More about Stack and Tilt

When I look at what is being proposed with the stack and tilt method along with the number of positive testimonials, my curiosity, like yours is piqued.

I would be interested in hearing from anyone with a background in body mechanics that has looked at the spinal position at address and backswing. One thing that troubles me is the rotational forces that may be placed in the lumbar spine if the golfer does not have enough thoracic rotation available.

One possible biomechanical advantage of the stack and tilt is that it preloads thoracic rotation by imposing a thoracic curve at address via sidebending toward the target. There are two laws of spinal mobility called Fryette’s laws (I and II). Basically these refer to the principle that in the thoracic and lumbar spine, when sidebending occurs in one direction, rotation of the vertebrate occurs in the opposite direction.

At address, one hand must be lower than the other in order to grip the club and this naturally drops the non target side shoulder down. As a result the spine must either bend sideways or tilt from the sacrum. If the spine bends to the right (for right handed golfers) then the spine will rotate left which is exactly opposite of the direction that you need to rotate on the backswing.

By tilting at the sacrum, this sidebend is avoided and maximum available rotation is preserved.

However, as I understand it, this is different than the stack and tilt swing as described by its authors.

They refer to the tilt as something that occurs at the top of the backswing loading the target side rather then the trailing side as in the modern swing. The tilt that I refer to needs to come at the address.

Comments are welcome.

Steve McMurray MPT
www.ezgolfrx.com

How to get the correct club…

Depending on the kind of move you want to make at a specific moment in a game you have to always consider getting the correct golf club for the situation. Very experienced golf players usually don’t have any difficulty in getting the correct golf club without a blink of an eye, but for beginners, conditions are different. You need to be sure that you’re getting the correct golf club since this could mean better results from you. After all, this is part of the golf playing tricks beginners and professionals recognize alike.

Getting the correct golf club means choosing from the woods, the irons or the putters as the main club categories are known. Let’s see when you should use each, and why it is so important you do so. When you play for the long distance shots the wood-headed is the right one. Getting the correct gulf club under the circumstances is essential since this usually works as the driver; the woods are the longest clubs and with the biggest of heads. If you’re hitting from turf – which requires high golfing skills – if you choose the woods, you’d be getting the correct golf club for the situation.

Then the irons fall in their turn into three categories according to their length, with the shortest being known as wedges. They are usually used for shorter shots particularly when approaching the green. We should mention that getting the correct golf club may get the most experienced player out to rely on very versatile shots, and the irons are usually the choice. However, many golfers now prefer the combined types – wood and iron – when it comes to getting the correct golf club. Then come the hybrid woods that serve the purpose of getting the correct golf club when on very rough terrain.

Last but not least, there are the putters, the clubs that you’ll need most when getting on the green. Though many say that getting the correct golf club on the green is not so important, it is advisable to stick to the clubs that where precisely designed for the matter. Getting the correct golf club is sometimes a matter of personal choice and many professionals choose to follow their instinct, nevertheless. You may also have a look at a professional site to learn some more on clubs and specific golf items for all sorts of players.

Sounds like a good time to drop a few christmas hints, eh?

Have a great game!

Steve McMurray MPT
www.ezgolfrx.com

Stack and Tilt confusion

For those who have been glancing at these posts on the stack and tilt golf swing, I apologize if I shed more smoke than light on the subject. Perhaps, I should just reiterate the principles that we all need to be aware of in order to minimize our potential for injury and maximize the power available to us and our body type.

For most of us as we tee up the ball, among the myriad of thoughts that we have (at least for the guys) is how much we would love to just crush this ball and get a real ego rush. What we really need to focus on is learning how to place the ball where it needs to be for our particular style of play.

That means first of all that we need to know ourselves – our limitations and capabilities. Once we learn this, we can develop a style of play that we are comfortable with and allows us to really enjoy the game of golf.

Keep these principles in mind with whatever golf swing you adopt:
First, maintain a straight spine.
Second, learn to bend at the hips
Third, learn to rotate at the hips and upper spine,
Fourth, Do not swing outside of your comfort zone.
Fifth, Increase your comfort zone through golf specific exercises

More on this can be found in my free newsletter at www.ezgolfrx.com

Until next post….Have a great game!

Steve McMurray MPT

Stack and tilt benefits and flaws

Upon reviewing the stack and tilt method of address. I see that the authors are recommending a tilt toward the target at address resulting in a 60-40 weight distribution to the target leg.

What troubles me is that this would appear to introduce an even greater side-bend away from the target in order to accommodate the lower shoulder position of the right handed golfer. Perhaps I am not picturing it correctly, but if there is an increased side-bend away from the target, then there is less rotation available in the thoracic spine which will pass increased rotational forces either into the hip, lumbar spine or shoulders.

As the saying goes, there are different strokes for different folks and this is certainly no exception. As often happens when new swings are introduced, that injury incidences often increase later. This may or may not be the case with stack and tilt.

Suffice it to say that care needs to be taken then changing your golf swing that it be done under the watchful eye of a golf professional and preferably a sports medicine specialist.

In the meantime, more study to this swing will reveal its benefits and flaws. Keep swinging and…

Have a great game!

Steve McMurray MPT
www.ezgolfrx.com

Stack and Tilt Golf Swing buzz

Like many of you, I have been watching some of the online videos for tips on improving our golf swing. There is some buzz about ’stack and tilt’ of the spine at address. For the advanced golfer, this could be a valuable key to a consistent golf swing if done properly.

However, This stack and tilt method teaches that the weight should be concentrated on the target leg rather than the back leg. For most of us this is a recipe for disaster. Still, stack and tilt has some validity only with the weight concentrated on the back leg.

I originally learned this from Paul Callaway who was the first director of physical therapy for the PGA Tour. My experience in the clinic has confirmed this that the key for most of us learning how to stack and tilt is to do so without bending and tilting.

Bending the spine rather than tilting at the hips and pelvis will hurt your swing and your back. The sacrum, spine and the back of the head all need to be in line to be properly stacked and provide the mechanical advantage needed for a consistent and painless golf swing.

In my free newsletter at www.ezgolfrx.com I discuss this and other aspects of the golf swing in more detail. In the meantime, have somebody to give you feedback on this practice so that you can get the proper feel of spinal alignment at address.

Take a golf iron and with one hand, hold the heel of the club at your sacrum (above your tailbone) and with the other hand hold the grip at the base of your skull. Straighten your spine so that your head, sacrum and mid spine are all making contact with the club shaft.

Place your feet and knees as you would when addressing the ball. Now, practice shifting your hips left (if you are right-handed or right if you are left-handed) without bending your spine to the right or left. This is where you may need someone to confirm that your spine is aligned with the shaft of the club.

In that position, your weight should still be evenly balanced between each foot. From that position, simply bring the club head down to the ball and have someone check your alignment again. Your spine should remain straight, but tilted slightly toward the trailing leg as your back shoulder dips to accommodate your grip at the address stance.

Practice this maneuver until it is engrained into your muscle memory.

Have a great game!
Steve McMurray MPT
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