Instruction
Three different ways to set up to the golf ball
Over the course of time there have been several different setup positions that people have used to play successful golf. The most frequently taught setup position, which I call the Right Tilt, has golfers leaning away from the target at address, but new trends have emerged. It’s not not uncommon to see golfers today that lean toward the target at address, and the latest trend on Tour is for golfers to set up with the spine basically centered in the middle of the body.
Each of these positions can have positive and negatives attached to them, but I will say that if a player can handle a centered set-up position it can make it much easier for them to return the club to the ball time after time if they fight poor contact. Why is that, you’re probably asking? Most golfers have trouble controlling their low point at impact, and whenever a golfer has to move laterally in their back swing it tends to skew a golfer’s control of their low point. That leads to more fat and thin shots.
Let’s examine visuals of the three different pivots from set-up to the top. They’re described in terms for a right-handed golfer, so if you’re a lefty with a left tilt, you’ll want to pay special attention to “The Right Tilt.” If you’re a lefty with a right tilt, you’ll want to play special attention to “The Left Tilt.”
- The Right Tilt
- The Centered Pivot
- The Left Tilt
After reviewing these set up positions and pivot motions, I think you will be able to figure out which works best for your own game. Remember, there is NO wrong answer.
The Right Tilt
In the Right Tilt position, you will see that the spine is leaning away from the target at address a few inches. This places the rear shoulder under the lead shoulder at address. It will also place the head a touch behind the ball at address as well and 55-to-60 percent of a golfer’s weight on their rear foot at address.
The more a golfer tilts to the right, the more weight will move to the right and the more the shoulders will tend to close at address. Be careful not to allow the hands to push too far past the inside of the forward thigh, as this can open your shoulders at address.
At the top, you will see that the head has moved a touch laterally (to the right for a right-handed golfer), and there is an extreme amount of weight on the inside portion of the right foot. This lean over the right leg also will make the shoulder turn a touch flatter or more rounded, making it a better position for less flexible players to get into if they cannot make a full turn to the top. While making this rounded motion to the top, you will also notice that the rear elbow will stay a touch closer to the body for most players due to the more rotated shoulder turn. Finally, in this pivot motion, the rear knee will remain flexed to the top of the backswing to prevent overturning of the body so golfers can remain in balance.
Tour Players whom have used this setup include Si Re Pak, Peter Jacobsen, Tiger Woods (early in his career) and Greg Norman. These players set up behind the ball and had some lean over their right legs at the top of their backswings. This provided them with extra width and necessitated a big lateral move back through impact in order to get “back to the ball.” Some players had issues moving this much from side to side, and other setup styles were born.
The Centered Pivot
In the centered address position, you will notice that the spine is vertical and the hands are located on the forward portion of the zipper on the target-side. As you can see from the left frame, the weight is distributed 50 percent on each foot while the shoulders are square to the target line. Be careful when you center your spine, as you can easily lean your weight too much toward the target. That can get your shoulders open at address and throw off your swing plane on the way to the top. I also like to see the feet rotated slightly outward in this setup position, which allows a free pivot back and through.
As you reach the top of your backswing, you will notice that the rear knee has straightened slightly. That keeps the weight in the middle of the body, creating the point golfers will pivot around on the way down to keep them “centered.”
The spine is leaning slightly to the right of center, and the shoulders have made a full turn to the top. From here, you can also see that the rear arm is tucked inward and there is plenty of width of the right arm at the top of the backswing. Having this position will help golfers create a shorter arm swing to the top. If the rear shoulder moves behind the player’s neck in the top view, the player will tend to fall toward the target on the way down, getting the player in front of the ball.
Tour players that setup with a centered pivot include Stuart Appleby, Tiger Woods (under Sean Foley) and Mac O’Grady. This style of set up dictates a more centered motion and less lateral action than its right-bending predecessor possessed. Low point control under this action is much easier for most players, but some tend to get in front of the ball when using this set-up style if they are not careful. Personally, I love the idea of staying “centered.” It makes sense to me, but not everyone can make their body work this way.
