I attended many Jim Flick Golf Schools with Mike. He's so good at explaining and simplifying a concept. Not a theory. Spend 10 minutes with him and the light bulb goes off. And his dry wit and humor makes it even more fun beating balls in the sun. Thank you Mike. I miss Mr. Flick and you too. Whenever the old swing gets off, I go back to what you and Jim taught me and it always rights the ship.
This is frickin Amazing . I just went into the back yard to try this and it is so simple and effortless and I feel no pressure on my spine which is causing me problems . Thanks guys
Excellent. Luis Oostheizen (sp?) says he feels like his body follows his arms. Now I can see it. Pros talk about their arms dropping.....now there is room. Keep shoulder closed to target as you do this...thanks Mike.
I figured out the Malaska move and I can tell it's changed my game I absolutely crush it now all my clubs are carrying an extra 15 yards. I literally don't have any swing thought except that downswing part it fixed nearly everything. And hit My 4 iron now 230yards with no effort it feels like. His an absolute genius.
I habe had the same experience. It's so much easier to aim the clubbed when you are just directing the momentum. My driver swing speed went from 90 mph to 105 mph by following Mike's concepts.
Thanks Mike for one of the best presentations I have seen dealing with this aspect of the swing. It is also extremely helpful in that this is the only video I have come across which explains precisely what is meant by Jack Nicklaus ' early release. I have been labouring for years under a misapprehension as to what he meant by it. Not too many golf instructors who know what it means either! I take it that doing it correctly from the top means there is no need for manipulation of the club head with the hands on the way down as I have unfortunately been trying to do for such a long time? The squaring of the face will automatically take place as you state simply from the forces applying to the head on the way down?
I've been a steep handle-yanker for a while, and for some reason this Malaska swing works really well for me. I picked it up and took it to the course very quickly, and even shot my career low score using this swing (75). Then for some reason, listened to the naysayers, and tried for a more 'conventional' swing. After a season of not being able to break 80, I'm back on the Malaska train. I just works for me. Great stuff BBG!
This move is so great! This is the pull the rope/ring the bell move everyone talks about. But instead of pulling the handle straight down towards the ground (which is what I always thought) it's pulling towards your belt buckle/groin while letting the club face swing out. Look it what is does! It's all the feelings everyone is trying to get: its ARMS FIRST, it brings your hands back to the setup plane, and also immediatley gets that left shoulder separated from the chin. It keeps your hips back and allows the shoulders to rotate through. And all of those happen without forcing it.
Brilliant tip by Mike Malaska ! I was struggling this entire season and part of my issue is multi dexterity and cross hand dominance. This move was simple and practiced it at the range and can see significant improvement.
This is actually a move Justin Rose works/worked on together with Sean Foley. He would feel like he kept his back to the target longer whilst his shoulders moved the clubhead downward. So you definitely have some tour validation with this move.
Toski and Flick were working with people on this thing 40 and 50 years ago. Before that it was guys like Ernest Jones, to some extent Jack Grout, even Bobby Jones. It's that solid, and almost all of modern "body-oriented" super-max-out-rotation-rotation-ROTATION instruction over the past 20-30 years is dead-set against it. So many amateurs, and I'm convinced even some pros, have ruined their games that way.
It's very interesting .. in that I used a tennis racquet with a long handle and used the chop the block of "wood" swing just to get the feel of moving the club and clubhead vertically to START the swing but used the body to direct the racquet forward from that hard chop position (as described in the video above) smoothly so that the "chop" was incorporated into the swing. The "whoosh" was noticeably LOUDER than any other technique that I've tried especially rotationally. That tells me that the swing speed in that drill was much faster than anything I've yet done. I haven't taken that to the range with a club as yet but it indicates that swing speed is increased using Mike's techniques. One "seduction" we've all been subjected to is the "flatten the plane" or "shallow the club" on the down swing to increase "lag." That tends to lead us amateurs to flatten or lay off the club by getting the hips ahead of the club or getting the club stuck behind us. Watching Mike's concept of moving the clubhead in front of the hands makes it look like swinging the club around from the top as his interviewer demonstrates, yet watching it directly "head on" shows a considerable increase in "lag" angle which is exactly the same thing. It is the more "trendy" teaching of a rotational swing that gives the illusion of a much flattened swing plane coming into the ball (like Sergio) whereas the more vertical approach (somewhat like Jack N or Fred Couples to a slightly lesser degree) incorporates as much "lag" and it is a bit of an illusion due to the differences in the backswing .. at least as far as I can tell. Mike might comment on this.
wow.......thank you.....that made perfect sense.....practiced it for 5 mins in my net and i'm ripping it........I'm 61 and never could figure that move out........but I got it now.......yesssss !!!!
Thanks, I love this. I have a mild case of cerebral palsy and can play with no problem, but needed a simple way to get to a repeatable swing without having to "time" everything. This is simple and works!!!:)
Mike is spot on correct in saying that all of this stuff has been around for years. I recently read Harry Vardon's 1905 book 'The Complete Golfer' and he actually talked about these concepts!
Your work with Mike is top notch. You asked the questions I had when I watched his TH-cam channel. I hope there is more to come from your time with Mike. Are you using any of this in your swing? Any word on when the Malaska Golf instruction site will go online? Keep up the great content.
This video saved my golf game this year. Was about to give up until next spring but I watched this vid, tried the concepts and WOW what a difference! Still have to iron out the kinks but it's such an improvement in accuracy and even distance but most importantly golf is FUN again!
