05:16
Faizan
During a golf swing, the timing and speed of your hips is crucial in generating the necessary power to drive your ball hundreds of yards, straight down the fairway. But you may end up with a less than perfect shot if your lower body is too fast and aggressive. If your hips seem to take over during your stroke, a few hip-slowing drills can help fix the problem.
Pump the Swing
Even professional golfers struggle with their hips turning too fast. PGA Tour player Zach Johnson uses the pump-the-swing drill to help slow his hips down. Tee up a ball and take your normal setup position. Swing your club back to the top of your backswing, swing your club halfway down and then stop when your arms are in front of you. During this movement, concentrate on not letting your hips unwind. Take your club back up to the top of your backswing and repeat. Continue the up-and-down pumping three times and on the fourth time, hit the ball.
On Line and On Time
PGA professional T.J. Tomasi recommends this drill to help you keep your hip back as you start your downswing. You'll need your 6- and 7-iron clubs for the drill. Tee up a ball and take your normal address position. Place the butt end of your 6-iron against your right hip, inside your hip line, and position the head of the club on the ground, just inside your right foot. Using your 7-iron, take a shot and concentrate on keeping your right hip back on the downswing. With correct hip action, sliding before rotating, the club stays up, but if you rotate too soon, your 6-iron will fall to the ground. If you play left-handed, the end of your club is against your left hip and keep your left hip back on the downswing.
Point Your Belt Buckle
To slow down your hips and keep them from moving way ahead of your upper body, golf instructor Chuck Quinton recommends you focus on where your belt buckle points during your swing. Tee up a ball, take your setup stance and take a three-quarter backswing. At the top of your swing, keep your belt buckle pointing back as you start your downswing. Start to unwind your hips and continue your swing through impact. At the moment of impact, try to keep your belt buckle pointing at the ball or slightly behind it. This helps keep your hips closed longer as you shift or slide your hips -- Quinton refers to this as closed hip slide.
Push Fix Drill
When your lower body opens up too soon during the downswing, the results is a push shot. This is a ball that flies out to the right and continues in that direction. Golf instructor Butch Harmon states that when your hips open too soon, the club approaches the ball from the inside, the club's face stays open and the ball is hit to the right. Harmon recommends closing your stance slightly and to try and not use your lower body so much during your downswing. Swing your arms past your chest when you contact the ball -- allow your arms to extend and swing past you.
Pump the Swing
Even professional golfers struggle with their hips turning too fast. PGA Tour player Zach Johnson uses the pump-the-swing drill to help slow his hips down. Tee up a ball and take your normal setup position. Swing your club back to the top of your backswing, swing your club halfway down and then stop when your arms are in front of you. During this movement, concentrate on not letting your hips unwind. Take your club back up to the top of your backswing and repeat. Continue the up-and-down pumping three times and on the fourth time, hit the ball.
On Line and On Time
PGA professional T.J. Tomasi recommends this drill to help you keep your hip back as you start your downswing. You'll need your 6- and 7-iron clubs for the drill. Tee up a ball and take your normal address position. Place the butt end of your 6-iron against your right hip, inside your hip line, and position the head of the club on the ground, just inside your right foot. Using your 7-iron, take a shot and concentrate on keeping your right hip back on the downswing. With correct hip action, sliding before rotating, the club stays up, but if you rotate too soon, your 6-iron will fall to the ground. If you play left-handed, the end of your club is against your left hip and keep your left hip back on the downswing.
Point Your Belt Buckle
To slow down your hips and keep them from moving way ahead of your upper body, golf instructor Chuck Quinton recommends you focus on where your belt buckle points during your swing. Tee up a ball, take your setup stance and take a three-quarter backswing. At the top of your swing, keep your belt buckle pointing back as you start your downswing. Start to unwind your hips and continue your swing through impact. At the moment of impact, try to keep your belt buckle pointing at the ball or slightly behind it. This helps keep your hips closed longer as you shift or slide your hips -- Quinton refers to this as closed hip slide.
Push Fix Drill
When your lower body opens up too soon during the downswing, the results is a push shot. This is a ball that flies out to the right and continues in that direction. Golf instructor Butch Harmon states that when your hips open too soon, the club approaches the ball from the inside, the club's face stays open and the ball is hit to the right. Harmon recommends closing your stance slightly and to try and not use your lower body so much during your downswing. Swing your arms past your chest when you contact the ball -- allow your arms to extend and swing past you.
Posted in: golf
