What Is A Stack And Tilt Golf Swing?

Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Ben Emerson explains the stack and tilt golf swing and how it can help you play better

Stack and tilt golf swing
(Image credit: Golf Monthly)

The stack and tilt golf swing might not be something you've heard of before, but this could be the top tip you've been looking for to improve your game. While it might not guarantee you hit the ball dead straight, the altered weight distribution might help you to power up your golf swing.

In this video and article, Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Ben Emerson breaks down the stack and tilt golf swing to help you strike it better...

Stack And Tilt Golf Swing: What Is It?

Stack and tilt is a swing construction that enables golfers to control three things: the low point, which will improve the quality and consistency of your ball striking; power, so the delivery is more efficient; and control itself, so the curvature of the ball in flight.

The premise of stack and tilt is great, because it's designed for the weight to be on your lead side. The 'stack' derives from the upper half of your body, as it sits on top of the lead leg, with the 'tilt' being a result of the left shoulder pointing downwards in the backswing.

Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Ben Emerson demonstrating the stack and tilt golf swing technique

(Image credit: Future)

This is in the opposite of what we expect to see in most golf swings, with weight transferring away from the lead side in the backswing. This can make it more difficult to synchronise everything in the downswing, so staying over the ball can produce a more consistent delivery of the clubface at impact.

Stack And Tilt Golf Swing: How Do I Do It?

If you think this is a technique that could help you play better golf, here are some handy checkpoints to keep in mind. At address, work on feeling like 60 per cent of your weight is on your lead side and your hands should be ahead of the ball.

Also, in a stack and tilt golf swing, the angles in the set-up don’t have to be so pronounced. For example, you can introduce a little more roll in the back without compromising your ability to hit good shots.

Then, from this position, you want to make a nice big turn, getting the left shoulder under your neck and staying low, with the hands working nice and deep. If turning effectively is something you struggle with, flaring your feet out at address will make it easier to get the club further back, and therefore deliver more power.

Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Ben Emerson in the perfect impact position for the stack and tilt golf swing

(Image credit: Future)

As you start the downswing, feel like your weight is still on your lead side as you bump your hips forward and turn. Ensure your hands are ahead of the club and the ball at impact, as this will give you a powerful and more consistent strike.

As you hit down on the ball more often, continue to rotate with body to produce a nice stable follow-through and a penetrating ball flight.

Andrew Wright
Freelance News Writer

A lifelong golf fan, Andy graduated in 2019 with a degree in Sports Journalism and got his first role in the industry as the Instruction Editor for National Club Golfer. From there, he decided to go freelance and now covers a variety of topics for Golf Monthly. 

Andy took up the game at the age of seven and even harboured ambitions of a career in the professional ranks for a spell. That didn’t pan out, but he still enjoys his weekend golf at Royal Troon and holds a scratch handicap. As a side note, he's made five holes-in-one and could quite possibly be Retief Goosen’s biggest fan.

As well as the above, some of Andy's work has featured on websites such as goal.com, dailyrecord.co.uk, and theopen.com.

What's in Andy's bag?

Driver: Callaway Mavrik Sub-Zero (9°)

3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (15°)

Driving iron: Titleist U500 (17°)

Irons: Mizuno mp32 (4-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM9 (50°, 54° and 58°)

Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron Newport 2.5

Ball: TaylorMade TP5x