The Left Tilt
In the left tilt, the spine is indeed leaning leftward, placing most of a golfer’s weight on the forward foot. The head is even to slightly in front of the ball (to some degree) from the overhead position. This set up position will help golfers to make sure that they hit more down on the ball, as it tends to steepen the angle of attack. As always, try to keep the shoulders square at address as shown above.
In the top position of the leftward tilt, you can see that the body has not moved to the right and most of the weight is on the forward foot to the top. This is helped in part by a straightening of the right knee to the top, which tilts the right femur inward and keeps the weight more leftward. As you can see, this player has to work hard to keep the shoulders turning behind the ball and the swing will tend to be a touch more upright than the one created by the centered pivot position. Once again, the arms are extended so the swing can have width to the top as well.
The stack-and-tilt era has come and gone on Tour, but it’s not forgotten by many good players. Mike Weir, Aaron Baddeley and Eric Axley used this style for a time within their careers. I personally believe that it has great merits for players with poor iron consistency, but its downfall tends to be the steepening of the angle of attack on the driver. That’s not with all players, however.
Staying left throughout the whole swing as we tend to do in the short game can really help golfers gain compression with their irons and stop the fat shots the other styles tend to promote. The only thing golfers must remember to do is not fall “backward” through impact, which causes a reverse pivot.
Experiment with these three setup positions and see which works best for your game. Each has its own merits, but only you can decide what one works best for you.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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Steph O'Rear
Sep 22, 2018 at 4:52 pm
I followed the advice here for a leftie and took it to the range today. WHAT A DIFFERENCE IN MY BALLSTRIKING!!! And it is so easy, pretty much effortless. Thank you so much for writing this article. Every other article that I have read over the years, books included, ALWAYS say to ‘hit down’ but no one ever said HOW to do so. That key was the secret that I have been looking for, since forever. Thanks again. What a fantastic day!!!
froneputt
May 7, 2014 at 7:31 am
More of a center pivot type but on S&T, over the last two years, they advocate a right tilt with longer clubs. Even center pivot instructors advocate a right tilt, and the right tilt is done with the hips not the shoulders. It’s also been shown with pressure plates that weight does transfer to the back foot (greater than 50%) in S&T and center pivot (rear leg straightens with pressure), and that the first move shifts weight drastically to the front foot. And I’ve never seen S&T advocate a left tilt at address.
tom stickney
May 13, 2014 at 3:33 pm
The have changed their model a touch with the advent of pressure plates etc…we all adapt our instructional styles as new information becomes available. Kudos to them for being open to slight changes…that’s why they are great teachers!
Ferdie
May 7, 2014 at 4:33 am
I used to lean left using a variation of S&T but my pro asked me to tilt my spine right a bit. It made my launch higher and swing more shallow, which are both good. I still try to keep my weight left although my tilt seems to balance this off. So far, it’s been good. Is there any problem with this combined setup?
tom stickney
May 13, 2014 at 3:31 pm
Try to keep it to a minimum…don’t want to mix styles too much
Stretch
Apr 2, 2014 at 1:36 pm
E.A. Tischler has a test to see which of the pivots (left, center and right) a golfer will be most successful with. He does advocate tilting the torso away from the target no matter which suits the golfer. Kudos to Tom for bringing up this observation for discussion.
tom stickney
May 13, 2014 at 3:30 pm
EA knows his stuff for sure
Roger Ackerman
Mar 30, 2014 at 1:31 am
I
dazzi
Mar 27, 2014 at 5:12 pm
Jim Hardy has commented on Adam Scott as being one of very few guys that fall exactly between a one and a two plane, at the top of the backseing that is! I cannot remember the numbers, but he´s a tweener! Left arm vs shoulders at top!
cheers
Tom Stickney
Mar 27, 2014 at 5:56 pm
Adam Scott is a stud! 🙂
Tom Stickney
Mar 27, 2014 at 5:58 pm
He has one of the best moves ever….look out Augusta
John M
Mar 27, 2014 at 3:50 pm
Great article! Took your advice as I have always played centered. After a little trial and error left tilt is a much better fit for me. As you indicated my “miss” was fat. With the left tilt my irons are flush 95% of the time; the other 5 is a work in progress.
