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Mike Malaska works with MLB Baseball Players, Kevin Pillar, Kevin Plawecki and Ryon Healy how the clubface is the bat and club shaft is an extension of your left arm.

CLUBFACE AND THE BALL WITH MIKE MALASKA, KEVIN PILLAR, KEVIN PLAWECKI AND RYON HEALY

A Malaska Golf member wants to know how to use the natural forces around him when he swings. When you make a golf swing, you are directing the momentum of the club, and the club just goes. It is very similar to a baseball swing.

Mike grabs a baseball bat and demonstrates. When you swing, you are getting the bat in the same arc as the ball. You let the bat go once you hit the ball. At the same time, your body pushes back away and throws the bat forward. It's the same flowing motion in the swing if you apply it to your golf swing as long as your grip is correct.

When you swing, as your body turns, the club will push out in front of you. With the correct grip, the club's momentum will square the clubface at impact. If your grip is off, something else must come into play to square the clubface.

If the grip is correct, then when you swing, it is like you are pushing the club down into impact, and then you are letting the momentum of the cub run into the ball. It will go where you want it to. When your arm straightens out and your hands pressure the shaft, it does feel free flowing, like a baseball swing. It is the same as a forehand in tennis and throwing a ball.

It must be a flow of motion and not positions. The game gets in trouble when too many positions are going on, and you don't know the motion that connects them.

FLOW OF MOTION

Do sports really connect? Well, your body is a pattern machine.

Let's talk about fitness, nutrition, and how it all works together.

There are two basic movement patterns:
1. Throw (or Lag in Golf)
2. Hit (Impact)

Baseball and Golf Connect
Tennis and Golf Connect
Basketball and Golf Connect
Hockey and Golf Connect
Soccer and Golf Connect
PickleBall and Golf Connect
Bowling and Golf Connect
Ping-Pong and Golf Connect
Football and Golf Connect
Racquetball and Golf Connect

SPORTS CONNECT™

SPORTS CONNECT: OVERVIEW

This Malaska Golf Member question is about the Line of Compression and Impact.

Mike explains that 90 percent of his teaching focuses on this concept and how Impact is the only position that counts.

Regardless of the club, you want to maximize the amount of force that gets into the shaft and the back of the ball.

Your right arm must be lined up with the club shaft when the club runs into the ball. It doesn’t matter if you putt, make a chip shot, a pitch, or use your driver; the same applies.

When the club shaft is lined up with your right arm, and when you run the clubface into the ball, it stabilizes the shaft and compresses the ball at Impact. If your arm is a little high when you run the club shaft into the ball, the shaft will give.

When people in the industry talk about the golf swing and about having your hips 23 degrees open and your shoulders a certain way, Mike believes you should first look at Impact. Mike would rather have you run the club into the ball and have a good impact position with their arms.

If you were to slow that down and watch the swing, your hips would be closed to the target line. Others would say that you need to get your hips more open. When you do that, you will begin to twist your hips, and your shoulders will get involved. If this happens and you run the club into the ball, your right arm is now above your left. Photos of Tour Players show that their right arm is below their left at Impact. Their hips are open, but they are highly flexible.

That ensures the Line of Compression, which stabilizes the shaft, and when the club runs into the ball, it compresses the ball. You have all this force with your right arm and shoulder hitting the ball at Impact.

Getting Impact correct with arms, right arm, and the club shaft is important. You will play a lot better golf.

LINE OF COMPRESSION AND IMPACT

Almost every club has a life-long participant of the game. Superstition is fortunate to have Mr. Peterson, who has been playing 72 years.

A LIFETIME OF GOLF

"If you want to be a good player you can't afford to not take control of the things you have control over." Mike summarizes what good players practice.

TAKE CONTROL TO BE A GOOD PLAYER

CHIPPING REVIEW

When you swing a golf club your head appears to stay fairly still. But it is not because your are trying to hold it still. It stays fairly centered because you body is constantly pushing away from the motion of the club. So as the club moves back my body is starting to move forward. As the club swings around me on the down swing my body is moving away from the motion of the club. As I swing into the finish I am again pushing away from the motion of the club. Most great players heads actually appear to move back as the club goes through the ball. That is because they are pushing back away from the forward momentum of the club. That also creates a tremendous amount of acceleration.

