Stack and Tilt: Driver Loft

[The Gill]

I'm trying to learn the Stack and Tilt swing to crispen up my ball striking...

I'm currently using a 9 degree driver. My previous driver swing involved swinging from a wide base and really hitting up on it... Now I'm hitting balls a bit lower with much more of a cut.

1: What was your experience like making the switch?

2: Did anyone have to add more loft to the driver on the account of being further on the left side at impact?

[iacas]

I went up in loft but that was because my old swing had the handle leaning back and my current swing has the handle staying forward of the ball, even with the forward ball position I have with a driver, so the 10.5 degrees and the X-flex shafts I use now really help me to get the ball in the air. I tend to hit the ball just with a slight descending to flat strike.

If you're hitting a low cut I wonder if the face isn't actually closed rather than open and if you wouldn't benefit a little from these two videos (I filmed 'em, and this pair has the rare bonus feature of having two gangly, tall, skinny Golf Evolution instructors + Dave and me filming/editing/producing). Steve is the Philly guy, James the Brit:

Are you able to film your swing? Even 60 FPS would be better than nothing. Heck, even a cell phone video of reasonable quality would be helpful to those who can help you.

[Phil McGleno]

Originally Posted by The Gill

I'm trying to learn the Stack and Tilt swing to crispen up my ball striking...

I'm currently using a 9 degree driver. My previous driver swing involved swinging from a wide base and really hitting up on it... Now I'm hitting balls a bit lower with much more of a cut.

1: What was your experience like making the switch?

2: Did anyone have to add more loft to the driver on the account of being further on the left side at impact?

I've always taught something similar to S&T; (a one-plane swing with a centered pivot) and the thing is... your old swing probably produced an impact position with your hands back and manually adding loft to the club. Your new swing, regardless of what it is, should produce cleaner contact, period, and that'll mean having the hands more forward.

I too am concerned that yous ay you're "now" hitting balls lower with more of a cut. Unless your old shot was a slice, then I'm not sure that some of the principles of S&T; are being applied as well as they should, and I might hold off on tweaking your equipment until you can get that sorted out.

What's the ball position like, how wide is your stance, and how well do you "move the circle forward" as they would say on the downswing so you can still hit out at the ball?

[The Gill]

I have a Canon T2i I can shoot 60 FPS with. I'll try to take a video the next time I'm out.

Undoubtedly my hands were behind the ball during my old swing: wide stance and playing the ball on my left instep...

Thanks for the videos. Forgive me if these are answered in the book (mine is on order):

1. If you're pushing off with your legs, does it feel like the left quad is doing most the work?
2. What is the theory of a sight descending blow with the driver being more efficient?

[iacas]

Originally Posted by The Gill

If you're pushing off with your legs, does it feel like the left quad is doing most the work?

What is the theory of a sight descending blow with the driver being more efficient?

1. The feels are different for everyone. The left knee can often feel like it goes down and forward. I don't think we've ever used the left quad feel, but give it a try. On the downswing, your left knee should move in front of your left foot, and your hips (your left pocket) should be sliding that way as well, and should also be outside of your left foot.
2. More compression, hands forward, still hitting slightly out at the ball. The PGA Tour average is -1.3 degrees. Swinging up can get you more distance but it'll tend to lead to control issues. Frankly, anything in the +/-2 degrees area is fine with the driver. Just get consistent and then get fit for that.