Get INTO the Swing for Perfect Hits !

Last week we highlighted Ben Hogan’s swing thought to TURN YOUR HIPS FIRST to start your downswing. Ben may only have thought about starting his downswing with his hips, but he knew that there was a sequence of moves connected to that single swing thought. As a matter of fact, your whole body has to “get INTO the swing” or you will be looking at another fat hit or topped ball.

When we tense up for a difficult shot we tend to forget about starting our swing with our hips. Our lower body JUST LOCKS UP. We tend to rush the swing by turning our shoulders and swinging with our arms and lose our balance backwards. Your hips have to start the sequence of your swing.

Andrew Rice’s Swing Tip:
In a recent Revolution Golf Blog, Andrew Rice gave a swing tip about pushing off with your trailing foot and “walk through your swing”. This reminded me of Ben Hogan starting his downswing by rotating his hip forward (up the target line). Andrew pointed out that Gary Player used this move to help him get his body over the ball. Your center of mass needs to be over your ball (rather than falling backwards) at the point of impact to allow your body to finish in a balanced pose on your leading foot.

HIS SUGGESTION: During your practice try a slow swing and walk through the swing. He pointed out that you can’t get your balance forward (up your target line) unless you push with your trailing leg to create a forward lean.

You can’t get your hips moving without pushing off with the instep of your trailing foot. As you reach the transition from the backswing to the downswing DON’T RUSH. Let the weight of your club do the work. You need ONE THOUGHT:

Hogan and Woods both push with their trailing instep to start their downswing.

Hogan and Woods both push with their trailing instep to start their downswing.  These images show their hip shift as they keep their head behind the ball.

PUSH with the instep of your trailing foot to turn your hips. I now use the simple swing thought of: “Push UP” in order to push off and swing up to a balanced forward finish.

This starts the chain reaction of PULLING your straight leading arm down before you RELEASE your wrists to WHIP your club head from the inside slot and UP your target line to a BALANCED finish.

Don’t forget to HOLD YOUR POSE and admire each amazing shot.

If you can’t slow down your rhythm to the speed of an Ernie Els’ transition then mentally say the words “Sweep in” during your backswing as a reminder to pull in (with your trailing wrist) for lag and the words “PUSH up” during the downswing to a finished pose. Your hips lead your upper torso as your arms pull down for the release of your wrists.

Practice with your GOLFSTR+ to keep your straight leading arm in the backswing and to get the right rhythm to avoid rushing at the top.  Buy one today at www.golfstr.com

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3 Comments

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  • W. Scott Mohn says:

    It is amazing. I just started to emphasize this move this morning when I was warming up for my round. I kept thinking about it all day — get in good contact with the ground, take it back easy so I can feel myself starting the downswing and push off with the instep of my trail foot. It worked like a charm: Shot 35-39=74. A great day!!! 🙂 Scott

    • Bill says:

      Glad to hear about your success. You must be a great putter too. Glad to see that you are still reading my Swing Tips as it has been at least a year since we last connected. By the way, Ben Hogan did this but I really got my encouragement to write about it from Raymond Chastel, an 80+ year old gentleman living in the French Riviera who uses that push with the trailing foot to power his hits. Enjoy, Will