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When your toes move, your body knows it is unbalanced. Practice your natural standing position.

BALANCE

The basic concepts and or tasks and skills that you take on determine how your body builds the patterns for the swing. It is critical that you have a good understanding of exactly what you are trying to do and what are the ways to develop them. Your body if given a correct task will eliminate anything and most everything not relevant to the task. That is why the base concept and or tasks are correct.

Swing Concepts

Mike Malaska talks about learning to understand the teeing ground. Golf architects challenge golfers with how they design the teeing grounds, the angles and tricks they play on your eyes, and the ability to aim the ball.

Mike sets up some alignment sticks to show where the teeing ground is aimed. It almost lines up with a house on the right. If you look at the tee markers, they're aimed toward the golf cart. Your brain is trying to line up to 90-degree angles.

If you get out of your golf cart and come up to the teeing ground letting it dictate where you aim, then you will be so far right on your shot.

You need to pay attention to the teeing ground. Mike has an alignment stick set up to where you should aim the ball, and that's different from the tee markers.

Mike looks for a parallel line to create a 90-degree angle, and the alignment stick in front of the ball becomes his line. Mike uses the line on top of the ball to aim where he wants it to start relative to his curve, so the ball ends on the fairway.

When Mike sets up to the ball, he has a 90-degree angle to aim. Mike makes a nice swing down the left of the fairway.

Don't be fooled by the beautiful tee markers. They are not doing you any favors with alignment. The teeing ground and tee markers aren't necessarily pointed in the direction you want your ball to go.

Study the teeing ground to find the right angle to hit your ball onto the fairway.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEEING GROUND

The swing game is a program that teaches young people simple movemen patterns.

Swing Game

When it comes to performance the most important equipment in your arsenal is your body. Divine Nature is a product and a company that can help you get the most out of yourself. If you do not function correctly your performance will also suffer. Divine Nature can also help you understand your body and what it needs. Not just a random trial and error of products. Randy and his company have helped over 60 of the regular tour players and at least that many on the Ladies Tour. Not to mention many sports teams and organizations around the sports world. So if you want to know what they are doing look at Divine Nature.

Divine Nature

Throwing a ball creates proper body motion and sequence.

BALL TOSS

Your practice station is the foundation of your practice. Here, Mike explains to Caroline how to set this up.

CREATING YOUR PRACTICE STATION

A Malaska Golf Member says he is left-handed when it comes to baseball, but he plays golf right-handed. He says his lead (left) hand is his control hand, and he wants to strengthen his trail (right) hand.

Mike says both hands have a role and a job. Mike sets up three balls and makes a swing with just his lead hand holding the club. Note the wrist action is more of a chopping motion. Mike hits the ball with only his left hand. He does this to feel how the club works and how the wrist releases into the ball.

Then Mike switches to his right hand and makes a practice swing. His right arm and hand release like a throwing motion.

Finally, Mike puts this all together with both hands on the club and hits the ball, allowing them to do what they should in unison.

Mike reiterates it isn’t about one hand or the other (right or left) but about using both in tandem. Working on this drill will help with your golf swing.

USING LEAD AND TRAIL HANDS

In the set up you want to make sure that your weight is on your front foot. Your weight stays on your front foot through out the swing.

SET UP & BODY

Pepe Cortez, a PGA Golf Professional since 1995, has been helping students become better golfers for over 26 years in the Seattle area. Pepe fell in love with the game as a young boy playing golf with his father and went on to play competitively at junior, high school, and collegiate levels. After graduating from the University of Oregon, he went to work at Sahalee Country Club under the Director of Golf, Rick Acton. He taught there for 26 years and is now teaching at Snoqualmie Ridge Golf Club. His approach with his students is grounded in the foundational teaching of Jim Flick and Mike Malaska, who both helped him improve his own game. But it was Mike&rsquo;s mentorship over the past two decades that solidified Pepe&rsquo;s understanding of the golf swing and fueled his passion for teaching. Pepe is proud to be a Malaska Golf Certified Instructor and is excited to help you reach your full potential as a golfer. You&rsquo;ll better understand how the golf swing works and how the body works through the swing.

Malaska Certified-Pepe Cortez

Your body is a very important part of your golf swing. You must understand the basic task that it is trying to accomplish. Once you know what the task is and you have drills to feel how it works, it is not that hard to allow your body to do what it is designed to do. You are making perfect body motions for your swing multiple times per day, and you are not even thinking about them.

M3-How the Body Works

A Malaska Golf Member is good at making long putts but needs help with short ones.

Mike explains that the closer you get to the hole, the more you expect to make the putt and the ball go in the hole. The task, however, is to hit the ball and roll the line.

When you have to make a short putt, you focus so much on getting the ball in the hole and become afraid you will miss it.

It is important to concentrate on the task at hand: hitting the ball in the middle of the face and making it roll.

Mike has two balls set up with lines on them. One ball is the hole, and the other is the ball he is hitting. He makes a solid putt, makes the line roll, and hits the second ball. If you can hit the ball, you will have a better chance of hitting the hole because it is larger.

Mike suggests that when you are at the golf course, you should practice this exercise on the putting green. Think of this as playing pool, then practice hitting the left and right sides.

This teaches you to be specific with setting the line, aiming the line, and hitting a specific spot. You will start making those putts if you start practicing this and not aiming for the hole.

PUTTING PROCESS VS. OUTCOME

To get into the correct posture for you. First take a club and hold it up your spine on your back. Take your normal standing posture. Make sure your toes are quiet. Now just push your hips back and then tilt your spine slightly towards your trail foot. Your knees should be directly over your ankles and your weight should be in the center of your feet so that your toes are quiet. If your toes are grabbing or lifting you are off balance. 

POSTURE DRILL

The ultimate goal of the swing - or of a strike - is to make contact.

MAKING CONTACT

Milo discusses fundamentals that start off every lesson, and every practice session. These include grip, posture and ball position.

