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Setting up obstacles that when you swing you see if you can miss them. This helps train proper tasks and motions. You then as you can make the club or the motion work. Then add speed the obstacles will tell you if you are maintaining the motion you want. Use a less lofted club, like a 7 iron. The reason is you immediately start to see curve on the ball.

PRACTICE STATION OBSTACLE COURSE

The Cable Pull Drill is all about getting a feel for how you shift weight in your golf swing. Once you get the right feel, you'll understand what offsetting the forces in your swing is all about.

THE CABLE PULL DRILL

Elite Content

Having the correct stance can improve your swing. Stay away from creating tension.

THOUGHTS ON STANCE

Exercises such as the golfer's grip help strengthen your fingers, loosening your wrists and forearms.

PITCHING FITNESS

Malaska Certified Coach Brian Gott from The Club at Rolling Hills in Golden, Colorado answers a question from Chris Grundy about how grip size affects control and consistency.
Brian explains that while larger grips can feel more comfortable, they often encourage golfers to hold the club more in the palm rather than the fingers, which limits leverage and increases unwanted face rotation. When the grip sits too high in the hand, it becomes difficult to lever the club correctly, leading to inconsistent face angles at impact.
The key is to choose a grip that allows the handle to sit naturally in the fingertips, creating a neutral, powerful connection between the hands and the club. Smaller or standard-sized grips often help golfers maintain this feel, ensuring that the force of the swing straightens the arms naturally through impact without twisting or compensating.
Brian recommends experimenting with different grip sizes until you find one that allows you to control the club easily with light pressure while keeping it firmly in your fingers. That&rsquo;s where true feel and face stability come from.
In this lesson you will learn: &bull; Why larger grips often force the club too deep into the palm. &bull; How finger-based grip placement improves leverage and control. &bull; Why smaller grips promote better face awareness and release. &bull; How grip size affects your ability to square the face consistently. &bull; Why experimenting with grip fit can improve overall ball striking.
He leaves golfers with a simple truth: &ldquo;Even if a larger grip feels better, it&rsquo;s often harder to control &mdash; keep it in the fingers.&rdquo; &mdash; Brian Gott, Malaska Certified Coach This Makes Sense. Own Your Swing.

Grip Size And Control

Bend forward and let your arms hang. This is how your left arm should be at impact. Your left hand grips where it naturally hangs so that momentum squares the face at impact.

LEFT HAND PART I

How to avoid the perils of wanting to get too good too fast.

LEARN TO SLOW DOWN

Get into your set up. Now go to impact. Once you have that position established then take the club back about 2 feet. This is a very small swing. Then from there hit the ball. Putting the center of the club face on the back of the ball. Lining up your trail arm with the club shaft. Now you start to feel what it is like to compress the ball. Just small swings identifying the impact postion and the line of compression. Plus the portion of your body. Most importantly your lead hip socket.

HITTING A BALL FROM IMPACT

In first lesson, Mike Malaska works with Ashley Huizing to explore two distinct approaches to playing golf while addressing common misconceptions that have hindered many players' progress.Mike begins by explaining why trying to replicate the techniques of professional legends, such as Ben Hogan, is often impractical for the average golfer. Hogan’s swing method, which relied heavily on forearm rotation and grip adjustments, was developed out of necessity to correct his tendency to hook the ball. Starting with a strong grip as a young player, Hogan struggled with low hooks and spent a year refining his swing to eliminate them. His solution involved weakening his left hand grip and positioning his right hand more neutrally to allow for aggressive forearm rotation without hooking.Mike highlights that Hogan’s method, while mesmerizing and effective for him, was highly specialized. Hogan’s precision required relentless practice—hitting at least 500 balls daily to maintain his skill. Even missing one day would set him back two days of practice. This level of commitment and expertise is unattainable for most golfers, yet many view Hogan’s approach as the ultimate standard to emulate, often leading to frustration and inconsistent results.Mike points out that while some of Hogan’s fundamentals have value, much of his technique is overly complex and not practical for the average player. He shares his own experience of trying Hogan’s method for three years. Although he could consistently strike the center of the clubface, he had no control over direction or distance, making it impossible to aim at specific targets. The result was a lack of precision, missed opportunities for birdies, and limited success under pressure.The lesson emphasizes the need for a simpler, more sustainable approach to the golf swing—one that focuses on balance, control, and adaptability rather than rigid adherence to complex techniques. Mike acknowledges that trying to replicate a method that took a "savant" years to perfect and required extreme daily practice is not only unrealistic but often counterproductive.By debunking these myths and presenting alternative methods, this lesson sets the stage for Ashley to develop a more consistent, reliable swing suited to her own strengths and abilities.

