A Simple Check for Tour-Level Contact

Stay Stacked for Better Ball Striking

When we talk about elite-level ball striking, one of the most important body positions in the swing is often overlooked:

👉 How your upper body stacks over your lower body at the top.

In this week’s video, I’m breaking down a simple rehearsal that will help you feel exactly what it means to be “stacked” at the top of your swing—and how that sets up a perfect, balanced follow-through.

Let’s dive in 👇

Watch the video breakdown here!

🎥 Why This Matters

Most amateur golfers tilt excessively in the backswing or fail to maintain proper side bend. The result?

❌ Loss of posture

❌ Inconsistent transition

❌ Weak, off-center strikes

When you stay stacked, your body can rotate efficiently and deliver the club with more control and power. And the key to finding that position? A simple slow-motion rehearsal—which I walk through in this video.

🔍 What to Look For

Here’s what we’re training:

• A slight side tilt at setup

• Maintaining that tilt to the top of the backswing

• Avoiding excessive lean or collapse

• Creating a balanced “stacked” position at the top

It all adds up to a picture-perfect impact and clean strike through the ball.

🎯 Key Takeaway

It all starts with a clear image of what stacked actually looks and feels like.

Once you’ve got that… the rest of your swing falls into place.

Want to Make More Putts?

Upgrade your green reading skills with the Tour Read Golf app, co-created by PGA Tour coach Ralph Bauer.

Start reading greens with precision.

👉 Learn More Here

🎥 Watch the Full Breakdown Now

👉 Watch the full video here

Thanks for reading!

—Ralph Bauer

About Ralph Bauer

Ralph Bauer has coached on the PGA Tour since 2009. He’s worked at all four majors, the Olympics, and has helped two of his players win major championships. His students have earned over $400 million in PGA Tour earnings. He’s coached on five continents and at every level of the game—and he co-created the Tour Read system to make green reading easier for every golfer.

Let me know if you have any questions—I’d love to hear how it’s working for you.