Lesson With Milo Lines

In the final video of the John Lang Player Lesson series with Mike Malaska, the focus is on refining posture, grip, and the effective use of levers to create a consistent and efficient swing. This lesson ties together the concepts introduced earlier, emphasizing the importance of consistency and simplicity in both setup and swing execution. Practical drills are introduced to help John internalize these adjustments and build a repeatable, reliable motion.The session begins with a drill designed to improve posture and swing mechanics. By choking down on the club, John is forced to bend more from the hips to reach the ball, creating the correct spine angle and alignment for a proper swing. Mike demonstrates how pushing the handle of the club downward during the takeaway allows the clubhead to rise naturally into the correct position. This motion prevents the club from going off-plane and helps John maintain a consistent swing arc. Through this drill, John begins to feel how the correct mechanics differ from his previous swing, which relied too heavily on his back and lacked efficiency.Mike emphasizes the importance of using visual aids, such as shadows, mirrors, or windows, to monitor posture and swing motion. These tools allow John to observe his movements during practice and ensure he maintains proper alignment and setup. Mike demonstrates how to identify and correct posture issues by observing reflections, ensuring consistency in every practice session.Addressing John’s left-eye dominance, Mike explains how turning the head slightly to keep the left eye focused on the ball helps compensate for the loss of depth perception due to vision issues. This adjustment is modeled after left-eye dominant golfers like Jack Nicklaus, who maintain head stability through impact for better visibility and control. Mike notes that while John may lose sight of the ball after impact, this adjustment allows him to maintain focus during the critical moments of the swing.As the lesson progresses, Mike ties the adjustments back to three fundamental areas: grip, posture, and the lever system. He explains that holding the club in the fingers, rather than the palms, and avoiding gripping at the very end of the club ensures better control and consistency. Proper posture, achieved by pushing the hips back, creates the necessary angles for the shoulders to rotate correctly, preventing the swing from going flat or off-plane. The lever system, reinforced through drills, focuses on pushing the handle down to lift the clubhead, allowing for a more powerful and efficient arc.Mike stresses that good golfers are disciplined in their approach, maintaining consistency in grip, posture, alignment, and setup. Variations in these fundamentals lead to inconsistencies in the swing arc and impact position. By repeatedly practicing the drills and maintaining discipline in these areas, John can build muscle memory and confidence in his swing.The session concludes with Mike recommending further practice with the M-System, particularly the M2 section, to continue developing an understanding of lever mechanics and hand movement. He encourages John to focus on the simplicity of the adjustments and repeat them consistently to refine his game. By mastering these fundamentals, John is equipped to maintain and build on the progress made during the lesson series.This final lesson leaves John with a clear understanding of how to approach his practice and play, emphasizing consistency, proper mechanics, and the importance of deliberate, focused effort in building a reliable and effective swing.

Refine Setup For Power

With the correct posture, your setup will becme much easier.

DETERMINING YOUR POSTURE

Hi, and welcome to another Ask Mike. I’m Matt Baker, a Malaska Golf Certified Coach, and this week, we have a question from a gentleman named Lance Yednock. He's been working on transition, really liking it, and starting to feel some power while doing so. That’s great news because that’s what the M-System is all about.Lance’s question is about something Mike often talks about—working on transitioning earlier. Lance mentions that when he tries this, he tends to go a little quick from the top and comes over the top, as he puts it. His question is whether you can work on transitioning earlier in a way that keeps the shoulders turned and works into the downswing.Well, yes, there are two ways to approach this. The first method, which we talk about a lot at Malaska, involves throwing a ball. This simplifies the concept and removes much of the technical jargon. Throwing a ball is a natural movement, and as the arm goes back, the body instinctively starts moving forward. So, as I go back, I’m not pausing or holding anything; my body begins to move forward. This creates a natural transitional movement. When throwing a ball, this happens instinctively.The same principle applies here. As you take the club back and reach about the midway point, your lower half is already starting to move forward. This creates a moment where the lower body transitions forward, and a differential is created. As the club moves back, the hips start moving forward, creating a difference between the hip turn and the shoulder turn. This increases the angle, creating what I call a differential. It’s an athletic movement that happens naturally when done correctly.The second method is similar to what Lance describes. Tour players often approach this by focusing on holding their shoulders back as they swing back, then starting the downswing. One way to practice this is by holding the golf club behind your shoulders. Swing back and hold the shoulders in place with your left (gloved) hand while starting the transition earlier with your lower body. This exercise helps create that differential while reinforcing the proper sequencing of the swing.Both methods are correct. The key is starting the transition early. Working on this movement allows the hands and arms to drop naturally into place, creating speed and power. As you transition, focus on creating the differential between the shoulders and hips. This will help produce the “snap” in the swing.To summarize, transitioning early is vital for generating speed and power. Whether you approach it by throwing a ball or practicing with the shoulders held back, the goal remains the same: create a smooth, athletic movement that enhances your swing. I recommend trying both methods and finding what feels most natural for you.

Transition Timing Secrets

Matt Baker, a Malaska Certified Coach, is subbing for Mike this week. A Malaska Golf Member is having problems getting his right elbow under his left. Too far underneath.

Matt says this comes from two different areas. You are shallowing the clubhead too much, and it’s getting too far behind you, or your left hip isn’t working properly on the follow-through. You may be stalling, and your hip goes upwards. This will cause you to tilt your body back, and you will get caught behind the ball.

There are two things you can do to work on this. First is the ‘Turning the Corner’ of ‘Tipping the Club.’ This is in the Malaska Golf Drill Center.
This is where you feel the handle is being pulled down, and the club feels like it’s going over the handle. This gets the club back out in front of you.

Second, start working on moving your left hip backward on impact. Reference M1 of the M-System, where you chip and learn to pivot the left hip backward by pushing the left leg and hip back as you swing through. This will help you turn the shoulders and keep them level.

You can do either one, and that should help you.

Keep From Getting Stuck

The motion of the golf swing is an unforgettable feeling. In the new year, learn to feel this motion.

