Malaska Golf // Ground Forces: Golf Talk with MLB Hitting Coach Craig Wallenbrock

Sitting down with Craig Wallenbrock was a real treat. He's been scouting and teaching Pros for decades and his understanding of the baseball swing is unparalleled. The way he teaches grip, path, pivot and release is eerily similar to what we're always talking about with the golf swing.
Part 3: Ground Forces
How player's use the ground to transfer weight is very similar from baseball to golf. Getting a feel for how your feet work will help you put maximum energy into the ball and get greater distance off the tee.
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[@armike234]

I was a scratch golfer for 13 holes and a bogey golfer for the remaining holes. Terrified of hitting the ball. Played from 5 yrs old to today 40. 4hdcp on a good day. Revamped my entire swing to malaskas techniques. I'm now a +1.4 hdcp and I don't really miss the middle of the club face. Sometimes I hit the same ball print on my driver for the entire round. Thanks malaska for this content. I can now compete at a high level having dreams of qualifying for the US open and playing in very competitive amateur tournaments

[@alexBaldman]

You can do it!!!!

[@robsaxepga]

I was assistant coaching little league baseball and the coach had no idea what he was doing. I told him that I could really help our hitting as I had been a golf coach most of my life. He says to me "that's nice, golf and baseball are nothing alike". 😳 😂

[@ironsideeve2955]

If he was any good, he would have replied "alright then, what would you do?"

[@jcluketich411]

I chose your videos over others because you teaching methods mostly or primarily showed the proper actions. But recently you're showing too many "wrong" moves (like most all the other golf instructions). Show and reinforce only the correct move, placement, etc. and anything other is wrong. If you show 1 movement that is proper but then add, "over the top" then "under" , then, another wrong move you end up with 2/3rds or better showing incorrect. The best visualization is to only see the correct moves and none of the wrong ones.

[@mwslove1]

I am not clear in the beginning of which cleat he was talking about pressing down on. I wish you would have shown a foot diagram.

[@gtflyer]

I've been working on keeping my back foot on the ground, so I roll it rather than lift my heel up. I noticed right away, I struck the ball better, and gained a bit of distance doing that vs lifting my heel.

[@mamuchilacastro47]

Encontre este Profesor de casualidad, me gusta su clase y aunque no entiendo ni papa🤫repito todos los movimientos que hace.😜

[@geoffw8565]

Mike. I used to play every week for a couple of years with Ryder Cup Player Jimmy Adams. He used to talk about the ' inner twist ' which I think is right in line with you say and what Craig Wallenbrock is hinting at. Jimmy was a huge admirer of golf teacher Earnest Jones and the effects of centrifugal and centripetal forces on the golf swing. Great stories about Hogan, Snead etc. He was such a lovely man and damn good player !

[@richyclubsport5155]

Amazing, i heard so much about the connection between baseball and golf, i get it although in the UK never had the chance to play, but years ago i used to play with an American service personal guy who was based at Alconbury a military base, he played a lot of baseball and hit it a country mile even though he was quite a slight guy

[@Willturn80]

Just up the road from me that base

[@rowdyroddy519]

I am a big advocate of keeping the right heel down until impact. Roll on the insteps. I teach this to all my students. I first learned this thru Jack Nicklaus... but where it really clicked was seeing how long Moe Norman kept the right heel down.

[@davet2625]

i'm a little unclear as to which cleat he was specifying you should feel the pressure concentrated through. anyone?

[@sonnythorelli5402]

Brilliant, looking outside the box and see how other sports figure this out!!!👍 Thanks for sharing this learning.

[@mattranum]

How do you explain just Tomas then . Guys a freak with this trail heal off the ground

[@redwave3520]

Definitely a connection with baseball and golf. There is also a connection with swinging an axe, hammer, sword, grass cutting whip, skipping a stone across water, heaving a sandbag, kettle bell, throwing a punch, etc., with golf. They are all NATURAL movements that are done without thinking about it. When you get into the minute details of position in the golf swing, you lose sight of your goal - to put the ball in the hole by focusing on the target, NOT the ball or your movements!!!

