Mike Malaska - Getting the club in front of you. Made easy...

[leekgolf]

Originally I saw this video and one in the thread Vaterman started:

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1234744-would-monte-disagee-with-this-does-malaska-get-it-right/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egAV1SzWRVI

I probably misunderstood both videos and I thought I saw him showing the handle going in towards the body at the navel. I sometimes struggle with early extension. In the past, my "cure" has been to feel as if I keep my chest pointed at the ground through the downswing. This works well, but I seem to lose some direction control.

A week ago, I started to practice using the feeling the handle is pointing at and going towards my bellybutton. Immediately it felt as if I was slightly increasing my hip bend on the downswing and keeping my spine at the same plane as address. It seemed to me that I could not extend my hips early because the club needed that space. My ball control drastically improved.

I will work on this until it's ingrained.

[solarbear88]

I've been both OTT and way Under Plane in my golfing life.

I practiced the exaggerated move around the house and at the range for a few days. On the course, I just swung it high and light and let it drop to the ball and through naturally.

Played my best round of golf in a long while using this method yesterday. Really excited about this.

Edit: Someone claimed loss of distance, you must be the sort that is able to catch the club up from the inside really well. I found just the opposite. Hit some of my most impressive iron shots in a long while.

[Oldnavycdr]

This has been working for me. The "tumble" if that is what it is seems so counter intuitive to someone who fights an OTT move but I found that the feel actually has me delay throwing the right shoulder out early. The feel of pushing back from the balls of the feet to provide room for the arms allowed me to finally execute Monte's zipper away drill. I've had my longest drives, crispest irons ever. I believe these feels are just a different take on Monte's drills and they have made them click for me. As I posted earlier in the thread: mind blown.

[Kscarguy]

Thank you OP, I too have been struggling to some how make my swing thoughts simple. I went to the range today and gust hit very good shots. I'm starting to understand my game and hope next year will be a great golf season for me

[CrisPy3]

Wow. Checking back in on this thread, I would have thought it would have been torn apart by now. I had actually been watching Mike's videos for months and figured someone at sometime would have brought it up before me. Hence why I really wanted Dan and/or Montes opinion. Glad to see Mike's daughter chime in as well. I emailed Mike a few days ago to allow him an opportunity to participate in the conversation, so I'm happy they took me up on it.

Personally, this move (or tumble as maybe it's called) has been a key in my improvement this summer. Unlike a swing change, this feels more like a missing piece. A VERY important piece that I feel I've finally discovered after 2 decades of playing this game. At this point, as the saying goes, if it's wrong I don't think I wanna be right. Someone else had mentioned why instructors have been teaching "point the handle at the ball", "the hands move at the ball". Why the hell did I ever think that made sense? I've played baseball, tennis, hockey. My hands in those sports NEVER go directly at the ball/puck!?

I'm just glad it seems to be helping so many people. One word of caution though with this thought (as well as most things we do with our swings) - at some point, you will start to over do it or do it faster and you'll lose the feel altogether. What worked for me is what most of you are discovering. Your transition shallows the club. Take your time at the top and pour it on in the DS. This is not a move that starts the DS IMO.

Anyway, I'll continue to follow my thread and feel as though I'm the person that helped all of you become scratch golfers... (JK)! In all seriousness, I just hope this thread continues to grow and develop and we can keep peeling the layers away and helping each other.

Chris

[slantsflood]

I don't know much about the swing. But isn't this starting move the same as "right elbow down"?

[CrisPy3]

[quote name='slantsflood' timestamp='1443144223' post='12364266']
I don't know much about the swing. But isn't this starting move the same as "right elbow down"?
[/quote]

To me, it's more like both elbows down...

[sheldonjhacker]

[quote name='CrisPy3' timestamp='1443143351' post='12364206']
Wow. Checking back in on this thread, I would have thought it would have been torn apart by now. I had actually been watching Mike's videos for months and figured someone at sometime would have brought it up before me. Hence why I really wanted Dan and/or Montes opinion. Glad to see Mike's daughter chime in as well. I emailed Mike a few days ago to allow him an opportunity to participate in the conversation, so I'm happy they took me up on it.

