How to Fix Golf Reverse Pivot

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A reverse pivot golf swing can cause a whole lot of bad shots, from hitting it thin to hitting shanks. And to make matters worse, it can cause some serious damage to your back. In this video, you learn the 3 common causes of a reverse pivot and how to determine which you need to attack.

  • Main Factors Causing Reverse Pivot:
  • Keeping Head Still in Backswing
  • Having No Axis Tilt
  • Over Rotation of The Hips and Arms


So many golfers struggle with the reverse pivot. It's silly, because it's a super, super easy thing to fix. A couple common thought that get stuck in people's heads that cause them to reverse pivot that I'm going to alleviate today. Hopefully, it'll get rid of these golf swing myths that you've got holding you back from achieving your true potential as a golfer.

   The first thing I want to address is the easiest one to fix and that is set-up. The number one cause for golfers to reverse pivot is to not set-up correctly. That all comes from axis tilt. I've talked about axis tilt on so many videos on the site and still yet, every single day in lessons and clinics, I see the same stuff. People don't set-up with enough axis tilt. They say, "Well, it doesn't feel comfortable." I don't care how it feels to you at first. You're going to get used to it as you start learning how to swing correctly.

  I promise you that if you don't set up with enough axis tilt, nothing will work correctly in your golf swing from the moment you step up to the ball all the way down to impact. Yes, it may feel strange to you at first because you're doing a bunch of other wonky things in your golf swing. Get over it. Keep practicing in front of the mirror. Keep setting up the same way and you'll get used to it.

        How do we get enough axis tilt? I like to check myself in the golf swing training mirror first to make sure that I'm doing it correctly. Yeah, looks good. All I need to do is put a club against my chest and belt buckle, just like I talked about in the axis tilt video, and slide my hip to the left until the club hits me in the leg. Now, just this eight to ten degree tilt of axis, helps a ten. As I go back to the top of my swing, my spine is leaned in the opposite direction that it would in reverse pivot. Hey, that's a no brainer. If you're spine's leaning towards the target at the top and you know that's bad, why not lean it away from the target at set-up? Duh. Of course you have to do that. You have to set-up correctly to get rid of axis tilt.

          The second thing that's going to cause people to have a reverse pivot is they're way to sloppy with their lower body and they let their hips move. Again, I'm going to check myself in the mirror. If I put my hand against my right thigh, I can see that as I move back and I do it incorrectly, my hip moves past where it started. Your hip has got to look like, on video and in the mirror, that it looks like it never pasts where it started at address. Now, technically, it will a little bit, but because you're also turning, it's moving back. From face on, it looks like it never moves laterally away from the target. What does a lateral shift do? Leans my body away from the target.

        The only way you're going to know if you're doing this is to video your swing or look at it in the mirror. That's why I'm putting it up here. I want to keep reinforcing these habits. You must look at your swing in the mirror. If I'm doing this, no bueno. As soon as I shift my base of my spine away from the target, my upper spine is going to lean towards the target which is, in fact, a reverse pivot. To fix that, watch the right hip line video and start watching yourself practice in a mirror so you start learning how to shift correctly.

       The third one, and this is a really challenging one for a lot of golfers to get over because they've had it beat into their heads so many times, that they don't want their head to move. When you try and keep your head perfectly centered over the ball, you will reverse pivot. Let me say that again. If you try to keep your head from moving because you're so fixated on the ball or you've been told, "Oh, I don't want to sway," or maybe you used to struggle with swaying, you will reverse pivot.

          Watch what happens. I don't want to move my head. I know it's bad. As soon as I go back, I try to keep my head here, but as soon as I turn my hips at all, my upper body's always going to lean towards the target. Your head must move a little bit off the ball going back and will move a little bit forward coming down. It's okay for your head to move. It needs to move a little. Now, I'm not saying you're going to let you move your head six inches. We're talking an inch, inch and a half. It's almost not noticeable.