[@jasonpitts8395]

What about whipping my dog when it chews up my shoes

[@rickmiller8893]

...ive already hit like on the video... Can't hit it again. Double like.

[@Eric-zk2hu]

So weight on inside of heel, not toes, with pressure shift linear towards target from back heel to front heel and rotation happens naturally as you swing thru from your body trying to stabilize itself as opposed to spinning to make the club move.?? Makes sense, when you are on your toes you are in position to move like if you were going to step forward or run forward you are actually pushing back and falling forward and then catching yourself for the next step forward. If you want to stay in the same place you dig your heels in.

[@swardmusic]

When u sprint, do u rotate your hips left and right or push off the ground? 👍🏻

[@feltn78]

Bingo! Any athletic movement is made better or worse by footwork. The great Johnny Bench said years ago if you want to judge a good catcher don’t watch the glove watch his feet. Love it

[@mikeyg1738]

I can’t tell if this is to help with baseball or golf lol

[@jerryhiller7693]

I really like how this video shows how baseball hitting principles cross over so well with the golf swing. This got me thinking about the weight of a golf club. For example: Tony Gwynn only used a 30 ounce bat and hit for singles while someone like Bryce Harper uses a +45 ounce bat and hits with power. Does this difference in mass translate over to how far you can hit a golf ball? Would a heavier club hit a ball further assuming same club head speed, same launch angle etc?

[@brianc2823]

Mr Malaska, I would first like to thank you for all the wonderful content you put out to help the average person. I would also like to thank you for sharing your personal experience and struggles so others may avoid the well intended but greatly misguided advice they receive. I have been a strength Coach for 35 years and coaching and instructing baseball for almost 20 and prior to my children being born I played to a 4.3 index in golf. I have long been preaching the baseball swing and golf swing as the same but done on different planes and have taught both accordingly. The 1st time I watched one of your videos where you were instructing the hands work along the body line to allow the club to work down the target line I said finally someone gets it! This particular video was very satisfactory because I have always taught that we need to drive the back hip along the toe line which pushes front hip back and causes front leg to straighten and add snap to the club or bat. For me the key has always been making sure the hands and back hip went together and in same direction so as not to get stuck and have to flip like Tiger had to do after poor Coaching. I believe if you would have guided him from his amateur career he would have won many more tournaments and would still be healthy and competing today. I will end this by pointing out that Ben Hogan, who also compared similarities and studied the baseball swing had an extra spike added to his right golf shoe where Coach Wallenbrach advised to feel the pressure AND also Mr Hogan advised keeping weight more towards heels and to feel as if you could lift your toes and be in balance. Continued success to you sir and keep it up as you are making a difference Brian Clahane Coach B👍

[@jjpac2011]

This is gold. I've always heard, right knee to target. Well, that is true, but it's because the pelvis is going there. When I thought of my right knee to target, I never felt stable and at time had difficulty completing the swing on the target side.

[@greatwhite3676]

Craig used the key word for me "space". I think of my ass as a counter weight and i want to get away from the ball. This feeling allows me to make an aggressive swing left without hooking it. You need space

[@TheOnlyStonemason]

The longest hitter ever…Mike Austin certainly rolled and didn’t intentionally lift his foot, he also was more balanced over his ankles and not the balls of his feet.

[@jaarenas]

Best advise on the back weight on the inside! Was able to maintain balance throughout swing. Also maintained forward shaft lean. Thank you!!!!

[@kendallowens8566]

The right heel has to come off the ground eventually doesn't it? You can't get your left hip and lower body out of the way if you are thinking about leaving that left heel on the ground.

[@georgiamay4045]

As I researched the longest hitters in history, they always recommend rolling in without picking up the heal first. Great video and definition.

