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In this six-part Player Lesson series, Mike Malaska works with Jimmy Pearcy to transform his golf game by focusing on core fundamentals and personalized instruction. Starting with an exploration of Jimmy’s “golf DNA,” Mike identifies how Jimmy’s athletic background and natural movement patterns shape his swing. By tailoring the lessons to Jimmy’s strengths, Mike provides a foundation for improvement that is both effective and sustainable.The series begins with grip fundamentals, as Mike emphasizes the critical role of a proper grip in supporting every aspect of the swing. By positioning his hands correctly and reducing tension, Jimmy learns how to maintain control of the clubface and create consistency in his shots. This foundational step sets the stage for unlocking greater speed and power.In subsequent lessons, Mike introduces Jimmy to the concept of speed generation. Using drills that highlight the importance of relaxation and leveraging the natural hinge and release of the wrists, Jimmy discovers how to create effortless power. Mike reinforces that tension-free motion, combined with proper sequencing, is the key to maximizing clubhead speed with minimal effort.The series progresses to the concept of leverage, where Jimmy learns to let the club’s weight and momentum dictate the swing. Through exercises that focus on feeling the club’s natural movement, Jimmy develops a deeper understanding of how to generate power without relying on force. This approach not only improves his swing but also enhances his confidence in controlling the club.In the final two lessons, Mike focuses on advanced concepts of shot shaping and control. Jimmy practices manipulating the clubface to produce hooks, fades, and straight shots, gaining the ability to navigate different course conditions and play with more versatility. By mastering the relationship between his hands and the clubface, Jimmy unlocks a new level of creativity and precision in his game.Throughout the series, Mike’s personalized coaching helps Jimmy develop a relaxed, efficient swing that capitalizes on his natural strengths. By addressing fundamental issues and progressively building new skills, Jimmy gains the tools and confidence to approach the game with a deeper understanding. This series marks a significant transformation in Jimmy’s golf journey, equipping him with a more powerful, controlled, and versatile game.

JIMMY PEARCY-PLAYER LESSON

Andy Pierce and I were both introduced to Nibley in similar ways. Learn how got to where I am today.

GROWING UP AT NIBLEY PARK GOLF COURSE

Taking time between shots helps you understand your game and what you need to practice.

