Stack and Tilt

If you have been playing golf for any period of time, you may believe that there is nothing new under the sun. Conventional wisdom, however, is there for the challenging and the powers that be can come up with new ideas. Such is progress. In 2007, golf coaches Andy Plummer and Mike Bennet introduced a new technique that has come to be known as the stack and tilt swing. You might not completely understand the fundamental differences between the traditional swing and this one. By now you will of course be asking yourself if this new swing could improve your own game.

In a "normal" swing your weight transfers to the back foot during the backswing. This new stack and tilt swing, in contrast, encourages you to straighten the back leg and keep your weight towards the front and actually lean into your swing as the club impacts the ball. In practice, it looks much like the reverse pivot. While this is quite different than what is traditionally taught, the truth is that everyone has their own personal techniques, and there has always been differences among golfers.

Is it possible to improve your game using this new technique? Most certainly it can. I  say that there’s always room for improvement and this swing could well be the answer to putting right some of the fundamental weak points in your game. The swing does a few things. A properly executed stack and tilt results in a steeper approach and a lower trajectory. The resulting swing is somewhat flatter. You may like to give this swig a go unless, of course, your swing is already great. However, it is also clear that this swing can be quite difficult to learn. The old saying that it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks definitely applies here. It might be difficult for you to adjust to this new swing if the tradition alone is very much ingrained. If you take the time to practice this you will get there even if your game suffers a little short term.

Individual variations and interpretations abound in the world of golf. Of course, not every golfer needs the stack and tilt method but for many it can provide the boost they need. Golfers like Tiger Woods are obviously ok sticking with a traditional swing. And, like the saying goes, if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Of course you might not want to change a thing if you’re already happy with your swing.

The concept may be easy, stack your weight and tilt to the target. But there seems to be a misconceived notion that it’s more complicated.  Nevertheless, the Stack Tilt swing has convinced many, that this method holds a key to consistency and power. But is this swing for everyone?

Stack & Tilt innovators Andy Plummer and Mike Bennett have pioneered a concept that is truly revolutionizing the golf swing. They have rolled out a method that has convinced some of the best golfers in the world to change their bread and butter… their swing. Not an easy task! The results have been quite astonishing. Many PGA players are either using it or considering using this swing with the same thing in mind, to gain consistency and power.

For the better player, it holds many possibilities to improve the swing. But for some, it may not quite hold as much promise…

If you are thinking of trying this swing and struggle with an “outside-in” path, a problem that plagues many beginners, you may want to reconsider. A player that struggles with a fault that results in an “over the top” swing path would probably only exaggerate the problem by changing swings. You would be better off trying to correct the fault before making such drastic changes.

If you are a better player that “hangs back” and struggles with pushes and hooks, read on. This swing definitely holds opportunities for improvement.

For the better player that already has a solid foundation and only wants to gain more distance or better control for his irons, the Stack and Tilt may be just the ticket. The golf swing definitely emphasizes the “position at impact” to aid ball striking consistency. Because the conventional swing uses a weight shift to both sides during the swing, players very often get “caught” with their weight on the back foot. This causes mis-hits and tops.

The Stack & Tilt centers your weight over the ball and promotes minimal weight shift, continually remaining centered is the goal. The result is a steeper angle of attack with a flatter and more rotational swing. This provides an element of consistency, especially with irons where your angle of attack needs to be steeper.

So the bottom line, it the Stack & Tilt swing may not be for everyone.If you struggle with the dreaded “over-the-top,” you are best to correct this problem before adapting this swing. If however, you are a better player that struggles with the occasional push and/or hook, you will want to seriously consider the Stack & Tilt swing. It provides you the opportunity to add an element of consistency you may not find in the conventional swing.