               If you look at your swing on video, use our swing analyzer, you're going to see what your head's doing. It's okay for it to move a little bit off the ball as you go back so that you're maintaining the axis tilt that you had at address. Get pass the idea that your head moving at all is a bad thing in the swing. It has to happen to avoid a reverse pivot.

            Going to recap real quick. Three things: you need axis tilt at address, you need your right hip to not slide out pass the right hip line as you go back, and you need to let your head move just a hair off the ball going back so you can load up properly into this side. If you do that, you'll never reverse pivot again.

 

 

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Elliot
Hey guys, I just received my first (awesome) swing review from Manny and the main piece of advice was to fix my reverse pivot. I was just wondering if my spine should be tilted further away from the target to this or this would be satisfactory. The other point was to not let the lead knee collapse, any thoughts from this still would be much appreciated too. Thanks guys!
February 12, 2021
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Elliot
Now attached
February 12, 2021
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Kevin
Are we supposed to keep the same axis tilt as we had at address at the top of the backswing? When i try to maintain the exact same axis tilt it feels like my weight gets too far away from center and i loose my balance. At the top of the backswing it feels like from my pectorals up there is what feels like a "mini reverse pivot" that has to happen in order to maintain my balance. (even though 85-90% of my weight is over my right ankle). I have looked at Chuck's swing in slow motion and it appears that he does the same thing. I have attached an image of what I am talking about for clarity as it is difficult to explain.
January 27, 2021
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Kevin. We setup with a lot of tilt because you will have to lose a few degrees as you reach the top due to the weight shifting. Most players will feel like it maintains, but you will have to lose a couple degrees.
January 28, 2021
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Kevin
Great thank you.
January 28, 2021
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Mohnishkumar
Hii there, i was making the same mistake.I was trying to keep my head still and doing reverse pivot. I understand now that its moving a hair right because of the weight shift. But still confused about the rotation of head.Do we have to rotate it intentionally in backswing or it will get rotated by the rotation of upper body?
December 15, 2020
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Mohnishkumar. Chuck's head rotates because of fusion in his neck. The movement is unnecessary unless you have limited cervical spine mobility. Which in turn the head would rotate as an effect versus active motion.
December 15, 2020
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Jim
Hi Craig...is there a natural way to get a "right lower leg peg", that is, minimise right knee straightening or moving out? Trying to set it and keep the right knee flex stable feels a bit forced...
August 31, 2020
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Jim. You can allow for some trail leg straightening in the backswing to facilitate full turn if you need too. Just not pushing/driving it excessively towards the ball coming down. Allow yourself to turn and load. But, try some counter torque coming down in the Sam Sneed Squat Video.
September 1, 2020
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Mohnishkumar
Hii there,hope everyone is doing great. Should we have to maintain the same amount of axis tilt throughout the swing as we have at address?
May 26, 2020
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Mohnishkumar. You will feel like you maintain the same amount back (even though you will lose a couple degrees). And, coming down you will increase slightly (secondary axis tilt) due to the movement of the pelvis shifting laterally towards the target.
May 26, 2020
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Mohnishkumar
Thank you craig
May 27, 2020
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David
Thank you Chris.......I’ll get busy on the review.....
August 18, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello David. You're most welcome. I will pass the good word to Chris.
August 19, 2019
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David
Hi guys, Dave here......I watched this video several times.......and there is a rep tracker that coincides to it.....but I am unsure about the drill I’m supposed to do 3,000 times for the reps.......stacking the left side ( I’m a left hander)......and getting axis tilt and allowing the head to move a little? Thank you
August 16, 2019
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Chris (Certified RST Instructor)
Hi Dave, thanks for the question. Ideally, you do want to get 3000 of the move into your trail side, however, you can stack in other movements along the way if you start to become proficient with it and you feel comfortable enough about taking on other tasks. I would suggest that you use the swing reviews to let us see your work along the way so we can assist you as much as possible.