HOW TO PRACTICE CORRECTLY

So, we're going up to what was the 16th tee in the tournament, a par three. At this point, I only had a one-shot lead, and everything was getting pretty tight. I was playing well, but things were tense. This par three, the pin was right where it is now.Everyone said I hit a fade around the bunker, but my target— I can still remember—was just inside those big pine trees on the right-hand side. I aimed right over the center of the bunker with a little draw, hit the shot, and it landed about six to eight feet from the hole. I made birdie, which gave me a two-shot lead with two holes to play.Now, looking back at the end of my career, after everything I’ve learned, when I was playing a lot, people would say, "You’ve got to watch out for the hole. Start in the middle of the green and work it." This hole is set up for a fade—that's the shot. You cut it around the bunker, but that’s not my shot, even to this day.As I got more into playing and took lessons, instead of hitting the shot I wanted to hit, people told me what shot I should hit. So, I kept trying to hit the shots I "should" hit, not the ones I felt comfortable with. As a result, I was always a little more uncomfortable than I needed to be.But today, I'm going to hit a draw again because that's my shot. We’ve got 188 yards to the flag, and 157 to carry the bunker. The pin is at the front of the green, but it's the same shot I hit back then. I just don’t hit it as far as I used to. Back then, I hit a 7-iron; today, I hit a 6-iron and still came up a little short. But I aimed at the center of the bunker, let it turn back, and ended up on the green. Again, it’s all about knowing what you can do, and I knew it back then too.That’s what makes me reflect—when I was a kid, nobody told me what to do. I knew what I could do, and I played with what I had. I figured I could beat anyone with what I had. I didn’t need to do anything else. So, I hit the shots I was comfortable with, based on what I saw.What do I see people doing now, even tour players I work with? They start trying to hit shots they aren’t comfortable with. Under pressure, maybe you have to sometimes, but your go-to shot is crucial. Under pressure, you need something you can rely on, and for me, that’s my draw.After birdieing 16, I came to 17. This hole was perfect for my draw. I aimed at the right-hand trees, hit it, and turned it into the fairway. Visually, it fit my shot, so I aimed down the right side of the fairway, made a good swing, and hit a little draw, right in the middle of the fairway.At this point, I had a two-shot lead, and the hole set up perfectly for the shot I liked. So, I just stood up and let it go.Now, it was tournament time. I had a two-shot lead, and this hole didn’t set up for a draw. You can see how the trees on the left slope into the rough. The hole really sets up for a cut. But I didn’t feel like hitting a cut. My caddie, who has known me forever, said, “Mike, you haven’t miss-hit a drive all day. Just get over here on the left side of the tee, aim at the left edge of that right-hand tree, and let it curve back into the fairway.”You're probably thinking, "Those trees are pretty close." But I wasn’t thinking that. I was just looking at the left edge. There’s a power pole just beyond what is now the clubhouse. I aimed at that power pole, and all I wanted to do was start the ball there and let it gradually drift to the left.That’s pretty much the shot I hit, although about 70 yards shorter than where I hit it back then. But again, here I was—never having won a tournament this big—on the last hole, with a two-shot lead. I needed to get it in the fairway. I could have gone with a 2-iron, but I was hitting my driver the best. I hadn’t miss-hit a driver all day, so I just stuck with it.Sometimes, the driver is the club to go with, and sometimes it’s the worst club. If you can’t hit it well, choose something else that’ll keep the ball in play. For me, that day, the driver was the best choice, and my caddie talked me into it. I’m glad he did because I ended up 80 or 89 yards from the front edge. Game over, tournament over.I’ve hit a few balls into those trees before. So, let's recap what we’ve done here. We had some weather issues, so we didn’t get to do everything we wanted. But the reality is, all these shots I had a chance to hit, there’s value in them for everyone. You need to hit the shots you know you can hit.The game doesn’t have to be that complicated. When I was 19 years old, I had never taken a formal lesson. Yet, I came here and won one of the biggest state opens in the country. It was incredible and a lot of fun. It changed my life.This was the last hole—the 18th. Here’s where the pin was. I hit my drive, hit my shot, lagged it to about here, and gingerly rolled it up, leaving it just short. Then I tapped it in for a one-shot win.This place, for me—like many of you with your favorite golf courses or memorable rounds—brings back so many memories. When you play, remember the good shots you’ve hit. I can tell you there are shots on this course that we talked about today, and I still remember hitting them. When I find myself in similar situations, I try to remember those exact shots because I can still recall what they felt like.It’s even better now, even though I’m 70 years old. Back then, I was 19 or 20, but something about it still resonates with me. So, remember those old shots you hit well. Remember what you did, how it felt, and then try to replicate that.This is such a marvelous game. Here we are, 50 years after I first won this tournament, and I’m still playing in it. I’m still having a lot of fun with golf and trying to help every one of you play your best golf, enjoy the game for a long time, and be competitive. I hope you enjoy this, and I look forward to the rest of the Utah Open and the future of Malaska Golf.

FINISHING STRONG

How fixing your eye-line can often fix your swing.

VISION AND YOUR SWING

Your lead hand goes on the club the way your arm hangs naturally. That is how your joints line up.You also need to have the club in the fingers. The back of the club rests in the second joint of the fingers. The trail hand goes on with the club also in the fingers and with the palm of the trail hand on the back of the lead hand with the palm facing the target and or parallel to the face. 

GRIP

PBA Champion Josh Blanchard demonstrates how body alignment can make your bowling and golf swings easy and consistent.

