Malaska Golf // Teaching from Impact and Back - Golf Swing Mechanics

In this Player Lesson series, I'm working with a new set of instructors from Colorado who will be opening a Malaska Golf licensed school in Denver. These guys are great, and I'll have more details about them to follow.
We started talking about impact position and how to teach the golf swing starting at the most important point.
You can watch the entire 3-part lesson at malaskagolf.com.
Don't just play golf. Understand it.

[@adesenior2192]

Thanks, Mike. This is the most important golf instruction on KZbin, this has improved and totally changed my swing but in a natural way. Fantastic

[@margiepargie1982]

Every beginner should learn from impact back. I have waisted so much time and money trying to learn this game and decided to start all over from learning to putt, chip, pitch from impact back and I had the best round of golf ever yesterday. I am 59 years old and was a hacker for years, always frustrated with my shots. This man has taught me to understand what my hands are doing and not what the club head is doing. I had it backwards. Thank you for your insight and videos you are truly the best golf teacher.

[@davidgraham8058]

It’s the only way it can be learned. Almost all amateurs (and even about 50% of club pros) have no concept of impact with compression.

[@cooperradley]

Mike, the simple fact that your teaching method is from impact working backwards in the swing instantly tells me you care more about helping improve golfers with their game rather than how many repeat customers you can get coming back to you. Great video. Wish you lived in the UK. I would definitely travel to have you as my swing coach. All the best. Cheers.

[@rhinoragni8349]

Neurologically program the body and mind by repeating simple, correct movements that reinforce where the body should be at impact - the moment of truth in all our golf swings. Thanks, Mike, for re-programming golf instruction for the 21st century. C u in a couple of weeks!

[@query1527]

I think this might be the best golf video on KZbin. I overlooked it when I saw it but I tried it recently and it's 👍

[@Yoohoo2949]

Mike is so right. Conventional instruction teaches from address backwards. Mike is teaching how a carpenter drives the nail. He starts with impact and works back. Nobody has simplified the swing like Mike, nobody. Priceless!

[@saileshramcharan3445]

The value of hindsight Malaska has learnt from his errors and his teaching is some of the most logical i've seen. Respect from South Africa

[@jammuu]

This is the best golf instruction video ever.

[@robertfarkas6619]

Mike your the best teacher ever. Love your videos this one helped my game get to the next level. thank you

[@kwizzie5475]

Bar none probably the most important instructional video in the history of KZbin. I play scratch golf sticking to this fundamental primarily. Deviation from this leads me astray, just saying personally.

[@daviddulen5627]

Great instruction. I use this method when teaching kids from the start.

[@capkarr]

Without Mike Malaska I promise I would not be were I am at now. Thanks Mike you do more for golf than anyone I know.

[@DrDD-pw8wn]

Speaking for me, these videos have had the greatest impact on my game....Thanks!

[@fredmoler2781]

I’ve never been in a good impact position. I worked on my swing today with this video in mind; I went from impact and went backwards. It was amazing how different and better my swing is now. Thanks so much.

[@briang1375]

It has been amazing to work with Mike!! He has shown me this game doesn't need to be this complicated. I am looking forward to teaching his methods and making people better.

[@inuvik491]

Started rebuilding my swing from impact back, after a week I’m seeing a big difference in control, another great video, many thanks.

[@CogornoGolf]

Great video!

[@meangeneokerlund9129]

Beautiful video. Best teacher I have seen on youtube

[@yanksrule311]

I’m watching Mike’s videos and am so impressed with how and what he’s teaching. Simple, efficient and crystal clear. Best I’ve seen.

[@theonlyjerid]

I’ve been seeing GG doing this with his students on IG. I could instantly see how this could be beneficial. I had great success with this and your driver L to L the other day on the range and then a 9 hole practice round. Now after watching this I can’t wait to keep implementing this method and allow it to keep building.

[@lending99]

Awesome!!! Just ANOTHER Malaska master moment!! I’m gonna dial this in👍

[@eddiegutierrez2062]

Excellent video! It's been working for me, starting with small pitch shots and gradually adding more swing, only advancing when the smaller swings are 100%

[@magnuscroify]

I started a variation on Matt Wolff’s impact waggle he does and started hitting it better more consistently than ever.