Sorry! Should be thanking you Brendon for organising a superb session with M M Not everyone seems to realise what a top teacher Mike is. He is definitely one of the best I have come across and following some of his video advice I reduced my handicap by 3 shots this year and also shot under 80 for the first time in over 15 years. The body and hips cannot physically move as quickly as the arms can swing but the way most amateurs like myself swing we reduce club head speed rather than increasing it Usually by too much and too early body movement without proper coordination Like my being told some years ago that I had all the right moves in my golf swing. Just not in the right order! Mike is definitely able -especially with the help of Bob Toski in some of his videos-to simplify and improve upon explanations of the most important elements of the golf swing. Keep up your excellent work! Thanks. Regards. Ian
Since I have been practicing this it actually enables you to control how shallow you come in due to the amount of control the feel gives you. I can hit a 56 degree full with a divot the size of a quater, or even no divot at all.
Another great video Brendan. I have actually been practicing this over the last month and I'm hitting the ball with about 4/5 mph faster SS than I was when I last checked at start of the year. also my clubs are a mid/high HC clubs and I tried my mates ping I clubs (more players clubs) yesterday and I was actually hitting his much better better flight /straighter. my own clubs now seem to be ballooning when I hit them. so it looks like it's a trip to the fitting room for me soon.
I am so thankful I stumbled upon this amazing vedio clip. I can never Thank you both enough. Appreciate so much. Also, an Amazing location for your vedio.. Love the background.. Fan from Papua New Guinea..
I've almost incorporate this fully into my swing. But my brain STILL yells "square the club face!" when I'm chopping the wood block half way through the down swing. I can't fully trust momentum to kick out the toe and square. I still try to manipulate it.
Awesome stuff. It makes sense. It gets the club back down to the address plane. It feels so much better than dropping it behind you and throwing it out at the ball. Something ive been trying to do for years. In concept, you might think it will result in over the top, but getting the grip down gets it inside. You can easily use timing and your body to get the path inside. It feels like swinging from inside with an over the top shaft angle if that makes sense. Very cool.
Additionally, in making that "hardest chop possible" move (analogy of getting paid for every inch an axe blade goes into the wood as noted by the interviewer), you automatically start using the lower body to accelerate the club handle rather than "chop" with only hour arms or hands, especially if you deliberately DON'T slap the axehead early by "finishing the chop" into the wood rather than re-directing it through the swing. It might not work for all but the feel is very very good for me and it keeps my weight behind the ball. It will be interesting to see how it goes on the range (working into it gradually). It's a little like Gary Player used to say that he started his swing by jamming the club handle into the ground. That didn't make sense then but he meant by jamming it down using the lower body and not pounding the club handle down by using only the arms.
There are many ways to get the club head to the ball. This is just another concept (a great one too) for those who relate better to the body mechanics in this swing. It's great for those who come over the top or for those with fast hips that get the club stuck in a back swing and I have tried it for months but just couldn't wrap my head around it. I couldn't get the rhythm or tempo to be consistent. I personally need to get my hip bump going to get my right elbow and club to drop and set before I unwind through ( I guess it's called firing the hips through). I looked for so long for a concept that I could relate to that would help my swing and "skipping a rock " with the right hand did it for me. It took some getting used to it but I am no longer stuck between 10 different trial and error swing ideas. No more coming over the top, no more chicken wing, no more disconnection of body and arms and a ton of other mental challenges. It just fit into my body mechanics and set my brain at ease for a more natural swing. I still try different concepts because everyone is always looking for a better golf swing but the difference is I now have a pretty good base line swing that I can just incorporate new ideas in and out. I guess I am writing this for those who constantly compare and knock different teachers and their techniques or ideas as if one of them has to be wrong. We all have different athletically challenged bodies and what might work for you may not work for someone else, mentally and physically. So try everything you get your hands on to see if it works for you before you doubt it of have a metal explosion. Imagine if you didn't know who Jim Furyk was and he was trying to give you a lesson on club head path.
Brendon, I have been a golfer who has also tried to maintain lag and in doing so my right arm goes internal rotation with the left arm getting pinned across my chest. As opposed to you, I didn't get "offsides" but I fired my body so early and so fast that it left my right arm behind me and got stuck. When I was hooked up to motion sensors, it told me that my torso was rotating way too fast compared to other parts of my body. With that said, I think that this move slows my body from firing to early and using the arms/hands (Tony) to fire first, then the body (the extra 15%). I think the real key to this (just like he described it to you) is waiting to get the club feeling upright and tipped before firing the body which will then flatten the club. I have taken a couple lessons from GG and he wants the club flattening earlier if possible. I tried to flatten but still fired my body too early and GG wanted to get my path to be more right (like Mike, over the top coming from the inside) which should slow the body down. I agree that they say different things but the results should still be the same. Keep up the good work! Jim
Ha ha ha I'm just chuckling because I've been dropping clubs and other objects for students to show them this and finally .... finally i see someone that knows what they're talking about doing the same thing! Thank you made my day! Jeff Anderson Instructor John Jacobs Golf schools
When asked in another video's comments section what is a 'scapula dig', I posted >It's the right shoulder blade pinching in toward the spine as you take the club to the top. If you've never achieved scapula dig during your backswing, it may take time to ingrain the feel of it. Once you get it at the top, don't release it as you perform MM's release pattern on the way down. Yes, you have to move your upper body through the ball to hit it, but you do so by opening your hips and lowering your right shoulder, in a scapula dig state, toward the ball. You hold back the release of it for as long as you can through impact and around to the finish. MM speaks to the importance of not allowing the shoulders dictate his release pattern, which can be interpreted as maintaining the scapula dig. Why he doesn't elaborate more on the topic is unclear. But keep in mind, he's a strong, elite athlete and may not actually need an added power source. Not to mention, he teaches 'opposing forces' or the movement of the lower body away from the club head during the down swing, which in essence delays early shoulder activation and promotes the scapula dig
This is a pretty simple concept to understand, it just looks counter to what many of us have been told for several years. I have tried this and it actually feels quite natural but admittedly I fear taking it to the course, especially when I'm scoring as well as I ever have.