HOW BOWLING IMPROVES SWING CONSISTENCY IN GOLF

BUY NOW: <a href="https://malaskagolf.com/collections/all-products/products/precision-impact-swing-trainer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://malaskagolf.com/collections/all-products/products/precision-impact-swing-trainer</a>Mike Malaska, 2011 PGA National Teacher of the Year, was recently honored by Golf Digest and elevated, along with a few golf instructors, to 2024 Legends of Golf Instruction. Mike has won numerous awards and accolades over the years, and this one from Golf Digest is a crowning achievement by his peers.Mike has taught hundreds of thousands over his 50-year career and has worked on many golf swings.There's never really been a training aid that Mike could endorse for hand action in the golf swing relative to the M-System, like the Precision Impact Swing Trainer.&nbsp;Mike covers how this training aid helps you with putting, chipping, iron swings, and driver swings - basically every club in the bag.&nbsp;If you purchase a Precision Impact Swing Trainer, refer back to this video to get the most out of it!

PRECISION IMPACT SWING TRAINER

In this series of lessons, Mike Malaska works with Certified Coach, Billy Fitzgerald to improve key aspects of his swing for better consistency and control. The focus begins with the backswing, where Billy tends to take the club straight back, creating tension in his wrists and arms. Mike emphasizes that by refining the initial movement and reducing this tension, Billy can stay more connected and fluid throughout the swing, which will help him avoid overcompensating with certain muscles.Mike also highlights the importance of using momentum properly in the swing. He teaches Billy to let the club's momentum naturally guide his arms and hands, leading to a smoother, more controlled motion. This concept is compared to how professionals like Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy use timing and momentum to maintain control during their swings, especially in the first two feet of the takeaway, which Mike explains is a critical part of the swing for setting everything else up correctly.A significant part of the series focuses on the backswing-to-downswing transition. Mike demonstrates how the handle should move outward in the backswing and come in during the downswing, allowing for a natural opposition that helps create a more fluid swing. Billy is taught to time this transition correctly, which will allow the club to shallow out in the downswing and help maintain consistency.Mike continues by addressing common issues golfers face, such as the club getting too deep or the arms crossing the line, which leads to erratic shots. He works with Billy to focus on controlling the movement of the clubhead and maintaining proper wrist rotation during the backswing, ensuring the arms and club stay on the right path.The series emphasizes that small adjustments in mechanics can lead to big improvements in the swing. By refining the initial movements, controlling momentum, and mastering timing, Billy is able to improve the overall fluidity and consistency of his swing, which will help him perform better under pressure.

BILLY FITZGERALD- CONSISTENCY AND CONTROL

Lou and Mike talk about technology and where the game is going.

LOU GUZZI

This method used to be the standard in the industry. To time the clubface to maximize rotation through the ball requires immense coordination. Here's how to pull it off.

EXAMINING GRIP TO TURN THE CLUBFACE OVER

Practice using your wedge hitting three different trajectories to work on trajectory and distance control.

WEDGE TRAJECTORIES

Rarther than trying to balance on your heel after impact, practice letting your body move the way it is supposed to.

BUILDING YOUR SWING

Mike sits down with MLB Hitting Coach Craig Wallenbrock and team to discuss the similarities between the golf swing and the baseball swing.

