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Don't focus too much on exactly when your wrists hinge. Let the momentum of the club do it for you.

WRIST EXTENSION

Set up is a skill. You need to be in a position where your body is ready to move. To achieve this first you need to know what balance feels liked. When you stand if you are on balance your toes are quiet. If they are grabbing or lifting you are not in balance. Then you need to push your hips back. Your knees stay over your ankles but your hips move back which angles your upper body. Then you use a club down the front of your body. You bend first. The club will go between your legs. You then tilt so that the club touches your lead leg. This is because your trail hand is lower on the club than your lead hand. Now you are in a position to move any direction. Plus your structural muscles are relaxed so it is easy to rotate your body.

POSTURE

AIM AND ALIGNMENT

Take a ball and just throw it overhand. That action is the same action your trail arm does in a golf swing. It is a universal action in sports. Wether you are throwing a ball. Or shooting a basketball. Or throwing a bowling ball. The wrist and hand works the same. If you take that same over hand throw. Then throw side arm then under handed. You start to feel how your hand and arm works on different planes. Put that same action into your golf swing. The other thing is that when you throw a ball there is no tension in your shoulder socket. That should be the same in a golf swing. 

THROW DRILL

In the fourth video of the Player Lesson series, Mike Malaska shifts his focus to one of the most fundamental elements of the golf swing: the grip. This session emphasizes how the way a golfer holds the club directly impacts every aspect of their swing, from power and control to ball flight and consistency. For Jimmy Pearcy, learning to perfect his grip is a transformative step in his journey to improving his game.Mike begins by explaining that the grip is the connection between the golfer and the club, and getting it right is essential. He walks Jimmy through a step-by-step process for properly positioning his hands. Starting with the left hand, Mike instructs Jimmy to grip the club in his fingers rather than his palm. The hand should fold naturally over the club, with the thumb resting gently along the side. The right hand then fits snugly over the left thumb, with the "V" formed by the thumb and index finger of both hands pointing toward the same spot.Mike emphasizes a critical checkpoint for grip alignment: when Jimmy looks down, he should see three knuckles on his left hand. This alignment ensures that the wrist and forearm are positioned to support the natural movement of the clubface. Mike warns that if this alignment is off, the rest of the swing will falter, making it impossible to strike the ball consistently.To illustrate the role of grip in swing mechanics, Mike draws on analogies from other sports. He describes how a baseball player grips a bat to generate leverage and power. Similarly, in golf, the grip allows the wrists and hands to act as levers, creating speed and control. Mike shows Jimmy how this lever system works by having him practice a "lever-and-hit" motion, where the hands guide the club into the ball with a fluid release.As Jimmy practices, Mike identifies an issue with tension in his grip. He explains that excessive tightness robs the swing of speed and power. A relaxed grip, on the other hand, allows the club to move naturally, maximizing both efficiency and control. Using a series of drills, Mike encourages Jimmy to let the weight of the clubhead dictate the motion, focusing on a smooth hinge and release of the wrists.Mike connects these concepts to ball flight and spin control, introducing Jimmy to the idea of shaping shots. Just as a tennis player learns to apply topspin for greater control and precision, a golfer must master the clubface to produce a consistent draw. Mike explains that a proper grip ensures the clubface aligns correctly at impact, allowing Jimmy to hit powerful, controlled shots that start slightly to the right and curve back toward the target.The lesson continues with Jimmy hitting shots while applying these principles. Initially, he struggles to adjust, but as he loosens his grip and focuses on the lever action, his swings become more fluid and powerful. He begins to hit solid shots with less effort, a testament to the effectiveness of a proper grip and relaxed motion.Throughout the session, Mike emphasizes the importance of practicing the fundamentals. He reminds Jimmy that the grip is the foundation of a successful swing and that consistent practice is key to making it second nature. He advises Jimmy to spend time hitting balls into his net at home, focusing on his grip and the lever system until it becomes an automatic part of his swing.By the end of the lesson, Jimmy experiences the difference that a correct grip can make. He learns that the hands and wrists play a crucial role in controlling the clubface and generating power. With Mike’s guidance, Jimmy begins to see how mastering his grip can unlock greater consistency, accuracy, and distance in his game.This session marks a significant milestone in Jimmy’s journey. By focusing on the grip, Mike equips Jimmy with a foundational skill that will improve every aspect of his swing. With this newfound knowledge and practice, Jimmy is poised to take his game to the next level.

PERFECT YOUR GRIP STEP BY STEP

How the clubface directs the ball with the leading edge.

A-HA MOMENTS - 201707

Consistently position the ball where your swing bottoms out.

BALL POSITION

The golf swing is like a tug of war. You are constantly offsetting the force of the club. As it starts to swing back you are pushing forward. Once the club changes directions you are again constantly pushing away from it. So your body becomes and offsetting and stabilizing force for the club. As the club swings through impact you are pushing back and away from it. The same happens throughout the follow through. This is something you do daily. Once you understand it the swing starts to time itself.

