and forward (left). It just feels like it stays there. Stack and Tilt isn't as crazy a swing method as you'd think. You could watch Dave or I hit balls all day and not even necessarily guess that we were using a Stack and Tilt swing.

[Titleist_ProV1x]

Stack and Tilt isn't as crazy a swing method as you'd think. You could watch Dave or I hit balls all day and not even necessarily guess that we were using a Stack and Tilt swing.

I could, hehe .... but why stack and then tilt? why not tilt and stay tilted? lol

[Rexx]

Thing is... your weight doesn't actually stay on the left side in a Stack and Tilt swing either. It still goes right because your chest and arms weight a good bit. But it doesn't go as far right as in the "conventional" swing.

I'm a little confused... does the weight move back to the left at the top? Because

here and here are two places where they mention more weight on the left as the swing progresses, even during the backswing. Is there anything in those articles that is incorrect (or has since changed)?

[right handed phil mickelson]

I could, hehe .... but why stack and then tilt? why not tilt and stay tilted? lol

I'll let you handle this one Erik...

[iacas]

I could, hehe .... but why stack and then tilt? why not tilt and stay tilted? lol

The tilt is towards the ball at the top of the backswing. You don't tilt towards the target. You add tilt as you extend your spine (stand up) and turn on the backswing.

I'm a little confused... does the weight move back to the left at the top? Because

Nothing's changed. They're stressing a feeling of weight increasing on the left side throughout the swing. In reality the weight does what I said it does - goes right, but not as much as in a "conventional" swing (largely due to the lack of the head shifting back - your head is heavy).

[BallStriker]

Just wanted to write a couple quick thoughts and thank Eric and others for this thread......I have always been a player that plays with a strong grip wiht the ball way back in my stance and trap/pinch the ball....my miss is mostly a pull draw that starts at my target or left of the target and zips left......I generally start with about 75% of my weight on the back foot and never really shift my weight forward until after impact...

Anyway, I have heard of S&T; and read about it, but for some reason it never really clicked until I ready Eric's thoughts about how the tour players incorporate a great deal of the principals....for the past week I have been hitting 4 irons just inside my left heel....65-70% of my weight on my left foot....keeping my head on the ball and turning the left shoulder under, but keeping everything else pretty stable, which feels like I am leaving everything on my left foot...but, I know I am going back with my weight, but I also know I am coming back to my left side before/at impact.....my 4 iron is 15 yards + longer right now and I have eliminated a great deal of my flippy hand draw....I am noticing even a bigger difference in my shorter irons (proportionately).....but the biggest difference is removing the big looping draw that I used to have...even with my short irons I was getting a 10 yard draw......

Kudos....great thread.....need to keep working, but as a huge golf swing tinkerer, this is exciting stuff for me.

[westcyderydin]

who cares.

earlier this year i tried hitting with my weight forward. i golfed great that round. but after that it caused some problems. my back knee wanted to straighten out and i couldnt get good contact after that. i started turing back really wierd and it took a couple of days to get back to normal. it was a fairily annoying ordeal.

[Zeph]

The back knee is supposed to straighten out in the backswing. I can see that trying to prevent it straightening out can cause problems. How much it straightens varies, you don't want the right knee to lock, but it should get close to as straight as it can before going past straight and can get locked.

[sean_miller]

The back knee is supposed to straighten out in the backswing. I can see that trying to prevent it straightening out can cause problems. How much it straightens varies, you don't want the right knee to lock, but it should get close to as straight as it can before going past straight and can get locked.

A couple of those don't look competely natural - as long as they work and don't lead to injury.

[Zeph]

Natural? Why not, and what is natural? Try standing up, flexing the knees and rotate the hips back. If you are relaxed, the natural thing happening is the left knee gaining flex and right knee straightening out. Keeping the flex constant through the swing is anything but natural, it is a motion you have to force and puts a lot more strain on the body than doing what comes naturally. Also, trying to keep the knee flex will prevent the hips to turn fully and you can risk the hips getting ahead of the upper body.

No evidence at all exist that it should lead to injury.

[sean_miller]

Natural? Why not, and what is natural? Try standing up, flexing the knees and rotate the hips back. If you are relaxed, the natural thing happening is the left knee gaining flex and right knee straightening out. Keeping the flex constant through the swing is anything but natural, it is a motion you have to force and puts a lot more strain on the body than doing what comes naturally. Also, trying to keep the knee flex will prevent the hips to turn fully and you can risk the hips getting ahead of the upper body.

The photos all look similar but different - I've been looking at a few swing related youtube videos - these all look really good actually (who knew?!?!?). You're more on top of this than I am Zeph - carry on!