GROUND FORCES WITH CRAIG WALLENBROCK

Now Mike Malaska wants retired MLB pitcher Garrett Richards to swing a longer club, a 7-iron. Mike adjusts Garrett's grip and says he should see three knuckles on his left hand. Mike can see four knuckles. Mike puts his thumb on the side of the shaft, and his right hand comes in to complete his grip. Mike uses a Sharpie to draw on Garrett’s glove to show him how everything lines up.Garrett’s first shot is mishit off the hosel, but his next shot is much better. Mike starts laughing because he is amazed by Garrett's hand speed. This is because of baseball.Mike still isn’t completely happy with Garrett’s grip because his left hand isn’t as strong as he wants it to be. He also wants to work on small shots so Garrett can get a feel for how to control the clubface and hit different shots with his new grip.To illustrate this, Mike takes the club to hit different shots. When he makes his backswing, he challenges Garrett to call different shots for Mike to hit. He calls a high, low, fade, and a draw. Mike tells him to call any shot to make, even combo them. This exercise is to teach Garrett that it is important to control the clubface. Mike believes it will be easy for Garrett to do so because of his experience as a pitcher and his ability to control baseball with his fingers. Mike wants him to make that comparison from baseball to golf.Mike takes the clubhead in his right hand and shows him how he uses the pressure of his hand to control the clubface: low, high, curve it left or to the right. Then he shows him how it moves in his left hand and then with both hands.Mike explained to Garrett that he had time in the backswing to make small adjustments with his hands to hit different shots. Mike compared this to making slight corrections when throwing a baseball, which Garrett could easily do. Mike put the clubface in Garrett’s hand and showed him all the different shots he could make.From now on, when Garrett grips the golf club handle, he is essentially holding the clubface.Garrett sets up to the ball, and Mike is going to get him to practice curving it. Mike emphasizes that the Tour Players are savants with their hands and can make the clubface do anything. Once Garrett can do this, his game will get really good.Mike gets Garrett to hit different shots and to make different adjustments to how he hits the ball. If he hits it straight, then program that feeling, and if he curves it, then do the same thing. As you practice correctly, it’s all about programming your hands and the clubface to hit shots.&nbsp;Garrett wants to know how it works with left-handed pitchers. Mike says he can still work with them as their right hand is still pretty good. They can feel it in either hand as long as their grip is on correctly.&nbsp;Mike tells Garrett that most hockey players show up to golf where they slap-shot it from the left and play golf from the right or the reverse.With the strong grip, Garrett hits them straight, but now Mike still wants him to hit a curve. Mike encourages him to use his right index finger and try to throw a slider to curve the ball. Garrett hooks the ball. Now Mike wants him to use his finger to throw a curve ball with his middle finger. He hits a fade. Mike emphasizes that you have to curve the ball a lot before you start curving it a little. Now Mike wants Garrett to pressure the club like he is throwing a fastball, and he hits it straight.This makes a lot of sense to Garrett, who notes that when he doesn’t do it right, he can feel it. He knows what the ball is going to do when he hits it based on the pressure he applies to his fingers.Now Mike wants Garret to hit some low shots. Garrett launched the ball at about 17 degrees, perfect for a 7-iron. The ball was compressed well and had the right angle of approach. That’s what he wants to feel at impact with a 7-iron. Mike says that Garrett currently hits the ball too high, but this shot was perfect.Garrett says that when he hits the ball high, it feels like he is dropping his backside (in baseball terminology). Mike explains that golfers talk about ‘covering it’ and not getting stuck behind the ball and flipping it.Mike gets Garrett to hit some shots but wants him to flight the ball down with less speed. Garret makes a couple of shots. Mike wants to work with Garrett on wedge shots and make sure his grip is on correctly. If it isn’t, then he is dead with his swing. Mike goes back to the baseball swing and says that the left hand is a chopping action, and the right hand is a throwing action. There is no twisting motion at all. The swing on the follow-through is just like hitting baseball.

GARRETT RICHARDS: HOW TO CONTROL THE CLUBFACE

A great drill to help you stop your club from bottoming out on chip shots.

YOUR SWING BOTTOMS OUT EARLY

How to set up a video camera for swing analysis. Milo also discusses what to look for at varies checkpoints in the swing.