August 17, 2019
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Douglas
Alright! I think I understand why sometimes I would feel stacked on my right in the back-swing and other times I wouldn't. If I allow my head to move just a little, I can feel the tension build up on my trail leg during the back-swing. When I've forgotten or prevented my head from moving a little, I would lose that sensation in my trail leg and I couldn't never figure out why I lost it in the first place--until now. Thanks a million.
May 17, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Douglas. No problem. Happy you found the solution.
May 17, 2019
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Bob
where can I get a mirror like the one in this video? Thanks!
April 21, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Bob. We purchased that one a long time ago. You would have to find online. Search for PVC Golf Mirror.
April 21, 2019
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Arthur
I just updated Flash but my video review still says I don't have the proper Flash player to view my video review. It's on a PC. Please advise
December 22, 2018
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JC
This was happening to me on Google Chrome. To fix it, I had to click the little "lock" icon to the left of the address bar, then adjust the Flash setting from Ask (default) to Allow, and then reload the page. This worked and then I could watch the review without changing browsers. Hope this helps.
April 11, 2019
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Arthur. Hmm. If you are fully updated the video should play fine. Please contact Technical Support. They are much better at handling these cases. I apologize for you error. There will be an email contact link in the help section. Fastest way to get the issue resolved.
December 23, 2018
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Ralph
1. Axis tilt 2. Rotate on R hip, don't sway and lose lateral hip line
August 26, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hey Ralph. I believe you meant these for your notes .
August 26, 2017
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Win
How does Chuck still swing with getting so jacked lately? LOL #justsaying
June 14, 2017
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Chris (Certified RST Instructor)
Squats and creatine mono-hydrates
June 20, 2017
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Robert
I loved your recommendations for eliminating the dreaded reverse pivot. I immediately went to the course to play my regular Thursday golf with my buddies and put this new information into action. As with everything we do and learn, some practice is required though. That does not mean 30 min on the range before teeing it up will do the trick. Well, I worked on the setup, that seemed to work fine. I tried turning the hips rather than sliding them and it did seem to help reducing the movement off the ball. However, it took until the back 9 for me to really see the difference in allowing the head to move slightly backward rather than attempting to keep it fixed in one spot. I had always felt that my head was moving during the swing which was the cause of hitting thin and sometimes fat shots, but once I "allowed" the head to move slightly back and forward, I totally eliminated those bad shots and hit the ball with more force and better direction than I almost ever had done. I believe what I was doing was moving my head up and down slightly in an attempt to keep it fixed in place (from moving back and forth). Just this one thought, along with the setup and rotating not sliding the hips back, helped me enormously, I believe my head did not move up and down resulting in solid contact every time. I am so excited to get to the range and back on the course to see if I can keep this trend going. I purchased one of your mirrors, which is due to be delivered today hopefully, and will see if what I am doing is what I believe I am doing. Tell Chris Tyler that I am working on all of his suggestions from our lesson in April and plan to send him a video to look at in the not to distant future. Thanks to all of you at Rotary Swing for keeping me focused and improving.
May 26, 2017
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Chris (Certified RST Instructor)
Hi Robert, so glad to hear that you found this useful in your swing and it sounds like you are getting some good results with it. Looking forward to the video submission so I can see how things are progressing for you.
May 26, 2017
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Rob
Do you still offer the phone clip attachment for recording swings? Mine broke and I no longer see it offered on the website. Rob
May 25, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Rob. I believe we no longer carry that item. I apologize.
May 25, 2017
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Robert