i'm upto 4.07 and i completely agree with everything your saying, as i am working on this move, but is it not a case of "cause and effect", as i take it to far under the plane going back left arm stuck to the chest and then in order to get back on plane it goes over the top on way down with the shoulders and then left arm is pinned to chestand get ahead of it with arms
I have a personal experience of getting a lesson from Mike, and I would like to say the following: 1) Before him I couldn't manage a trajectory, and with a sequence from Mike I can do it easily now. 2) This swing works perfectly from SW to DR. Ie, my effective yardage of PW (manageable distance, trajectory and roll/spin) is 60-130, before it was very much poorly manageable 50-90; 3) Mike explains the things in the way that is easily consumed by me - he talks on physics and athletics. I can understand his logic, what he talks about. The same time, I have never heard of any physics concepts behind some popular ideas of conventional swing, ie "flattening a club". 4) There is nothing new in golf and Mike appropriately refers to the source of this both privately and at his youtube channel. What is shown here is called "rotar swing" (three corners and a flat spot) and was mentioned in golf magazines in 1977 (googleable).
Not a swing I chose to adopt, but one I decided to play around with at the range and it really is quite brilliant. Definitely a very simplified swing that generates plenty of swing speed. I expected some poorly compressed short but straight shots, but ball flight was pretty solid. Personally, I'm not sure how easy this will be for an average golfer to adopt. Kind of need to know the feeling of how to control the clubface and release through. Without that, I'm thinking most would just cast and be chunking all day. Also, I think it's an important clarification that it won't work without the proper swing plane and top of the backswing position. More of a two-plane kind of swing. I think I'll be recommending this to my over the top buddies however.
thank you!! this is so helpful for me to understand my flaws. the Ax concept is a crystal clear way to know what one needs to do in approaching impact. WELL DONE!
Agree the sources of force’s and major force source is the cause of all mistakes in golf swing. There is the shape and content of movement, most coaches don’t understand the difference. 👍
thatquestion u ask about howto prevent the toe going too much out its the holly grail for me as 5hdcpnatural drawer i started hitting fat low hooks and if not that sometimes flare to the right...
Really good stuff. Loved the putter eyeliner tip...worked very well, thank you! Pulling the arrow out the quiver was something I worked on as a kid but had totally forgotten it! How can I sign up and pay for more??
So, the greatest golfer to have ever picked up a golf club swung the clubhead & we're all being told to do the exact opposite by most instructors, holding angles & pulling the handle nonsense. When you swing an axe or a hammer do you swing the handle or the head when you direct towards the target? Mike is bang on the money here.
Exactly. Modern day instruction with your local "pro" (I use that term loosely) is a money racket. they teach you enough to play the game, but not very well so you keep coming back. What else could these self proclaimed "pros" do except pick balls up at the range or punch a green or two? Not much...
So , just to clarify , when you were demonstrating coming down with the heel of the club as the axe , is actually your lead hip opening to start that downswing.
Hey Mike thank you for the video.I watched a lot of your videos but this one I had the aha moment you talk about it really clarified what you been trying to say your the best teacher ever thank you for all the great videos
Fantastic videos you post. I played some of the best golf of my life with this method. It seems to keep me from getting stuck. It feels effortless as well. I still fight my old tendencies.
Mathew Tuomey not hard to believe the ball is gonna move right to left. There's no rotation from 4-6 because he's shut and moving his arms so he's going to be stalled at 7 and have to flip the club . Really don't see how you can hit soft cutters with this action which is truly one of the only ways to play the game at the highest level.
OMG. This is good. Brendon. I know you are a great player as an amateur. But, this is the first time I noticed (to my eyes) that you really eliminated your early shoulder turn on downswing. Wow. a beautiful swing. I wish I could do it myself. Wondering if you can repeat it with your driver. Anyway, I envy you taking great lessons from great teachers. Keep up good works!! I appreciate your videos!!
OMG again! Here is what happened. I watched your videos with Mike and some other videos from Mike's channel. Everything really made sense to me. Then, I went out to the practice range and spent 2 hours doing Mike's drills and hitting balls. I felt good so I wanted to test myself if I can carry this to the course. I was doubtful because I know it doesn't happen for most of cases. I went out to the course and played 12 holes. I made all fairways and greens except one or two. I said to myself "Was golf this easy?" I am a 7-8 handicapper and I have been trying this and that during my golf career, but I never felt this way. I couldn't believe that with only 2 hour practice, my wedges, irons and drivers all improved a lot. I really want to thank you for leading me to Mike.
Superb Video. Many golf instructors complicate things to sell their methods talking nonsense. Mike is talking about to use the natural forces rather than creating your own.
I like the idea of being arm first without shoulder turn of starting down swing, it will avoid the club slab from outside in, but i just wonder one thing, as i saw you and mike release the right hand elbow while start the down swing, won't it effect you loss the speed of club head when it hit on the ball? Or it should be the right hand elbow and wrist should stay hinge and hold to wait until release to get more club head speed?
I now get it.......but one question in mind remained. Understanding that the down swing process produced club head acceleration, how much does the left and right hand contributes during club head impact to the ball? 50%-50% or 60% left-40%right or 80%left-20%right. Answer will be much appreciated. Thanks...
One thing I've noticed is that when I make one armed swings with my right arm, I kind of do what Mike is talking about without really trying. I think it's because, one armed, you sort of have to. When swinging with one arm you are forced to use the momentum of the clubhead much moreso than swinging with two. So it just sort of comes naturally.
Both these guys are obviously very good golfers but their idea of how to explain how to perform a down swing is mighty confusing. They both have a touch of the verbals and what they are taking about 10 minutes to explain would be much easier to understand if the stuck to one sentence only and spoke slower. ie. don't start down by opening your shoulders simply pull down with your hands & wrists which would automatically creats a late hit with full release.
Jon Stinnett That's because your supposed to hit the driver on the up. this is for a more powerful/timed iron swing. from what I can gather! Have a look for (golf with Aimee). she had a great driver tip to on it. and explains the different thoughts. check her out
The one tip from Mike Malaska that fixed everything in my swing. Hands control the face and the arms control the body causing the effects you see. Golf is starting to feel "easy".
