Stack & Tilt: The Backswing

Getting from the setup (Step 1) to the top (Step 2) in the Stack & Tilt (S&T) swing is a bit more complicated given the issues surrounding swing plane. The four images above are, from the left, halfway back in the Width swing and half-way back in the S&T Swing compared to Jim McLean's "Safety Zone". The final frame shows "imaginary" guidelines for the hands and club head in both the S&T backswing and follow-through. What does it all mean and how does it relate to swing plane?

First, in the Width swing (frame 1) the butt of the club is pointing somewhere between the ball and your feet rather than right at the ball in the S&T swing (frame 2). The Stack & Tilt swing is therefore on plane (butt end of the club pointing at the ball) at the halfway point. This isn't a big deal, but Jim McLean (frame 3) points out that on the backswing the club should be somewhere between the lower shaft plane and the higher Hogan plane (a line that goes from the ball through the top of the shoulders at address). Both Width and S&T are within the safety zone but if the butt of the club does not point at the ball throughout the backswing, some manipulation will be necessary to hit the ball squarely. This type of manipulation is one more moving part that is eliminated with the S&T swing.

For me, the three keys to staying on plane (frame 4) are (1) hands low at address, (2) tilt, (3) take the club head back inside at a 20 degree angle, and (4) "hands low, club head high" at the top. Not that I can't hit the ball getting a little off plane (but still staying within the safety zone), it's just that staying on plane (sometimes called the one-plane swing) is easier.

For me, all of this happens fairly automatically if I get the tilt right (the subject of a future post). There are a few more details about frame 4 and controlling your ball flight that I'll also pick up in a future post. More information is available about the LAWs (Leverage, Arc or Width swings) of Golf (here, here and here) and the Stack & Tilt Swing (here and here).