HEAD STILL

Setting up a gate for the putter to swing through. This is a great training device. From 3 inches behind the ball to 3 inches past the back of the ball the putter head should not arch or rotate. The tees will tell you if there is any arch. If you hit the tees you fix the problem. You eliminate variables. Then use the drills to keep the stroke on the correct path.

GATE DRILL

Foot action cannot be overstated.  This is where your power comes from.  The more you can sequence this out in your swing, the more consistent and balanced you will be.

REVIEW

A Malaska Golf member feels like when he sets up to the ball, he makes a long, slow rotation of his left forearm. When he gets to the top, he wants to know what he must do to come back down and hit well. 

If you take the club, and as you’re going back and continually rotating your left forearm, the clubface becomes more open, so when you stop at the top, you must have a lot of forearm rotation when you come back down. But is that actually happening, or is it just a feeling?

When Mike swings, he feels the rotation of his arm in his shoulder socket but not his forearm. If you do indeed have a lot of forearm rotation going back, you must have it coming back down. It is difficult to make that happen consistently. 

If you are hitting it solid, have control, and don’t have to practice much, it is probably just a feeling, not a reality.

FOREARM ROTATION

Billy Fitzgerald, a Malaska-certified coach, addresses a question from Malaska Golf Member about the "left-right-left" movement in the golf swing—starting with pressure on the left side, shifting to the right, and then back to the left. This movement is a technique for generating momentum, and Billy notes it’s a question he receives often.Billy explains that this movement helps restore a sense of athleticism in the swing. In many sports, shifting weight to the opposite side before moving adds power by creating something to push off from. This left-right-left sequence not only enhances athleticism but also improves timing and rhythm while preventing a static start.One of the most common challenges he hears from golfers is difficulty initiating the swing. Billy explains that the left-right-left motion helps start the swing by signaling to the body that it’s time to go. He suggests that it’s a great addition to any pre-shot routine, helping break up the feeling of stiffness.To illustrate the concept, Billy references Vijay Singh, a golfer known for his smooth rhythm. Singh’s technique included a slight knee kick that would initiate a leftward shift, then back to the right, and finally left again in the swing—a consistent and powerful rhythm, regardless of the club he was using.Billy demonstrates his own routine with a balance board to practice shifting weight. He encourages students to place initial pressure on the left, then move right and return left in the swing. He notes that this slight movement brings rhythm to the swing, allowing him to initiate it smoothly, stay athletic, and easily pull the trigger at impact.

POWER UP WITH LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT

Before hitting balls, work on your movement.

WORKING ON MOVEMENT

The motion of kicking a soccer ball or football with your foot is the same principle applied when the clubface hits the ball.

PITCHING SPORTS CONNECT

Stand on your right foot, use your left toe to balance, and make a swing. This drill will help you feel how to put pressure into the ground and not jump off your right side.

RIGHT FOOT LEFT TOE DRILL

The right arm lines up with the club shaft. Learn how to practice this with putting.

FOREARM AND SHAFT

INSIGHTS: CLUB SPEED

Putting in your worst shot will improve your performance on the course.

PUTTING YOUR WORST SHOT

This Malaska Golf Quick Fix Friday is all about your least favorite shot. 

Most golfers tend to slice the ball, so this week, practice hitting hooks. If you hit a hook shot, strengthen your grip, shut the clubface a little, swing from the inside and try to turn the clubface over. 

Take your driver and try to make the ball hook or curve to the left. The purpose of this drill is to curve it in the opposite direction you normally would.