A FEELING YOU WILL NEVER LOSE

The M3 Coaching Series by Mike Malaska concludes by emphasizing the foundational role of the body in the golf swing, blending functional movement patterns with the mechanics of the club. This segment reviews key concepts, focusing on the harmony between shoulder and hip movement, maintaining consistent angles, and ensuring safe and efficient biomechanics.
A key takeaway is that the motions required for a golf swing are natural and intuitive, rooted in movements most people already know from other sports. By understanding how the body and club work together, golfers can develop a swing that is both effective and sustainable for a lifetime. The series highlights the importance of balancing power and safety to prevent injuries, a critical lesson for long-term improvement.
Mike describes the golf swing as a blend of art and science&mdash;a "dance" between the body and the club. By applying the M-System's principles and committing to consistent practice, golfers can achieve greater consistency, efficiency, and enjoyment in their game.

M3 Coaching Series-Summary

A Malaska Golf Member wants to know about the Figure 8 Drill, and if you do it, can you hit the number 2 corner? The member is actually combining two different drills.

Mike had a golf teacher named Joe Nichols who talked the corner. He said there were 3 corners in a golf swing. Mike shows us where those corners are. He then places a tee into the ground just on the outside of his right foot. Joe wanted you to get the handle of the club over the tee on the backswing. This was the first corner.

The member wants to know if you do the Figure 8 Drill, can you still hit the corner? Mike demonstrates this drill by making a figure 8 motion with the club as he makes a swing. He says if you watch closely, the club is circling around the handle. It is not the handle that is doing the circling or his arms. Mike shows us how the club goes up and under. The motion of the handle can still hit the corner where the tee is. The club is going around the handle on the downswing. This is the same hand action as hitting a forearm in tennis and hitting a baseball. There is a circle action on the backswing. Mike shows us the continuous action of swinging a figure 8 and hitting the ball.

Yes, you can hit that corner doing the Figure 8 Drill. The purpose of this drill is to feel the club coming under instead of over the top on the downswing.

Figure 8 Drill

Transition is a very important aspect of your swing. Learn how the change of directions works.

THE SWING, STEP, AND HIT DRILL

Every green can be divided into four quadrants.

MAPPING THE QUADRANTS

A discussion of what the full swing "feels like."

HOW DOES THE SWING FEEL

The M3 Coaching Series by Mike Malaska introduces the concept of offsetting forces, a critical principle for achieving balance, power, and precision in the golf swing. This lesson emphasizes the dynamic relationship between the body and the club, showing how opposing forces naturally create an efficient swing motion.
A key takeaway is the "tug of war" analogy, which demonstrates how pushing away from the club&rsquo;s momentum helps maintain balance and generate power. This concept simplifies the transition phase, blending the change of direction between the body and club. Drawing from sports like baseball and tennis, Mike Malaska shows how offsetting forces can feel intuitive for those with athletic experience.
Momentum is highlighted as an ally in the swing, guiding movements to achieve better timing and coordination. By understanding these natural forces and practicing targeted drills, golfers can develop a functional, instinctive swing. The M3 Coaching Series lays a strong foundation for continued improvement throughout the M-System Coaching Series.

M3 Coaching Series-Offsetting Forces

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

Knowing how the handle and bounce works are the first things to gain familiarity with for hitting these lob shots. Here's how you practice that.

Lob Shot-Fundamentals

The lower body turns without invading the space.

TURN WITHOUT INVADING THE SPACE

Getting your body moving correctly while you make a full swing is important. Practice pitch shots.

BODY ROTATION

In this key episode, Justin James introduces a powerful set of golf swing speed drills designed to help players of all levels generate more force using the ground and body. These exercises include the Drop Step Drill, the Rocking Drill, and the Double Step Drill, each designed to train the player&rsquo;s transition, sequencing, and energy transfer. The goal is to develop maximum clubhead speed while maintaining body control and reducing injury risk. Justin explains how using different weighted clubs&mdash;heavier and lighter&mdash;can help the nervous system adapt and optimize fast-twitch muscle recruitment. He recommends a progression that builds up gradually through the reps, emphasizing high intensity and low volume for effective speed training.
 Importantly, Justin breaks down how elite long drivers use footwork to generate speed. These movements reinforce patterns found in other sports like baseball, tennis, and hockey&mdash;where stepping, loading, and pushing off the ground are key to performance. Mike Malaska builds on this idea by showing how moving your feet during warmups and drills makes it easier to swing dynamically. He offers modifications to help players progress from full-motion drills into static-feeling swings without losing the athletic sequencing. The drills also emphasize launch optimization through attack angle and center contact, helping players improve both efficiency and ball speed.
 For golfers serious about hitting longer drives, this is one of the most actionable episodes in the series. You&rsquo;ll walk away with an entire speed routine that includes exercises, tools, training frequency, and volume guidance. The segment also touches on using speed training tools like the Stack System and SuperSpeed Golf and emphasizes nervous system recovery&mdash;a crucial component often overlooked in amateur training programs. Justin and Mike reinforce the point that speed is built over time through intentional, correct movement, and this lesson provides the blueprint to do just that.

Speed Drills

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&rsquo;s &ldquo;golf DNA,&rdquo; Mike identifies how Jimmy&rsquo;s athletic background and natural movement patterns shape his swing. By tailoring the lessons to Jimmy&rsquo;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&rsquo;s weight and momentum dictate the swing. Through exercises that focus on feeling the club&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;s golf journey, equipping him with a more powerful, controlled, and versatile game.

Jimmy Pearcy-Player Lesson

What causes you to get steep or stuck from the inside? This is a big problem for a lot of people. It is about the club and the circle it is in relative to your center.

When Mike watches swings, he sees circles, not necessarily positions, and how these circles work together.

Being steep from the inside happens when you take the club back, and your body goes too fast. If your club is back and starts to come from the inside, you can get steep with your swing or hit behind the ball.