USING VIDEO ANALYSIS

Mike Malaska, 2011 PGA National Teacher of the Year, was recently honored by Golf Digest and elevated, along with a few golf instructors, to 2024 Legends of Golf Instruction. Mike has won numerous awards and accolades over the years, and this one from Golf Digest is a crowning achievement by his peers.Mike has taught hundreds of thousands over his 50-year career and has worked on many golf swings.Mike is excited to present a golf training aid by Pure Swing Products, the Precision Impact Swing Golf Trainer. Mike is passionate about golf training aids that give people immediate feedback to help them with the game. When he finds that training aid, Mike likes to get involved and help promote the product.Mike is at FireRock Country Club in Fountain Hills, Arizona, to put the swing trainer to the test and review the product.In 2016, Mike developed a world-class swing process called the M-System. This was a culmination of his entire life's work of understanding the golf swing process. Along the way, Mike has worked with Jack Nicklaus, Jim Flick, and Joe Nichols. This mentoring, coaching, and experience have been pivotal in developing the M-System. In the M-System, Mike talks about how your hands work because they are your only connection to the club and the face. This is where this swing trainer comes into play.It is a shortcut to the learning curve relative to that M-System. Once you have this on and you know what you're trying to do with it, the Precision Impact Swing Golf Trainer will automatically give you immediate feedback as to whether your hands and wrists are hinging at the right angle in relation to your golf swing.&nbsp;The swing trainer will make you do things correctly, and that's a big deal. This is a great device that gives you correct and immediate feedback to ensure that you are practicing the right way. You want to make sure you aren't practicing the wrong way and wasting your time.What is excellent about the Precision Impact Swing Golf Trainer is that it can help you not only with putting but also with chipping, pitching, full swing, and even your driver.In the M-System, specifically M1, Mike talks about line of compression. So, how will this help you with line and compression? Mike demonstrates this by grabbing his putter with the Precision Impact on. He holds the putter straight out in front of him. The Precision Impact lines up with the putter shaft. Now you have a perfect line. When you hit a putt, you have a little forward press. As Mike moves his wrist forward, you can hear the Precision Impact click into place. Now, it is set to the right amount of forward press he needs to putt the ball. When he putts, it holds, and his right arm pushes the putter shaft right through the ball.

PRECISION IMPACT

Tour pros hit lower shots in their short game compared to average golfers. The first way you can begin to control trajectory is by using a lower lofted club.

CONTROLLING SHORT GAME TRAJECTORY

Playing from a bunker can be difficult, so having the right wedge is very necessary to play your best.

FITTING WEDGES FOR OPTIMAL BUNKER PLAY

It is ok if your club pulls out of your fingers a little when you rehinge it, as it potentially creates more speed.

MAINTAINING GRIP ON L TO L

The positive influence of golf on Alice's life.

ALICE AND GOLF ADDICTION

Tournament play can be stressful, so being in the right mental state is key. Learn how Phil keeps himself level when under pressure.

PHIL BLACKMAR - TOURNAMENT PLAY

A waggle is a smaller version of your full swing. If it does not include elements of your swing that you wish to show up, you are waggling wrong. Here is a deeper look on what is a waggle.

WORKING ON YOUR WAGGLE

Practice swinging setting the club on your shoulder on the backswing and the other shoulder on the follow-through. Swing without tension.

DRIVER SHOULDER TO SHOULDER

Mike Malaska introduces the M-System Lite M2: The Lever System.The Lever System is the most important part of M2 and the M-System. This is where you generate distance and speed from your irons and clubs.Mike demonstrates what the Lever System looks like, swinging an iron loosely, horizontally in front of him, from side to side. He looks very flippy with his hands as he swings the iron back and forth. However, this is how the Tour Players swing. Most amateurs tend to drag their hands throughout the swing.&nbsp;Mike explains that people don’t let the momentum of the club go and let the lever system work. This is how you create speed.Mike now drops the club down to the ground, applies the same motion/swing of the lever system, and hits a ball. Mike hits the ball 110 yards with little effort using the lever system.Even though the practice swings look flippy, they take on a different look once you add your body into the equation. The swing looks more fluid. Mike feels like he is doing the same thing. One of the biggest things he has learned in 60 years is what you feel like you are doing and what you see are very different.Mike now shows us a drill that puts the Lever System together, which is the L to L.First, make sure your grip is on correctly. As Mike demonstrates, the grip goes primarily in your fingers. People say it’s a strong grip, but really, it’s how your arm straightens and all your joints line up. Your right palm goes right on the back of your left thumb. Your right hand faces the target because it moves like a throwing or pushing action. Your left hand acts more like a chopping action.Once you get your hands on it, the lever can work correctly. Mike swings the club back and creates an ‘L’ with his arms and club on the backswing, then swings through to create the same ‘L’ on the follow-through. This is the L to L. Mike demonstrates the L to L, and you can see how the swing mirrors itself.It is important to be able to do this drill and let the momentum of the club rehinge your wrists. This should be an easy drill, but most people struggle because they tighten up and let their shoulders pull.This drill is monumental relative to distance, consistency, and the ability to relax and gain a lot of distance and speed.

