Stack and Tilt: The ultimate cure for our swing problems?
Instruction | 
Written by BigRed
The Stack and Tilt golf swing was first heard of in early 2007 when professional golfers like Australia’s Aaron Baddeley or former Masters Champion Mike Weir (Canada) started to use it. In the meantime, more than 20 other touring professionals have used the Stack and Tilt swing to (re-)boost their careers. The new approach was developed after 20 years of research by swing teachers Andy Plummer and Mike Bennet. A fundamental element of a conventional golf swing is the weight shift to the right foot (for a right-handed player) during the backswing and to the left foot during the downswing. With the Stack and Tilt method, a player will set up with at least 60 per cent of his weight on his front foot. During the swing, the left shoulder will move down instead of laterally and even more weight will be put on the front foot resulting in an 80/20 weight distribution at the top of the backswing.
The benefit of the Stack and Tilt obviously is the lack of weight shift and in consequence less body movement than with a traditional motion. The spine stays vertical over the ball through the whole swing. According to Plummer and Bennet, this enables the player to achieve a more solid contact with the ball, a more penetrating ball flight and better consistency.
Of course there is also a potential downside of the Stack and Tilt methodology for the average player: When you already lean too much on your front foot and have a hard time coming from the inside (i.e. you are probably fighting a slice or a pull), the Stack and Tilt will most likely only worsen your problems.
Stack and Tilt: Success Stories
Here are some of the PGA Tour Pros who are successfully using the Stack and Tilt swing:
Mike Weir
Aaron Baddeley
Dean Wilson
Tommy Armour III
Eric Axley
Charlie Wie
Will MacKenzie
Check out the swing of left-handed golfer Eric Axley in this video:
Stack and Tilt Instruction Material:
While doing some research on the web I found a DVD series called “Get stacked”. I haven’t had a chance to try it myself yet but it does sound promising:
“Get Stacked” DVD Series |
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In case you are not into visual instruction, you might want to take a look at this great GolfDigest article and photo series.
If anyone of you guys has ever tried the Stack and Tilt or knows the “Get stacked” DVDs, please use the comment function to tell me about it. Has it worked only for a couple of days (like so many swing changes) or are you enjoying permanent success with the Stack and Tilt? Does it only help with your short irons and wedges (where more weight is put on the left side anyway) or are you also hitting better drives than before? I am looking forward to hopefully many comments.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
I purchased the “Get Stacked” DVD’s on a lark… I figured I’d try them out and then return them, but maybe I’d get something interesting out of them before sending them back.
What I discovered is that there is so much information on them, that I couldn’t really do it justice in just watching it briefly and sending it back — especially as it did so much for my swing!
I had IMMEDIATE results using Stack and Tilt. I could feel the difference in my contact, and fat shots have become a thing of the past. Whereas my previous ball flight ended up as a weak fade, I now have a straight ball flight with a slight draw — with a byproduct of the solid contact being an addition of 15-20 yards to my irons.
The feel, however, is not there for me with the Driver. The decending angle that I get with my irons just doesn’t work for me with the driver… but I now do use a modified traditional swing with less weight shift and a steadier head, which does work well for me.
So, I’ve been using Stack and Tilt now for almost 3 months, and have now won my last two club tournaments. It’s not a PGA Tour event, but it works for me!
October 11th, 2008 at 8:25 am
I tried the Stack and Tilt and it is overwhelming the information that they give you. You have to watch it several times which is difficult. However, trying to bring it to the driving range was a disaster. This Stack and Tilt method is not for me. I believe that the Stack and Tilt method might work out if you have a professional coach helping you with it. It is diametrically opposed to a normal swing that I had to view other golf instruction methods to get back on track and I’m still out in left field. I’m a 15 handicapper that is pretty deadly inside of 100 yards and decent from 160 yards and in. In otherwords I’m pretty satisfied with my short and mid iron game. My driver and fairway woods are very descent also. My long irons suck and they always sucked, however I was getting them on line and then I ran into the Stack and Tilt method and everything except for my chipping and putting is all messed up. I was hoping that this method was my swing savior. There is just no such thing. Now I’m stuck at ground zero.
October 21st, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Its the best way to hit the golf ball. If you have problems find a teacher who works with Mike and Andy.
November 7th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
I read the article in golf digest and I immediately started hittting the ball with force. I think it is great and it has made golf fun for me.
November 12th, 2008 at 4:55 am
I am a Senior Golfer, and I have been working on the S&T since Apr of 08. I also purchased the DVD’s and have read as many articles as I could get my hands on.
Results: Handicap dropped from a 5 to 3 in 4 months
Consistency improved, with very few sprays, duck hooks, ob’s etc.
Won 6 tourneys on our Senior Tour, and the State Championship.
If I stay healthy, I feel this is a swing that can stay with me for the rest of my life.
Still of lots to work on.
If only there was a similar “breakthrough” regarding my putting
November 15th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
I was tooling around with the Stack and Tilt via the Golf Digest magazine article and my ball striking was immediately improved. I did purchase the DVD’s and got a more detailed look at the swing. After watching the first two DVD’s and going to the range, I was practically flushing all of my irons with laser like accuracy with a slight draw. The stack and tilt does work. With Stack and Tilt I am hitting the ball center of the club face, which has led to increased distance. For example, I hit a squarely flushed 7iron 165 yards. Before S & T, a good 7 iron shot, prayfully straight, would have been 140 yards.
