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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.

USING A TENNIS SWING MACHINE TO PRACTICE TRANSITION

When it comes to your game, having the right clubs in your bag is key. Learn how the pros get fitted for the perfect club.

THE RIGHT NUMBER OF WEDGES IN YOUR BAG

Begin every practice session by pivoting the club.

START BY PIVOTING THE CLUB

The first thing Mike gets Frank to do is just relax his hands in front of him. Mike is going to work on Frank’s grip. He puts the club into Frank’s left hand in a neutral position. He then cups Frank’s right hand onto the club.

Frank makes a practice swing 100 yards and hits it straight. With the new grip, Frank must bring the clubface back square, and on the downswing, he must match the circle of the clubface with the circle of his body.

Frank has to push his left leg back to push his left hip out of the way to make the circle of the clubface into the ball. If he does this, he won’t have to twist his hands to catch the club up at impact.

Frank makes some practice swings, where he has a strong grip. He shuts the clubface on the backswing and pushes his left hip out of the way at impact.

Mike demonstrates how the hands work with the lever system, and he moves Frank’s hip out of the way. Frank then hits a perfect shot 100 yards. He continues to make some good shots.

The thing Mike gets Frank to work on is the impact position. The hands are up and on the back of the shaft, while Frank’s left hip is out of the way. Mike gets Frank to make short chip shots and really concentrate on getting the club to impact position.

FRANK COX: STRONG GRIP AND SHUT THE CLUBFACE

Forearm rotation will make your swing more difficult. Practice directing momentum.

STAYING AWAY FROM SWAY

Mike introduces Kory to multiple speed producers, such as hands, wrists, arms, and off-setting forces.

SPEED PRODUCERS

A Malaska Golf Member has questions about positions in the golf swing. You can get too fixated on hitting certain positions in the downswing, but if you use motion correctly, the positions show up automatically.You must be careful about trying to hit certain positions. Mike demonstrates positions that you might want to hit. The problem with trying to practice this way is there is no force involved. You must have enough force so that the momentum of the club is doing things so that you can learn to offset those forces.The golf industry has struggled because we have tried to learn a motion sport with our feet still. Mike explains that in baseball, you stride when you hit the ball. You move your feet in tennis as you swing the racket to hit the ball. The same is true with ping-pong. In hockey, you are moving your feet.However, when you move to golf, the industry wants you to make a swing and keep your feet static.Mike demonstrates a drill to help you move your feet. Place your club forward outside a golf ball and start to step back while making a swing and hitting the ball.Many Tour Pros, when they practice, will make small steps before they hit the ball. They are using this footwork to create motion that creates positions.The key is to know what motions you need to do to create those positions. Motion is very different compared to static positions.Mike explains that he ruined a career by slowing his swing down to look at positions and trying to get to those spots! Those spots happen, but they don’t happen by what you see. The biggest thing that Mike has learned is that you can’t see a golf swing. That’s why he wrote the book, ‘The Invisible Swing.’It’s not about what you see but what causes what you see. That’s why static positions can be detrimental.

STATIC POSITIONS IN A GOLF SWING

Getting your hands on the club correctly and getting a feel for how the force transfers throughout your swing will help you hit the ball straighter and farther.

CROSSOVER SPORTS 2022 WITH RAPSODO MLM

Dan Quayle has been around golf for his whole life. Learn how Dan has kept up with golf his whole life.

DAN QUAYLE'S LIFE AROUND GOLF

There are three ways to hit a draw. You can draw the ball with the face, path, or setup.

HOW TO HIT A DRAW

What clubs do you start to learn to chip and pitch with to control trajectory.

TRAJECTORY: CHIPPING AND PITCHING

Champions across all sports have attitudes and mindsets that work because they want to be in the high pressure situation.

MANNERISMS OF GREAT PLAYERS

Have a higher chip that stops, and a lower chip that runs.

TWO BASIC CHIP SHOTS

Once you set up to the ball on balance and with your trail forearm in line with the putter shaft. Now as you swing your arm back and forth and your forearm pushes the shaft through the impact area. Now your trail wrist allows the putter head to swing with no twisting in the wrist. Wether you hold the angel in your wrist or let the putter head swing. The wrist and or forearm do not twist. The club head swings on a perfect 90 degree angle to the swing arch.

HAND ACTION

It is important to stretch and loosen up your body before you play.

EXERCISES BEFORE YOU GO TO THE TEE

Before making fast swings, you must first practice club face control.

