For a perfect stance, look no further than Tiger Woods, who understands when it counts: at address and at impact.
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Golf instruction is always evolving, but the best tips stand the test of time. In GOLF.com’s new series, Lifetime Tips, we’re highlighting some of the greatest advice that teachers and players have shared in the pages of GOLF Magazine. Today we look back to our April 2013 issue for energy tips from Tiger Woods. For unlimited access to GOLF Magazine’s complete digital archive, join Inside GOLF tODAY; you’ll enjoy $140 worth of value for just $39.99 per year.
Hitting the ball flush starts before you swing the club back. To put yourself in the best position for success, it is imperative that you get the right attitude.
You don’t believe me? Just look Tiger Woods. Although his swing has changed many times throughout his career, one thing has always remained constant: a strong frame.
In 2013, we in GOLF magazine published a feature on just that. Read one below for a breakdown from GOLF Top 100 Teachers Jon Tattersall on how Woods’ stance puts him in position to break long drives.
Powerful tiger stance
The tiger swing has changed over the years. Some of the changes are made to achieve or correct a certain ball flight, while others are introduced to accommodate or prevent an injury.
Regardless of the state of his swing, Tiger has always stood up and rocked with great poise. Keep in mind that the right stance at address doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to use it to your advantage. This is where Tiger shines.
One of his best power moves is to increase his forward bend during his landing while lengthening his lower body. At the swing, his hips are higher than at address and his knees and ankles are much straighter, but his upper body and head are actually closer to the ball. When you hear instructors talk about “using the ground” to build speed, that’s it.
Below, I’ve outlined the various components of Tiger’s stance—and how he uses them to create power.
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Upper body
The most important angle you can create at address is the angle of your upper body when you lean forward. Like all great players, Tiger bends from the hips, not the waist. His forward tilt has increased since working with Sean Foley, and as a result, he has a pelvic tilt. In addition to bending forward, the Tiger also tilts its pelvis downward, which helps flatten the lower back. This is commonly known as neutral stone tilt, which is incredibly important for back and hip health.
BACK
The tiger’s upper back is not flat (nor should it be), and although he has pulled his shoulders back to expand his chest, his arms hang almost straight down, leaving a noticeable gap between his ear right and shoulder. If you try to force good posture by straightening your back, you won’t see such a wide gap.
pins
Strong players like Tiger change their stance when they swing by pushing off the ground with their feet. Notice how much straighter Tiger’s legs are at impact than at address. The tiger’s legs, knees, and hips go from a flexed position in setup to an extended position in contact, much like a basketball player jumping to lay down a dunk.
The weapons
The tiger’s wings hang more vertically these days as a result of its increased forward lean. This makes it easier for him to keep his arms close to his chest when swinging, which negates the need to rotate them as much as before. That, plus a tighter grip, are the main reasons for his excellent ball-striking.
The knees
The tiger’s knees are bent, not bent. A good control point here is a line drawn straight down from the front of your right knee crossing the middle of your right big toe.
Perfect attitude at work
Mark Newcomb / Visions in Golf
Dynamic return
Although it doesn’t seem like Tiger’s attitude has changed that much, it has. At the top, his left side (not his chest) is angled towards the ball and his forward bend is nowhere near what it was at address. When you have the core strength and flexibility of the Tiger, you can achieve this by making it look like you’re finishing without changing your angles.
“Chew” it
While Tiger slightly increases the tilt of his pelvis in his back, he rapidly decreases it during his descent (between 5 and 10 degrees). His hips level and his forward bend toward the ball is close to where it was at address. It’s like he’s doing ab crunches at the gym. The good news? You don’t need Tiger’s six pack to do this move.
Roll your weight
Tournament players roll their ankles to shift weight from the right foot to the left. Tiger is one of the best at this, and not only does he roll, he actively pushes off the ground from the top of his swing through impact. That push action is real—most big hitters we’ve tested have at least a 20-inch vertical jump.
