MLab Golf Blog

Do you feel your hips driving toward the ball on the downswing, your posture standing up early, and your arms running out of room right when you need it most? That's an early extension, and it's one of the more common faults working against solid, consistent contact. It doesn't feel like a swing flaw at the moment. It feels like your body is just doing what it wants to do, which is exactly why it's so hard to fix by thinking your way out of it mid-swing. I'm Michael LaBella,

Few words in golf carry as much dread as "the yips." A shot that should take no thought at all, a short wedge, a routine chip, suddenly turns into a jerky, involuntary flinch. The club stabs at the ball instead of swinging through it, and the harder a golfer tries to control it, the worse it usually gets. If you've felt that loss of control over a simple shot, you already know it has nothing to do with talent and everything to do with what's happening in your hands, wrists,

An over-the-top golf swing is one of the most common causes of slices, pull hooks, and inconsistent ball striking. By improving your swing path with a simple drill, understanding how your trail shoulder should move, and developing better club delivery, you can create a more neutral swing and hit straighter, more consistent golf shots. Many golfers work hard to improve their swing, yet they continue to fight the same frustrating ball flights. One shot slices well right of the

Technique builds a reliable golf swing, while skill helps you control the ball and adapt to different situations on the course. By developing both, especially through creative, skill-based practice, you can play with greater confidence and achieve more consistent results. Skill vs. technique in golf comes down to knowing the difference between building a golf swing and learning how to play the game. Technique provides the mechanics of your swing, while skill allows you to co

The flop shot is one of the most impressive shots in golf. When executed correctly, it sends the ball high into the air, lands softly, and stops quickly near the target. It is especially valuable when there is very little green to work with, and you need the ball to get up fast and settle quickly. Many golfers struggle with this shot because they focus too much on trying to lift the ball into the air. Instead of creating height naturally through proper setup and club delivery

Chipping is one of the most important skills for any golfer trying to break 100. It is also one of the fastest ways to reduce scores without changing the full swing. Many golfers struggle around the greens not because they lack ability, but because their setup is inconsistent and their motion is too complicated. I am Michael LaBella, a performance golf coach at MLaB Golf located at Butler Country Club. For more than 15 years, I have worked with golfers to develop their skills

Are you dealing with chunk shots, thin strikes, or inconsistent contact that shows up even when your swing feels decent? One of the most common causes behind this is early release, where the trail arm extends too soon in the downswing. This single issue can disrupt your sequencing, affect clubface control, and make it extremely difficult to compress the golf ball consistently. I am Michael LaBella, a performance golf coach at MLaB Golf located at Butler Country Club. I have s