M-SYSTEM LITE M2: THE LEVER SYSTEM

Each one of these skill pathways is a concept. When you learn each segment of arm rotation, adding a club to the sequence is not difficult.

ACHIEVE CORRECT ARM ROTATION

Regarding driver fitness, leg and core strength are essential; however, flexibility relative to what your swing looks like is just as vital.

Put your driver parallel to you on your chest. Leave your hips still and rotate your shoulders back and forth. Try rotating your hips and not moving your shoulders. When you swing, there is much more separation between your shoulders and hips.

If you are limited in shoulder mobility and if you move your shoulders and your hips turn with them, everything has to stay more together. Being more flexible will help your swing.

Practice turning your hips, isolating them from your shoulders, and do the same with your shoulders.

DRIVER FITNESS

Mike Malaska commiserates with a Malaska Golf Member who recently had a stroke and how this has affected his golf game. Mike shares he had a stroke six years ago and how that impacted the use of his arms. Mike has recovered from this but is not quite 100% in his left arm regarding his full swing.

The member wants to know how strong he should go with his left hand since the stroke has affected his right arm. Mike says his left hand must be strong, and he must utilize the lever system with his wrists. This will allow him to create the most speed. 

If you don’t have a strong grip when you swing, your clubface will be wide open at impact. This will cause you to fight a slice, and rotating your arm to catch the clubface up will be difficult.

The club with your left hand is like holding a baseball bat. Mike demonstrates swinging the club with his left arm. Mike can hit the ball pretty far with just one arm. You can put the thumb on the handle if you wish. When you swing the club, your arm is like “Iron Byron,” a robot that holds a club and consistently creates the perfect swing. Your arm just free-falls.

Mike can hit a driver 160 yards with just his left arm. Ensure there isn’t any tension in your arm, and don’t pull the club through the swing.

If you can use your right arm, use it for support on the handle. Mike spent much time placing his right hand over his left hand, almost cradling it and splitting his fingers. All his right hand was doing was going along for the ride, supporting and guiding the club.

Mike used to do this drill where he hit the ball and let the right hand go. If you can use your right hand for support, then you can really hit the ball

PLAYING WITH YOUR LEFT HAND

Mike works with MLB Hall of Fame Pitcher Goose Gossage.

FIRSTS WITH GOOSE GOSSAGE

As you swing the club on the backswing step your trail foot back 6 inches to a foot. This moves your trail hip out of the way. It makes it so much easier to rotate your body. You start to feel very free to swing and rotate. That instead of the coil feeling. This is much easier on your body and creates a much bigger turn and more effortless swing. 

RIGHT FOOT STEP BACK DRILL

For some reason, people think that they must turn their bodies in order to hit the ball. This body motion disrupts the spine angle and throws you off completely. Here's what your body wants.

ROTATE SHOULDERS WITHOUT TURNING

Mike discusses the Right Foot Drop Back Drill. Does this drill make it harder to get your left hip out of the way and where it’s supposed to be?

It does slightly, and if you watch many Tour Players as they set up to the ball, they drop their right foot back. Why? It lets them get their right hip out of the way on the backswing. Dropping the right foot back gives them much more space to swing. This is about space and getting to the ball.

Dropping your right foot back helps your right hip learn how it feels to stay back rather than lunging forward with the swing. Your leg starts to feel what it feels like to move forward, making it easier to use your left leg and hip.

It’s more important to set up, drop your right foot back, create space, and swing down to hit the ball. Being able to hit the ball and get the ball in play is more important than worrying about your follow-through.

You don’t want your hip moving closer to the ball on the swing, which is the biggest problem players have. They try to move their left hip by pushing with their right hip.

Dropping your right foot back prevents this from happening. So, create space and get your left hip out of the way.

EASIER TO GET YOUR LEFT HIP OUT OF THE WAY

The L to L Drill uses the lever system by creating 90-degree angles. Make an L on the backswing and a reverse L on the follow-through.

L TO L DRILL

Marking the center of your clubface with a dot helps you connect with the back of the ball.

IMPACT

When it comes to speed control you can do many things to help develop speed control of your arms. Before you hit a put get the feel of how hard would you have to roll or toss a ball to make it go the correct distance. Then set up to the ball and duplicate the speed of your arm. The putter head becomes your hand.