The circle of the center of your body does not match the circle of the clubhead. If you start opening up your center too soon, the club is behind your center on the swing.

The key is to try to time the circle of the clubhead with the circle of your center. The circle of the clubhead is naturally bigger than the circle of your center. They will create acceleration and speed through the ball when they are in unison.

If the circle of your center starts too early or gets ahead of the clubhead circle, it causes you to come over the top with your swing or forces you to drop the club behind you.

Jack Nicklaus had a solution for this problem, and it was all about a feeling. He swung the club back, got out of the way, moved into his left side, swung the club down into the ball, and his body moved with his arms and followed the club through.

The key is to match the forces so that when you come down through the ball, those forces connect the momentum, acceleration, gravity, inertia, and centripetal force.

STEEP FROM THE INSIDE

The M-System Coaching Series by Mike Malaska begins with M1, focusing on foundational Swing Concepts. This comprehensive program simplifies and enhances golf training, providing a step-by-step guide that connects key drills and techniques to ensure a seamless learning experience. Each video builds on the last, offering clear explanations on how the elements fit together and why they are essential for improvement.
A central focus of M1 is the importance of creating a consistent and repeatable swing process. Every professional golfer follows a process that is simple, understandable, and practiced daily. The M-System Coaching Series adopts this philosophy, offering a structure that players can integrate into their routine, whether dedicating an entire session to one aspect or covering multiple elements in a short practice.
By following the M-System, golfers can effectively build their swings, prevent breakdowns, and maintain steady improvement. The program equips players with the tools to overcome challenges, refine their skills, and enjoy the game more. It also provides guidance for navigating peaks and valleys in performance, ensuring a reliable method for returning to form and progressing further.
M1 serves as the foundation for the M-System, helping golfers master essential Swing Concepts, develop a sustainable process, and continue improving their game over time.

M1 Coaching Series-Introduction

Phil Blackmar played very succesfully on tour for a good number of years. Mike asks why Phil was able to keep making the cut while he would miss out, despite leading in the round.

Phil Blackmar-201803

Hale's swing was always his own. Here's how he shaped it by using what he saw in others.

Golf Legend Hale Irwin

Every golf experience is a life experience.

GOLF, LIFE, AND ECLIPSES

LET&rsquo;S MAKE GOLF UNCOMPLICATED Golf uncomplicated means going beyond the &ldquo;fixes&rdquo; that often just add confusion. The lessons here are all about creating a better understanding. This is where your progress becomes permanent. Once you understand how simple golf really is, you will start to find your own greatness in the game. And, it can happen immediately.

I Feel Your Pain

In M3, the focus shifts to understanding how the body works in harmony with the club to optimize performance. The golf industry has placed significant emphasis on core strength, rotation, and ground forces, but Mike Malaska underscores the importance of the body&rsquo;s primary role: stabilizing and offsetting the force of the club.
Using a ball on a string as an analogy, Mike demonstrates how the body must stabilize the circular motion of the club. If the body moves incorrectly relative to this circle, it disrupts the swing&rsquo;s efficiency, slows the clubhead speed, and leads to inconsistent results. Proper body movement, however, accelerates the club and enhances stability, contributing to greater speed and control.
M3 highlights the importance of sequencing and timing in body motion to complement the club&rsquo;s movement. By recognizing the body as a stabilizer and force offsetter, golfers can refine their technique and unlock their full potential. This series sets the stage for developing a fluid, efficient, and powerful golf swing that works seamlessly with the body&rsquo;s natural capabilities.

M3 Coaching Series-Introduction

Your mind is a muscle just like your body. It needs to and can be trained. The proper mindset is critical to maximizing performance. Your mind controls your body so how do we train it to make the correct decisions. React in a manner that gives us the best chance for success. And how do we train it to process what happens properly so it becomes a constant learning process and roadway to success.

Mental Game

DRILLS ON THE GOLF COURSE

Malaska Golf Certified Coach Matt Baker, based in the United Kingdom, is answering a member question.A Malaska Golf Member has a question about the Arm Drop video and how it doesn’t get the club parallel to the path on the way down or to the ground. However, when Mike does it, it does.Matt agrees with the member, and he explains that the golf swing is a dynamic motion and there are lots of other things moving as well. The arm drop is just a feel. Matt demonstrates when you take the club back to the top of the swing and you let your arms drop, the club is still behind your hands. What you want to do is learn to have a separation between the arms and the body. You want the club to just fall down. During this motion, other things are happening as well, because the golf swing is a dynamic action. Your body is moving and pushing away from the ball from the clubhead through the shot.Also, at the same time, you are directing momentum on the way down, famously called the ‘Malaska Move’ or tipping the club. Matt demonstrates this move. As he starts the club down, you will see that Matt is ‘tipping’ the club out or forward on the downswing. If Matt had a steering wheel, it would feel like he was turning the wheel to the left.Matt reiterates that as you are changing the direction of the club, you are changing the momentum of the club. Matt’s favorite drill is the 3 Corners Drill. This drill helps you with ‘tipping the club’ out in front of you. When Matt practices the 3 Corners Drill, he feels like he gets everything out in front of him, and the club just swishes through on the swing and takes off.Matt agrees with the member that if you do drop your arms, the club will still stay behind your hands, because of momentum. What you must do is offset that momentum and change that path. This all happens in transition. Performing the 3 Corners Drill and working on changing momentum will transform your golf game.

Master The Arm Drop

When you are in a bunker you set the face based on the lie of the ball. If the ball is on top of the sand the face is open. If the ball is half buried you share the face. If the ball is buried you close the face. The face angle makes the club work correctly for the lie.

