How To Start Your Swing // Malaska Golf

A Malaska Golf Member shares his experience with the Front Loader Drill. He hits the ball better when he puts the club out in front and starts his swing. He said it also keeps him from being too static over the ball.
Mike talks about how, for many years, golfers would set up to the ball and take a slight movement forward before hitting the ball. This triggered the backswing and was called a forward press.
In the 1980s, the prevailing thought in the golf industry changed to a more static start. Unfortunately, this locked a lot of people up. You will notice in many sports, you have to move left to go right. You do the same for the opposite way; go right to go left.
Another problem was taking the club away first. Mike emphasizes that this is a mistake because you will be late with your change of direction.
The Front Loader Drill puts the club out in front. As you bring it back, you are already on your right side, your hips are out of your way, and force is in your right foot. You are set up and can begin to change direction. If you start from a static position, it won’t be until the top of your swing or transition point that your body changes direction. This is too late!
The Front Loader Drill, having the club already out in front, allows you to go left foot, right foot, back to left foot, and then hit. This is your golf swing timing.
When you implement this into your swing without having the club in front of you, you have a slight forward kick or press before swinging backward. This gets you started on your swing.
Again, it is left, right, left, swing. The forward press is the trigger to get you to swing.
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[@stbasil2135]

Finally, an intelligent video on the forward press, and the silly qualitative reasoning that led to its demise. Well done.

[@moonmullins7436]

Not b.s. ing here but just yesterday I asked a our local club fitting guru and golf swing teacher/coach what he observed in my swing that could be causing my loss of distance and general feeling of being out of 'time". He watched four 7 iron swings and said it looked to him that I was stagnate and swing all arms with a very late hip and lower body turn. He said this may be whats causing the longer sloppy backswing and the feeling of a need to "catch things up" before ball impact. He said bump a hint toward the target line then focus on the feeling of turning the left shoulder back first then turn to the right out of the "clubs way" (Im right handed). This feel he explained seemed tremendous but feel VS real always looks different to a bystander. Anyway, my backswing shortened slightly, I was able to get back to the ball more solid and on the 3rd swing I was hitting my old medium draw with a huge improvement in accuracy. This bump forward you spoke of was what really solved at least 3 issues, 1) too long of a backswing. 2). rigid body at address. 3). inconsistent contact. Thanks again Mr. M for making this video, goodluck out there.

[@robertrogers-nm8wf]

“A few people start doing it so now it’s O.K.”! Funny and so true.

[@capkarr]

People are definitely sheepish sometimes.

[@darrens300]

I laughed out loud when he said it 😂

[@integralmark]

Mike is so valuable when he brings awareness to the trends of golf instruction. Amazing/awful how the best intentions for golf instruction can cause confusion or even regression.

[@user-nf8ci2vq3u]

Freezing at address is exactly the problem I have, which in turn causes so much tension that it becomes difficult to take the club back. I give this a try....thank you Mike

[@Blackhorseveteran]

I've been doing this for a couple of weeks now, and can confidently say that it works. I've always had a little press forward with my putter, so it's not to hard to incorporate into my swing...thanks Mike !

[@jrhyno]

Mike, I'll guess that you won't get to comment on all or any of these comments, but you are so right. When I played goalkeeper in college in soccer, prior to a shot being taken, you have to be moving your feet, so that you get into the flow of moving. You just can't be static. Thanks for the excellent reminder

[@21st_Century39]

Always good to get drills to help along the way. Thanks Mike!

[@renerealme7956]

Love these little golden nuggets. Thanks Mike!

[@kellyjackson2632]

Great job Mike. I believe Harvey Penick had a similar drill in "The Little Red Book" He talked about swinging a bucket of water. A slight lean toward the target to start the momentum away from the target. You are right, this used to be taught quite often.

[@MalaskaGolf]

Most all the teachers prior to the 80s had some form of this. They knew it was motion and not a static game. Plus these types of drills awaken your natural motion. That is a big deal especially today when the teachers and game are so Mechanical and numbers oriented. Thanks for the comment Mike Malaska

[@JG-jo8ou]

Didn’t Jack also do this, what they used to call a little “knee knock” forwards in the old days? Snead too?

[@Rome1031]

Excellent information once again. I’m sure this will help my synchronization / Timing issues⛳️

[@cbr8206]

Love your advice and instruction...based in natural athletic body movement coupled with technical detail about how to maximize your ability to play the game. Thank you!

[@k.b.3832]

Excellent point 👍

[@donniehuffman6014]

Than you Mike for the tip!! It just makes sense!

[@rayweeks1056]

Great information…! You have helped simplify my golf game to where I’m playing much better and enjoying the game more….!!! Thank you.

[@MalaskaGolf]

Thanks for being a subscriber. Check us out at Malaskagolf.com I know I can help your game. Mike Malaska

[@joelsheridan4877]

I was feeling stuck while going into my backswing today and I was static when starting. I'll be giving this a shot tomorrow.

[@mattbakergolf]

Great advice as always 👏👏

[@millerjeff]

Great little drill to practice at the range then take to the course.