PUTTING SPORTS CONNECT

Phil Blackmar played very succesfully on tour for a good number of years.  Mike asks why Phil was able to keep making the cut while he would miss out, despite leading in the round.  

NO STYLE POINTS IN GOLF

How do you determine how much grip pressure you need on the hands and the club?

Once you put your right hand on the club, your right palm goes on the back of your left thumb. There is a pressure there, and you want that to remain constant throughout the swing. You don’t want to tighten your grip pressure because as soon as it does, your wrists freeze up. What is the correct amount of pressure?

If you take the club and hold it above your hands, there is virtually no tension or pressure in your hands. If you let the club drop to just below your hands, you will start to feel your grip pressure change. Your forearms will begin to tighten up.

Now, bring the club halfway back. Make some soft circles with the club where you feel the pressure on your left thumb. As you make these circles, you will notice that the feeling isn’t tight or restricting your wrists. However, if you increase the amount of grip pressure, you start to lose the feel you have for the weight of the clubhead. All you can feel is the pressure on your thumb, and your grip pressure will be too tight.

Once you identify the correct grip pressure, lower the club and set it up behind the ball. Make a swing and maintain that pressure throughout the swing. You must identify how much grip pressure you need and then maintain it.

PROPER GRIP PRESSURE

As long as you have some imagination, you can play a course however you want to.

THE SECOND HOLE AT NIBLEY

A Malaska Golf Member has been having difficulty with the mental side of golf and reached out to Mike for some advice on how to get mentally tougher.

Mike spent a lot of time around Jack Nicklaus, and Jack said golf is a game of emotion and adjustments. It's being able to read yourself physically and mentally at any point in a round to pick the best shot to get the most out of your game.

This is profound, and most people don't approach it that way. Many players hit shots they aren't comfortable with and end up hitting bad shots. That's when the mental demons start playing up. Mike doesn't understand why you should get mad at yourself when you make a shot you weren't committed to anyway. The key is to be comfortable with the shot you take.

A pet peeve Mike sees giving a lesson is when the player has finished warming up and is on a par 4; he immediately wants to hit his driver. Mike looks at the hole and sees what it does and where the bunkers are. A driver wasn't his best option based on how the player was warming up.

The point is that just because you always use a driver on a par 4, it doesn't mean you always should.

Make a shot you are more comfortable taking so you can be more committed on your next shot.
When you attempt to make a shot you aren't confident with, tension gets in the way, and you start having inner conflicts. This tells you to step back, make adjustments, and find a comfortable shot.

Mike discussed terms in the last video about laying up and playing safe. Most people have an ego, and thinking about playing it safe implies you have let yourself down. Think of it in terms of finding a shot you are comfortable with so you can be committed and make a good swing.

Find that shot, hit it, and program it. Mike will also analyze how well he hit the shot afterward. He will make some practice swings to remember the feeling of that shot if he hits it well. Likewise, if you make a bad shot, adjust your practice swings.

One of the biggest reasons people struggle with the game is that they put themselves in situations where they aren't comfortable hitting a shot. Mike says that if you can't consistently hit that same shot, the odds are against you making it.

Golf is about playing the odds; you should question your probability of making certain shots. You should constantly assess yourself while playing. The main thing with the mental side of the game is that players fail if they are not committed or comfortable with a shot.

Feeling anxious over a ball is like your guardian angel telling you to step back and find a different club or shot so you can commit. The key is to be committed and more aggressive with your shot when you are over the ball.

Golf becomes whoever mishits the ball best wins at every level. The game is about your misses and not your hits.


MOST OUT OF YOUR GAME

If there is one key that separates professionals from amateurs, it is the ability to concentrate.  Jack Nicklaus believed the same thing, but phrased it differently.  Here are his thoughts.

CONCENTRATION

The Four Tee Drill helps to with setup, alignment, roll and your putting stroke.

MICHAEL GARDEN - PUTTING - STROKE - 202104

Preparing for a tournament is very important. Practice finding your tempo.