Golf Method And Myths

The rules for entering and leaving the bunker.

RULES IN THE BUNKER

In the second part of this Player Lesson, Mike Malaska and Certified Coach Julie Yang continue working with a lacrosse athlete to build on the foundations established in Part 1. The first session highlighted how lacrosse passing mechanics&mdash;hand placement, leverage, and spatial awareness&mdash;translate directly into golf&rsquo;s fundamentals.
This follow-up lesson shifts the focus to the long clubs, where inconsistency and slicing are most common. Mike shows how the push&ndash;pull motion of a lacrosse pass mirrors the lever system in golf: the bottom hand acts as the stabilizer while the top hand drives, creating natural speed. By recognizing this parallel, the athlete begins to see how he can use familiar movements to simplify the golf swing.
A major theme of the session is learning to trust momentum rather than forcing the swing. Just as a lacrosse player relies on the natural flow of the stick for accuracy, a golfer must let the club&rsquo;s weight and momentum guide the motion. Forcing mechanics only adds tension and inconsistency. With the right grip, proper face awareness, and a reliance on momentum, consistency begins to emerge even with the longer clubs.
This lesson reinforces the Sports Connect philosophy of Malaska Golf: athletes from any sport already have the movements they need. The key is recognizing them, connecting them to golf, and allowing those instincts to create a swing that is powerful, consistent, and repeatable.
 Key Takeaways Grip Adjustments: Proper grip in the fingers&mdash;not the palm&mdash;creates control and reduces slicing. Lever System Connection: The push&ndash;pull motion in lacrosse translates directly to the golf swing. Momentum Over Force: Consistency comes from letting the club swing naturally, not from forcing mechanics. Face Awareness: Lacrosse-trained spatial awareness makes it easier to control the clubface. Sports Connect Philosophy: Building on existing athletic patterns simplifies learning and speeds improvement.

Fix Your Slice With Lacrosse

The pullback drill is another unconventional drill that Joe Nichols shared with Mike.  By pulling back, it puts force into the left leg as a stabilizer, which accelerates the clubhead.  These are very good things in a golf swing.

DEEPER LOOK INTO PULL BACK

Hi, my name is Brian Gott. I'm a certified Malaska coach, and I'm filling in for Ask Mike this week. This question comes from Jamie, who asked about the position of the right arm at address—how it faces slightly downward—and what happens to it at the top of the swing.Well, Jamie, one of the most important things to remember is that we need to focus on where the clubface is at impact. I think some people get too hung up on where everything is at the top. I once heard Mike mention a comment Jack Nicklaus made when someone asked him, "Where’s your clubface at the top?" Jack responded, "Well, the ball’s not up there, so I’m not really concerned about where my clubface is at the top."Now, there are certain fundamentals we want to maintain to avoid excessive rotation of the clubface. You mentioned that as you reach the top, you’re getting a bit of a cup in your wrist because you’re trying to manipulate the right hand. Remember, as you start your takeaway, you want the right palm to stay down towards the ground to keep the clubface square.As you move to the top, the right arm internally rotates in the shoulder, making it feel like the palm is facing upward. People often use the analogy of holding a tray on either side, but that’s just a feeling, not an actual position. When you take the club back, ensure that the right palm stays in line, and as you reach the top, let the shoulder rotate naturally. As you begin your downswing, the shoulder rotates again, bringing the face back to square so you can release it properly.So, instead of trying to become a positional player, focus on the feelings that create these positions. Ensure that during your takeaway, your right palm moves away from you, keeping the clubface square. As you approach the transition—remember, there isn’t a defined "top" position—don’t be overly concerned about where everything is at that moment. The most important part is achieving a good position at impact, with the right hand and forearm aligned on the back of the ball for a square impact.

