Stack & Tilt Driver

[anthony]

Long story short, I randomly started staying on my front last week at the range. I think I already had a backswing that "tilted" as I've been working on not swaying this year and must have developed it a bit. I was hitting my 56 degree wedge, which I keep my weight on my front foot for and decided to try it out with my other clubs. Wow.

Well, after 2 and a half range sessions, I'm hooked. Honestly, other than staying on my front foot, it doesn't feel that different. The ball flight and consistency is different though. My shots are shooting through the air like a rocket. I mean a freakin' rocket! I used to hit a shot like this every 20 swings, now I don't hit a rocket ball 1 out of 20 shots.

Anyways, back to the point. I don't know how I'm supposed to setup with the driver. I hit some good shots, but I hit some unreal slices and a few 100 yd ducks also. I know some people recommend using a "regular" swing for the driver, but I'd prefer not to (even though I've really improved my driver this year).

Thanks

[iacas]

Anyways, back to the point. I don't know how I'm supposed to setup with the driver. I hit some good shots, but I hit some unreal slices and a few 100 yd ducks also. I know some people recommend using a "regular" swing for the driver, but I'd prefer not to (even though I've really improved my driver this year).

No need to use a different swing.

More weight set up left (hips forward) at setup, then really push the hips forward more (even MORE weight left) on the downswing.

[Sandplay]

Well, after 2 and a half range sessions, I'm hooked. Honestly, other than staying on my front foot, it doesn't feel that different. The ball flight and consistency is different though. My shots are shooting through the air like a rocket. I mean a freakin' rocket! I used to hit a shot like this every 20 swings, now I don't hit a rocket ball 1 out of 20 shots.

After being on the forum a while now and reading so much about S&T; and how it benefitted so many people's games I to decided to try get my weight on the front foot and see how it went. I am exactly like you I have never hit my irons with so much consistency and power. My driver was horrible before hand but is slowly getting better. I would stick to it with all your clubs, I sure am.

[anthony]

No need to use a different swing.

Okay, I was doing the opposite and starting more 50/50. I'll give it a go today. thanks.

[iacas]

After being on the forum a while now and reading so much about S&T; and how it benefitted so many people's games I to decided to try get my weight on the front foot and see how it went. I am exactly like you I have never hit my irons with so much consistency and power. My driver was horrible before hand but is slowly getting better. I would stick to it with all your clubs, I sure am.

Here's the thing. I'll describe the weight in the backswing and downswing using percentages. L-R.

With irons, you can get away with 55-45 at address, the feeling of 60-40 at the top, and legitimately 60-40 at impact. A lot of people will do this and since a little more than half of their weight is forward at impact, they'll hit their irons better than ever. They'll often fake their way from impact to finish like they always have so that they felt like they were more left because they were - but not to the extremes needed to play really good golf. 60-40 at impact is not Stack and Tilt and it's not a great impact. In reality, what you'd want to see with the driver is: At setup, 60-40 or more. Head stays centered - this is just about the hips pushing forward at setup. The feeling of 70-30 at the top of the backswing. At impact, legitimately 90-10 or so. What I'm saying is that some people have early success with S&T; with their irons because they pre-set more weight left and leave it there, but they never actually add to it until after impact. A true S&T; swing - and a true "regular" golf swing, as on this they are no different - has the vast majority of your weight left BY IMPACT, not "faked" late into the follow-through. You accomplish this weight shift, again, by pushing your hips forward, as every good pro does. It has to be MORE forward with the driver because the ball's more forward.

[James_Black]

What makes a stack and tilt swing?
Doesn't a normal swing do the same thing?

[alf174]

I'm sure my weight distribution is not at those numbers but its definitely biased to the forward side - I'll get there, slowly. Gotta walk before I run.

Another big change is that at the top of my back swing it feels like my back is facing the target. I'm sure its not that extreme but it feels very different. Scary how my shots accurately follow my setup, alignment, and target line. I'm now about a 1-1/2 clubs longer on distance than I was a couple of weeks ago.

Sorry, I digress.

[iacas]

What makes a stack and tilt swing?

Without getting into it a bunch, it depends on how you define "normal." If you define normal as "flexed right knee, get your left shoulder over your right foot, coil into your right side, etc." then it's not the same, no. If "normal" is what Ben Hogan did for the most part, then they're the same, sure.

Anyway, not really the place for that discussion (again).

[rudygu]

Anyways, back to the point. I don't know how I'm supposed to setup with the driver. I hit some good shots, but I hit some unreal slices and a few 100 yd ducks also. I know some people recommend using a "regular" swing for the driver, but I'd prefer not to (even though I've really improved my driver this year).

The only thing I would like to point out is to really pay attention to your alignment and face angle at setup. I know it's obvious, but it can't be stressed enough IMO. If you're like me (and probably most people) your swing path is drastically different with S&T.; I wasn't really out to in before, but now I'm a good bit more in to out - enough so that it becomes very easy to hit a wild hook if I get sloppy at setup. Especially if this is coupled with a lack of weight shift and any kind of a flip at impact. They aren't kidding when they say to open your clubface a few degrees.

With irons, you can get away with 55-45 at address, the feeling of 60-40 at the top, and legitimately 60-40 at impact. A lot of people will do this and since a little more than half of their weight is forward at impact, they'll hit their irons better than ever. They'll often fake their way from impact to finish like they always have so that they felt like they were more left because they were - but not to the extremes needed to play really good golf.

It's like you've been watching me swing in secret. Good to know I'm not the only one who does this.