PRE-TOURNAMENT ROUTINE

Start with your golf swing if you want to shape up your game. The L to L drill is a great exercise to get your swing going.

First, drop your right foot back and swing at the ball, creating an “L” with your arms and club on your backswing and a reverse “L” on the follow-through.

Most people struggle with this because their body wants to go when they start, and they can’t get back when they swing.

This drill gets the lever system working and stops the chest from pulling the club through the ball.

Again, practice swinging L to L. You should be able to do this drill smoothly. You need to be able to master this because it helps you develop the skills required for a big full swing.

This is a great drill to start shaping up your game. Practice this drill before you go out to play.

SHAPE UP YOUR GAME

A Malaska Golf Member wants to know why he still slices the ball despite having a stronger grip.

Mike surmises the member has a strong grip, which Mike calls a neutral grip; however, on the takeaway, he cups his left wrist. The problem is, when you twist your wrists, your clubface becomes wide open on the backswing. Then you are forced to compensate and get the club square on impact.

When you take the club away, ensure your left wrist hinges and the clubface is pointed back at the ball. For you to keep hitting to the right with a correct grip, your clubface is getting open on the backswing. The only way to do this is for you to twist your hand.

Again, as you take the club back, ensure the clubface is still aiming at the ball, then swing up to the top. Notice how your left wrist is flat and hasn’t cupped. Now the clubface is where it’s supposed to be.

Mike demonstrates this with a swing. The key is ensuring your clubface isn’t getting open, collapsing, or cupping the wrists. Doing this will stop your shots from going to the right.

FACE CONTROL WITH HAND ACTION

Mike sits down with MLB Hitting Coach Craig Wallenbrock to discuss the similarities between the golf swing and the baseball swing.

BASEBALL & GOLF CONNECT

This Mulligan Monday, Harry Hooker is in the Bunkers.

Bunkers are challenging for Harry, so he draws a line in the sand and practices hitting the line with his club. Harry works his way down the line taking the line out.

Once Harry addresses the ball that is slightly in front of the line, he makes the same swing, and the ball flys out of the bunker and onto the green.

This drill focuses on hitting the line that helped Harry hit the sand behind the ball to get it out of the bunker.

HARRY HOOKER BUNKERS DRAW A LINE IN THE SAND

Pepe Cortez, a PGA Golf Professional since 1995, has been helping students become better golfers for over 26 years in the Seattle area. Pepe fell in love with the game as a young boy playing golf with his father and went on to play competitively at junior, high school, and collegiate levels. After graduating from the University of Oregon, he went to work at Sahalee Country Club under the Director of Golf, Rick Acton. He taught there for 26 years and is now teaching at Snoqualmie Ridge Golf Club. His approach with his students is grounded in the foundational teaching of Jim Flick and Mike Malaska, who both helped him improve his own game. But it was Mike’s mentorship over the past two decades that solidified Pepe’s understanding of the golf swing and fueled his passion for teaching. Pepe is proud to be a Malaska Golf Certified Instructor and is excited to help you reach your full potential as a golfer. You’ll better understand how the golf swing works and how the body works through the swing.

PEPE CORTEZ

Now that you know how to make solid contact with the ball, have a synchronized pivot and effective angle of approach, let's look at how you can bring these skills together.

CREATING A NATURAL PITCH SHOT

For Step 2 of this player lesson with Billy Fitzgerald, Mike Malaska talks about going from address to impact. When Billy does this, he pushes his right hip down, and his left shoulder goes up. His right knee rotates down and inward. 

Mike explains that you can feel your right leg, right foot, and femur rotating down and in when you go from address to impact position.

Mike places a stick in front of his right knee, which keeps it from moving outward. If your knee goes out, so does your hip, which makes your arms go outward. 

Billy gets steep in the transition of his swing partly because his brain puts the brakes on the club when he wants to shallow the club. Because Billy moves his hip out, there is no room to move and shallow the club correctly. That’s why his club is forced to go out on his swing.

Billy makes small swings from the impact position, and Mike iterates that this is the second step. When Billy can feel how to trigger the right leg, he can make full swings.