Right Arm Address

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

Golf Talk With Chris Lebiedz

In this episode, Certified Coach Matt Baker from The Manchester Golf Club in England responds to a question from Claudio Jata about a motion that is both instinctive and essential: the arm action loop. Claudio, a high-handicap player, is struggling to feel the correct motion and is getting chunky, inconsistent contact.
 Matt explains that the &ldquo;up-to-under&rdquo; motion is baked into movements from nearly every sport &mdash; whether it is baseball, tennis, or even table tennis. The challenge in golf is learning to trust that natural motion and train it through repetition.
 To help with contact, Matt recommends setting up with a bit more pressure in the lead foot. This minor shift moves the swing arc forward, helping ensure ball-first contact. From there, you can blend in motion and rhythm as you improve. Once the motion clicks, you will find better strike, improved accuracy, and a more natural feel for the swing.
 In this lesson you will learn: Why the &ldquo;Up-to-Under&rdquo; loop is already wired into your athletic instincts How to adjust setup pressure to eliminate chunky shots Why this motion is a universal pattern across sports How to build feel and confidence using swing rehearsal The connection between swing arc, contact, and pressure shift He leaves golfers with a powerful reminder that trusting your athletic instincts and repeating the up-to-under loop will lead to more natural and solid ball-striking.
 This Makes Sense. Own Your Swing.

Why Arm Looping Works

When you get on a pulley system with the cables on the same angle as a golf club. As you pull the cable or band back on your trail side. You will notice that your force goes into the heel and inside of your trail foot. Your hip won’t sway and you will not move closer to the ball. As you let the cable come back to start position force moves back to the center of your feet. Then to the ball of your lead foot. Then as you continue into the follow through side. Force moves into the heel of your lead hip. Your hips will not move closer to the cable machine or the ball. It is again instinct. That is how force moves in your feet. You are offsetting the inward force of the cables.

PULLEY DRILL

Mike works on his grip in the next part of the lesson with retired MLB pitcher Garrett Richards. Mike explains that your hands to the golf club are the only connection to the game. How you put your hands on the club is then critical. If you don’t put them on correctly, it can have an adverse effect when you swing the club because the way the club puts force in your body will make the clubface do weird things.Then what happens is that you will find yourself trying to catch the clubface up.Mike is first going to show Garrett the correct grip, have a conversation about baseball, tie in what instincts he already has, and not try to fight them. Then Garrett should hit the ball more solid and not hit it as high as he does. Mike says that he has an early release, and this is the reason he is trying to catch the clubface up. Garrett’s grip is off, and he is trying to catch the clubface up because it is out of position.Mike gets Garrett to relax, bend from the hips, and let his hands and arms relax. Mike explains how the joints line up in this position. If you twist the right hand out, as Garrett currently grips the club, then any kind of force hits his right arm, and the right hand will twist back and be wide open. Then, his right hand will roll over to try and catch the clubface up.Mike elaborates that the right hand’s job is to push and throw. There is no twisting. Now Mike gets Garrett a baseball bat and swings it straight out in front of him. Mike stops the bat, twists the bat and hands, and asks Garrett why he wouldn’t hit the ball like that.Garrett responds that it wouldn’t be as powerful. Mike now moves his hands back and adjusts his thumb slightly. Mike drops Garrett’s hand with the baseball bat down into a golf club position.&nbsp;This is your golf grip, Mike explains. You want to hit with your hand positioned just like you would hit a baseball. Unfortunately, Garrett currently can’t because of the way he grips the club. If he tried to, he would hit it to the right because the clubface is wide open.Mike wants to change his grip so that he can hit a golf ball the same way he hits a baseball. Mike takes the baseball from Garrett and swings the bat. Mike’s Dad played professional baseball, and Mike played until college. Mike used to take a baseball bat and swing it at a tire hanging from a tree. When Mike came to golf, he adjusted his thumb slightly and dropped his arms and hands in front of him. This was his golf swing. And it was the same move as a baseball swing.Mike takes the club, places it in Garrett’s fingers, and wraps his hand over it. Mike explains as far as in the golf industry, it is a strong grip,However, as far as joint alignment is concerned, it is a neutral grip. The key is to line up all the joints with the clubface the way they are designed to work.Mike sets his grip and guides the club back and forth so that Garrett can feel the motion of the golf swing. Currently, Garrett twists the clubface open on the backswing, comes down, and twists the clubface back to square at impact. Mike is eliminating the twisting action.Mike gets Garrett to do an exercise where he takes a golf ball back and just throws it down to the ground. Again, as Garrett takes the ball back to throw, there is no twisting of the hand. You want your hand to line up with the ball. Mike again illustrates that there is no twisting in the hand and equates the throwing of the golf ball to the back and downswing.Mike adjusts Garrett’s grip and gets him to hit a couple of balls the same way he would hit a baseball bat.

