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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

A Malaska Golf Member has an observation about the downswing. He notices that when you change directions, the handle comes down before you twist.Mike Malaska says that this is ideal. One of the worst things you can do is immediately twist your body before the club starts down as you start down on your swing. People struggle with this in the golf swing.A great drill to learn how to feel the arms drop is to set up to the ball with your right foot back, let your arms drop, and run the club into the ball. Your shoulders need to be relaxed in order to do this.When it comes to your full swing, Mike demonstrates the reason the arms drop. Mike starts his back swing; his shoulders are turned, his wrists are hinged, and his club goes up. When he starts to change direction, Mike’s pelvis starts to move a little laterally, and when this happens, his spine angle tilts. When this happens, the shoulders tilt, and your arms will drop. It is what your lower body is doing that makes your arms drop.Again, you want your arms to drop. Many Tour Players move the club handle away and down, and then everything twists into the ball together. One of the worst things you can do is have your body outrun the club. You want your body and clubface to stay together.

HOW AND WHY YOUR ARMS DROP

Mike Malaska has a pro tip when using the new TaylorMade Qi10.When hitting your driver better at Augusta, the driver is a big deal. But your driver is a big deal on any golf course.Mike asks, “What is one of the things that kills people with the driver?” You need to use the clubhead's momentum to your advantage. As the swing gets bigger, the club gets longer, and momentum gets heavier, it is important to get the club in the correct arc.Mike explains the correct arc. He sets up to the ball with his TaylorMade Qi10 driver and has an alignment stick behind the ball for the target line. He says that as he moves the club back, the clubhead constantly moves away from the target line. As Mike changes direction, the club moves a little farther away and then moves back out to the target line.Many people, because they are ‘over the top,’ try to take the club too far to the inside, too quickly.That causes the momentum of the club to go out too soon. It can’t keep going there, and at some point, the club has to lift. You will come over the top on the downswing and ride the momentum to the ball.If you have the club moving correctly and it is constantly moving away from the ball, then when you change directions, it changes and comes down on the right path.Learning how to keep the club constantly moving away, then moving out, and not moving away too soon is a big deal when hitting your driver.