LEAST FAVORITE SHOT

In the second video, Mike Malaska works with Ashley Huizing to address key issues in her swing mechanics by focusing on proper hip movement, hand coordination, and sequencing. These adjustments aim to improve control, prevent early extension, and establish a solid foundation for her swing.Mike begins by emphasizing the importance of protecting the left knee. He sets Ashley up for a 20- to 30-yard pitch shot with a wedge, encouraging her to focus on a compact stance with her feet closer together. During the swing, Ashley’s left hip needs to move back, naturally lifting her left foot's heel. This motion ensures that her hips maintain proper distance from the ball and stay aligned, reducing strain and preventing her from getting stuck underneath the swing.Mike explains that the hips, arms, and club must work together. The left hip drives the motion, pulling the left heel off the ground and allowing a smooth, balanced rotation. By correcting her tendency to move up onto the ball of her foot, Ashley reduces the risk of knee injury and achieves better control.He addresses a common issue where golfers try to "push" off their right side, causing the right hip to move forward. This creates vertical force, stalls the left hip, and results in the club dropping behind the body, leading to inconsistent strikes. Instead, Mike teaches Ashley to let the left hip move back to meet the right hip, enabling a more natural and efficient rotation.To reinforce this movement, Mike introduces pitch shot drills. He highlights how improper sequencing, such as starting with the arms rather than the hips, disrupts the swing. The focus is on syncing the hips and hands, allowing the club to flow naturally through the motion. Mike demonstrates how the left hip pulling back initiates the swing, pulling the arms and club forward in unison.Mike also explains the importance of understanding the clubface’s movement. He teaches Ashley how the clubface should rotate naturally without forcing or flipping it. By practicing small, controlled pitch shots and focusing on proper mechanics, Ashley begins to develop muscle memory and feel the benefits of balanced hip motion and hand coordination.Through these adjustments, Ashley learns to create a smooth, powerful swing that minimizes strain and maximizes control. This lesson lays the groundwork for integrating these mechanics into longer swings and building consistency in her overall game.

FIXING SWING MECHANICS

Right foot back drill training the right hip in the downswing.

TRAINING THE RIGHT HIP TO STAY DOWN

If you have to force the angle to hold, something else is wrong.

HOLDING THE ANGLE

Softer sand and deeper rough require more bounce.

WEDGE PLAY AND BOUNCE DISCUSSION

A Malaska Golf Member says that working on his grip has really helped his golf swing. Mike reinforces that how you put your hands on the club determines how you move through the golf swing and what your hands must do to square the clubface to the ball at impact.

In an ideal world, you want your joints to work as designed, where they are the strongest, and also, you want the least compensation to straighten the clubface at impact. Mike laments that he had the correct grip when he started; however, along the way, coaches talked him out of it, as they thought it wasn't the right way to grip a golf club. Now, Mike is back to gripping the club like he did when he was eighteen.

The member talks about when he put his left hand on the club, his thumb was on top of the handle, but now, it is off to the side. Mike says this is important because your thumb acts as a stabilizer. It doesn't push the club or add force.

For instance, your thumb stabilizes the club at the top of your swing so it doesn't float around. At impact, you hit with the back part of the hand, which faces out. The wrist bows, but the watch face side isn't facing out. That is old-school teaching. The thumb is on the back of the handle supporting the shaft, so when the club hits the ground, the thumb stabilizes in the clubface.

Mike uses the following analogy all the time. Grip a baseball bat and take a swing. The grip at impact for a baseball bat is the same as that with a golf club at impact. There is a sports connect!

Mike shows you how to put a golf grip on a baseball bat. He grips the back with his left hand, and his thumb is on the back of the bat handle. His right hand grips the bat, which is slightly more up than a baseball grip. Mike brings the bat back in front of him and drops it down behind the golf ball.

This is your golf grip! Now you are in a position where your hands are moving in a chopping action when you hit the ball. You would never swing a baseball bat with a bowing action at impact. It is weak, and Mike believes you shouldn't swing like that with a golf club.

Mike notes some players swing like that, but it fights against how the joints are designed and puts your left wrist in a compromising position. You are more prone to injury gripping the club that way.

When you have the correct grip and step up to swing the club, it feels more like a baseball swing. You will find you have more stability in the back of the ball and the shaft.

ESTABLISHING GRIP

Meet Ryan Groves with Bodi Trak and an early Malaska Golf Member.

RYAN GROVES - INDIANA, USA

Side extensions are a great exercise to perform if you have shoulder issues.

Mike takes both exercise bands and steps on the ends with his shoes. His arms are outstretched at shoulder height. You want to be careful with this exercise. Raise your arms and start with small motions until you can raise your arms higher. You can also add more tension by standing closer together on the bands. The tension starts lower, causing you to lift more.

This exercise works your shoulders, triceps, and back.

SIDE EXTENSIONS

Practicing youe short game is very important when preparing for a tournament.

PLAYING 100 YARDS AND IN

When it comes to golf, you should always be having fun. Learn how to have fun and practice at home with just a club and a plastic ball.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING FUN

Set-up and constant processes will help with consistent feels.

MICHAEL GARDEN - PUTTING - FEEL - 202104

In this Player Lesson, we see how the M-System has changed the approach of a Malaska Golf member's playing.