Garrett Richards-Use Your Baseball Grip

Hi, my name is Matt Baker. I&rsquo;m a Malaska Golf-certified coach based in the UK. Today&rsquo;s question comes from Chris Jockler. Chris asks, &ldquo;Mike, when I set my wrists early in the swing, by the time I reach the top of the backswing, I&rsquo;m always across the line. What could be causing this?&rdquo;
What Chris is describing happens when, as you set your wrists and swing up, the club ends up crossing the line at the top of the swing. The main factor causing this is that your right arm isn&rsquo;t externally rotating in the shoulder socket. Flexibility could be an issue here, and there are exercises available on the site and elsewhere that can help improve this.
When you set your wrists, what&rsquo;s likely happening is that your right shoulder socket is locking up. For proper movement, your right arm needs to rotate in the shoulder socket, and your right shoulder blade needs to retract as well. This may sound complicated, but it&rsquo;s a natural motion when done correctly.
The key is allowing that arm to rotate as you swing back. When your arm rotates properly, the club gets into position smoothly without much effort. The issue may simply be caused by tension during your setup or backswing. Learning to relax and allow the arm to rotate in the shoulder socket can make a significant difference.
As you set your wrists, focus on allowing that rotation to happen naturally. If your arm stays locked and doesn&rsquo;t rotate, the club will lift up and cross the line at the top of the swing. If the issue is technical, focus on consciously rotating the arm in the shoulder socket. If it&rsquo;s a physical limitation, incorporate stretching and strengthening exercises to improve flexibility and mobility in those muscles
I hope that helps, Chris! Remember, drills like this are great because they awaken the levers in your swing&mdash;primarily the wrists&mdash;which help you achieve your maximum potential for distance and control. This applies to all your clubs, so I strongly recommend practicing this regularly. If you find it challenging at first, keep at it until you master it. You must learn it&mdash;it&rsquo;s a game-changer!

Perfect Your Wrist Set

Doug Roberts is a PGA Class-A Member since 1996 and is currently rated by Golf Digest as the #1 Golf Instructor in Utah. He is a 2-time recipient of the Utah PGA Teacher-of-the-Year award. Doug is a Certified Staff Instructor for Malaska Golf and excelled for 25 years as a
Trainer and Instructor for the Jack Nicklaus Academies conducting golf schools in 14 countries and in 30 states across the USA. He is a National Staff Member of PXG, a Master Staff Instructor for the Patriot Golf Schools and is a FlightScope Certified Instructor.

Doug is a former Director of Instruction for the TPC of Scottsdale, the Estancia Club in Scottsdale, Victory Ranch in Park City and the Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf at The Ledges. He is a past Lead Instructor and Video Analysis Specialist for the Nicklaus/Flick, ESPN and Jim Flick Premier Golf Schools and former director of Nike Junior Golf Camps in Utah. He leads his own popular golf schools, clinics and private lessons at The Promontory Club in Park City, Utah and also at The Entrada Club in St. George, Utah.