I completely understand the need and benefits to not swaying in the takeaway and making sure the right hip turns backward, in unison with the shoulder turn. However,I need to know what to do with my arms, while concentrating on a proper hip and shoulder turn. If I ignore them completely, they get " noodlely " and end up flying to the inside and rolling the forearms. If I stay over connected, so the arms stay tight to my body, the swing becomes ridget, short and uncomfortable. Would appreciate some help with the desired arms position and how to get them there, while focusing on the proper hip and shoulder turn. Thanks, Robert
May 25, 2017
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Robert. You don't want to glue the arms to the side of the body. You want awareness there is connection, but not overly tight. We have a ton of videos that relate to how the arms work. Winter Golf Training Program - Backswing, 5 Minutes to the Perfect Backswing, 3 Functions of the Right Arm, Pool Noodle, 4 Square Drill, Etc.. The body works horizontally as the arms need to work vertically. They don't do a whole bunch, but those videos will describe in detail.
May 25, 2017
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R
Hi there....At 9.33 in the video, you make a move of the right hip towards the target, you said is not perfect, but I think it is. See Ben Hogan backswing or you can see this video and tell me what you think. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tFDMjY1Zgg Thanks.
June 8, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello R. It will slightly move or maintain the same hip line at address. Take a look at the Weight Shift Video Part 2.
June 8, 2016
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R
Hi Craig....If jack nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Ben Hogan did it, and Justin Rose,Dan Whittaker, Martin Kaymer, John Cook, etc etc etc. Quite a few instructors advocate that move, it doesn't mean that Chuck is wrong by no means, I see many people doing it his way. I was a single digit when you were born, and when you are not a spring chicken anymore, Ben Hogans move in easier to perform. Chuck put me back on track with the backswing, lowering the right shoulder a little, worked wonders for my transition. Took many lessons by the best in the past, but in a vast majority...nobody home. I don't have to think about transferring weight to my left, it happens automatically. Thanks again
June 9, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello R. No worries. I wasn't taking offense that you were advocating that Chuck is incorrect. However, we like to think about the swing from a strict bio-mechanical based approach. The above players you mentioned were some of the best in the game without a doubt. However, does that mean everyone should swing like that? Jack did the same move and counter balanced it with a trail hip push coming down. Hence, his lead hip replacement. Hogan fought the hook even after all the practice he performed. We strive not to copy what the best players are doing, but look at the swing objectively and from a pure science stand point so that it is safe on the body and efficient.
June 9, 2016
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Mark
Am I correct that the recommended "Eiffel Tower" alignment in the link below is inconsistent with the RST approach and is advocating a reverse pivot or a position preciously close thereto. http://click.e.revolutiongolf.com/?qs=0afb93e0d261823f225f857c1af795fa6347fad8c31acf68f44d3ff1bd425efb6ea83db7bc837928
February 17, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Mark. Yes, that is very inconsistent with RST. Not so much reverse pivot. But, center-stack over the ball. Looks uncomfortable too
February 17, 2016
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gary
Hello I have 2 questions. Before the questions I would like to say this is the best money I have ever spent on lessons. Much better than anything I had in person and that spans 10 years and at least 40 lessons with 5 different coaches! Question 1. I believe I had a major reverse pivot and felt as if all my weight on the backswing loaded on the lead leg then on my follow thru the weight would end up on the back leg. You did not mention that as a indication of a reverse pivot in the video (if you did I missed it). Could you address if that is an indication of a reverse pivot? For the past 2 weeks I have been doing axis tilt by doing the hip bump toward the target. Now it feels as if the weight goes to the back foot in the back swing and ends up on the lead foot in the follow thru! I hope that is indication of improvement. It sure has reduced the number of fat shots and has increased distance! Question 2. The" hip bump/axis tilt" video recommends the lead hip is bumped toward the target to get the axis tilt. Then on another video (i don't remember which one) I thought it said to start the take away with a hip bump away from the target. If I did see this in one of your videos it did not appear as if you did that at around the 11:45 mark on your takeaway. Does the lead hip stay bumped toward the target during the takeaway? I just started the program 2 weeks ago and have a ways to go but I feel as if there has been improvement in my swing and ball striking already. Thanks
February 14, 2016