Thanks for the advice.
Tom Stickney
Mar 27, 2014 at 5:53 pm
My pleasure
WA Smith
Mar 26, 2014 at 9:56 pm
I don’t believe you are correct in attaching the stack and tilt swing monicker as the only left tilt style. Hogan and Snead were definitely not s&t swing styles. It would be better to leave the description as left tilt and not go into s&t only or at all without further investigation of the method as it is not the only swing style with a left tilt. Just didn’t like the implication that all left tilt swingers were s&t which I am hopeful you didn’t really mean.
Tom Stickney
Mar 26, 2014 at 10:49 pm
They were more centered swing styles…
Dave
Mar 27, 2014 at 9:18 am
Yup, centered.
Matt
Mar 27, 2014 at 7:29 pm
Probably because no pros lean their spines left at setup including stack and tilt pros.
Jimbob
Mar 26, 2014 at 12:00 pm
Tom,
Nice article. I would recommend that in the future you are more careful with any comments related to S&T. As you can see, the cult like following is ready to attack anyone who questions their religion! Always remember that EVERY great player in the history of the game used some variation of S&T, they have the pictures and logarithm numbers to prove it!
Tom Stickney
Mar 26, 2014 at 3:53 pm
Jim…nice that you believe in st and it’s merits but I still disagree that there is one swing model to fit the masses. If you are including all the variations of st in your argument I will agree 100% that it’s a very valid swing pattern for most golfers. Thx.
J Evans
Mar 26, 2014 at 11:57 am
Hi Tom, thanks for this article. Concerning the address set-up, and hands and shaft placement in particular, is it ok the have the left arm and shaft in “one continuous line”, that is, the shaft becomes and extension of the left arm angled at address. So, that would be, hands forward and the left arm and shaft as “one”, if you can “see” what i’m trying to describe? What your take on that? Thank You.
Tom Stickney
Mar 26, 2014 at 3:43 pm
As long as you don’t open your shoulders in the process
jeff
Mar 24, 2014 at 11:43 pm
Excellent article. The stack and tilt guys are overly sensitive and hurting a lot of players. You pointed out clearly what each setup tendencies are. Well Done.
Mad-Mex
Mar 24, 2014 at 11:01 pm
Lee Trevino, Chi-Chi Rodriguez, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Payne Stewart, Jim Furyk,,,,,,,,,,,,, All had different swings, but like it was said by Lee Trevino, it is the last 6 inches of the golf club path before it strikes the ball that matters,,,,
Tom Stickney
Mar 24, 2014 at 11:25 pm
He’s a member where I teach in the winter and he is correct…poetry in motion still at age 72 or so. Love to watch him hit balls.
Heyo
Mar 24, 2014 at 7:32 pm
Hey Tom- what’s your opinion about turning around the left leg for irons, right leg for driver? Is that ok, or would you rather see a consistent setup position for all clubs?
Tom Stickney
Mar 24, 2014 at 7:47 pm
It’s tough to do both. I’d pick one…
andy plumer
Mar 24, 2014 at 6:10 pm
come and gone? poor.
tom stickney
Mar 24, 2014 at 6:45 pm
Wasn’t trying to insult ST players or teachers whatsoever…sorry if it came across that way…still a big fan of the merits of ST for many players
Matt
Mar 24, 2014 at 4:36 pm
Tom,
One thing I would add is that all 3 swings you show have left tilt in the back swing. 100% of the population of professional golfers left tilt in their back swing. The back swing is a combination of left tilt, turn, and extension. Even players in your “Right Tilt” setup position left tilt and extend in the back swing they just do it to a lesser degree which allows their upper center to move off the ball. Also, most professionals shallow their swings with the driver by keeping their upper centers relatively still and relying on secondary axis tilt not by moving their upper center back. Also, I have never heard of a “Left Tilt” setup where the spine is actually tilted left at setup. Certainly no pros have ever done this. If try to stay centered at address, your spine will still have about 5 degrees of “right tilt” because your right hand is on the grip below your left.
tom stickney
Mar 24, 2014 at 5:53 pm
Matt–
Some of the stack and tilt’ers did indeed have left tilting set-ups.