THREE DIFFERENT LIES IN THE SAND

The lever system is essential for generating speed, consistency, and ease in the golf swing. This system relies on relaxed wrists, proper grip, and synchronized body movements to maximize efficiency and power. Mike Malaska introduces drills like the "club toss" to help players achieve the correct grip and looseness, enabling the club to move effortlessly.
Key to this technique is the ability to maintain independence between the arms and the shoulders. This separation allows golfers to accelerate their arms freely, creating speed without unnecessary effort. Practicing this independence, combined with a relaxed grip and proper lever mechanics, enhances swing fluidity and consistency.
By focusing on the lever system, golfers unlock one of the major components of swing speed and control. The drills and techniques in this lesson guide players in developing efficient, powerful swings with less effort, resulting in better distance, accuracy, and overall performance.

M2 Coaching Series-The Lever System

Right-foot-back drill helps teach correct leg rotation.

CORRECT RIGHT LEG ROTATION

How to find a light grip pressure using a pre-shot routine on the course.

ON THE COURSE

Consistently position the ball where your swing bottoms out.

BALL POSITION

Know the tendencies of your home golf course.

KNOW YOUR PARTICULAR GOLF COURSE

"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

When it comes to a great visual for a bunker shot. It is like skipping a rock on water. The rock has to be angled to make the rock skip. Plus you throw the rock on a shallow angle at the water. The steeper you throw the rock the less chance for it to skip. The back or bottom of the rock is the bounce or sole of the club.

BUNKER SPORTS CONNECT

Setting up a practice station is very important relative to becoming consistent. First get four sticks. The first one you set down aimed at your target. The second stick goes on the ground parallel to the first stick and about one foot to the left of the first stick on a right handed player. The third stick is standing up in the ground about 6 feet infront of the first stick that you placed on the ground for your target line. The last stick goes down at a 90 degree angle to the second stick. It establishes your ball position. 

PRACTICE STATION

Malaska Golf Certified Coach Billy Fitzgerald is subbing in to answer “Ask Mike’s” from Beverley County Club in Chicago. A Malaska Golf Member has been struggling with his left arm collapsing for most of his golf career and wants help.Typically, this occurs because your wrist hinge is too late, or you might not have a wrist hinge at all. What happens is that there's no wrist hinge, and as you swing back, your body is looking for some kind of lever to make the club swing a little bit. The key is to get the swing going on the backswing, and that's why the left arm breaks down if there is no lever.The first thing Billy says you should check is your grip. If your hands are wrong on the club, the handle is too much in the palm and not in the fingers, or it's not lined up right, it will be hard to make this wrist hinge and hinge soon. That’s what you need. You need the wrists to hinge sooner so you can put pressure from your right hand into your left palm or from your right hand into your left thumb, which will pull the arm straight.Make sure your grip is correct. Billy demonstrates the grip and how the relationship of both hands helps you to hinge and push the grip away on the backswing.The remedy that Billy doesn’t recommend, and I see this all the time, and I have written about it, is a straight left arm. This is an effect of what we're talking about: the correct grip, early wrist hinge, and how your hands are pressuring each other or the thumb, which is going to pull your arms straight.Billy stresses checking your grip and making sure the club is in your fingers. When you swing back, the left hand is hinging.Billy says that you should do that because you probably don't have any wrist hinge to begin with and this needs to happen sooner. The sooner you can get the club up the sooner the right palm is pushing on your left thumb, which is going to make your left arm straighten up.To recap, get the correct grip, get over the ball, and make some small backswings. Feel the club hinging, and you will feel pressure in your thumb when you move the club into the backswing.Billy demonstrates by hitting a ball so you can see the wrist hinge and levers work.

Wrist Hinge is the Answer

Nibley Park Golf Course is the first course I ever played golf on. Learn how it shaped me into the player I am today.

Nibley Park

A Malaska Golf Member has a question about having a strong grip. The member feels that her left wrist cups even more on the backswing.Mike notes that most people hold the club in the palm of their hand, which is one of the biggest mistakes in golf. This type of grip doesn’t allow the wrist to hinge correctly.Mike suggests that you must practice the first move on the takeaway. You feel like you are pushing the handle down, and your right hand faces the ground behind you. If your right wrist rotates, then your left wrist cups. You can feel this move in either your left wrist or your right.Most people can feel their right hand hinge back. It is the same as when you hit a forehand shot in tennis. The racket works back. You don’t spin the racket over.Mike demonstrates the swing with a stronger grip. Your palms are facing down on the backswing; you swing to the top and then down and hit the ball. This makes it easier to catch the clubface up and is really stable at the top instead of being flippy and all over the place

Don't Twist Your Right Hand

If the face isn't working correctly, it will be difficult to make the ball go where you want it to.

HOW THE FACE WORKS

A Malaska Golf member has been working on M1 from the M-System, line of compression, and putting and chipping. 
He wants to know when chipping if he should feel a little pushback from his left hip to his left heel.

Mike says that this depends. Usually, there isn’t any motion in your lower body when putting or chipping. If there is 
then you have to push your left hip back, and the weight goes toward your back heel.

Mike demonstrates this by hitting small chip shots. If you have rotation, then you should push back on your hip.

When you move from chipping to a bigger swing, then it is important to understand address and impact. Then, hit some little shots from impact.

As you start to build your swing, you will continually program the line of compression and impact. The little shots will pay
big dividends for your full swing because they give you the right task. Your brain is a taskmaster.

Body Action

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

Billy Fitzgerald, a Malaska Certified Coach, is subbing for Mike this week. A member has a question about how the hips move and how they time up with the club.

First, your hips move because of what your feet and legs do on the ground. When you swing back, your right hip moves back because your right foot, knee, and thigh push back. You are not twisting your hip back. As you push off the ground, that movement pushes your right hip back up and out of the way.

On the downswing, the same thing happens to your left leg. The left leg pushes the left hip back and out of the way. Your hips are moving, but you aren’t setting up to the ball and twisting your hips back and then forward. Doing this moves you off the ground. You want to stay on the ground.

It also helps you move your center away from the ball, giving you room for your arms to swing back and on the follow-through. This is how your hips work, and this is because of your feet and how they work into the ground. It is a reaction.

