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.

Ben Emerson
Top 50 Coach

Location: Sand Martins GC 


Ben’s modern approach to golf coaching has seen him become one of the most sought-after coaches in the country and teaches none other than Robbie Williams. His honest, modern and fun style of coaching has help thousands of golfers of all ages and abilities and he has been coaching for over 20 years.


Advice for practice:

Start with slow, small swings. If you can’t do it small and slowly there is not a hope in hell of doing it at full speed with a full swing! In other sports such as rugby or martial arts they slow learn new moves/plays before making them at full speed. 


Teaching philosophy: 

‘Why guess when you can access’ Ever new student goes through a full TPI movement screen, 3D motion capture and pressure plate analysis as well as TrackMan and 2D video analysis. Coaching is based on facts and not guess work. 


Most common problem:

A lack of clubface understanding and awareness. I get golfers to aim the clubface directly at the target and get them to make a slow swings and deliver the club to the ball with an open face, then repeat the same thing again but with a closed face, followed by one at the target. Giving them full awareness based on feelings errors to find a happy middle ground.