Matt
Mar 24, 2014 at 5:58 pm
Tom – I don’t know exactly, but I think the stack and tilt baseline is about 5 degrees of “right tilt” at address. Which stack and tilt players have you measured?
Jim
Mar 25, 2014 at 9:11 pm
Tom – not a single stack and tilt pro (former or current) ever set up with a spine that leans toward the target. Unfortunately you are doing more harm than good with your information.
Matt
Apr 28, 2014 at 4:41 pm
Tom, to clarify, when you say “Left Titling setups” are you referring to side bend? I just reviewed a 3D trace of 3 stack and tilt pro’s spine and at address, the spine is nearly level with approximately 3 degrees of right tilt (not left). In fact none of the pros measured ever had left side bend at address. I’d love to know where you got your information, or did you kind of just make it up?
TheLegend
Mar 24, 2014 at 4:07 pm
No such thing as a 1 plane swing.
Joseph
Mar 24, 2014 at 5:16 pm
You are not just wrong, you’re stupid.
MHendon
Mar 24, 2014 at 5:39 pm
Well that was just plain rude and uncalled for. My guess is he’s simply implying no one truly keeps the club on the exact same plane backwards and forwards no matter how hard they try. Not Tiger Woods or even Adam Scott who’s probably the closest.
tom stickney
Mar 24, 2014 at 5:55 pm
MH–
I wasn’t being rude at all– I’m a big fan of Jim Hardy’s work, just don’t recall of the top of my head the exact way he’d suggest setting up, thus my reply.
Evan
Mar 25, 2014 at 3:06 pm
One plane swings are characterized by the measurement of the shoulder angle vs. left arm angle being very similar. A true one plane swing would rotate shoulder and arms at the same angle to contact the ball. Most swings have slightly higher arm angle vs shoulder angle. Adam Scott is a classic two planer, not a one planer. Best examples of a one planer on tour would probably be Matt Kuchar or Jason Dufner.
tom stickney
Mar 24, 2014 at 5:56 pm
J–
Please don’t berate the people whom have taken the time to comment…right or wrong they are entitled to their opinions.
tom stickney
Mar 24, 2014 at 5:57 pm
The-
I have seen many one plane swings on the lesson tee over the years…
tom stickney
Mar 24, 2014 at 3:46 pm
You’d have to consult Jim Hardy’s book…can’t speak for his preferences.
renoaz
Mar 24, 2014 at 3:02 pm
Gary Edwin teaches a variation of the “Left Tilt” he calls The Right Sided Swing. Rod Pampling has been a student of his for decades. I use his setup technique which has improved my ball striking and a balanced finish facing the target.
tom stickney
Mar 24, 2014 at 3:45 pm
Rod can flat hit it for sure….
Tom
Mar 24, 2014 at 4:13 pm
Gary’s is more a variation of the right tilt (than left), but accentuated to form a reverse K shape in the body.
I’m also a student of the Right-Sided Swing too and found it successful so far; it’s an easy to grasp, repeatable shape and motion.
paul
Mar 24, 2014 at 2:39 pm
Is one address position better or worse for single plane swingers? I started playing golf a few years ago and people around me that I thought knew about golf told me I had a one plane swing (I now know that they don’t know much). Difficult to find information on this swing. I stay fairly neutral for irons, but tilt a little back for the driver to help hitting up.
Roger Ackerman
Mar 30, 2014 at 1:33 am
I