EASY FULL SWINGS WITH A DRIVER

Malaska Golf Certified Coach Billy Fitzgerald is subbing in to answer “Ask Mike’s” from Beverley County Club in Chicago. A member has made a comment about, ‘it’s not flipping.’Billy said he is absolutely right. What the member is talking about is how the golf club works back and forth in the swing.The clubhead has both the farthest and longest to travel, so it will have the most amount of speed. The grip end doesn’t have nearly as far to travel and if it goes the same speed as the clubhead we wouldn’t have any clubhead speed.We are talking about these levers, where the grip end acts as a pivot point for the clubface. Mike Malaska refers to this as the snap of a towel.Billy demonstrates his hand, simulating snapping a towel. When you change directions, the opposite end of the towel you are holding accelerates. This is the same thing that happens in the golf swing.Billy demonstrates in slow motion how this works. As the clubface goes up the plane line, the grip end slows down to accommodate the face going up. The clubface matches your spine angle, which is going to be square to the target. At no point is the clubface flipping or twisting throughout the swing.Again, as you swing back, the clubface goes up the plane line, and the grip end slows down so the club can pivot. As you change directions at the top, the clubface is still square. Again, the grip end slows down, which makes the face speed up in the ball. On the follow-through, the clubface accelerates. For some, it may feel that the grip end is slowing down. It certainly isn’t going as fast as the face of the club.Some people who are notorious for pulling the handle and turning on their shoulders never feel the acceleration of the clubface and how that relates to the grip. Billy says he understands when people say it feels like a flip, but a flip is when the clubface turns over. The face rotation is minimal and stays square to the arc, and now Billy is providing the snap effect of the towel feeling in the swing. The grip provides the pivot point, and the club accelerates.Billy makes practice swings so you can see the clubface accelerate through the golf ball. The grip slows down, and it hinges as you swing back. Billy shows you where you feel the ‘snap of the towel effect' and feel the clubface take off; the grip slows down and then rehinges on the follow-through.It feels like a flip, and for some people, this is a good thing because they are feeling their hands more and the acceleration of the face, and they just don’t realize it yet. If you spend some time with this, you will see the golf ball travel straighter and farther than you ever thought.

DON'T FLIP THE CLUB

There is a fundamental difference in what it meant to have a tour card in '85 versus now. Players these days lack the urgency that playing used to require. This is due to one single factor. Hear how it negatively and positively impacts the players.

HOW THE TOUR CHANGED

Ashley talks about the three planes of movement and the importance of functional health in your golf game.

FITNESS AND GOLF

It has been my privilege and honor to represent Jack Nicklaus around the world. Training instructors how to teach what Jack felt was the keys to the game. Being around him for the last 35 years has helped me so much in understanding really what makes a great player. Or what will get the most out of your game. It has also allowed me to travel the world to see how other cultures embrace the game of golf. It has been a life-changing experience for me. One that I hope to share with as many as possible.

JACK NICKLAUS ACADEMIES

The right grip pressure is not too light, not too heavey - but just right.

FINDING LIGHT GRIP PRESSURE

Malaska Golf Certified Coach Matt Baker based in the United Kingdom is answering a member question.We've got a question here from Richard Solman, who is talking about parallax and how it's really helped his game and improved his ability to visualize alignment. This is a fundamental aspect of improving your golf game because getting alignment right is crucial. There's an old saying: "What you see, your brain receives, and then your body reacts." What you're seeing at address is often different from what's actually happening or what's correct, and it's important to understand that.Parallax refers to the difference in perception when you're standing behind the ball, aligning yourself towards your target. You can even practice this in a net. When I address the ball, my eyes have a different perception of where my start point is. Where my start line is crucial, and when I look at the target from here, it might appear far left of where my actual target line is due to parallax. However, I know that everything is aligned squarely toward my target.It's very important to get this correct and to work on it. Using alignment aids like lines or sticks down the fairway will help you get a better visual of what you're aiming for. If I'm standing over the ball and perceive the target as left of where I intend to start the ball, my body will naturally react to that perception. I'll end up swinging to the left, thinking I'm correcting the aim, but that's why it's essential to practice alignment.Some people like to use a marker; for example, I can use the end of my stick. Others might use a spot in front of them. However, when I'm standing here and looking at it, it might seem way off to the right, like it's hitting the side of the net, when it’s right online. That's parallax, and it's crucial to work on this so your body reacts correctly at address.Focus on your start point, and your body will react by starting the ball on the right line. Mastering parallax and alignment is essential; it's the basic 101 of alignment that every golfer needs to learn.

PARALLAX: KEY TO ACCURATE SHOTS

PERFORMANCE COMBINES - REPORT

Many ideas or concepts about the swing have really caused a lot of confusion. Many times what you see or what you think you need to do. Is not what is actually the cause. If you understand these concepts and what is actually happening the game or the swing becomes much less complicated.

TOP 10 MISUNDERSTOOD SKILLS IN GOLF - OVERVIEW

After reviewing the impact position with Frank, Mike shows him how to make the clubface more stable by moving the left hip out of the way instead of twisting the hands at impact.

Working through these drills of taking small hits and making them bigger, the club will accelerate forward when the left leg pushes the left hip out of the way. Suddenly you will hit the ball and be amazed at how little effort it requires. The ball will go far, if not farther than before, and straighter. The circle of the clubhead is now matching the circle of the body. With less effort and less flip, you will have more clubhead speed.

Mike is concerned with the amount of twist and stress Frank puts on his neck when he swings. It’s a neck injury waiting to happen.

Mike gets Frank to swing and focus on a strong grip, with a shut clubface on the backswing and getting the left hip out of the way through impact position and into the follow-through.

Frank makes a great shot with less effort and more efficiency.

Mike tells the story of Sandy Koufax and how he learned to throw the baseball fast but softly. Sandy’s pitching then got better and faster. He was learning how to create speed with less effort.

Golf is about figuring out how not to add more effort but how to create maximum speed with the least effort.

FRANK COX: LESS EFFORT MORE CONTROL

Figuring out which of your index fingers is your best directional control finger is critical in determining your grip on the putter. Once you determine which finger it is then it needs to be in play correctly. This along with a putter grip that gives you the best sense of where the putter face is. Those two things makes the putting stroke much easier to duplicate under pressure.