I came across Malaska late last year. Now, I follow Malaska and once the range was open at our course I started to work on his concept of the swing. What attracted me was his having transitioned from baseball to being a competitive golfer and the subsequent events of his career.

I did not play golf as a youth, picked up my first golf club shortly after graduation from college because of encouragement from the work place. My best sport in school was baseball. My first experience with golf was to use a similar swing. I actually got better and better, never had a higher score than a 99, which was my first 18 holes at Papago, Phoenix and regularly broke 80 within two years playing about once a week and then did not play for another 10 years. When I started again I was in the low 80's and improving till I got some golf instruction and was told my swing was all wrong. Suddenly golf became a much more difficult sport for me than it had been up to that first lesson from a PGA professional instructor. So, I instantly related to Malaska when I heard the story of his career.

I can't say I completely imitate the Malaska swing as I don't use a camera, etc., or have a good way to compare what I am doing to his video's. However, within a couple of small buckets, I was very comfortable with the changes I made. I decided to take it to the course. Contact was immediately improved, but I was reminded of my first exposure to the game. I was pulling the ball foul to left field. Each week I have seen improvement. Last round, even though I bogeyed 5 of the first 7 holes, I ended the round with a 79. What I really like is that once again the golf swing feels natural to me. I haven't yet, but I am now going to work on some of his short game concepts. Maybe the Malaska full swing is not for everyone, but imo if you are a baseball player or were in your youth, Malaska is worth checking out.

This is one HUGE dose of Malaska all at once. I have watched most of his videos several times over and now I understand what he is saying here completely, but it was tough the first time I watched it. Give it a look and see what you think.

I've tried his method on the range and at the course and when I do it right, it's unlike anything I can remember. The ball just sails straight as an arrow and there is virtually NO EFFORT to the swing. I have to keep fighting the tendency I have to start opening the shoulders almost immediately at the start of the downswing. If I can start with the hands moving straight down instead of "pulling the club" from the top, everything just falls into place and it feels amazing.

    Sneakylong

    Yeah, not sure what's up with that but they do wear the same colors most all the time. It's probably a brand-identifying concept that they paid some marketing expert several hundred pounds to research in an effort to establish their own appeal.

    Whatever works I guess.

      rsvman

      Bobby Lopez is very entertaining also. Great personality and great stories.

        RV - take a look as some of the slow motion swings of Jack Nicklaus iron swings early in his career. Also look at some major league baseball swings. Bat drops creating lag, but remember they are hitting the ball in front of them. So you turn to close the gap. In golf the ball is on the ground and you want to hit it while the arch is still descending - so the room for the swing has to be preserved until you start the "release" as defined by both Nicklaus and Malaska. I find it interesting to note how almost all of Jacks turn and body motion took place after the ball was gone. Yet, the golf announcers always talked of his turn, weight shift, etc. as if it was why he was so long. I agree with Malaska - TV changed the perception of the golf swing.

          Has anyone significantly lowered their handicap after watching instruction videos or taking lessons from a professional?

            rsvman

            I will try that next time out. It makes sense to me and felt good doing it in slow swings in the house. I find it hard to do full swings where there are "parts" that you have to meld together like "drop your hands" then when the head gets outside your hands you turn.

              lambo

              Nicklaus also said he felt he couldn't release the club too soon. It's all about feel and feel isn't real. And that's what makes golf so difficult. It's an endless epiphany search.

                pellmell

                Not me. I play to an 11 right now. They say most golfers will reach their peek around 3 years into taking up the game. I would agree with that.

                    pellmell I've never held an official handicap, but I can tell you I lowered my average scores a good 5-6 strokes one winter in Germany in the early 2000's by simple filming my own swing in my home from 4 angles, watching it back on the TV, then tweaking it myself.

                      GG Swing Tips is very good. He is on instagram daily. Some great videos
                      He has allot of great juniors including Wayne Gretzky 'a Kid

                      Me and My Golf are cool and informative

                      Like Rick Shiels (sp) from England. He does allot of great Equiptment reviews

                      azgreg

                      Took a lesson one time and the instructor gave me a drill for picking my head up too soon and coming out of the shot. I mentioned Annika and Duval (who pick their head up before they hit the ball). He answered me that "there's always an exception to the rule."

                      In general, handicaps haven't been getting better in years. Even with all the YouTube videos and modern day equipment golfers aren't getting much better.

                          Sneakylong Seems like, in essence, that you are implying that people are incapable of improving their games, regardless of the quality of instruction they receive. Is that a fair assessment of your belief?

                            Sneakylong

                            In fairness those are two different things. Duval and Annika didn't lift their heads and come out of the shot as you say you were doing. They simply turned their heads to follow the shot. Big difference.