At 9:30, I like the idea of hitting with an axe but it felt like I'm going to hit the ground. How can I train my mind that my club head is not going to hit the ground.
It's the old two plane vs one plane swing. Hardy covered the differences years ago. You will notice very few instructional videos will reference which of the two swing types they are using much to the confusion of the golf masses.
Hi brendon, i have the feeling that im hitting a lot of fades with this Technique. Is this common? Im generally also faling victim to turning upper body. This is really good for me. But would like to know how this feeling relates to a draw
So, this over the top from the inside move feel like you're trying to keep your shoulders closed to the line for longer? My miss is a blocked right shot (I'm right-handed), the occasional pulled hook and a lot of hits off the heel of the club. Every now and then I'll hit one so flush and straight, even with a little draw...it almost felt like I had my back to the target at impact. Based on what Mike is saying here, it's pretty obvious that I'm getting the club stuck behind me and having to catch it up. I'm gonna suck it up with my back pain and try this hockey grip drill thing today at the range. Did Mike give you any other tips/drills to ingrain this move?
If you watch GGSwingtips on Instagram from George Gankas where he puts a stick laid horizontally on top of the arms in the backswing and makes students "drop arms down" while holding that stick level it's the essentially the same thing that Mike Malaska is showing. And yes, it does work to shallow the swing down to plane. Counter intuitive to the drilled in desire to crank hips/shoulders and drag handle. You have all you can do to just hang on to the club and follow it around rather than trying to strong shoulder turn forcing club around. Completely different feel. The club controls the body. Not the other way around. Very freeing swing. Almost effortless.
I can't get the timing right every time with this. So hard to hit that perfect spot. When I do it's awesome, but the ball goes everywhere. Can you do this consistently as a weekend golfer or just as someone who has a lot of time to practice?
for the average joe the way this was explained especially in the end was a little confusing.. but I am in this makes so much sense and looking forward to getting to the range I am a 5.5 and 43 and losing yards by the year... yuck
Mike is actually twirling the club with his opposing hands just as Jack Nicklaus did in his swing. I might call the " The O move of the opposing hand in a golf swing". Another words the momentous moment of the infallible swing starts with the correct twirling of the club head around a circle using the free flowing movement of both wrists of the opposing hands in a full and complete swing. To do this properly, the physics of apparent centrifugal/ centripetal force must be applied by your opposing hands in order to complete a full golf swing. As you start your takeaway to the top of your backswing your lead hand must be active and your trail hand must passive. Therefore you push the handle of the club head with your lead hand applying apparent centrifugal force/as your trail hand passively responds to the centripetal force to the club head to the end of your backswing as you allow all the joints of your lead side to actively fold inward to the top of your swing. Next and immediately following with 'subtle quickness' unfold all the joints on your lead side of your body. At the exact same time you now need to actively push with your trail hand with greater apparent centrifugal force on the club handle with the lead hand reacting passively to the added centripetal force of the club head going in a reverse circulate path to the finish of it swing. Hence our body is moved appropriately by our creating the apparent centrifugal force on the handle of the club with our lead hand to the top of our swing followed by the added apparent centrifugal force on the handle with the trail hand on the downswing. This is the Jack Nicolaus. Mike Nicklaus; combined with the Ed Merrin's swing the handle concept. Cheers.
Mike I’m confused! In the session that is titled, “What Jack Nicholas told Mike Malaska about the golf swing”, which was posted five years ago. This technique you illustrated takes the grip of the club straight down and brings the heel of the club out in a chopping motion and swinging through the ball. It seems to conflict with your recent technique of flipping the wrist from the back swing and through the follow through.
The "malaska move" was such an eye opener for me. Swinging the arms down and let the momentum of the club doing the rest is so simple.
I attended many Jim Flick Golf Schools with Mike. He's so good at explaining and simplifying a concept. Not a theory. Spend 10 minutes with him and the light bulb goes off. And his dry wit and humor makes it even more fun beating balls in the sun. Thank you Mike. I miss Mr. Flick and you too. Whenever the old swing gets off, I go back to what you and Jim taught me and it always rights the ship.
Flick was a class act, RIP Jim!
This is frickin Amazing . I just went into the back yard to try this and it is so simple and effortless and I feel no pressure on my spine which is causing me problems . Thanks guys
Excellent. Luis Oostheizen (sp?) says he feels like his body follows his arms. Now I can see it.
Pros talk about their arms dropping.....now there is room. Keep shoulder closed to target as you do this...thanks Mike.
Malaska is brilliant, Brendon asks the questions we all have, making the vlog that much Better! Go BBG!!!👍👍👍
Best instructor on the planet. Thanks for sharing, Brendon.
I realize this is an old video. Just wanted to say that may be one of the best views on a golf course/driving range that I have ever seen. Wow.
It’s definitely one of the most picturesque ranges I’ve had the pleasure of practicing on!
I figured out the Malaska move and I can tell it's changed my game I absolutely crush it now all my clubs are carrying an extra 15 yards. I literally don't have any swing thought except that downswing part it fixed nearly everything. And hit My 4 iron now 230yards with no effort it feels like. His an absolute genius.
Exactly same feel! Forgot about positions past the first pivot point. Golf is easy now.
Does it help you to settle into the swing?
sypen1 what's your shot shape with this feel?
Core52 Rivas I'm doing this method now I hit the ball dead straight. I normally draw the ball fighting a pull. This method is so easy once you get it.
I habe had the same experience. It's so much easier to aim the clubbed when you are just directing the momentum. My driver swing speed went from 90 mph to 105 mph by following Mike's concepts.