[@aaaman7]

Awesome video. He breaks it down to the simplest form which make it easy enough for anybody to understand.

[@allanblair146]

The instruction is great as always but wow what a beautiful sky!

[@arthurford829]

Pure gold...time and again!

[@Myhjkar]

Haha, Mike is hitting the alignment stick every time he is doing a little chip. Aligment and impact on point. Great video!

[@patrickcooney5423]

Just retuned from the driving range , used this method of impact position and back , worked a treat for men. Great tip

[@prestonbonner2456]

I developed full swing yips trying to learn from setup to impact. Started over from impact.... Playing better than ever now. Great advice!!

[@petercrocitto7383]

Mike, thank you for sharing this video with us, this has helped me in having a better understanding of the proper way to turn your hips out of the way as well in my putting. I know how to properly turn away from the golf ball. I agree with your teaching philosophy, starting from the impact position and working backward. I remember Arnold Palmar was being interviewed, the interviewer, asked Arnold how he would train a new golfer, and he said from the putting green, short game, all way to the driver. While Arnold never mentioned starting from impact, one can take this is what he was referring too. Peter Crocitto Myrtle Beach, 65, 6 handicap

[@eJunkee]

This is excellent. Simple and makes lots of sense.

[@mike600f1]

outstanding explanation, demonstration, and application

[@charlesdalton8961]

I recall this at the PGA demo day , nice to have this for review Thanks

[@JohnEvert77]

Brillant! Learned more of this than years of golf tuition.

[@tdhawk7284]

I’ve read and watched a tremendous amount of instructional material. I’ve gone to golf camps taught by top instructors or their subordinates. This is genius because it is so intuitive. Constructive recommendation: I wish we had a face -on view as he was setting the guys at impact. I’m subscribed!

[@lbutchj4877]

Great analogies to tennis and baseball! Same right hand!

[@LeinonenHannu]

I`ve watched this many times and allways think - yes, makes sense. I need to do this. Has not happened, but I really need to do this...

[@loutorres1965]

When I began playing 20 years ago I was pretty damn good. 11 handicap and had never taken a lesson or touched clubs before. I just took my baseball swing and applied it to my golf swing. Then, I made the mistake and listened to people around me. You’re not suppose to lift your left heel, you’re not rotating enough and blah, blah blah. Didn’t enjoy the game and only played 3 times a year. I joined a club and currently a 14 handicap and trying to get back to my original swing. Your online lessons have made me understand what I’m doing or should be doing. Thank you!

[@mzrb1]

Mike... I am so delighted to see there is light at the end of the tunnel. Thinking of visiting from Australia :)

[@georgesealy4706]

Great ideas. Makes great sense.

[@RWaxo]

This is so good , I have played golf for 15 years and I watched thousand of video, ( swing through the ball, fallow through, use the body only to swing and have my arms like spagethi arms, shift weight, etc...) and it never work for me because I tried to forget my hand and let the club pass in front of me, but not anymore, This video made the click for me, I just hit the ball where I want the ball to go to my target and during the downswing I just guide the club so I can hit the ball in the face of the club with authority and my follow through is extended and is what is suppose to be. Big thanks Mike.

[@toddturner2356]

Guys a genius..Makes total sense !

[@jeffcaldwell4430]

Great as usual from you

[@beatzzz01]

Lightbulb moment! 😳☄

[@Steverino8686]

Great lesson, thank you!

[@smcg112]

Always great instruction, I wish I had that backdrop view when I practice..

[@nkutnikar]

number 1 golf instructor indeed ,,,

[@tmiller__golf]

Such good stuff. Athletic movements.

[@johnstarkey8126]

Hi Mike thanks for the great videos . Personally I think this is . if not the most important video in golf . up there with them . I use this drill all the time . Infact I actually set up to the ball at impact position when I play full rounds and work back to my full swing this has focused me on nothing other than getting back to impact . Works every time . So thanks again and keep the videos coming

[@Yoohoo2949]

I agree with you.

[@MrMcLovinOhYeah]

John Starkey - Are you still using this method where you go to impact position then before starting swing? Still working?

