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Brian Gott, a Malaska Certified Coach, is tackling the Ask Mikes this week. A Malaska Golf Member has a question about how you affect trajectory based on the right hand coming through at impact. The member wants to know if he will hit the ground fat and thin.Brian says the most important thing when you take practice swings is to look where the club bottoms out. This helps you determine ball position and the low point of the swing. Once you have done that, you can work on trajectories.Make sure to keep your right shoulder level. Don’t let the shoulder dip down, especially if trying to hit the ball low. This will tend to ground the club out behind the ball. Now that Brain has figured out the low point of his swing, he can make normal trajectory shots.Brian hits a low and a high shot with just one hand, ensuring the shoulders are level. Then he moves to holding the club with two hands.If you want to hit a really low shot, move the ball back in your stance and ensure your knuckles are behind the ball. It will come out lower and release.Play around with different trajectories, but make sure your right shoulder doesn’t dip down.

TRAJECTORY AT IMPACT

Consistent beginnings lead to consistent play.

PRACTICE SERIES

The easiest way to see break to by rolling a ball.

ROLLING A BALL

For this Quick Fix Friday, Mike pulls out his driver and starts practicing on the range.

Mike sets up three tees, and the key is to make easy swings and hit the ball solid. Mike hits the first ball in the center of the face, online, with a slight curve. 

Mike hits the next shot, adds a little draw, and follows with the third shot hitting a fade.

With all three hits, you can feel what the club is doing with face control even though you aren't making a full swing. 

This drill will help you with your full swing, especially since you aren't adding acceleration. Mike starts with the driver, puts it away, and works on his other clubs before returning to the driver.

START WITH YOUR DRIVER EASY SWINGS

Learning to play golf is about how to accommodate uneven lies. There are more uneven lies on a golf course than flat lies. Even fairways that look relatively flat have slopes, and the more you make little adjustments to compensate, the better you will become.

There are two essential things to understand when it comes to uneven lies. First, you must ensure that your body is perpendicular to the ground as if you were hitting off a flat lie. If you are on a downhill lie, your body should tilt forward. 

Most people on a downhill lie tend to lean back when they try to hit the ball. Your club will bottom out early when you try to make your swing. Make sure you are getting your shoulders even relative to the ground. Mike also drops his right foot back because your knee tends to be more up on a downhill lie and in the way of your swing. The more severe the downhill lie, the more your foot goes back.

Second, once you accommodate the lie with your body and stance, make a practice swing to see where your club bottoms out. You will find that the club will bottom out slightly in front of the ball. You will have to adjust your position in your stance so the club will bottom out and hit the ball.

When it comes to playing golf, it’s about adjusting; in this instance, it’s about making those adjustments to the lie and not your swing. A downhill lie will take loft off the face; an uphill lie adds loft; below your feet doesn’t do much, and above the feet, your shot goes to the left.

Remember, on a downhill lie, get your shoulders level with the ground, drop your right foot back and see where your club bottoms out. Set up and go from there.

MASTERING UNEVEN LIES

Before you add speed, you must have control. Get a feel for your full swing with pitching.

PITCHING TO GET A FEEL

Golf is primarily a mental game. If your mind doesn't understand the task at hand, the body won't do what you want it to do.

MENTAL SIDE WITH GIULIA SERGAS - 201811

If your hands and arms are too tight, do the opposite and hinge your wrists quickly. By exaggerating and finding the middle ground, you will improve your swing.

EXAGGERATION DRILL

When it comes to grip there are many ways to put your hands on the club. The way that is most taught is what is called a neutral palms apposing grip. That is a way to play but it takes a lot of compensations to make it work. Your lead hand should go on the club the way your arm hangs in front of you. That is how your joints line up. Your trial hand is a thrower and or a pusher. It should be on the club in a manner that pushes the shaft through the ball without having to twist. The club is also for a full swing the club is primarily in the fingers of both hands more than the palms.

NEUTRAL GRIP

Lead your game from the front, instead of trying to catch up from behind.

TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR GAME

Hi, my name is Matt Baker, and I’m a Malaska Golf Certified Coach based here in the UK. This question comes from Derek Neve (apologies if I’ve mispronounced your name). It’s great to hear from you, Derek, as you’ve been a long-time member of the site, and Mike wanted to personally thank you for your continued membership.We know you took a break to try different things, but you’ve come back and realized how great the system is, so Mike wanted to welcome you back.You mentioned how much you're enjoying the M2 system, and that one drill has really helped you: the hinge drill. This is a fantastic drill because it helps you understand the correct wrist motion and the relationship between the shaft, the club, and your hands. It’s a fundamental drill that we encourage many golfers to practice because it benefits the overall swing.The drill is simple. Take hold of the club and stand at address. From this position, you hinge your wrists upwards. When you do this, it sets your wrists at the right angle. A lot of players may notice a slight angle in the shaft as well—this is normal, given how you hold the club and how your wrists function. Some golfers try to keep it straight, but you should just allow it to hinge naturally.Once the wrists are hinged and the shaft is parallel to the ground, all you need to focus on is completing the swing arc around your body. From there, you can hit the ball. Practicing this drill repeatedly will set you into a nice backswing position and help with your overall swing momentum.This is an excellent all-around drill. I still practice it regularly, and I highly recommend others incorporate it into their routines. It's beneficial for setting up the swing and directing momentum.Thank you for sharing your experience, Derek. I hope you continue to enjoy the M2 system, and I encourage you to check out M3 as well. It’s another great addition to your game.Thanks again for your question, Derek, and I hope to catch up with you all soon.

