Written by Andy Plummer and Mike Bennett
I am not intending to critique the efficiency of the Stack & Tilt methodology, but rather give you my opinion of the book.
This methodology has received much publicity due primarily to an investment on the part of its distributors and backers than to any lasting success. A few second tier PGA TOUR players have heartily endorsed its teachings while its most prominent players, Mike Weir and Aaron Baddeley, have abandoned its teachings as their performance has caused them to plummet in the rankings.
Essentially, the Stack and Tilt swing derives its name from an initial backswing move in which the weight is stacked above and over the front leg and the spine is tilted toward the target inviting a “reverse pivot.” As with everything else in golf, there is more to it than that, but a central premise of the Stack and Tilt — and the most divisive one — is that the golfer does not make a lateral move away from the target to begin the swing. In other words, no shifting of weight from the front foot (the left foot for a right-handed golfer) to the back foot, which is relatively common. This is in conflict with the way the golf swing has long been taught. Obviously it has its detractors.
While the book or its promoters will not tell you this, I offer you this warning: DO NOT TRY THIS SWING WITHOUT PROPER SUPERVISION. I extend this warning to the DVD presentation as well. Golf-wise, I probably qualify as a better than average athlete having played at the professional level with a few wins, but trying to incorporate this instruction by myself caused me havoc. This is a perfect example of a book that should not be marketed without disclaimers and warnings, and likewise for the video. It is possible that a well-qualified “Stack and Tilt” instructor closely supervising you MAY improve your game, but based upon my experience, YOU have ZERO CHANCE improving your game by simply reading this book or watching the video. In fact, I predict that you will affect real harm.
This and other swing methods tend to illustrate that golf is the most over-taught game ever invented. Witness the comments of the immensely talented Aaron Baddeley. Baddeley said he switched from the Stack and Tilt “because it just got too mechanical and technical for me.” He added, “Things got a little crowded in my head, and I lost my feel.” Now if he felt that way after committing and practicing daily this method, what chance do you or I have? Say no more.
If you are interested in adopting the swing, look up and visit Andy Plummer and Mike Bennett for their hands-on instruction, but leave the book and video alone, lest you invite a golfing disaster!