Thanks Mike for one of the best presentations I have seen dealing with this aspect of the swing. It is also extremely helpful in that this is the only video I have come across which explains precisely what is meant by Jack Nicklaus ' early release. I have been labouring for years under a misapprehension as to what he meant by it. Not too many golf instructors who know what it means either!
I take it that doing it correctly from the top means there is no need for manipulation of the club head with the hands on the way down as I have unfortunately been trying to do for such a long time? The squaring of the face will automatically take place as you state simply from the forces applying to the head on the way down?
I've been a steep handle-yanker for a while, and for some reason this Malaska swing works really well for me. I picked it up and took it to the course very quickly, and even shot my career low score using this swing (75). Then for some reason, listened to the naysayers, and tried for a more 'conventional' swing. After a season of not being able to break 80, I'm back on the Malaska train. I just works for me. Great stuff BBG!
This move is so great! This is the pull the rope/ring the bell move everyone talks about. But instead of pulling the handle straight down towards the ground (which is what I always thought) it's pulling towards your belt buckle/groin while letting the club face swing out. Look it what is does! It's all the feelings everyone is trying to get: its ARMS FIRST, it brings your hands back to the setup plane, and also immediatley gets that left shoulder separated from the chin. It keeps your hips back and allows the shoulders to rotate through. And all of those happen without forcing it.
Mike Malaska is a very special person who has mastered what he does.
Malaska is such a brilliant coach and love his concepts and ideas
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This series changed my game completely. I would love to see you do more with Mike.
Brilliant tip by Mike Malaska ! I was struggling this entire season and part of my issue is multi dexterity and cross hand dominance. This move was simple and practiced it at the range and can see significant improvement.
Awesome. Could have used this 2 years ago before my bad habits. Thanks for the visual, now I can move forward correctly. It is simple.
This is actually a move Justin Rose works/worked on together with Sean Foley. He would feel like he kept his back to the target longer whilst his shoulders moved the clubhead downward. So you definitely have some tour validation with this move.
Toski and Flick were working with people on this thing 40 and 50 years ago. Before that it was guys like Ernest Jones, to some extent Jack Grout, even Bobby Jones. It's that solid, and almost all of modern "body-oriented" super-max-out-rotation-rotation-ROTATION instruction over the past 20-30 years is dead-set against it. So many amateurs, and I'm convinced even some pros, have ruined their games that way.
It's very interesting .. in that I used a tennis racquet with a long handle and used the chop the block of "wood" swing just to get the feel of moving the club and clubhead vertically to START the swing but used the body to direct the racquet forward from that hard chop position (as described in the video above) smoothly so that the "chop" was incorporated into the swing. The "whoosh" was noticeably LOUDER than any other technique that I've tried especially rotationally. That tells me that the swing speed in that drill was much faster than anything I've yet done. I haven't taken that to the range with a club as yet but it indicates that swing speed is increased using Mike's techniques. One "seduction" we've all been subjected to is the "flatten the plane" or "shallow the club" on the down swing to increase "lag." That tends to lead us amateurs to flatten or lay off the club by getting the hips ahead of the club or getting the club stuck behind us. Watching Mike's concept of moving the clubhead in front of the hands makes it look like swinging the club around from the top as his interviewer demonstrates, yet watching it directly "head on" shows a considerable increase in "lag" angle which is exactly the same thing. It is the more "trendy" teaching of a rotational swing that gives the illusion of a much flattened swing plane coming into the ball (like Sergio) whereas the more vertical approach (somewhat like Jack N or Fred Couples to a slightly lesser degree) incorporates as much "lag" and it is a bit of an illusion due to the differences in the backswing .. at least as far as I can tell. Mike might comment on this.
wow.......thank you.....that made perfect sense.....practiced it for 5 mins in my net and i'm ripping it........I'm 61 and never could figure that move out........but I got it now.......yesssss !!!!
Thanks, I love this. I have a mild case of cerebral palsy and can play with no problem, but needed a simple way to get to a repeatable swing without having to "time" everything. This is simple and works!!!:)
This is absolute GOLD!! Thank you for this…it makes so much sense!!
Mike is spot on correct in saying that all of this stuff has been around for years. I recently read Harry Vardon's 1905 book 'The Complete Golfer' and he actually talked about these concepts!
Your work with Mike is top notch. You asked the questions I had when I watched his TH-cam channel. I hope there is more to come from your time with Mike. Are you using any of this in your swing? Any word on when the Malaska Golf instruction site will go online? Keep up the great content.
This video saved my golf game this year. Was about to give up until next spring but I watched this vid, tried the concepts and WOW what a difference! Still have to iron out the kinks but it's such an improvement in accuracy and even distance but most importantly golf is FUN again!
NOW THIS IS GOLD !!!
Gold, Jerry. Gold!
Sorry! Should be thanking you Brendon for organising a superb session with M M Not everyone seems to realise what a top teacher Mike is. He is definitely one of the best I have come across and following some of his video advice I reduced my handicap by 3 shots this year and also shot under 80 for the first time in over 15 years. The body and hips cannot physically move as quickly as the arms can swing but the way most amateurs like myself swing we reduce club head speed rather than increasing it Usually by too much and too early body movement without proper coordination Like my being told some years ago that I had all the right moves in my golf swing. Just not in the right order!
Mike is definitely able -especially with the help of Bob Toski in some of his videos-to simplify and improve upon explanations of the most important elements of the golf swing. Keep up your excellent work!
Thanks. Regards. Ian
thanks!
Brilliant Coaching and Brilliant Questions and Observations
Since I have been practicing this it actually enables you to control how shallow you come in due to the amount of control the feel gives you. I can hit a 56 degree full with a divot the size of a quater, or even no divot at all.
Never seen Makaska - wow, his instructions on all areas of golf is amazing. The best I've seen.
Another great video Brendan. I have actually been practicing this over the last month and I'm hitting the ball with about 4/5 mph faster SS than I was when I last checked at start of the year. also my clubs are a mid/high HC clubs and I tried my mates ping I clubs (more players clubs) yesterday and I was actually hitting his much better better flight /straighter. my own clubs now seem to be ballooning when I hit them. so it looks like it's a trip to the fitting room for me soon.