BETTER GOLF WITH THE HINGE DRILL

A Malaska Golf Member has a question about grip and your left thumb. Mike says from his experience, your left thumb can be the biggest killer regarding tension.

Mike explains that when you hold a baseball bat, like tennis, your thumb is not on the bat. This makes it easy to load and release the bat. There is no tension in your wrists.

When you hold a golf club, the thumb is slightly on the side of the shaft, so it is a support mechanism when you get to the top of your swing. Also, in the downswing, your thumb prevents the club from swinging all over the place. When the club gets outside your hands on the downswing, your thumb is now along for the ride.

It is important to note that your thumb does not push down into the club. On the follow-through, the club rehinges, and your thumb stabilizes the club again.

Mike, say that some players would really benefit from taking their thumb off the golf club like you would on a baseball bat. Swing with this grip and feel how loose your left wrist feels. Now put your left thumb back on the club and feel that same swing as you did when you had the thumb off.

Again, don't push with the thumb. Many players that Mike teaches grip the club too tightly. Often Mike will take their right hand off the club to look at their left hand. He notices that he can't move their left thumb, and it's almost like they have a "death grip" between their left finger and their left thumb.

When Mike grips the club, there is no tension in his left thumb, and he is not pushing the thumb into the club. It is just sitting there acting as a stabilizer. Many players hit the ball fat because they use their thumbs and push the club down.

THUMBS AWAY

Mastering how to use the club, hand action, setup, and controlling distance plays a critical role in developing your full swing.

PITCHING REVIEW

This Malaska Golf Member wants to know what you do on the backswing after hinging your wrists.

Mike Malaska says you must be careful to avoid getting too segmented in your swing; instead, think of it as a blend of motions.

Swing the club slightly forward, then start the club back and toss the momentum backward. When you hinge your wrists on the backswing, your left arm is parallel to the ground, your shoulders are 90 degrees, and force is in your right leg. Once you reach this point, your arms go up and down.

It’s not just about shoulder turn, although some players feel that. Mike feels a more up-and-down motion after the wrists hinge. This up-and-down action also helps load the ground, and Mike goes on the downswing.

When do all these motions all sync out? There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong way to do it. Mike’s wisdom is that if you add tension to the equation, then don’t do it.

Start with the club out in front, then push back and let the club swing and hit the ball. The reality of the swing is that your shoulders, arms, and body are moving at different speeds. Nothing is traveling at the same rate, but there is a blend of those circles. A combination of those different swing arcs makes up the swing.

Mike talks about how players feel connected and together. What does that mean? Mike describes this as a feeling, and you must be careful with what you do with it.

In summary, the swing isn’t tight and too position orientated. Just toss the club back and let the arc of the different circles work together in your swing.


BLENDING ARM SWING, WRIST HINGE AND BODY TURN

A chip shot uses the same body mechanics as your wedges, only this time, we've added acceleration.  

ADD PUSHAWAY TO YOUR CHIPPING SHOTS

Hi, I'm Billy Fitzgerald, a Malaska-certified coach based in Chicago. Chris Downer asks about using a metronome to build rhythm and wonders about the correct beat—whether it's 70, 80, or another tempo. Chris, that’s a great question, because when it comes to rhythm, one thing I notice across the board is how varied it is among the people who come to me for lessons and those I see practicing on the range every day.Typically, the tempo gets faster as the club length increases, with the driver often being the quickest and rhythm sometimes almost nonexistent with the putter. That’s one area where tour players excel—they have consistent rhythm throughout their game. Even if their swing is a bit off, good rhythm can help save their shots. When we lose rhythm, our timing gets thrown off, and the swing can feel different each time.In terms of using a metronome, I recommend starting with the putter. I always emphasize rhythm in putting lessons, as it greatly impacts speed control. I use a simple pattern: “take back, impact, take back, impact.” The exact tempo doesn’t have to match mine—it will vary based on your personality, lifestyle, and natural pace. Some people are naturally slower, others faster, and it’s about finding what feels right for you.To illustrate, if I use my natural rhythm with my putter, I might go “take back, impact” at a comfortable pace. If I try it too quickly or too slowly, it feels off. Finding the right rhythm and sticking with it is crucial. Once you identify your rhythm, you can use a metronome to match the beats, but since rhythm is so personal, assigning a specific number might not be accurate for everyone.Whether I’m using a putter, an eight iron, or a driver, my rhythm remains the same— “take back, impact.” The rhythm doesn’t change, whether it’s for a two-foot putt or a driver. Once you find your rhythm, make it part of your pre-shot routine and use it every time. The best players have the most consistent routines and rhythm, suited to their own feel and personality.In summary, find a rhythm that works for you and keep it consistent throughout your game. This will give you stability and confidence, regardless of which club you’re using.

