The Stack System

[lookylookitzadam]

As suspected, I started to see the increases again once Neural Drive got into the Max Intent swings. Making some nice progress that really is showing itself on course. Played yesterday and was hitting some drives that got the attention of my playing partners which was fun.

I will say that Neural Drive is much more tiring than Foundations was so I can only imagine what Heavy Hitter and other programs using heavier weights and more swings will be like. 

[CBearse]

Just started the "foundation" program on Stack System. 4 Sessions in and am seeing some gains already. Over the last two years I got back into the gym (36yo hadn't lifted since college) and have definitely seen some distance gains from lifting. Once I finish foundation program what program should I move onto next?

[I3erto]

I'm stack curious, but after reading through a bunch of this thread I am wondering if people are actually seeing lower scores on the course.  Seems there is clearly data to support it can help you gain speed.  Just wondering how this gained speed is working for you guys in the real world.  Cheers!

[lookylookitzadam]

1 hour ago, CBearse said:

Just started the "foundation" program on Stack System. 4 Sessions in and am seeing some gains already. Over the last two years I got back into the gym (36yo hadn't lifted since college) and have definitely seen some distance gains from lifting. Once I finish foundation program what program should I move onto next?

You will do a Progress Check a few days after completing the final day of Foundations. Based on the results and the answers you give to the questions, the Stack algorithm will match you to a new program. For me it was Neural Drive but it will vary for everyone. If you trust the system the Sasho has developed, I’d suggest you stick with its recommendations. 

[lookylookitzadam]

13 minutes ago, I3erto said:

I'm stack curious, but after reading through a bunch of this thread I am wondering if people are actually seeing lower scores on the course.  Seems there is clearly data to support it can help you gain speed.  Just wondering how this gained speed is working for you guys in the real world.  Cheers!

Mark Brody and Scott Fawcett (amongst others) have all proven that closer to the hole, with longer distance off the tee, equates to lower scores at the elite level as well as amateur.  
 

Anecdotally, I have picked up yardage off the tee, more distance with irons, but haven’t scored better. That being said, I have been working on swing changes understanding that scoring is a trailing indicator in golf. End of the day it’s hard to argue that it’s easier to score with a wedge in your hand compared to a 7iron. 

[OHGolfer2]

19 hours ago, lookylookitzadam said:

Mark Brody and Scott Fawcett (amongst others) have all proven that closer to the hole, with longer distance off the tee, equates to lower scores at the elite level as well as amateur.  
 

Anecdotally, I have picked up yardage off the tee, more distance with irons, but haven’t scored better. That being said, I have been working on swing changes understanding that scoring is a trailing indicator in golf. End of the day it’s hard to argue that it’s easier to score with a wedge in your hand compared to a 7iron. 

@I3ertoI've dropped a few strokes since starting Stack last summer (from mid single to low single).  Before stack, I was average length for my index with mediocre accuracy, and now I'm above-average length for my new index with still mediocre accuracy.  Stack helps, but I think the benefit of increased distance depends on the course you play and hole length - like, if you gain 20 yards and are playing a par 5 that's now reachable in 2 vs a par 5 that's 600+ yds and is still unreachable.  

[CBearse]

Stack is working. Hit a few drives today in places I have never been before. Did my session after my round today. After my session grabbed my driver and swung once without ball and hit 114mph. For reference, when I got fitted at CC in late 2022 (before lifting weights) my driver swing speed was 98mph and 108 max swing speed prior to starting stack a few weeks ago.

[DLiver]

On 3/11/2025 at 12:43 PM, I3erto said:

I'm stack curious, but after reading through a bunch of this thread I am wondering if people are actually seeing lower scores on the course.  Seems there is clearly data to support it can help you gain speed.  Just wondering how this gained speed is working for you guys in the real world.  Cheers!

You can figure out this yourself if you tend to play the same course fairly often. Move up a set of tees, and see if your scores go down. If they do, the more speed will in all likelyhood lower your scores. If not, you're path to lower scores will lie somewhere else.

[Chitostyle]

Just did my baseline for Stack Wedge at the range. It occurred to me that I may not be able to trust my distances because I’m using range balls. I was hoping to dial in my wedge distances but I noticed bigger discrepancies to what I normally see on-course as I went to the longed (135yd) clubs. Thoughts?

[RTEM5746]

19 hours ago, Chitostyle said:

Just did my baseline for Stack Wedge at the range. It occurred to me that I may not be able to trust my distances because I’m using range balls. I was hoping to dial in my wedge distances but I noticed bigger discrepancies to what I normally see on-course as I went to the longed (135yd) clubs. Thoughts?