Personally, this move (or tumble as maybe it's called) has been a key in my improvement this summer. Unlike a swing change, this feels more like a missing piece. A VERY important piece that I feel I've finally discovered after 2 decades of playing this game. At this point, as the saying goes, if it's wrong I don't think I wanna be right. Someone else had mentioned why instructors have been teaching "point the handle at the ball", "the hands move at the ball". Why the hell did I ever think that made sense? I've played baseball, tennis, hockey. My hands in those sports NEVER go directly at the ball/puck!?

I'm just glad it seems to be helping so many people. One word of caution though with this thought (as well as most things we do with our swings) - at some point, you will start to over do it or do it faster and you'll lose the feel altogether. What worked for me is what most of you are discovering. Your transition shallows the club. Take your time at the top and pour it on in the DS. This is not a move that starts the DS IMO.

Anyway, I'll continue to follow my thread and feel as though I'm the person that helped all of you become scratch golfers... (JK)! In all seriousness, I just hope this thread continues to grow and develop and we can keep peeling the layers away and helping each other.

Chris
[/quote]
Thanks Chris ! What is the move, in your opinion, that starts the DS? Left hip bump towards the target? thanks

[robbohank]

[quote name='CrisPy3' timestamp='1443144736' post='12364314']
[quote name='slantsflood' timestamp='1443144223' post='12364266']
I don't know much about the swing. But isn't this starting move the same as "right elbow down"?
[/quote]

To me, it's more like both elbows down...
[/quote]

To an underplane transitioner it feels like left elbow down. Thus is the peril of feels.

[Kscarguy]

For me the start of the down swing is once You completed your backswing you move the handle of the grip vertical. After that I try and lightly turn my left hand once my club gets to the ball and than I let it rip.......magical ( it allows me to hit it hard when I should be versus blowing my load before getting to the ball

[Dave D]

this move also gets that left arm off the chest

[John Kreese]

[quote name=' Dave D' timestamp='1443190171' post='12365972']
this move also gets that left arm off the chest
[/quote]

Interesting connection you've made to some other threads here. For ME, "Left arm off the chest" never worked, and if anything lead to getting the butt of the club working out even more toward the ball.

Don't think I need to feel as much "tumble" as some, and for me the feel is hands work down/closer to my right pocket without any effort to shallow. Just let the club head do what it wants.

[Dave D]

[quote name='John Kreese' timestamp='1443191269' post='12366054']
[quote name=' Dave D' timestamp='1443190171' post='12365972']
this move also gets that left arm off the chest
[/quote]

Interesting connection you've made to some other threads here. For ME, "Left arm off the chest" never worked, and if anything lead to getting the butt of the club working out even more toward the ball.

Don't think I need to feel as much "tumble" as some, and for me the feel is hands work down/closer to my right pocket without any effort to shallow. Just let the club head do what it wants.
[/quote] for the left arm off chest feel gets the arms working even more out, but in doing this move my left arm does move down my front and technically off the chest.

maybe this is what is meant by off chest, in my head the quickest way to get it off the chest at the top is it moves out, but maybe the move is DOWN and off the chest, a prime example of why it is so hard to learn golf online, in person im sure Monte or Dan could've shown me it in 2 seconds and I would have got it.

you need to have the mechanics correct in order to generate your feel for that correct movement.

[AntLockyer]

The Kindle version of the book is awful IMHO, I got way less from it than I did the free videos. At least I've given something back for that instruction.

[gators78]

A phenomenal long-term feel for some. I think Mike gets right what Brian Manzella sort of had with the tumble, although Mike explains it in a much easier way.

[Marks23]

Any tips on making sure only the heel goes out when the hands drop drop down? I think I am getting the toe of the club coming out some of the time.

[scotee]

[quote name='John Kreese' timestamp='1443191269' post='12366054']
[quote name=' Dave D' timestamp='1443190171' post='12365972']
this move also gets that left arm off the chest
[/quote]

Interesting connection you've made to some other threads here. For ME, "Left arm off the chest" never worked, and if anything lead to getting the butt of the club working out even more toward the ball.