PLAYER LESSON WITH MR. ESMOND - HAWAII - 201905

By working the bounce with this safety feature, you can eliminate stress and increase your overall game.

SAFETY FEATURE

INTRO TO IMPACT

This conversation with Eric Cogorno about hip movement in the full swing is one of the most important concepts I think every golfer must understand. The idea of turning vs. rotating is key to building a solid foundation for your swing. 

FULL SWING HIP MOVEMENT WITH ERIC COGORNO

THE SWING DOESN'T FEEL HOW IT LOOKS

Keep your shoulders parallel as long as possible. It's all about your hands. Don't get your lower body moving in towards the ball. Here are several things that will improve your game in baseball and golf.

BASEBALL RELATED TO GOLF

SET-UP USING THE HEEL

ACCELERATION

Longer clubs are swung just like shorter clubs.

SWINGING LONGER CLUBS UNDER CONTROL

INSIGHTS: SMASH FACTOR

Here is an overview into the different sections of grip as well as what role each section serves in hitting more consistent shots.

RECAP

Mike Malaska works with Frank Cox on his golf swing. Frank played college golf, and his lowest handicap was 2.4. He played 55 rounds of golf last year.

Mike will work with Frank on his driver. Frank has a unique swing, and Mike likes players with unique swings. Mike names a few players like Jim Furyk, Fred Couples, and newer players on tour, Bryson DeChambeau, and Matthew Wolff, who also have unique swings. They may not have what is considered the perfect swing, but if they have the two or three things that make a player consistent, that's what matters. Mike quotes an old saying, "What is the perfect swing? Something that duplicates itself under pressure."

Mike only judges swings and players based on where their misses are. The better your misses are, the better player you are. If you have a double miss, right and left, you can't play. The better the player, the misses go in one direction and get tighter. How good you are is more about when you are off than when you are on. 

Frank sets up and crushes a few shots with his driver. He tends to fade with a giant pull. After looking at Frank's swing, Mike comments that speed is not an issue and that Frank has basically eliminated the left. This is ok; however, it's hard to be consistent with that swing. Mike says that the only thing that matters in golf is impact position. There are a lot of ways to get there.

Frank has a weak grip, and he sets the clubface very open. Because of the grip and setup, it forces Frank to twist and turn hard on the swing to get the clubface square at impact, and Frank will rarely pull hook. Frank hits the ball right to right if he doesn't twist enough. 

Studies have shown that you can't square the clubface with the rotation of your body. It can be helpful, but with the amount of clubface rotation from waist height to the ball, you can't create enough of it to work at impact. This means there will be some rotation of the arms.

Frank will not have to worry about hitting pull hooks with his driver but will flare some shots to the right. He will be steep with his irons and hard to control.

The game is played from 100 yards and in, and whoever is the best from 100 yards wins.

FRANK COX DRIVER: HAVING A UNIQUE SWING

Practice using a tennis racket or a baseball bat to feel the up to under of the backswing. This motion is the same as the golf swing.

FEELING THE UP TO UNDER

When establishing tempo, make sure your right shoulder does not move out, but under and forward.

MICHAEL GARDEN

Ball position is the final step to a proper setup. What you do before you swing makes a big difference.

FINDING YOUR BALL POSITION

Learning how to control the club is very important. Learn how momentum effects your swing.

MOMENTUM AND WEIGHT

Depending on the club the ball position and weight distribution changes. The short irons most of your weight is forward and the ball is in the center of the body. The middle irons the weight is about even in your feet. Ball position is still center this causes a little less angle of attack. The fairway woods and long irons the ball is more forward and even more weight is in your trail foot. Again to change the angle of approach into the ball. The driver the ball is the most forward and weight is more towards your back foot to cause a slight upward blow into the ball. The circle is the same just the ball position and body position changes the angle of attack.

BALL POSITION REVIEW

ADIDAS PARTNER VIDEO

A quick reminder of how tense shoulders lock your arms.

SHOULDERS AND TENSION

Start with standing upwright with the putter in your trail hand. Your weight should be even in your feet. Your toes quiet. Line your trail forearm up with the putter shaft. It should be pointed just above your belly button. Then push your hips back keeping your toes quiet. Place the putter head behind the ball. Then make a stroke and let your trail forearm push the shaft through the ball. Fell the force into the back of the shaft and into the ball. This should happen in all shots.

PUTTING

There are two types of speed to consider when putting. Brian discusses distance control and speed control.