Yes I think I saw on My Golf Spy when they threw range balls into their ball testing that they saw they were ok with the driver but once you got down into the shorter clubs the spin was significantly lower, I'd imagine because the range balls are not urethane covered etc.

[RTEM5746]

On 3/15/2025 at 7:52 PM, CBearse said:

Stack is working. Hit a few drives today in places I have never been before. Did my session after my round today. After my session grabbed my driver and swung once without ball and hit 114mph. For reference, when I got fitted at CC in late 2022 (before lifting weights) my driver swing speed was 98mph and 108 max swing speed prior to starting stack a few weeks ago.

Just my experience with Stack (not saying this will be the same for everyone but just sharing me experience) I did experience gains at first (I'm on my 7th program now).  My starting CHS was 114 with the driver (max swing) and I did get up to 123 in one progress check, that was at the end of the 5th program, At the end of the 6th program my CHS was 119 and in the current program I am getting slower with the stack (I am getting older too I appreciate).  It can be frustrating when you see your speed going down but am cognizant also that it would drop even more if I wasn't speed training,  I haven't noticed any appreciable drop off on the course interestingly.

[Rbsiedsc]

1 hour ago, RTEM5746 said:

Just my experience with Stack (not saying this will be the same for everyone but just sharing me experience) I did experience gains at first (I'm on my 7th program now).  My starting CHS was 114 with the driver (max swing) and I did get up to 123 in one progress check, that was at the end of the 5th program, At the end of the 6th program my CHS was 119 and in the current program I am getting slower with the stack (I am getting older too I appreciate).  It can be frustrating when you see your speed going down but am cognizant also that it would drop even more if I wasn't speed training,  I haven't noticed any appreciable drop off on the course interestingly.

now a follow up question, do you work out at the gym as well to supplement your stack work? If you do speed training without the gym work to build muscle you will lose speed still since you are losing the muscle to help you swing fast if that makes sense.

[DLiver]

As others have said, progress in this program isn't linear. There are a lot of factors that can affect your progress, and we kinda have to figure out the program for ourselves. Rest, exercise, attitude nutrition and more can all be factors in our progress (or lack thereof).

 

I am getting up there in years, so I am trying hard to get back some lost CHS (particularly after recent back surgery). I can go many sessions without progress (or actually getting slower). However if I keep the faith, eventually I will break through and see gains.

 

It reminds me of an article I read about how we grow as kids. We actually grow in spurts. There is no growth for a while, then we grow like 1/4" in one week. I think the Stack is like that.

[lookylookitzadam]

4 minutes ago, DLiver said:

As others have said, progress in this program isn't linear. There are a lot of factors that can affect your progress, and we kinda have to figure out the program for ourselves. Rest, exercise, attitude nutrition and more can all be factors in our progress (or lack thereof).

 

I am getting up there in years, so I am trying hard to get back some lost CHS (particularly after recent back surgery). I can go many sessions without progress (or actually getting slower). However if I keep the faith, eventually I will break through and see gains.

 

It reminds me of an article I read about how we grow as kids. We actually grow in spurts. There is no growth for a while, then we grow like 1/4" in one week. I think the Stack is like that.

Well said. The Stack progress is like any other endeavor worth pursuing (think weight loss and swing changes) in that it takes a long time to see measurable results. There will be days that are horrible and your speed is slower than baseline (think of gaining weight while dieting or shooting your worst score of the year during a swing changes) but over the months and years, not days and weeks, you will see progress. Look at the trends, not the data points. 

[CBearse]

Does anyone actually use “full effort” as if they were on golf course or are you guys like me and swing pretty close to max effort on all swings?

[Rbsiedsc]

54 minutes ago, CBearse said:

Does anyone actually use “full effort” as if they were on golf course or are you guys like me and swing pretty close to max effort on all swings?

i do. It is swinging hard but I stay in balance. When I make max effort swings I find myself hopping on one foot after i finish the swing.

[birdiestobogeys]

On 3/17/2025 at 3:30 PM, Chitostyle said:

Just did my baseline for Stack Wedge at the range. It occurred to me that I may not be able to trust my distances because I’m using range balls. I was hoping to dial in my wedge distances but I noticed bigger discrepancies to what I normally see on-course as I went to the longed (135yd) clubs. Thoughts?