My old instructor, God rest his soul, taught this as well. I understood it better when combined with keep your back to the target as long as you can.
I am so thankful I stumbled upon this amazing vedio clip. I can never Thank you both enough. Appreciate so much.
Also, an Amazing location for your vedio.. Love the background..
Fan from Papua New Guinea..
I've almost incorporate this fully into my swing. But my brain STILL yells "square the club face!" when I'm chopping the wood block half way through the down swing. I can't fully trust momentum to kick out the toe and square. I still try to manipulate it.
i had the same thought about the axe but got confused by another instructor. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction
Thank you, Brendon. You do know how to ask the right questions!
Great questions keep me coming back to this lesson.
Awesome stuff. It makes sense. It gets the club back down to the address plane. It feels so much better than dropping it behind you and throwing it out at the ball. Something ive been trying to do for years.
In concept, you might think it will result in over the top, but getting the grip down gets it inside. You can easily use timing and your body to get the path inside.
It feels like swinging from inside with an over the top shaft angle if that makes sense. Very cool.
Additionally, in making that "hardest chop possible" move (analogy of getting paid for every inch an axe blade goes into the wood as noted by the interviewer), you automatically start using the lower body to accelerate the club handle rather than "chop" with only hour arms or hands, especially if you deliberately DON'T slap the axehead early by "finishing the chop" into the wood rather than re-directing it through the swing. It might not work for all but the feel is very very good for me and it keeps my weight behind the ball. It will be interesting to see how it goes on the range (working into it gradually). It's a little like Gary Player used to say that he started his swing by jamming the club handle into the ground. That didn't make sense then but he meant by jamming it down using the lower body and not pounding the club handle down by using only the arms.
There are many ways to get the club head to the ball. This is just another concept (a great one too) for those who relate better to the body mechanics in this swing. It's great for those who come over the top or for those with fast hips that get the club stuck in a back swing and I have tried it for months but just couldn't wrap my head around it. I couldn't get the rhythm or tempo to be consistent. I personally need to get my hip bump going to get my right elbow and club to drop and set before I unwind through ( I guess it's called firing the hips through). I looked for so long for a concept that I could relate to that would help my swing and "skipping a rock " with the right hand did it for me. It took some getting used to it but I am no longer stuck between 10 different trial and error swing ideas. No more coming over the top, no more chicken wing, no more disconnection of body and arms and a ton of other mental challenges. It just fit into my body mechanics and set my brain at ease for a more natural swing. I still try different concepts because everyone is always looking for a better golf swing but the difference is I now have a pretty good base line swing that I can just incorporate new ideas in and out. I guess I am writing this for those who constantly compare and knock different teachers and their techniques or ideas as if one of them has to be wrong. We all have different athletically challenged bodies and what might work for you may not work for someone else, mentally and physically. So try everything you get your hands on to see if it works for you before you doubt it of have a metal explosion. Imagine if you didn't know who Jim Furyk was and he was trying to give you a lesson on club head path.
Brendon,
I have been a golfer who has also tried to maintain lag and in doing so my right arm goes internal rotation with the left arm getting pinned across my chest. As opposed to you, I didn't get "offsides" but I fired my body so early and so fast that it left my right arm behind me and got stuck. When I was hooked up to motion sensors, it told me that my torso was rotating way too fast compared to other parts of my body.
With that said, I think that this move slows my body from firing to early and using the arms/hands (Tony) to fire first, then the body (the extra 15%). I think the real key to this (just like he described it to you) is waiting to get the club feeling upright and tipped before firing the body which will then flatten the club. I have taken a couple lessons from GG and he wants the club flattening earlier if possible. I tried to flatten but still fired my body too early and GG wanted to get my path to be more right (like Mike, over the top coming from the inside) which should slow the body down.
I agree that they say different things but the results should still be the same. Keep up the good work!
Jim
Ha ha ha I'm just chuckling because I've been dropping clubs and other objects for students to show them this and finally .... finally i see someone that knows what they're talking about doing the same thing! Thank you made my day!
Jeff Anderson
Instructor
John Jacobs Golf schools
Does dropping the arms work with driver?
When asked in another video's comments section what is a 'scapula dig', I posted >It's the right shoulder blade pinching in toward the spine as you take the club to the top. If you've never achieved scapula dig during your backswing, it may take time to ingrain the feel of it. Once you get it at the top, don't release it as you perform MM's release pattern on the way down. Yes, you have to move your upper body through the ball to hit it, but you do so by opening your hips and lowering your right shoulder, in a scapula dig state, toward the ball. You hold back the release of it for as long as you can through impact and around to the finish. MM speaks to the importance of not allowing the shoulders dictate his release pattern, which can be interpreted as maintaining the scapula dig. Why he doesn't elaborate more on the topic is unclear. But keep in mind, he's a strong, elite athlete and may not actually need an added power source. Not to mention, he teaches 'opposing forces' or the movement of the lower body away from the club head during the down swing, which in essence delays early shoulder activation and promotes the scapula dig
The ax explanation really helps. That giant club was a great visual too. Thanks! Your content is the best!
That helped, it is a tough concept to get, that's why I think the back and forth helps this one.
Whoa talk about a great location to film!
Thank you thank you thank you. Now I see when bringing the hands down toward the hips it keeps the elbows closer to the body for power.
This is a pretty simple concept to understand, it just looks counter to what many of us have been told for several years. I have tried this and it actually feels quite natural but admittedly I fear taking it to the course, especially when I'm scoring as well as I ever have.
i'm upto 4.07 and i completely agree with everything your saying, as i am working on this move, but is it not a case of "cause and effect", as i take it to far under the plane going back left arm stuck to the chest and then in order to get back on plane it goes over the top on way down with the shoulders and then left arm is pinned to chestand get ahead of it with arms
I have a personal experience of getting a lesson from Mike, and I would like to say the following:
1) Before him I couldn't manage a trajectory, and with a sequence from Mike I can do it easily now.