When you talk about speed, it’s all about lining the clubface up and timing it as you push off the ground. As you do this, your right hip pushes back, creating speed as you come through the ball.

Again, your feet are what moves your hips, and the timing of the club and how your feet push off the ground is what accelerates the clubface through the golf ball.

How the Hips Move

When you set up to the ball your trail wrist is at a 90 degree angle to your swing arch. As you swing back to waist high your trail wrist is still at a 90 degree angel to the swing arch. As your arm swings to the top of your swing your trail arm externally rotates in your shoulder socket. That rotation makes the club face look as thought it has opened up. Then as you swing down the arm internally rotates back so that at waist high the wrist is back to a 90 degree angle to the arch. It then stays in that same relationship until waist high on the follow through. At that point your lead arm continues to externally rotate. 

SWING ARC

If you stay on your left side when you hit the ball 100 yards in, is it ok to do that with all your clubs?

Mike says this is the Stack and Tilt method, and you are basically playing off your left foot. Force is going from right to left. You aren't trying to hit the ball as far as you can, but you are trying to control trajectory as much as possible.

Mike stands on his left foot and swings from 100 to 120 yards. When he gets outside that range and is still on his left side, he finds it harder to get the ball in the air. Also, Mike can't hit the ball as far.

When you are creating speed, it comes from the ground up. When you swing left, right, left, that whole change of force is a considerable speed producer that goes through your body.

If you stand on your left side, you have eliminated the loading of the shaft, and you won't hit the ball as far. You will hit the ball a little lower and more to the right.

Golf is about a blend of motions and actions. When Mike is hitting short shots, he hits from his left side. If he hits his driver with the same setup, he could hit it fine, but he wouldn't get the distance. Using the left, right, left motion allows Mike to pressure the shaft and become a big speed producer.

It's the change of direction in your body and the force it puts into your club.

Playing on your left side is a way to play, but after 100 yards, you will have to give up distance and speed.

 STANDING ON YOUR LEFT SIDE

Brian Gott, Malaska Golf Certified Coach is answering members questions. This question comes from a Malaska Golf member, who asks about using different clubs to achieve various distances.There are two ways to approach this: you can either maintain the same swing and change clubs to get different distances, or you can adjust the length of your swing—either longer or shorter—to vary the distance. The second approach is more challenging because it requires a lot of touch and practice. So, I recommend getting out on the range and learning how far each of your clubs carries. Remember, we’re focusing on carry distance, not total distance. Practice hitting different distances with each club.For instance, my pitching wedge goes about 155 yards on a full swing. If I want to hit that same 150 yards with an 8-iron, I’d use a half to three-quarter swing, which gives me the same distance with a shorter swing.To improve, pick a target and try hitting it with different clubs using various swing lengths—full, 80%, 60%, 70%. I often teach my students the clock system, where when your lead arm is parallel to the ground (around 9 o’clock), you see how far you can hit the ball with three different clubs.It’s easier to control one swing with different clubs, which is why you have a variety of clubs in your bag. Avoid taking too much off a club like a pitching wedge, as this can lead to chunking or blading the shot. You want good acceleration at the bottom of your swing, so shorten the swing slightly and change clubs to control distance.The key is to get out there, pick a target, and practice hitting different clubs at various distances. You’ll become a better player and have more tools at your disposal on the course.

Master Club Distance

Hi, my name is Matt Baker, and I&rsquo;m a Malaska Golf-certified coach based here in the UK. Today&rsquo;s question comes from Sax Roberts. While it was more of a comment than a question, he said something along the lines of: &ldquo;I love the teachings, Mike. It looks like Sam Snead has watched this video.&rdquo;
The video Sax was referring to is Handle Away. I absolutely love this drill. When I do it with my clients, their speed just pops&mdash;they suddenly get it.
To recap, the Handle Away drill works like this. Take hold of the golf club and grip down slightly, leaving a bit more of the handle exposed at the end of the club. This positions your hands closer to the shaft. From there, make a practice swing while focusing on a key feeling. In the backswing, hinge your wrists and point the handle away from you. As you transition into the forward swing, unhinge, rehinge, and focus on pointing the handle toward the target.
This drill wakes up the levers in your swing, and by levers, I mean your wrists. Learning to hinge, unhinge, and rehinge your wrists is crucial for unlocking your full potential in both distance and club control. Modern coaching often emphasizes taking the hands out of the swing and focusing on body movement instead. While this might work for advanced players who tend to overuse their hands, most amateur golfers need to learn how to properly use their wrists&mdash;or levers&mdash;in their swing. If you can&rsquo;t do this, it&rsquo;s something you need to start practicing right away.
The Handle Away drill is an excellent way to develop this skill. You don&rsquo;t have to make a big swing to practice it; a three-quarter backswing can work just as well. The key is feeling the handle pointing away from you during the backswing and, more importantly, toward the target on the follow-through. This motion creates a snap&mdash;a burst of speed&mdash;at the bottom of your swing.
I use this drill frequently with my clients because many of them need to awaken their wrist action. As you practice, you can even say it to yourself as a reminder: Handle away, handle away. Keep focusing on pointing the handle where you want it to go.
I love this drill because it helps golfers fully engage their levers, maximizing their potential for distance and control. It works with all your clubs, so I highly recommend incorporating it into your practice. If you struggle with it at first, keep at it until you get it. Mastering this drill is a must.

Handle Away = More Power

Mike analyzes Kory’s swing from face-on, looking at stopping Kory’s left leg and left knee from sliding forward at impact.

ANALYZING THE SWING PART 2

Get in your set up position. Then put the club out in front of you where you want it to go after impact. Then let the weight of the club and or momentum swing the club back into the backswing. Let the club swing where it wants to go. Then swing down and hit the ball. This really helps you feel the momentum of the club and takes the tension out of the backswing. 

FRONT LOADER DRILL

The hands are the only point of contact that we have with the shaft.  If we understand grip as well as practice gripping correctly, then we maximize our control over the clubface.