I did my baseline with crappy range balls and now have done 7 sessions with real balls into a net. I haven’t noticed too big of a discrepancy in distance between range balls and real balls into a net. I probably should redo the baseline for consistency, but I don’t think it has made much of a difference. 
 

Most of the sessions have been 30 - 120 yards even though I hit a 9 iron that goes 150 in the baseline. 
 

I have struggled with the 100 and in shots and so far I think it has been really helpful even if it might be off by a few yards. Played my first round of the year and my approach game was improved to where I left off last year. 

[CBearse]

On 3/19/2025 at 8:51 PM, birdiestobogeys said:

I did my baseline with crappy range balls and now have done 7 sessions with real balls into a net. I haven’t noticed too big of a discrepancy in distance between range balls and real balls into a net. I probably should redo the baseline for consistency, but I don’t think it has made much of a difference. 
 

Most of the sessions have been 30 - 120 yards even though I hit a 9 iron that goes 150 in the baseline. 
 

I have struggled with the 100 and in shots and so far I think it has been really helpful even if it might be off by a few yards. Played my first round of the year and my approach game was improved to where I left off last year. 

What are you using for a launch monitor?

[birdiestobogeys]

11 minutes ago, CBearse said:

What are you using for a launch monitor?

Stack radar 

[Catrick_Pantlay]

On 3/17/2025 at 1:30 PM, Chitostyle said:

Just did my baseline for Stack Wedge at the range. It occurred to me that I may not be able to trust my distances because I’m using range balls. I was hoping to dial in my wedge distances but I noticed bigger discrepancies to what I normally see on-course as I went to the longed (135yd) clubs. Thoughts?

The stack radar uses club head speed to determine carry distance ball doesn’t matter. I used the radar in unison with trackman and they were identical for wedges. Different balls. 

[iacas]

1 hour ago, Catrick_Pantlay said:

The stack radar uses club head speed to determine carry distance ball doesn’t matter. I used the radar in unison with trackman and they were identical for wedges. Different balls. 

 

It uses ball speed, not clubhead speed.

[Catrick_Pantlay]

37 minutes ago, iacas said:

 

It uses ball speed, not clubhead speed.

I think we might both be wrong 

 

“PRGR analyzes the change in frequency from the reflected waves to calculate key data like ball speed and swing speed.”

[Seamus_McDuff]

7 hours ago, Catrick_Pantlay said:

I think we might both be wrong 

 

“PRGR analyzes the change in frequency from the reflected waves to calculate key data like ball speed and swing speed.”

 

 

[iacas]

7 hours ago, Catrick_Pantlay said:

I think we might both be wrong 

I mean… I asked Dr. MacKenzie… so I’m going to bet on my answer here. 😜

[Catrick_Pantlay]

7 hours ago, iacas said:

I mean… I asked Dr. MacKenzie… so I’m going to bet on my answer here. 😜

Did he mention if the type of ball matters?

[lookylookitzadam]

Just hit the halfway point for Neural Drive (completed session 12 of 24) and my speed is trending in the right direction. I cracked into the 130mph range with a few of the lighter weights recently which was really fun and motivating as that had been a personal goal to see 130 on the display. 195g training speeds are creeping up as well which is fun as I hit an all time high of 118mph compared to my max intent baseline of about 112mph prior. In general I am very happy with the progress, but mostly because I do a workout (Fit For Golf) before I Stack so it is helping me get into better shape. 

 

 

On course results are really starting to show. My course has been incredibly soft (rain and maintenance) so we have been seeing “carry” distances with ball pitch marks and plugs. Those numbers are correlating nicely to the predicted values on Stack and what I am seeing on the range with a monitor. 

[30putts]

Just to add another stack success story, I went from 102 to 112 in a bit less than a year. Golf is a lot easier when you're pulling wedges more often out of the bag 🙂

The only thing you have to worry about is really just having to buy a new driver shaft with all the clubhead speed you gain 🙂

[RTEM5746]

On 3/18/2025 at 1:29 PM, Rbsiedsc said:

now a follow up question, do you work out at the gym as well to supplement your stack work? If you do speed training without the gym work to build muscle you will lose speed still since you are losing the muscle to help you swing fast if that makes sense.

I do workout also yes.

[RTEM5746]

On 3/19/2025 at 6:36 PM, CBearse said:

Does anyone actually use “full effort” as if they were on golf course or are you guys like me and swing pretty close to max effort on all swings?

I just try to swing as fast as I can on all swings

[RTEM5746]

This is my latest progress check at the nd of my 7th program.  Weird that CHS with driver stayed the same, 195g was down and everything else was up?!?!