[@gregpeterson8374]

Is there a place where I can see the rest of this video - where the guys hit some baseballs? Thanks.

[@simmo5071]

Evolution and golf swings routinely have lead heel come off of ground and then stomp down to generate more speed!

[@professionalliability]

I like right cleat thought. What about left foot inner cleat on downswing

[@slowsun73]

Yes, this really simplifies the golf swing. 🤦‍♂️

[@tombeach1262]

Too bad I didn't see this video many years ago. The best part for me was to make sure not to lift up the left heel on the back swing for a right-hander. That worked for Jack Nicklaus, but I find that my knees are too active when I try it. I'm going to nail my shoes to the floor and practice this over the winter.

[@jacobr4558]

There would be nothing wrong with lifting the lead heel off the ground in your backswing especially. A lot of this Leverage is referring more to the downswing! The backswing is where you're loading everything so you can load it several different ways. But if in the downswing you're getting away. Into your toes or as he mentions morni action it's not going to serve you very well.

[@dw8216]

This turned a light bulb on for me. Thank you.

[@scotttracey4015]

Terrific lesson. Thanks for thinking outside the box.

[@xx-uf6gl]

So as u begin to take the club back u purposely actively push down into the ground? Versus it being a reaction to what u do in the backswing? I cant even feel it on any part of the inside of my trail foot much less a particular tiny part of the foot. I've never been able to feel the correct things in my feet & it drives me insane that i cant do it. I'm overweight to so if anybody should be able to feel it its me. Never feel anything in the glutes no matter how many ways i try. No idea what i'm doing wrong.

[@margiepargie1982]

Maybe your center of gravity is different. My husband was trying to lose weight, rented a bike ended up falling down. He had a large stomach then. I told him you are not 16 anymore with no stomach. Your center of gravity is different when you are overweight and 60 compared to a slim teenager. You have to make adjustments. Anyway he lost weight through keto and intermittent fasting. His golf game couldnt be better, but he is going to leave the bike riding to our grandson.

[@malleus9778]

Put something under your insole in that spot like a dried bean or pie weight. Or something softer if that hurts, just as long as you can feel it press into your instep heel. Then you'll know if you're applying pressure in the correct spot. Just came up with this while while vaping (6mg) so hopefully it works and is not dumb!

[@mh_golfer]

This is a great video, the best explanation of rotation I have seen. I really struggle with early extension, this highlights why.

[@josephwirtz8352]

Same here

[@josephwirtz8352]

That was amazing! Thank you gentlemen!

[@thomasdonaldson7750]

Mike, you worked with me for 5 years at the Nicklaus Flick golf Schools in Phoenix. It was the first time I learned about rolling the ankles to stop the early extension. And honestly, I wasn't very good at it. But this video? It clicked right away. All I had to think about was that cleat and right pinky toe. My balance, ball striking and sweet spot hits I became repeatable. Absolutely the best description of ground forces of the backswing. The downswing just falls into line. Thank you!!

[@alvermeil5884]

Very good and helpful.

[@highsnburgers4862]

Thanks Mike and coach Craig.

[@billyfromla1117]

Thanks, this is another gem.

[@Marco-qx1db]

Fascinating info Mike

[@longballist]

Amazing feel!

[@jorgehernandez6409]

Another gem. 👍🏼

[@billenright2788]

Soooooooo good.

[@rafaelherrera129]

Awesome interview

[@UMHurricanes05]

Phenomenal!!!!!

[@malachi2371]

Awesome content, Keeping the feet on the ground and the ankle roll is what Moe Norman used to preach.

[@pdub2762]

Ty Mike!!!!

[@supery0111]

what is the "heel forward cleet"? and is it on the inside of your right foot or the outside?

[@mh_golfer]

Inside, just after the arch

[@josephwirtz8352]

Mike points to it toward the end of the video

[@supery0111]

@@josephwirtz8352 when exactly? Thanks

[@josephwirtz8352]

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