CONTROL IS WITHIN YOUR GRIP

In this episode of Ask Malaska Golf, Certified Coach Matt Baker from Manchester Golf Club in England answers a question from Ryan Bart, who had been playing well until one round where everything fell apart. After reviewing Malaska Golf videos, Ryan realized the issue: he wasn&rsquo;t moving his left hip, and it caused fat shots, early extension, and a total loss of consistency. Matt confirms this is one of the most common faults in golf. When the left hip doesn&rsquo;t move back and out of the way, the right hip drives forward, causing the golfer to stand up into the ball. This stalls the body, forces an early release, and often leads to fat shots or flippy contact. The fix? Practice feeling the left hip clear and rotate away. This keeps momentum moving properly, allows the wrists to release at the right point, and cleans up your low point. Even mid-round, Matt encourages players to rehearse this move before each shot, especially after mistakes. Golf is about adjusting, and the M-System gives you the awareness and tools to do that under pressure.
What You&rsquo;ll Learn in This Video: &bull; Why not moving your left hip leads to fat shots and early extension &bull; How to fix your low point and release by rotating the left side &bull; Why the right hip pushing forward causes major swing breakdowns &bull; How to make real-time adjustments mid-round using M-System drills
&ldquo;If the left hip doesn&rsquo;t move, the right hip takes over, and that&rsquo;s when everything falls apart.&rdquo; &ndash; Matt Baker
Video Bullet Point Summary: &bull; Left hip rotation is key to strike consistency &bull; Early extension often stems from blocked left side &bull; Push the left hip back and around to delay release &bull; Use mid-round rehearsals to reset your mechanics

Fix Fat Shots Fast

How the clubface directs the ball with the leading edge.

A-Ha Moments-201707

To play pro golf, you need to drive for dough.

DRIVE FOR DOUGH

A Malaska Golf Member who plays a lot of executive par 3 courses wants to know if he should still hit down on the ball with his irons.Mike’s response is a definite yes. To demonstrate this, he has a ball teed up high, and when he hits the ball, he is still going to catch the ball slightly on the downswing. Because the ball is on a tee, when he swings down on the ball, the low point of the swing will be slightly forward of the ball. It’s the swing arc. You will have more control of your irons when you come slightly down on the ball because you are compressing the ball on the clubface.When the ball is on a tee, Mike hits it at different points of the clubface to affect the trajectory and the amount of spin on the ball.Unless Mike is trying to hit some special or crazy shot, he will approach hitting off the tee or the ground the same way.Except for a driver, on all his iron shots, he is still hitting slightly down on the ball because the swing arc is bottoming out in front of the ball.

Irons on a Par 3

A Malaska Golf Member makes some brilliant observations about the golf swing. The member notices that the arc of the backswing is different from that of the downswing. When you start on the downswing, the club comes down on a steeper arc than the backswing.

The member wants to know if it is correct that your hands move away on a wider arc when you start down. He also wants to know if the reason you feel you are wider coming down and your downswing arc is steeper than your backswing is because of the change of direction.

Mike agrees with both of these assessments. Mike says you must be careful with how these things fit together. Mike has made a lifetime of observations and practicing the swing to figure this out.

Again, the backswing arc is different from the downswing arc. The downswing arc is steeper, but not because you aren’t pulling your hands in. It is the change of direction that causes this to happen.

Good players feel like their hands are moving away from them and that their right arm is constantly straightening from the elbow, not the wrists.

Mike concludes that if you understand this concept, you are well on the way to understanding the golf swing.

THE SWING ARCS ARE DIFFERENT

Don't shallow the club, shallow your arms.

STEEP AND ACROSS

Fairways bunkers are often easier than the rough.

EASIER THAN THE ROUGH

Updates from Mike Malaska about what is happening in the World of Golf.

Malaska Golf News

Billy Fitzgerald, a Malaska Certified Coach, is subbing for Mike this week. A member has a question about the lead thumb (or, for right-handers, the left thumb) and how it goes on the club and fits into the right hand.

The club is in your fingers of the lead hand, and your hand wraps around slightly on the side of the grip. You will notice a gap in the palm of your right hand, which goes over and pressures your lead thumb when you grip the club.

Billy demonstrates how the hands work together on the handle. There is no gap in his hands. This is a good pressure point of how your hands fit together. You will use that connection in the swing. If you need more width on your backswing, you can push back on your grip to do so. In the process, you will feel that pressure point.

The same thing happens when you swing down into impact. Your left arm is straight out, your left thumb is slightly on the back of the shaft, and your right hand fits behind the left thumb. This will line up the club shaft, and that will help compress the ball when you hit.

Getting the correct grip with the thumb and pad relationship is critical. Billy shows us this and how you grip the club in your fingers. Ensure you have the correct contact points, that your hands are on the club correctly, and that you are aware of those pressure points.

The Lead Thumb

Setting gates down your target line helps you to see line correctly. Once you set the gates properly. Then if when you set up over the ball the gates look wrong. You then correct your eye line until the gates line up. This helps you identify the issues in your stroke. Your stroke might be perfect but you see line incorrectly.

GATE & YOUR ABILITY TO SEE THE LINE

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

SPEED PRODUCERS

The mental side of golf is very important. Once your head is in the game, your swing will improve.

SWING STRATEGY

Preparing for a tournament is very important. Practice finding your tempo.

FINDING YOUR TEMPO

Mike has received the highest honor of PGA National Teacher of The Year in 2011. He wrote, “I Feel Your Pain” in 2013 and is proud to announce the new release of this 2nd book entitled, “The Invisible Swing” in 2019. Mike produced his own DVD, You Are Your Own Swing, featuring 2 ½ hours of both golf and fitness instruction in 2004. In 2010 he was selected for PGA Southwest Section Teacher of The Year and went on to be named The National PGA Teacher of the Year In 2011. In 2017 Mike was honored to receive once again, the PGA Southwest Section Teacher of The Year Award for a second time.