[@jeffcaldwell4430]

Absolute Genius, Thank you

[@Golsbygolf]

Great to teach people where they are supposed to get to , then very important to explain how they get there.

[@anthonyjames4522]

I’m going to try and make this a part of my warm up drill thanks 😄😎

[@74soll]

I needed this.

[@JerryCappuccino]

Man....Fantastic!

[@tedmeurch537]

holy crap! this great stuff!

[@jerrymacias150]

Priceless

[@ottawapop]

This is really good....I’m in.

[@bkcooler]

Makes perfect sense. Thx

[@MWF820]

That's why he's the best!

[@billrickmond3479]

Love your videos. Hope one day you will make one on the.hardest club in the bag... the..fairway woods.

[@mikejarrett6144]

superb , thanks so much !

[@klemj21]

Scott Hazeldine was teaching impact backwards many years ago. He, too, was a firm believer that you should teach the skills that way.

[@mvwhity]

That’s so true. ❤️

[@guitar1950]

This is exactly how I'd teach if I were a pro. I once watched a PGA teacher working with a couple of ladies who were new at golf. He had them taking full swings on the range and they were hitting all sorts of terrible shots and he kept telling them all these things to do to correct their swings. They had no idea how to move the body to get to impact.

[@jasonpitts8395]

This is great. My right hip definitely goes towards the ball, right heel comes up, and my swing looks like / feels like bleep.

[@manuelramirez7197]

Mike, I have to admit you’re the best. I just have a QUESTION or something I realized by practicing. If I feel the handle at impact in front of the ball, I can achieve great contact and great distance.... But your drill of feel is that the handle goes around you in the middle of your body. But when I do that, I tend to hit hooks off target. So, the question or comment would be: should the handle and hand have the tendency to move forward? Meaning that the handle goes down in the down swing to the left foot (right handed) and not to the right foot. Right?

[@BHJ7115]

Nailed it!

[@zatoichi-sm8mj]

mike the best teacher

[@wh1skeybud]

this is exactly what matt wolf does, the little hitch he does before his swing is to show his brain before he even starts his backswing, where he ultimately is gonna end up. which he needs since his swing arc is so crazy. he’s the perfect example for how you teach

[@Yoohoo2949]

What a great observation! Wow.

[@wh1skeybud]

@@Yoohoo2949 oh thanks man 😎

[@wh1skeybud]

@@Yoohoo2949 oh thanks man 😎

[@tonefingerz7117]

This man is gold. I did this and in 2 days cut 20 strokes. Fukn priceless and all i can give him is thumbs. Sucks

[@reserrvoirman]

Hi Mike I’m wondering how when you mimic the sitting position when you swing , aren’t you lower with your club and how do you not hit in back of the ball and hit it fat? Thanks love your in depth instruction. Stan Kobelski

[@jimspatz9211]

great mike.

[@TAmbassador369]

Great stuff. How many times did Mike hit that alignment rod out front without even trying. That is effortless straight. Thanks Mike:)

[@robertbright4371]

Excellent Mike.

[@chargrinolds]

Nice simple approach to the game. After all, it isn’t rocket surgery!

[@rjroth4869]

Love this idea of teaching from impact backwards. So, my question is: why not start the swing from this impact position rather than a "standard" set up position with knees, hips, shoulders parallel to target line? Thanks.

[@christopherwilliams2092]

I'll work on it after all impact is the moment of truth

[@ericwood319]

I have found taking divot far ahead of ball achieves the same thing. Try when u hit your next ball hit ground in front of ball

[@SeanDees]

Mathew Wolfe does this same move and he a pro. He really stuck with the fundamentals

[@colinwhite2724]

Turner could not have conceived of or painted a better backdrop than you have here. What a great environment you have there. I suppose what you are teaching is reverse engineering. It’s got to make sense. I will be working on it.

[@baronjohna]

Question: Foot position at impact? Most professional players have their right heel off the ground at impact.

[@will8804]

Malaska is a genius

[@ablgolfmom6211]

Hmm nobody teaches this way? Seems to me like most good teachers use a variation of starting from impact. Glad to see you’re getting on board with this idea.