Don't think I need to feel as much "tumble" as some, and for me the [color=#ff0000]feel is hands work down/closer to my right pocket[/color] without any effort to shallow. Just let the club head do what it wants.
[/quote]

[color=#000000]I feel that too. Also the feel of the L arm rolling down the chest and stomach with the hands and handle going around the corner on Hardy’s inner circle.[/color]

[Gautama]

After 30 years of chasing different ideas and finding it, losing it, and finding it again, I've come to the conclusion that for the most part all these guys are describing the same things in different ways. I think what changes is the reference point of whatever swing thoughts aren't currently working, so different descriptions work for different people.

In this case it seems to me this is very similar to the idea of squeezing the elbows together...to do that means to put the arms into kind of opposing rotational forces, which is something Martin Ayres talks about, Monte talks about, and really even Hogan talked about. Seems like the unique language they each use just rings true with different people

[boon44]

This is awesome!!! My career in baseball had me pulling like mad and leading with a high left elbow,etc. Mikes videos have really helped me a ton in a short time!
He also has some nice videos with Toski that have some great swing thoughts/actions.

[scotee]

[quote name='Gautama' timestamp='1443234043' post='12369004']
After 30 years of chasing different ideas and finding it, losing it, and finding it again, I've come to the conclusion that for the most part all these guys are describing the same things in different ways. I think what changes is the reference point of whatever swing thoughts aren't currently working, so different descriptions work for different people.

In this case it seems to me this is very similar to the idea of squeezing the elbows together...to do that means to put the arms into kind of opposing rotational forces, which is something Martin Ayres talks about, Monte talks about, and really even Hogan talked about. Seems like the unique language they each use just rings true with different people
[/quote]

[color=#000000]I have thought that as well. Many instructors have invested a lot of time and effort in the swing thoughts and feels that work for them. Some of them get defensive when challenged by others who don’t share the same way of looking at the swing and can’t see their actual similarities. Some of the arguments are more about how they feel it than how it really happens.[/color]

[Millbrook]

Is this contrary to Montes - Lead with the Right Elbow video where the club shallows and the turn squares the club face?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS_ijg82Ogg

[mnywstr]

[quote name='dap' timestamp='1442938498' post='12350392']
I say get Malaska posting here and let's have us another guru. Things have been getting stale for a while. We need some new drills to get us through another long winter. There's been little to fight, I mean discuss about lately. The villagers are restless for a new sheriff and willing to pay a decent salary. The layoff is dead. Long live the.... Pile drive???
[/quote]
I agree but when you get posters like slothead that all he does is call out the guys that donate their time and wisdom to help golfers and keep the game interesting and fun why would Malaska even consider it?

[Ghost of Snead]

[quote name='mnywstr' timestamp='1443288746' post='12370934']
[quote name='dap' timestamp='1442938498' post='12350392']
I say get Malaska posting here and let's have us another guru. Things have been getting stale for a while. We need some new drills to get us through another long winter. There's been little to fight, I mean discuss about lately. The villagers are restless for a new sheriff and willing to pay a decent salary. The layoff is dead. Long live the.... Pile drive???
[/quote]
I agree but when you get posters like slothead that all he does is call out the guys that donate their time and wisdom to help golfers and keep the game interesting and fun why would Malaska even consider it?
[/quote]

I'm sure Malaska would do what we all do - ignore him.

[Gautama]

[quote name='Millbrook' timestamp='1443287349' post='12370866']
Is this contrary to Montes - Lead with the Right Elbow video where the club shallows and the turn squares the club face?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS_ijg82Ogg
[/quote]

I think, (and this is just pure speculation from a lifelong hack so take it for what it's worth), that the "lead with the right elbow" is countered by "rotate the left arm counterclockwise," and a good coach like Monte is going to use one feel or the other based on where the student's own feels and flaws already are. And doing both consciously is kind of saying "squeeze the elbows together" which also comes up in these conversations. I really think it's all the same move, but different feels for different faults.