Since 2000, Mike has ranked among Golf Digest’s America’s Top 50 Greatest Teachers, and currently listed in the top 20 in the nation. Mike has also been selected as Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers in America every year from 1995 to 2017. Since 2012 when the Golf Range Association of America started its list of award winners, Mike has been one of the top 50 on that list for his contribution to growing the game of golf. This award called Growth of The Game Teachers in America is yet another of his accomplishments. In 2017 he was voted the Top Teacher in Arizona by Arizona Foothills Magazine.

A graduate of Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, Mike was a college All American in 1974. He was then inducted into the University’s Athletic Hall of Fame in February 1999 and into the Utah Golf Hall of Fame in 2015. In September 2013 Mike was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award for his service to the University and his community. Mike is currently the Director of Instruction for the Nicklaus Academies Worldwide, Superstition Mountain Country Club, and a member of the National Advisory Board for TaylorMade Golf since 2002. He has been a summertime guest instructor for the prestigious Maroon Creek Golf Club in Aspen, Colorado in 2017 and 2018. As Director of Instruction for the Jack Nicklaus Golf Centers in Japan from 1992 to 1995, Mike was featured in Golf Digest Japan and was nominated for Japan’s Teacher of the Year in 1993. Then in 1996, he received Teacher of the Year for the Utah PGA Section.

As the continuing Director of Instruction for Nicklaus Academies Worldwide, Mike instructs the teachers at each of the centers around the globe. He continues to be a guest lecturer at countless corporate functions, PGA Section Seminars, PGA National Coaching and Teaching Summits, and as a guest speaker for the World Golf Fitness Summit in 2012. He has appeared numerous times on The Golf Channel as a guest instructor.

Mike Malaska

As you swing step forward with you trail foot. As you reach the top step forward with you lead foot then hit the ball. This helps to stabilize your lower body as your swing. It also loosens up your arms and shoulders. This allows you to swing and step and hit the next ball. If your arms and shoulders are to tight you can not swing and get back to the next ball. Your body moves to much. 

WALK THROUGH DRILL

This video explores one of the most overlooked aspects of swing speed and athletic performance&mdash;neurological activation. Justin James walks through a targeted pre-swing warmup routine that stimulates your nervous system, primes your muscles, and prepares your body to move explosively. Using resistance bands and heavy loop cords, Justin demonstrates a series of dynamic drills that turn on the correct motor neurons and increase joint mobility.
 You&rsquo;ll see how a few high-tension reps can fire up your central nervous system far more effectively than dozens of light low-resistance movements. These warm-up exercises target the thoracic spine, hip rotation, oblique engagement, and shoulder mobility&mdash;all key components for producing force and rotating efficiently in the golf swing. Mike Malaska explains how these movements reinforce correct biomechanics and mirror the body&rsquo;s natural athletic patterns.
 You&rsquo;ll learn:
Why most warmups fail to prepare your body for high-speed golf swings The value of high-tension, low rep priming before a round or range session How to stimulate proper joint sequencing using elastic resistance Why neurological readiness matters more than muscle stretching before swinging
 This video is essential for anyone who struggles to &ldquo;feel athletic&rdquo; during the first few holes&mdash;or anyone looking to reduce injury risk while increasing performance. These drills are fast, portable, and incredibly effective for getting your brain and body in sync before speed training or competition. The series reinforces the principle that a powerful swing doesn&rsquo;t start with your arms or even your legs&mdash;it starts with a properly lit-up neurological system.

Lighting up Your Neurological System

The right shoulder levels out as it goes through the ball.

HOW THE RIGHT SHOULDER WORKS

Getting a feel for the club can help improve your swing. Practice getting a better feel for your club.

FEELING THE CLUB

The M5 Coaching Series by Mike Malaska emphasizes refining practice routines through the use of obstacles, exaggeration, speed adjustments, and managing time between shots. These tools provide immediate feedback, enhance muscle memory, and develop a swing that holds up under various conditions. By integrating these methods, golfers can move beyond random practice and achieve purposeful progress.
Obstacles like swim noodles and water bottles help golfers correct swing paths and promote immediate feedback. Exaggeration in practice is encouraged to push swings to the extreme opposite of current faults, making it easier to achieve the desired changes. Incorporating speed adjustments ensures control while gradually building power. Slowing down with longer clubs, such as drivers, allows for better feel and control before increasing speed.
Time between shots mirrors real game conditions and reveals tendencies, enabling golfers to understand and address their common misses. This practice approach teaches consistency under varied circumstances, preparing players for better on-course performance. By following these methods, golfers can turn practice into a focused, efficient process that leads to measurable improvements.

M5 Coaching Series-Obstacles, Exaggeration, More Speed, And Time Between Shots

Mike discusses how to not hit the ball fat when you practice the Left, Right, Left Drill, and push away.

A lot of this is about creating a feel. When Mike sets up for the Left, Right, Left Drill, he first goes left and pushes his left hip out of the way. Then, Mike’s left leg moves right on the backswing as his right leg and hip push back. He is back on his left foot and has plenty of time to push away on the downswing.

It is almost impossible to get to your left side too soon if you make a full-shoulder turn in the process. There are biomechanics out there that reinforce this idea.

Again, when you go left, right, left in your golf swing, by the time your right leg pushes you up to your left side, your club will be at the transition point and starting the downswing. Force is transferred to your left foot, and you will have lots of time to push away through the ball.

The timing of this drill is crucial. If you are late on this drill, you will hit everything fat. This action is just like hitting or throwing a baseball.

COMBINE WEIGHT SHIFT WITH PUSH AWAY

Mike and Alice discuss common swing flaws.

SWING FLAWS ARE BAD TASKS

PUTTING WITH TIME BETWEEN PUTTS

Mike discusses golf and motion with Martial Arts expert Scott Williams.

GOLF AND MARTIAL ARTS

The lob shot is all about adding loft so it is important that your left hand does not fight the right. Here is how you work your left hand.