[@migmatisgolf]

I made a video about this in 2016 titled “ practice impact like this”. This is a great way to improve and Mike’s video is gold.

[@wannabegolfin24-72]

Genius

[@reidroethe850]

Mike, I realize my shoulder moving forward is causing my issues with my over the top swing. How do I keep my shoulder from moving and let my hands and arms control my swing?

[@guitar1950]

I don't think Mike answers on his KZbin channel. I'd suggest you watch his other recent videos on how the hips are supposed to work. He did a couple with Eric Cogorno that are also excellent.

[@farisbashoo5633]

Is there a follow up to this video that links the impact to the bottom of the arc in pursuit of the holy grail i e a divot?

[@mikeobrien1559]

Hey, Mike, is there a good reason for the setup position to be different from the impact position, or is it simply a holdover from a traditional conception? Thx.

[@mikeobrien1559]

e james So, I suppose then, the worst way to setup would be in the position of impact as that, too, would change during the swing.

[@Yoohoo2949]

It might be just that the impact is a dynamic position where for demo purposes he is showing us a freeze frame of what actually happens in motion. The swing start is different for that reason only. Guessing!

[@guntars66]

Just one question. Why is the setup position in golf needed? Isn’t not much easy starting from impact and go back to the same position.

[@grahamjones7371]

ive only watched this for 1 min and allready its one of the few times a golf pro is telling you the important truth! let impact determine your swing! in my youth i had just about every bit of advice/technique built into my backswing half my downsing was counteracting that! Now at 60yrs old Im down to 4.8hcp by focussing on how i move to produce a powerfull square impact by focusing on the lead center of the golf shaft so Im presenting the whole golf club through impact

[@grahamjones7371]

That and working on basic athletic co ordination drills that NO Hacker Ever does!

[@denismulrenan6594]

What is your opinion on Stack and Tilt System

[@brotharuss]

The stack and tilt "body" swing is the complete opposite of what malaska teaches. I did s&t years ago untill it landed me in the chropractors office. Just watch this vid over and over and duplicate this impact position in the back yard. Once you master the impact position, keep adding more and more backswing to it.... You'll be hunting flag sticks effortlessly in no time.

[@karihall9542]

Where in Colorado did they open the Malaska golf school?

[@jeremyward6602]

Those clouds though

[@ToraxReborn]

Hey Mike, I'm currently a golf coach in New Zealand. I didnt have a fly tour career like you but I figured out the impact laws and feels of right hand importance myself. Recently I started to coach and a few of my clients struggle to understand where I am coming from. How did you overcome it? Clients are basically teenage kids who are aspiring to become professionals in the future.

[@arielluna4399]

👏👍👏👍

[@chadschulze1735]

you guys getting it....NOW TURN BOTH FEET AT THE TARGET AND SAVE THOSE KNEES....the lower body with training can be taught to just slightly squat and jump with no lateral drive motion or that "drift" move which at one point puts all potential energy into the left knee which any serious golfer will destroy with overuse.....WELCOME. what else do i have to fix? the world?

[@niklaswikstrom78]

Your attitude?

[@andybecker5001]

I've never understood why every pro doesn't start the student with impact. I've had lessons from 3 different pga pros. All they wanted to talk about was backswing. All 3 were of the mindset they a good backswing fixes everything, but it doesn't

[@Steven-we9kr]

do you have the link to purchase the rebounder

[@djp3525]

This seems like a good idea. To do it correctly, you get to impact, you then take a small swing-but come out of impact position-then go back to impact to hit the ball???? Mikes students were swinging in the impact position. That doesn’t seem correct.

[@guitar1950]

Try it. It works wonders to hit short shots starting setup at impact position. But make sure you do exactly what Mike is teaching. I've hit wedges up to 90 yards doing this.

[@robsaxepga]

The hands control the body. If you swing your hands correctly, the body will follow.

[@mery1973able]

I am sorry but I do not see the "Malaska move" here...

[@guitar1950]

the Malaska move is a drill and a feel. Not real. Mike has said that. Check out his other videos. What we think we do and what we really do is not the same. Hope your golf improves!