20 Golf Illustrated

ost recreational golfersmarvel at the way tourp ro fe s s i o n a l s m ovethroughout their swing.They wonder how these

players can hit the ball so far with whatseems like so little effort. The secret isthat the pros are in great control of theway their body moves back and forthduring the swing, which affects howthey displace and move their effectiveweight through the ball.

While there are many techniques tohit the ball farther, the most impor-tant factor lies in the ability to maxi-mize the effectiveness of the bodyspivot motion to impart more pressureinto the ground during the transition.Remember, the motions of the hips area major factor of club and body con-trol. If you watch a PGA Tour event,you will never see a professional withsloppy hip motions like sliding or over-rotating. Instead youll witness onlytight, efficient motions. This allowsthe pros to make a more powerfultransitional motion, forcing pressureinto the ground.

This motion is apparent in viewingJohn Dalys change of direction, as hestomps his left heel back to the ground,or Sam Sneads famous squat or sit-ting during the transition. Both ofthese actions allow the player to

By Tom F. Stickney IIBy Tom F. Stickney II

Sliding or over-rotating the hipscan negativelyaffect your cluband body controlduring the swing.

Golf Illustrated 21

become heavier during thetransitional phase of the swing,effectively releasing all thestored power accumulated dur-ing the backswing.

To control your pivot, you mustremember the following three keys toput yourself in the proper position toget heavier during the downswing.

Control Your HipsThis concept may be the most over-

looked aspect of golf instruction today.While everyone knows the hips must notbe allowed to overturn at the top, over-rotation of the hips during the takeawaycan also set you up for disaster.

Consider that tour professionalsaverage approximately 18 to 20 degreesof hip turn at belt high in their swings

and only 46 degrees to the top. This isonly a micro-movement of the hips,not the free turn you usually think of.In contrast, most amateurs havebetween 27 to 40 degrees of hip turnduring the takeaway and 57 to 65degrees to the top.

These numbers indicate how profes-sionals allow the shoulders to pull thehips into motion during the backswing,while amateurs tend to allow the hipsto lead and power the backswing.

This overturning of the hips canpull the whole right side of the pelvisand base of your spine backward asyour shoulders turn to the top. Keepin mind that anytime the bottom ofyour spine moves backward, the topportion of the spine will fall forwardto counterbalance your body. Thisallows the left shoulder to dip too lowin the back swing, sett ing up anunlevel turn to the top and an over-the-top motion.

Overturning the hips also causes areverse-pivot to the top, with yourweight loading into your left foot atthe top instead of the right. As yourhips spin out of control at the start ofyour backswing, your weight doesnot have time to be displaced intoyour right foot. This reverse weightshift or reverse-pivot can result inmajor consistency problems.

The key is to not only control yourrate of hip rotation at the top of yourbackswing but also to 9 oclock aswell. Ive never seen a player get toofar out of position if the rate of thehip turn was slow and gradual. Thus,what youre looking for is an even

The hips must not be allowed to over-rotate from the start of the takeaway(left). For a powerful transition motion,you must control the rate and amountthe hips turn to the top (below).

Squatting or sitting during the transi-tion can allow you to become heavierthrough impact, effectively releasing allthe stored power youve accumulatedin the backswing.

right knee from address to the top. Ifyour right knee locks up, you will over-turn your hips to the top. If your rightknee slides laterally, you will sway.With the proper right knee control, youshould be able to achieve a consistentand tight hip rotation.

Its also important to keep your cen-ter of gravity, which is located nearyour belt buckle, as centered and stableas possible. Of course, if your hips arerotating too fast, too much and slidinglateral ly at the same t ime, yourchances of achieving this are not good.

22 Golf Illustrated

Overturning the hips can cause the left shoulder to dip too low in the back-swing (left), setting up an unlevel turn to the top and an over-the-top motion. Itcan also lead to a reverse-pivot (right), with your weight loading into your leftfoot at the top instead of the right.

For tour professionals, the average hiprotation to the top is only about 45degrees. This is only a micro-move-ment of the hips, not the free turn youmight think occurs.

m o t i o n o f t h e h i p s t o t h e t o p .Remember, slow and even are thesecrets to consistency.

Control The Right KneeThe amount of hip turn is influenced

tremendously by the actions of your

Getting HeavyYour X-Factor is the torque derived

from turning your upper body againsta relatively stable lower body. This isthe spring-like windup that all long-hitters have. This tension and torque

24 Golf Illustrated

are the catalysts for the bionic hipmotions that players like Fred Cou-ples, John Daly and Tiger Woods allhave in common.

This action would not be possiblewithout a tight and controlled hipmotion to the top. When you torqueup, you are loading the body like agun. The only way to release this ten-sion is to slightly move the hips later-ally to start the downswing, makingyou heavier on your left foot transi-tionally. This promotes clubhead lag,the proper downswing plane, etc.

The delayed hip action enables thehips to lead the downswing and trans-fer energy to the shoulders, forming thebasis for maximum power and a highX-Factor. It effectively allows the pivotof the body to move the club on planethroughout the hitting area.

Once you learn to control yourbody to the top, the final phase is tobecome heavier throughout thedownswing. This heavy motion isbest learned by hitting 30- to 50-yardpitch shots while letting your weightmove lef t laterally as your bodyrotates through the ball into the fin-ish. You will feel as if you are leaninginto the shot with some rotationthrough the ball.

This motion will also cause you tofeel more pressure being placed ontothe front of your left foot as it drives

You can help keep your hip rotation tightby controlling your right knee flex. To get heavier during the transition, try to

maintain the highest possible X-Factor.This is the torque derived from turningyour upper body against a relativelystable lower body.

your spikes into the ground. If you spinthe hips too rapidly, your pressurewill leak into the inside of your leftheel, decreasing the effective pres-sure you put into the ground. Whenyou watch a player get heavier dur-ing the transition properly, he willsit down or squat like Snead didso well in his prime.

The pressure applied by your leftfoot can be seen by placing a normalbathroom scale under the foot whileyou swing. You will see the numbersmove up and down as your weightmoves back and forth during your

26 Golf Illustrated

transition. If you make the propertransition, you will see a huge spikeas the weight moves into the left footduring the downswing transition.The higher the spike above youractual body weight, the farther youwill hit the ball. Thus, the earlier youput pressure on your left foot beforethe club finishes the backswing, thegreater the distance you will achievewith the shot.

This pressure on the left foot causesthe body to move in two directions atonce the arms and shoulders mov-ing back, while the left foot, left kneeand left hip are moving forward andputting pressure into the ground. Theproper pressure will also cause the leftside to lead the downswing, pullingthe arms and hands through impactand into the finish.

The pressure-filled downswing cre-ates the delayed hit with the shaftleaning forward. This delofts the club-head during impact and separation,and gives you more distance. In thisphase, the right shoulder is also mov-ing or rotating through. However,the key is to allow the pressure intothe left foot to lead the motion of thearms and hands in the transition.

So if you want to hit the ball farther,learn to control your hips to the top,then put as much pressure as possibleinto your left foot during the transition.The net result will be added distance.Try it for yourself with pitch shots first,then dont be surprised when yourshots begin flying longer. GI

To get heavy during the transition, allowyour weight to move left laterally as yourbody rotates through the downswing.

If you spin the hips too rapidly duringthe downswing, the effective pressurethat should be put into the ground willbe decreased and may leak into theinside of your left heel.

With the proper pressure on the left foot,the left side will lead the downswing,pulling the arms and hands throughimpact and into the finish.