There are basically two types of golfers: tilters and horizontal golfers. If you don’t know which one you are, you’ll always struggle.
Tilters use a lot of side bend in the downswing and through impact. Think of guys like Dustin Johnson or Joaquín Niemann: At impact, the right side of their torso bends to the side, lowering the back shoulder as their lead side moves upward. It’s a great way to swing the club, but many golfers get stuck trying it and even get hurt doing it.
Making more of a horizontal swing works just as well. Picture Bryson DeChambeau or Google Walter Hagen’s classic swings. These players are less worried about creating side bend than getting through the ball using a flatter swing that levels out as they rotate.
Experiment! At the range, try adding more side bend (see main image on left). Then try more rotation (main image on right). The results will speak for themselves.
Check out a video on how to use tilt or rotation in your swing below.
E.A. Tischler (@eatischler) is the founder of New Horizons Golf Approach, cofounder of BioSwing Dynamics and director of instruction at The Woodlands CC, The Woodlands, Texas.