2) This swing works perfectly from SW to DR. Ie, my effective yardage of PW (manageable distance, trajectory and roll/spin) is 60-130, before it was very much poorly manageable 50-90;
3) Mike explains the things in the way that is easily consumed by me - he talks on physics and athletics. I can understand his logic, what he talks about. The same time, I have never heard of any physics concepts behind some popular ideas of conventional swing, ie "flattening a club".
4) There is nothing new in golf and Mike appropriately refers to the source of this both privately and at his youtube channel. What is shown here is called "rotar swing" (three corners and a flat spot) and was mentioned in golf magazines in 1977 (googleable).
Sorry, 1978. See page bottom www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/321501-rotor-swing/page__st__30
Not a swing I chose to adopt, but one I decided to play around with at the range and it really is quite brilliant. Definitely a very simplified swing that generates plenty of swing speed. I expected some poorly compressed short but straight shots, but ball flight was pretty solid.
Personally, I'm not sure how easy this will be for an average golfer to adopt. Kind of need to know the feeling of how to control the clubface and release through. Without that, I'm thinking most would just cast and be chunking all day. Also, I think it's an important clarification that it won't work without the proper swing plane and top of the backswing position. More of a two-plane kind of swing. I think I'll be recommending this to my over the top buddies however.
thank you!! this is so helpful for me to understand my flaws. the Ax concept is a crystal clear way to know what one needs to do in approaching impact. WELL DONE!
Agree the sources of force’s and major force source is the cause of all mistakes in golf swing. There is the shape and content of movement, most coaches don’t understand the difference. 👍
thatquestion u ask about howto prevent the toe going too much out its the holly grail for me as 5hdcpnatural drawer
i started hitting fat low hooks and if not that sometimes flare to the right...
Really good stuff. Loved the putter eyeliner tip...worked very well, thank you! Pulling the arrow out the quiver was something I worked on as a kid but had totally forgotten it! How can I sign up and pay for more??
This is a great video. You guys are a great team for amateurs. The expert and then dumbed down really works.
So, the greatest golfer to have ever picked up a golf club swung the clubhead & we're all being told to do the exact opposite by most instructors, holding angles & pulling the handle nonsense. When you swing an axe or a hammer do you swing the handle or the head when you direct towards the target? Mike is bang on the money here.
Exactly. Modern day instruction with your local "pro" (I use that term loosely) is a money racket. they teach you enough to play the game, but not very well so you keep coming back. What else could these self proclaimed "pros" do except pick balls up at the range or punch a green or two? Not much...
Exactly...let's listen to nicklaus
So , just to clarify , when you were demonstrating coming down with the heel of the club as the axe , is actually your lead hip opening to start that downswing.
Hey Mike thank you for the video.I watched a lot of your videos but this one I had the aha moment you talk about it really clarified what you been trying to say your the best teacher ever thank you for all the great videos
Fantastic videos you post. I played some of the best golf of my life with this method. It seems to keep me from getting stuck. It feels effortless as well. I still fight my old tendencies.
how pure is the swing Mike makes at the end and you can see the nice draw ball flight!! Wow this video is awesome Brendon!
Mathew Tuomey not hard to believe the ball is gonna move right to left. There's no rotation from 4-6 because he's shut and moving his arms so he's going to be stalled at 7 and have to flip the club . Really don't see how you can hit soft cutters with this action which is truly one of the only ways to play the game at the highest level.
OMG. This is good. Brendon. I know you are a great player as an amateur. But, this is the first time I noticed (to my eyes) that you really eliminated your early shoulder turn on downswing. Wow. a beautiful swing. I wish I could do it myself. Wondering if you can repeat it with your driver. Anyway, I envy you taking great lessons from great teachers. Keep up good works!! I appreciate your videos!!
Thanks
OMG again! Here is what happened. I watched your videos with Mike and some other videos from Mike's channel. Everything really made sense to me. Then, I went out to the practice range and spent 2 hours doing Mike's drills and hitting balls. I felt good so I wanted to test myself if I can carry this to the course. I was doubtful because I know it doesn't happen for most of cases. I went out to the course and played 12 holes. I made all fairways and greens except one or two. I said to myself "Was golf this easy?" I am a 7-8 handicapper and I have been trying this and that during my golf career, but I never felt this way. I couldn't believe that with only 2 hour practice, my wedges, irons and drivers all improved a lot. I really want to thank you for leading me to Mike.
Does this over the top from the inside favor a more neutral grip then? Is that why you had trouble with it coming down closed with a stronger grip?
Superb Video. Many golf instructors complicate things to sell their methods talking nonsense. Mike is talking about to use the natural forces rather than creating your own.
where do i order a set of irons at 3:48, i really think that is the key to fixing my slice.
I wish i had watched this in 2016 WHAT AN EYE OPENER
I like the idea of being arm first without shoulder turn of starting down swing, it will avoid the club slab from outside in, but i just wonder one thing, as i saw you and mike release the right hand elbow while start the down swing, won't it effect you loss the speed of club head when it hit on the ball? Or it should be the right hand elbow and wrist should stay hinge and hold to wait until release to get more club head speed?
So good. No other teacher talks about hands down, heal out.
I now get it.......but one question in mind remained. Understanding that the down swing process produced club head acceleration, how much does the left and right hand contributes during club head impact to the ball? 50%-50% or 60% left-40%right or 80%left-20%right. Answer will be much appreciated. Thanks...
One thing I've noticed is that when I make one armed swings with my right arm, I kind of do what Mike is talking about without really trying. I think it's because, one armed, you sort of have to. When swinging with one arm you are forced to use the momentum of the clubhead much moreso than swinging with two. So it just sort of comes naturally.