[slantsflood]

This was my swing long ago. I was taught this by an old school instructor. Except his key point was to keep it a mainly dominant left arm/right arm along for the ride. This swing was always a club shorter. And the KEY (trust me, thousands of balls) was tension in your upper body. if you had any tension in your wrists, forearms, shoulders, forget it. Your done once you do, and I could never do it consistent enough. I will say, it was the easiest swing I have ever learned.

[sprcoop]

I recently saw my swing on video after about a year. All the things that I thought I had fixed/minimized were all there. Three main issues. Over swing,Goat hump, heel strikes. All related I'm sure. I hit a 40 ball bucket with 3 thoughts on every swing (I know, 2 too many and 3 more than I can handle).

1. Backswing till lead arm parallel to ground STOP! (overswing)
2. Push counter clockwise with right foot on DS (Goat Hump)
3. From the top use Mike's drill starting over right pocket keep club/head in front of right shoulder to left pocket (heel strikes)

Felt good, no loss of distance, figured no way I could take it to the course after some dry runs at home and 40 balls. Expected to shoot 100 for 9.

Walked 9 this morning. Had 3 makeable birdie putts (inside 10 feet, didn't make any) hit one pin (100yd recovery, made putt for PAR), missed 1 fairway.

I'm sure on video it will look exactly the same as my old swing but who cares if this keeps up!

Mike's drill feels a lot like Bump, Dump and Turn. I just wasn't incorporating the "Club/head in front of right shoulder" so I was still getting stuck.

The rest of the moves are really just forms of Zipper Away (push CCW w/right foot) and No Turn Cast Drill (lead arm parallel only). It really is all the same stuff you just gotta find what makes it work for you.

[John Kreese]

[quote name='scotee' timestamp='1443231623' post='12368844'][quote name='John Kreese' timestamp='1443191269' post='12366054']
[quote name=' Dave D' timestamp='1443190171' post='12365972']
this move also gets that left arm off the chest
[/quote]

Interesting connection you've made to some other threads here. For ME, "Left arm off the chest" never worked, and if anything lead to getting the butt of the club working out even more toward the ball.

Don't think I need to feel as much "tumble" as some, and for me the [color=#ff0000]feel is hands work down/closer to my right pocket[/color] without any effort to shallow. Just let the club head do what it wants.
[/quote]

[color=#000000]I feel that too. Also the feel of the L arm rolling down the chest and stomach with the hands and handle going around the corner on Hardy’s inner circle.[/color][/quote]

So when you say rolling, are you consciously rotating the left arm counterclockwise? Does that ever get the toe out for you too much?

[Ezgolfer]

I feel a cupped left wrist at impact with this move . It appears that the student in this video is also demonstrating the same.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ii-FU3PouE

[Tanner25]

In one of Mike's videos he asked the gentleman at the range to throw a ball and then he did it. He said, he can sequence better and have separation and many amateurs do not. How do we achieve this?

Go to 4:30....

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_0QzxQmbUs&index=3&list=PL80lnzpJJYB6xhuLEXCnzzGXoh1_4eW9g"]https://www.youtube....CnzzGXoh1_4eW9g[/url]

[solarbear88]

[quote name='Ghost of Snead' timestamp='1443289416' post='12370954']
[quote name='mnywstr' timestamp='1443288746' post='12370934']
[quote name='dap' timestamp='1442938498' post='12350392']
I say get Malaska posting here and let's have us another guru. Things have been getting stale for a while. We need some new drills to get us through another long winter. There's been little to fight, I mean discuss about lately. The villagers are restless for a new sheriff and willing to pay a decent salary. The layoff is dead. Long live the.... Pile drive???
[/quote]
I agree but when you get posters like slothead that all he does is call out the guys that donate their time and wisdom to help golfers and keep the game interesting and fun why would Malaska even consider it?
[/quote]

I'm sure Malaska would do what we all do - ignore him.
[/quote]

My guess is he is way too busy with lessons and business to worry about golf forums.