CONSISTENT RHYTHM ACROSS CLUBS

Set a chair up just behind you. The seat of the chair should almost touch your glute muscle. The lower part of your butt cheek. Then as you swing back make your trail hip touch the chair. As you change directions sit down into the chair. Then hit the ball. After you hit the ball then stand up into your finish. This is a bit of an exaggeration but once you start to fell this loading of the ground it will dramatically change your swing potential.

HOW THE BODY WORKS - CHALLENGE

INTRO TO PITCHING

If you want to make swing changes in the quickest manner. Then the key is to exaggerate the opposite of what you do then work your swing back towards your normal. You will then be able to identify the swing you want and how it feels. For instance if you slice the ball. Then work on making the ball hook a lot. Then just do less and less until you find the curve you want. Do not be afraid to exaggerate. First at slow speeds. Then add speed later.

PRACTICE EXAGGERATION

Your angle of approach will determine whether you are hitting with the leading edge or making solid contact with the center of the club. A towel can be a great teaching tool for you to direct your pivot into the ball.

DEVELOPING ANGLE OF APPROACH

This is an important idea that plays heavily into Mike's philosophy as an instructor and coach.  Hear how accountability has a role in teaching.

ROLE OF THE TEACHER

Mike Malaska works with Dr. Joe LaCaze, Owner and Managing Partner of Rotex Motion. Joe plays golf mainly in the summertime and shoots anywhere from 75 to 77.

Mike observes Joe make a few practice swings. He notices that Joe's body mechanics are really good, although the way his hands and Lever System work is minimal.

Mike's goal with Joe is to get him to understand the Lever System and put that together with what his body is doing. Mike adds that if the Lever System works correctly with much less tension and effort, Joe could get more speed.

When Mike observes golf swings, he looks for how the body moves and what the Lever System is doing. Most of the time, Mike corrects the Lever System first and then the body. Because Joe's body motion is good, Mike mainly focuses on the Lever System with him.

Joe makes a couple of swings, and Mike notices Joe's grip is off. When Joe tries to lever the club, he levers at the elbows instead of the wrists. If he levers at the wrists, this will keep his arms straight on the backswing. Joe tends to cast the club on the downswing.

Mike works with Joe's grip to ensure that the club feels like it's more in Joe's fingers. Mike then works on Joe's takeaway and understanding that the Lever System is immediate. The lever needs to happen before the club is parallel to the ground. Mike also wants Joe to feel like he is pushing the handle away from him.

Mike gets Joe to swing and point the handle away on the backswing and the follow-through. This motion is the Handle Away Drill. Mike reminds Joe to keep the wrists loose and go easy on the swing.

Mike wants Joe to make practice swings with a plastic ball with his right foot back. This helps Joe to feel the Lever System and practice the Handle Away Drill. Mike really wants Joe to get a feel for how the hands work.

FEEL THE LEVER SYSTEM

The drill library is a collection of several drills to help your game. To begin, familiarize yourself with what is in there. Depending on what you are working on, guide yourself to drills that will help with your game. These drills all relate to some part of the M-System. If you have a problem with a particular part of the M-System, you can find additional drills in the drill library. These will help you navigate your game through that system. Just have fun. Try the drills. There is not a drill in the drill library that will hurt you. Suppose you find a drill that is hard to do. Work on it. It will make you a better player.

DRILL CENTER

GREATLIFE PARTNER VIDEO

Milo answers the most common question: how to hit far

HOW TO HIT FAR

A Malaska Golf member has a question about Trackman. He wants to know about loft in the clubface at impact and address relative to a pitching wedge. At address, it has you at 45 degrees. With lower clubhead speeds, it says you should be around 31 degrees to maximize the distance and have more forward shaft length.

Mike agrees that some of that is correct to maximize it, but many things need to happen to work correctly. The member wants to know how to get that shaft length without dragging the handle dramatically.

When Mike starts to get more shaft length or take loft off the face, he feels the difference between his knuckles and wrist is more in the angle of his right wrist. What he is not feeling is pulling the handle forward. Another thing you can do is move the ball farther back in your stance. It is all about the angle in your right wrist. 