Both these guys are obviously very good golfers but their idea of how to explain how to perform a down swing is mighty confusing. They both have a touch of the verbals and what they are taking about 10 minutes to explain would be much easier to understand if the stuck to one sentence only and spoke slower. ie. don't start down by opening your shoulders simply pull down with your hands & wrists which would automatically creats a late hit with full release.
deft
Do you bring handle in front of you
by using the left arm or the right arm or both tohether ?
Mike, this is one of the clearest examples. I have seen . Thank you
Man I wish I would have found you guys 5 yrs ago. Awesome content
Wow very nice thanks I drop handicap by two after looking this video thanks mate
Nice video. Feels good with every club except driver for me. Driver i end up hitting pop flys straight in the air for some reason.
Jon Stinnett That's because your supposed to hit the driver on the up. this is for a more powerful/timed iron swing. from what I can gather! Have a look for (golf with Aimee). she had a great driver tip to on it. and explains the different thoughts. check her out
MyFoxworld Thanks for the tip, will check it out!
What about longer clubs like a 4 iron? I'm further from the ball, does this still work?
? Shallow with the club and the hips ahead separated from the upper Body? If I get it right
The one tip from Mike Malaska that fixed everything in my swing. Hands control the face and the arms control the body causing the effects you see. Golf is starting to feel "easy".
Mike....the holding of the left shoulder in the downswing seems key
most pop up that left shoulder as they early extend their hips
Mike, please please please, is there any way to get Jack Nicklaus on one of your TH-cam. What a great moment that would be.
At 9:30, I like the idea of hitting with an axe but it felt like I'm going to hit the ground. How can I train my mind that my club head is not going to hit the ground.
It's the old two plane vs one plane swing. Hardy covered the differences years ago. You will notice very few instructional videos will reference which of the two swing types they are using much to the confusion of the golf masses.
Hi brendon, i have the feeling that im hitting a lot of fades with this Technique. Is this common? Im generally also faling victim to turning upper body. This is really good for me. But would like to know how this feeling relates to a draw
Awesome video. Best explanation of the golf swing I have seen.
So, this over the top from the inside move feel like you're trying to keep your shoulders closed to the line for longer? My miss is a blocked right shot (I'm right-handed), the occasional pulled hook and a lot of hits off the heel of the club. Every now and then I'll hit one so flush and straight, even with a little draw...it almost felt like I had my back to the target at impact. Based on what Mike is saying here, it's pretty obvious that I'm getting the club stuck behind me and having to catch it up. I'm gonna suck it up with my back pain and try this hockey grip drill thing today at the range. Did Mike give you any other tips/drills to ingrain this move?
Great vids, Brendon. Simplest I've ever heard. Tried it at the range and --WOW. Keep 'em comin'.
If you watch GGSwingtips on Instagram from George Gankas where he puts a stick laid horizontally on top of the arms in the backswing and makes students "drop arms down" while holding that stick level it's the essentially the same thing that Mike Malaska is showing. And yes, it does work to shallow the swing down to plane. Counter intuitive to the drilled in desire to crank hips/shoulders and drag handle. You have all you can do to just hang on to the club and follow it around rather than trying to strong shoulder turn forcing club around. Completely different feel. The club controls the body. Not the other way around. Very freeing swing. Almost effortless.
I can't get the timing right every time with this. So hard to hit that perfect spot. When I do it's awesome, but the ball goes everywhere. Can you do this consistently as a weekend golfer or just as someone who has a lot of time to practice?
Is this more upper arm movement instead from the ground up?
for the average joe the way this was explained especially in the end was a little confusing.. but I am in this makes so much sense and looking forward to getting to the range I am a 5.5 and 43 and losing yards by the year... yuck
That place is amazing. Great work. Nice job drilling down in Mike's concepts BD.
Great Instruction.
Love that practise ground.
I love the way Mike presents his ideas, great video Brendon
Any thoughts on how this applies to the driver? Same feel?
Yes. Works just the same. "handle in, clubface out"
Love the concept of this channel. Keep up the good work!
Is this the same theory with a driver swing, or does this only work with irons?
What is a good drill for this swing
Mike is actually twirling the club with his opposing hands just as Jack Nicklaus did in his swing. I might call the " The O move of the opposing hand in a golf swing". Another words the momentous moment of the infallible swing starts with the correct twirling of the club head around a circle using the free flowing movement of both wrists of the opposing hands in a full and complete swing. To do this properly, the physics of apparent centrifugal/ centripetal force must be applied by your opposing hands in order to complete a full golf swing. As you start your takeaway to the top of your backswing your lead hand must be active and your trail hand must passive. Therefore you push the handle of the club head with your lead hand applying apparent centrifugal force/as your trail hand passively responds to the centripetal force to the club head to the end of your backswing as you allow all the joints of your lead side to actively fold inward to the top of your swing. Next and immediately following with 'subtle quickness' unfold all the joints on your lead side of your body. At the exact same time you now need to actively push with your trail hand with greater apparent centrifugal force on the club handle with the lead hand reacting passively to the added centripetal force of the club head going in a reverse circulate path to the finish of it swing. Hence our body is moved appropriately by our creating the apparent centrifugal force on the handle of the club with our lead hand to the top of our swing followed by the added apparent centrifugal force on the handle with the trail hand on the downswing. This is the Jack Nicolaus. Mike Nicklaus; combined with the Ed Merrin's swing the handle concept. Cheers.
Great video i love mikes stuff but find it hard to do this has made it simpler thanks allot :)
Mike I’m confused! In the session that is titled, “What Jack Nicholas told Mike Malaska about the golf swing”, which was posted five years ago. This technique you illustrated takes the grip of the club straight down and brings the heel of the club out in a chopping motion and swinging through the ball. It seems to conflict with your recent technique of flipping the wrist from the back swing and through the follow through.