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Gary. Thank you very much for the compliments. Typically, the reverse pivot will entail the reverse weight shift you described. Weight on the lead side going back and falling to the trail coming through. Proper weight shift will definitely signal that you are improving the issue. The hip will not bump back while shifting the weight in the takeaway. The hip bump isn't a weight shift move. Use the Weight Shift Video Part 2 for more help on seeing the lateral and rotational aspect of shifting the weight in the takeaway.
February 15, 2016
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Jeffrey
Unfortunately I'm still fighting a reverse pivot. I find the cause with me is trying to get my hands high at the end of the back swing above shoulder level. In doing so I tilt my body toward the target. I'm an older golfer and have some limitations in my shoulder motion. I find if I keep my hands to below shoulder level on the back swing I hit the ball quite well. The trouble is it feels very short and like I don't have enough room with longer clubs . Do you have any advise on how high the hands need to be on the back swing? Are there any videos that could help?
November 24, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Jeffrey. You don't want to use the hands as the guide for height, but the elevation point of the arms to the base of the pectorals. (Pool Noodle Video and Checkpoints Video). You might have a limit in elevation, but it can be variable because of flexibility. Don't strain to get them higher if it creates excessive tension or other problems in the backswing.
November 24, 2015
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Loran
Do I have to deliberately put effort into tilting my spine angle in the takeaway? Do I also have to shift my head to the right in the takeaway so that offset that reverse pivot?
May 26, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Loan. You don't need to force the head movement if you shift properly and rotate around the spine. You might need to feel the exaggerated tilt in the beginning to stop reversing the angle.
May 26, 2015
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Jeffrey
I have been working on proper setup and axis tilt. I now find that as I complete the back swing my head and left shoulder feel over my right foot. Is this correct or do I have too much tilt? Could this just feel strange as I have been fighting a reverse pivot with my head moving left?
April 12, 2015
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hey Jeff. If you've had the tendency to reverse pivot its more than likely an exaggerated feeling. Just in case. Make sure not too much axis tilt at address. Importance of Axis Tilt Video in the Advanced Setup Section. Also, the Weight Shift Video Part 2 in the Weight Shift Section. Maintain the hip line and you won't over shift.
April 13, 2015
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Farai
nice high hands in your backswing Clay, im struggling with getting my hands that high, i get paid in the left deltoid, help..
November 5, 2014
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Farai. I definitely don't want you causing yourself pain. Focus on the trail side of the swing. Use the Creating a Swing Plane Video and the 3 Functions of the Right Arm in the Advanced Backswing Section. Check to see your plane is created by the trail arm and the support is in the trail arm. Take the stress of the lead arm. (If Right Handed)
November 5, 2014
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Martin
my left knee buckles underneath my hips and lowers my left hip. What causes this?
September 30, 2014
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Martin. You are probably over rotating. Use the Right and Left Knee Laser Beam Drill in the Advanced Backswing Section. Maintain the flexion in the right knee and keep the left knee as stable as possible.
September 30, 2014
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Ji
Can reverse pivot cause a hook?
August 29, 2014
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ji. If you tend to reverse pivot and overly flip the hands into impact. The ball can definitely hook.
August 29, 2014
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PU
I am a Chinese learner! I cannot catch what you said in your second point! number 2 not an what axis tilt? thank you
August 25, 2014
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello PU. Not enough axis tilt is a very common culprit of the reverse pivot.
August 25, 2014
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Jon
+4 handicap!! God i wish i could play that good! Scratch seems a distant target to me!!
June 3, 2014
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Work hard on the RST Principles. We will help you get to that scratch!
June 4, 2014
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Jon
Do you think i could get there with a strong grip?
June 4, 2014
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Rick
Axis tilt video, necktie video, any others to watch please?
May 16, 2014
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Chris (Certified RST Instructor)
5 minutes to master rotation would be a good one as well.
May 16, 2014

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