Videos

WATCH: The importance of proper spinal tilt for better bunker shots

Published

7 years ago

Dec 22, 2018

Top 100 teacher Tom Stickney shows you what can go wrong with an improper spinal tilt on bunker shots (a common fault) and how to remedy the fault in this week’s Tip of the Week.

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Tom Stickney II

Tom F. Stickney II, is a specialist in Biomechanics for Golf, Physiology, and 3d Motion Analysis. He has a degree in Exercise and Fitness and has been a Director of Instruction for almost 30 years at resorts and clubs such as- The Four Seasons Punta Mita, BIGHORN Golf Club, The Club at Cordillera, The Promontory Club, and the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. His past and present instructional awards include the following: Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher, Golf Digest Top 50 International Instructor, Golf Tips Top 25 Instructor, Best in State (Florida, Colorado, and California,) Top 20 Teachers Under 40, Best Young Teachers and many more. Tom is a Trackman University Master/Partner, a distinction held by less than 25 people in the world. Tom is TPI Certified- Level 1, Golf Level 2, Level 2- Power, and Level 2- Fitness and believes that you cannot reach your maximum potential as a player with out some focus on your physiology. You can reach him at [email protected] and he welcomes any questions you may have.

8 Comments

joro

Dec 24, 2018 at 6:48 pm

It is really quite easy. 1. Walk into the Trap. 2. Bend your spine downward until you can pick up the ball. 3. Toss said Ball onto Green. 4. Get out of said Trap, grab your Putter and continue. Simple, efficient, usually always works,

What a waste of words. Wide stance, weight forward, open blade and hit with normal swing. That is my answer, and I don’t worry about the Spine, it will conform.

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Speedy

Dec 24, 2018 at 1:22 pm

Right on, Tom. Probably good advice for most wedge play.

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Don Toth

Dec 23, 2018 at 2:23 am

Awesome video Tom, what a simple sand lesson. Simplicity is often the best way!

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- smz
  
  Dec 23, 2018 at 12:15 pm
  
  Stinkney uses the K.I.S.S. instruction principle …… Keep It Simple (for the) Stupid
  
  Reply Report comment
steve

Dec 23, 2018 at 1:18 am

Good advice for spinal position looking face-on… but what about the orientation of the spine in the side view?
Should the spine be anatomically neutral in an “S” orientation as it should be for fairway swings … or should you be hunched over slightly for more lower body stability and allow shoulder rotation to swing the sand wedge?

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- smz
  
  Dec 24, 2018 at 1:56 pm
  
  Stinkney doesn’t respond because he just doesn’t know how the Spinal Engine works. Soooo obvious
  
  Reply Report comment
Dan

Dec 22, 2018 at 11:57 am

Not bad. But he forgot the most important thing in the stance ,which is as the spine is straight the weight is 60-70% foward with a bow like look to the lead leg. That’s to promote a descending strike so you just feel like your swinging downhill a bit. Takes the confusion out of how down to swing.

Reply Report comment
- Speedy
  
  Dec 24, 2018 at 1:24 pm
  
  Unless I’m into the wind, I like the weight dispersed evenly.
  
  Reply Report comment

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Videos

BK’s Breakdowns: Russell Henley’s winning WITB from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge

Published

22 hours ago

Jun 1, 2026

Brian Knudson

Russell made a massive charge on the last 3 holes of the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge this weekend to force a playoff with Eric Cole. Henley drained another putt on the first playoff hole to win his 6th PGA Tour event! While he is a Titleist staff member, his WITB is far from a simple blend of the latest gear. He mixes brand new with some very old clubs in order to play his best.

Driver: Titleist TSi3 (10 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70 6.5 TX

3-wood: Titleist TS3 (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX

7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Project X Denali Black 80 TX

Irons: Titleist T250 (4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT (4-6)
True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (7-9)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11
48-10F @47
True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
50-08F @51
54-10S @55
60-04T
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X5 Tour Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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Both players go through a complete Titleist GTS driver fitting with the Titleist fitting team to see how swing speed, launch conditions, strike location, shaft profile, and head setup can completely change performance off the tee. Even though the golfers have very different games, the fitting process reveals just how important proper equipment can be for maximizing distance, tightening dispersion, and improving consistency.

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