Overall, my ballstriking has become consistent and solid, however, as with any swing change, one has to ingrain new movements and counter old mechanics. One the technical difficulties I had with S & T was staying to the left side on the down swing, but after reviewing the video, I better understood what my hips had to do in the downswing. After rewatching the video, I went to the range and hit nearly every ball solid and straight without sraying them all over the place which will lead to improved accuracy. The Stack and Tilt will definitely bring a level of consistency to my game that I have always struggled to maintain
Like John, I wish they could make a Stack and Tilt putting video…lol
Although Bennett and Plummber have a lot of critics concerning their swing, mostly because it goes against most conventional golf instruction, I would tell anyone to try it, work with it, and see for youself. With a little effort, I know you’ll strike the ball a little better than you are already striking it.
As for the critics of Stack and Tilt, go ahead and continue to apply those, often conflicting and contradictory, “band aid” fixes and “tips” to your swing from those monthly Golf magazine subscriptions with your favorite PGA tour pro on the cover serving up another tip or drill for you to crush it like him off the tee. When that doesn’t work find a teaching professional who’ll have you work on the “fundamentals” of the “conventional” golf swing only to have you to become more thoroughly frustrated as to why you can’t get rid of the banana ball flight to the right, the thin shots, and the fat “earth moving” shots. To eliminate all of that there are two words that can put you game on the right track if you don’t have the time a tour pro does to devote to practicing a golf swing: Stack and Tilt
Get Stacked
November 23rd, 2008 at 7:55 pm
S&T has changed my game immensely:
-Was a high 90s golfer and six months later am consistenly in the high 80s
-Major slice has gone away, now hit with a draw
-Was always a long hitter but now hit a good number of fairways
-Now I understand what I did wrong when I mis-hit balls
Downside is…with the S&T you lose the ability to read Golfing Magazines because the instruction in those assume a non-S&T swing. But for me that is also the upside!
November 24th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
LippyOne you are absolutely right, Golf mag tips assume a non S&T swing and a one plane swing in general, but hey that’s less conflicting information to confuse you…You whats funny? The cover of the month tour pro on those Golfing magazines more than likely uses some form of a one plane/S&T swing, but will provide a 2 plane swing tip….Hey teach pros gotta eat too…:) lol
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:56 am
S&T works well for me. Nice compression with a draw ball flight. I struggle with the driver a little bit, though. I wish there was instructor in Chicago who taught S&T. I’m now shooting 80’s from 90’s before ST. Videos are a bit dry but the information is there if you take some Ritalin before watching! lol.
December 9th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Been working on S and T swing since Sept 07. It has been amazing. Initially saw index go from 1 to 5 (during off-season)to 1 by end of this past season in NJ. Been working with a Bennett and Plummer disciple, who is the finest communicator of the golf swing I’ve met. Has traveled to work with me in NJ and FL for 3-day sessions. I’m a believer and had successful tournament results in October to confirm the changes. It is a process to take it from the range to the course and again to tournament play. Upwards of 25 guys on tour working with Bennett and Plummer. Give it a try.
December 12th, 2008 at 3:02 am
The problem with most critics is because they don’t understand. Plain and simple. There has been a bunch of them too.
December 13th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Before trying to teach myself the S&T method in June 2008, I had only been playing golf for a couple of years, and, at the time, only had the confidence and ability to play executive par-3 courses with inconsistent results from numerous fat/thin/hook/push shots. After many sessions at the driving range, currently, I’m able to play regulation length courses. I can’t say that my maximum distance changed appreciably, but my average distance sure has. My tee shots often find the fairway with an occasional push or hook. The DVD has a wealth of information to help me analyze my errant shots and make the necessary corrections (unfortunately not until after the round). For instance, I was hitting thin for while, but my weight stayed forward. Then I figured out that my elbows were splaying apart before and during impact and I made the correction.
I haven’t been able to consistently apply the S&T swing to my pitch shots especially with uneven lies. Maintaining the flying wedge de-lofts my irons sacrificing some carry distance but increasing my roll. A launch monitor showed that my S&T swing launched the ball at 10.5 degrees with my 19 degree 5W so I need to figure out how to re-cock the club faster to control the angle of ascent. Moving the ball forward in my stance starts to produce a slice which Plummer and Bennett predict. I’m currently shopping for my 1st driver and will probably end up purchasing a higher-lofted one, maybe around 12 degrees.
Getting professional instruction from a S&T disciple seems difficult because the swing is radically different from the swing that I was taught in my initial lessons which, I assume, is fairly widely taught. But Plummer and Bennett often refer to the author of, ”The Golfing Machine” by Homer Kelley so I’m considering finding a Golfing Machine certified teacher to help me to refine my S&T swing or to show me a better way!
December 15th, 2008 at 3:59 am
“When you already lean too much on your front foot and have a hard time coming from the inside (i.e. you are probably fighting a slice or a pull), the Stack and Tilt will most likely only worsen your problems”.
This is not true!!! The more you put your weight forward on your front leg the more you will hit the ball from the inside and you will be able to push and draw the golf ball. If people were taught to do this from early on we would have a generation of golfers that push and draw the ball, but instead we have golfers that pull and slice.
December 20th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
SandT in NJ,who is the Plummer and Bennett disciple you have been working with.
December 22nd, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Nick Atzinger. He fomerly was on staff at Metedeconk National and lives in Kentucky. Have you been working with someone or looking to?