Doug played basketball, baseball &amp; football in his formative years before deciding to focus on his golf skills. These skills would lead him to be a 2-time All-Conference player at the University of Utah and play in the NCAA National Championships. He owns individual tournament wins at the Junior, Amateur and Professional levels. This blend of experience from playing competitively, to working alongside some of the game’s greatest instructors has provided Doug with the expertise to help all levels of players use natural forces and find athletic success in their golf.

Doug Roberts

The M1 Coaching Series progresses to one of the most essential elements of the golf swing&mdash;the pivot. Building on the line of compression, this session emphasizes syncing your body&rsquo;s rotation with the motion of the club and arms for a smooth and powerful swing.
The pivot starts with the left hip pushing back to move the right hip and shoulder forward, seamlessly coordinating with the arms and club. This movement eliminates common issues such as early extension and helps maintain balance and stability throughout the swing. Timing the rotation of the hips with the club&rsquo;s movement ensures consistent contact and prevents breakdowns in the swing.
Golfers are encouraged to practice with one arm initially to feel how the hip&rsquo;s motion drives the swing. By mastering this fundamental move, players can simplify their mechanics and reduce the need for compensations, making the game easier and more enjoyable.
The key to effective pivoting lies in aligning the rotational forces of the club, arms, and body. When these circles sync, the swing becomes repeatable and easier to adjust when things go awry. This session lays a critical foundation for building a controlled and efficient golf swing, ensuring consistent improvement and a better understanding of how all components of the swing fit together.

M1 Coaching Series-How To Pivot

Tennis and golf are very similar. Feel how lining up your right arm is key to a solid hit.

PRACTICING IMPACT WITH TENNIS

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

BUILDING YOUR SWING

Shoulders match the slope, and add a club or two.

UPHILL LIES

Longer clubs are swung just like shorter clubs.

SWINGING LONGER CLUBS UNDER CONTROL

Your body learns through patterns. Learn how to start feeling and developing the right movements.

HOW YOUR BODY WORKS

Sammy Slice tends to slice the ball 40 yards. This Quick Fix Friday is to fix this.

There are two ways to do that.

First, set the clubface more closed because when Sammy swings his driver, the clubface is open.

The other solution is to change your grip. Turn your left hand clockwise and turn your right hand counterclockwise.

Practice this grip on the range and decide what nuances you need to make so that the ball goes straight.

Take this new “Fix” and go out and play.

Sammy Slice How to Hit the Driver Straight

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

TECHNOLOGY AND THE GAME

Understanding the relationship between your club face and your right wrist is key to helping players at all levels find their swing. When you know the angles in your swing and what creates them, you'll be more consistent and straight.

RIGHT ARM. RIGHT WRIST

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

Tim Lawless asks about Joe Nichols and the Hinge Drill. The background Tim supplies is that when he practices the Hinge Drill from the elevated plane, he can make great contact with the ball and hit it fairly well. However, when he goes back to hitting the ball from his normal setup, he's unable to get his hands and the club into the correct position during his backswing.

The first piece of advice Mike gives Tim is to stick with what works. If using the Hinge Drill as part of your swing is how you make good contact with the ball, then use that until your swing becomes more natural and you can set up with the club on the ground.

Mike played for around six months using the Hinge Drill as part of his normal routine. For every shot outside of 100-yards, Mike would hinge his wrists, then make his swing and hit the ball. That's why you see so many tour pros incorporate that in their practice swing.

Secondly, let's discuss the Hinge Drill and what is really going on when you hinge the club up prior to your swing. What does that feel like? All you're really doing is pushing down on the club. Lift the club head by pushing down with your lead arm/hand and let it pivot in your trail arm/hand. It's that simple. Push down and the club head elevates.

As you move to start your swing, you should feel like you are pushing the handle down in the first half of your backswing. This prevents your swing from breaking down and keeps your hands (and the club) in position so as you reach the transition point (top) you are able to complete your swing on the path without having to correct your hands.

INCORPORATE THE HINGE DRILL IN YOUR SWING

Finding the correct grip pressure like a pro