If you're twisting the face open, twisting it shut, and trying to deloft the club, you can run into trouble with wrist angle. The face would be wide open. Try to feel more angle in your wrist which will bring the flight of the ball down. Don't be worried about getting the optimal numbers. Find what is best for you under pressure on the course when it counts.

TAKING LOFT OFF THE CLUB

Lag Shot Driver Feel The Weight Of The Club

LAG SHOT DRIVER FEEL THE WEIGHT OF THE CLUB

A Malaska Golf Member has a question about the Front Loader Drill. Mike demonstrates how to do it, starting by extending your hands with the club out in front of you and then swinging back to hit the ball. Mike explains that it is a simple drill and does a lot of good things.&nbsp;The Member wants to know why her arms feel like they are floating all over the place on the backswing when she does the drill. Joe Nichols described the arms as pivoting on the backswing. Mike demonstrates the ‘pivot’ that Joe talked about. Once Mike has pivoted, the right arm moves away. Your right arm mustn't stay pinned against your body.After you pivot your right arm, your elbow goes up, giving you room to come down. You will feel like your arms are moving away from your body.Mike uses the concept of throwing a ball to the ground where his arm and hand would be on the backswing. He says you wouldn’t cup your wrist when you threw it. You wouldn’t have any leverage.Again, the Front Loader Drill is good because when you pivot on the backswing, the momentum of the club takes your arms up, and then you swing down into the ball. It is key to feel the freedom in your right arm.

SYNC OUT YOUR SWING

Mike compares golf to car racing with Mike McGovern, chief instructor at Bondurant Racing.

BONDURANT RACING: ACCELERATION

Mike Malaska and colleague Chris Lebiedz discuss trends in the PGA and LPGA teaching industry.

GOLF TALK WITH CHRIS LEBIEDZ

The skills you need to be #1 in the world.

SKILLS TO BE THE BEST

Mike Malaska analyzes celebrity golf swings using the Rapsodo Launch Monitor.

CELEBRITY SWING ANALYSIS

The great dilemma for many players. Do you perfect the swing, or take the swing you have and perfect your game.

WORK ON SWING OR WORK ON GAME

If you tend to slice or hook the ball, begin your setup to the side of the tee box. The golf course becomes more significant when you do this.

SIDE OF THE TEE

Being consistent is one of the mostimportant things to kep in mind. Practice to become consistent.

THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSISTENCY

Tour players blend their body rotation with their arm swing and face angle. There is no one way to swing, but there are principles that commonly apply.

TOUR PRO SWING THEORY

At the final point in John’s lesson, Mike reiterates the importance of feeling the club in your fingers. Tour players rest the club on their shoulders, holding it in their fingers with their hands lightly on the club. Or they toss the club in circles to really feel that in their fingers.

Mike says that your strength is truly in your fingers. The feeling is the same when you make a free throw with a basketball, throw a baseball, and throw a football. You don’t throw these with the ball in the palm of your hand.

Make sure your grip is correct when you practice, your hands are soft, and the club is in your fingertips. Do this so that it becomes second nature.

When you swing, your fingers create the lever system. Your hands get softer and softer as your wrists get lighter and lighter. Your fingers are where all your speed, control, and strength are, not the palm of your hand.

The palm of your hand is used more for stabilizing. Your palm plays a role in chipping and putting because you don’t want a lot of the lever system. You need as much lever system as you can generate for the full swing.

Mike gets John to swing just with his right arm and slap Mike’s hand. This illustrates the slapping motion and how easy it is to hit the ball. Your hands are your golf swing. Your body is essential, but at the end of the day, it is your hands that direct the face to the ball.

THE CLUB IS IN YOUR FINGERS NOT YOUR PALM

The game starts with impact. To build a solid swing, you need to start with putting.

GIULIA SERGAS

Julie Yang, LPGA working on pivoting and off-setting momentum.

ON THE RANGE WITH JULIE YANG

Mike Malaska talks about the change of direction in a golf swing. He believes there is no "top of the swing," just a start and a finish. 

There is a point and time in the backswing at the club transition point where inertia takes over, and you start on the downswing. This should be one fluid motion, so think of the "top of the swing" as "the club transition point."

If you change directions correctly, that's what drops your arms and gets the club coming down perfectly into the ball. You will come over the top if you change directions incorrectly or too late.

A great way to practice change of direction is to use an Eye Coach tennis machine, where you can practice your forehand with a tennis racket. As Mike swings and hits the ball, the racket goes back, and he moves forward.

That same timing and motion are identical to a golf swing. As Mike swings the golf club back, he steps forward. This change of direction is a continuous athletic motion. It is not wrong to practice the transition point, but when your mind thinks to swing to the top and start down, you won't be able to get to your left side soon enough.

This same concept applies to multiple sports, such as baseball, hockey, soccer, and golf.