[@matt_sallie]

Awesome video Mike!

[@winsomesoon]

Thanks Mike

[@biden-putin-stalin]

I really appreciate your replies to so many good comments!! Very helpful!

[@stevedriscoll2539]

It worked for Slammin' Sam and Gary Player...thanks Mike

[@blthunder07]

It’s weird we need validation in a video to justify the results - but this gave me confidence to trust my trigger is something that’s ok!

[@benhoward7006]

I am much better when I do this drill. Thanks Mike.

[@arizonaboy59]

Good instruction ❤

[@maxsunhong]

It makes sense 😊 so true

[@josephshawa]

Beautiful

[@ksmithreps1]

I've been struggling with my transition sequence and I think this drill may just help! Now that I see this drill...I believe being too static, even if for just a 1/2 second, is interfering with my overall sequence and more specifically my transition. Thanks for the content Mike!!!

[@MalaskaGolf]

You can not come to a stop in the swing. As you walk up to the ball. It becomes like a dance step that starts as you walk to the ball and finishes in the follow-through of the swing. Most players come to a complete stop and then try to start up again. Not necessary.

[@-Thunder]

Nicklaus used to call it "constant motion". I think DJ is basically doing this front loader type of motion. I also noticed the front loader drill will almost automagically create a good backswing if you relax and let the weight of the club swing back perfectly efficiently. Long distance drivers talk about pushing off with the front foot to start the swing. Same basic idea. It's working for me.

[@jayboek2854]

Love your channel. I would love to a lesson.

[@Rd-bi7vr]

I did something recently that helped. Coke my wrists to get club to parallel ala Dustin Johnson and this helps me get momentum to continue the swing

[@journeysla]

I've played sports all my life and I agree for me I need forward movement to start my swing

[@margiepargie1982]

Left, right, left. Sounds like u are in the army. 😊

[@markwest9119]

I love your channel Mike. You have really helped me to become a good ball striker. A slight forward movement as you explained it makes so much sense. I have another starting move I like to use together with that. I like to give the ball a slight "stink eye" with my left eye as I'm starting out. It's a fun thought and by doing so I'm using my neck to turn my head slightly but consciously making sure to do so in line with the backswing plane. I feel this helps to keep me loose while reinforcing a good swing plane.

[@esine6456]

I was confused which way to start club, and was looking for the answer. My only fear is coming into the ball sliding. Thanks

[@carlor.s.4742]

I used to do this & then various video instructors said DO NOT DO THIS!. So I stopped. Shaking my head. Lately I started doing a little forward bump & this video says it's OK. Relief!

[@MalaskaGolf]

A lot of what we were told. Well intended actually hurt our natural motions. And how the body is designed to move. The relief of knowing your instincts are correct is liberating.

[@moonface978]

I’ve noticed Mike doesn’t seem to bring up the subject of divots or ball first then ground , or have I missed a video on this ? P.s I think Mike and his “ move “ may have finally helped me improve ball contact , totally opened my eyes to how to swing the club

[@MrGolfchap]

Gary player used a forward left hip right knee press to start a left right left motion

[@johnvitelli3862]

What is working for me is tipping the club in front of me from the backswing I am no longer pulling it down to impact or pushing you did it with a girl client with a tennis racket it was genius and I am hitting baby draws and straight shots Mike you should bring the tennis racket back for a video it was genius . Thanks …

[@MalaskaGolf]

Tennis rackets and baseball bats along with frisbees are great to trigger a great golf swing. You already have it in you.

[@biden-putin-stalin]

Yes, yes, in all sports there is no such thing as a start from static anything. Something is a trigger so that you can get into the desired movement. Consider a head swivel to the right, if you are right handed, as well. This was used by Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan. It was not only used to help get into the backswing, it helps to get into the correct golf swing. The eyes should track the correct club head path while a relaxed, but responsive, swivel turn of the head to the right prevents a stiff fixed head position that makes it hard to turn the right hip and right shoulder correctly in the backswing. The right hip must move back away from the target line and must also move toward the target, so a right hip swivel toward the target in the backswing. Of course the torso follows toward the target, a weight shift. Don't try to hold the head down, back, or stiff. Let it go with the desired swing.

[@GRIFF22]

Stenson's been doing this forever

[@arielluna4399]

👏👍👏👍

[@benjaminphongcao955]

Ah...George Knudson's Natural swing...Left foot...Right foot

[@MattS-pv6mk]

Sam Snead would agree, don't forget "oily."

[@roadtoscratchgolf3481]

Amazing how we move dynamically in all sports naturally, but when it comes to golf, we somehow think dynamics is bad. Move people, waggle, whatever you do, don’t stand like a tree or statue. Cheers.

[@tonymartino7892]

Lee Trevino. 1,2,3 go 👍

[@Y_M1967]

If you’ve ever played any other sport this is so basic. People staying still have no chance!

[@Jmastives]

And this is why you dont coach pga pros

[@mnpanimal]

Hes in the PGA Teacher Hall of Fame.