TUG OF WAR

Learning to love practice is learning to love improvement

LEARNING TO LOVE PRACTICE

Take the club and turn it around. Hold the club head end. Swing the club back and forth. Try to feel the weight of the club as it swings and the arch it is in. Then turn the club around hold the grip end and do the same thing. It will be much easier to feel the force in the club as it swings. And the arch it is in. Next do the same thing but let the weight and force in the club make your wrists hinge unhinge and rehinge.

WEIGHT OF THE CLUBHEAD

When you set up to the ball you need to make sure that your eye line and your shoulder line are parallel to your target line. You can also have hips and feet parallel but the most important is to make sure that your eyes and shoulders are parallel. This is critical because your club will tend to follow your eye line.

ALIGNMENT

Kory Budinger joins Mike Malaska at Superstition Mountain for a one-on-one lesson.

KORY BUDINGER

Most people don't know what the change of directions feels like. Practice other sports to get a better feel.

DIRECTIONS & SWING STRATEGY

Wrist flexion and extension and the range of motion in your hands and wrists are essential in hinging your wrists in the golf swing.

WRIST FLEXION AND EXTENSION

Pitch and chip shots require face control. Practice adding loft to the face.

OFF GREEN PUTTING

Use the momentum of the club to create your backswing.

FRONT LOADER DRILL

In this lesson, Mike Malaska works with Billy Fitzgerald to correct the initial movement of the backswing. Mike points out that both he and Billy have developed a habit where their forearm’s external rotation locks up early in the swing, which affects the shoulder and causes the club to go up and across the line. Mike explains that without unlocking this movement and re-engaging the scapula, it becomes difficult for Billy to recover in the downswing, leading to rerouting and inconsistent shots. By focusing on keeping the club on the correct path, Billy can avoid these issues.Mike emphasizes the importance of using momentum properly throughout the swing. He instructs Billy to let the club move back while keeping the handle straight, ensuring the arc remains steep enough to allow for smooth directional changes. By doing so, Billy can avoid letting his arms get pulled in, which would disrupt the swing. Mike demonstrates how maintaining this momentum allows the club to stay in a natural arc, leading to more consistent ball contact and a powerful, controlled swing.Mike uses Rory McIlroy’s swing as an example to explain the importance of early movements. Rory, like Billy, has struggled with his arms getting too deep, which affects his consistency. Mike tells Billy that if he can focus on getting the first two feet of his backswing right, it will set up the rest of the swing. He shows Billy how to set his wrists and externally rotate his arm early on, so he can load properly and then just turn back and hit the ball with confidence.As the lesson progresses, Mike draws on his experience as a former pitcher, explaining how incorporating natural athletic instincts can improve the swing. He tells Billy that by using the natural load of his wrists and arms, similar to pitching, he can create forward force and keep his swing in sync. Mike encourages Billy to focus on maintaining that load and smooth movement throughout the backswing and downswing for better control and consistency.Finally, Mike stresses the importance of arm and club positioning. He explains to Billy that if his arms get too deep too soon, the club will reroute and fall off the intended path. By keeping his arms and club moving away in sync, Billy can prevent the swing from going over the top and losing control. Mike’s adjustments help Billy maintain the right path for the clubhead, ensuring more consistent, powerful shots.

PERFECT YOUR SWING MECHANICS

ELIMINATING CLUBFACE ROTATION

This Malaska Golf Member wants to know if the swing plane is the same with different clubs.

To demonstrate whether this is true, Mike holds three different clubs together, angled out to where they would hit the ball at impact. The driver is on the most inclined plane, with the putter having the steepest plane. So they do change a little.

Mike doesn't feel them change much. To him, it feels like he is swinging in the same arc. When Mike sets up to the ball, he takes the weight of the club and lets it drop behind the ball. That sets the club up, and then he hits the ball from there.

Mike does the same thing with a sand wedge; however, the arc is a little steeper. Mike takes the driver, sets ups, and lets the club drop again. The club is on a different arc when Mike swings, but he doesn't necessarily feel much difference.

Relative to his body and upper arms, when Mike swings, he feels like they are the same for the most part. Yes, the clubs swing on a different plane arc, but those angles aren't that drastic, and Mike lets the clubs do the work.

IS THE SWING PLANE DIFFERENT

These are the shots that everybody loves.  Here we will take a look at what they are, how to do them, and what the basic concept is.

UNDERSTANDING HIGH RISK LOB SHOTS

You use your trail arm. Set up with the ball off your back foot. You swing your arm but your shoulder stays fairly stationary. You are learning to swing your arm independent of your shoulder moving. This is an important skill for speed. You catch the ball on the face and let your arm swing through impact. Your trail arm lines up with the shaft just like in putting and chipping. For this skill there is almost no pivot of the lower body.

PITCHING WITH ONE ARM

To get into impact. Take your posture and set up. Then move just a little bit of weight or force into your lead leg. As you are doing that push your lead hip back away from the target line. This will pull your trail hip forward. It will drop your trail shoulder and your trail arm will now be no the shaft plane. Once you feel that portion. Then go back to address and do it again. Keep duplicating the process of set up and impact. The more you understand that feeling the easier it will be to develop your swing.

IMPACT

DRILLS ON THE GOLF COURSE

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.

ERIC COGORNO

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.