The Biggest Secret? Slide Your Hips

[mvmac]

Just came across this pic, Hunter Mahan

[03SMURF]

Thoughts on my amount of slide?

Right now I'm working on keeping my spine angle at address through my backswing. My shoulders tend to get flat to the ground at the top and then I end up with what I think is too much of a reverse "C" at impact. My ball flight is a little too high and I'm looking to bring it down some.

[Ernest Jones]

Thoughts on my amount of slide? [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/content/type/61/id/99894/] [/URL] [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/content/type/61/id/99895/] [/URL] Right now I'm working on keeping my spine angle at address through my backswing. My shoulders tend to get flat to the ground at the top and then I end up with what I think is too much of a reverse "C" at impact. My ball flight is a little too high and I'm looking to bring it down some.

I'm not a pro so I could be wrong, but I think you need much more hipslide. Probably help you reduce the flip too. Start a "my swing" thread so we can see your motion, it's hard to make a fair analysis based on stills.

[iacas]

Camera angle is really bad for "measuring" this kind of thing.

(Measuring in quotes for a reason - it's not really a "measurement" per se.)

[Wangus94]

Thoughts on my amount of slide? [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/content/type/61/id/99894/] [/URL] [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/content/type/61/id/99895/] [/URL] Right now I'm working on keeping my spine angle at address through my backswing. My shoulders tend to get flat to the ground at the top and then I end up with what I think is too much of a reverse "C" at impact. My ball flight is a little too high and I'm looking to bring it down some.

Dude you look crazy upright at the top and shoulders are too flat. You look like your coming toward the ball and up and out of the shot which may be why your left wrist and arm break down causing you to flip and hit it too high. You should try to get your left shoulder down more going back and instead of worrying about how much your hips slide try to turn your shoulders more through the hit... looks like your not rotating well through the swing.

[shinobi18]

Thanks for starting this thread. I went to range tonight and hit my driver really well. I still need work but I didn't hit one slice.

[mvmac]

Thoughts on my amount of slide?

Right now I'm working on keeping my spine angle at address through my backswing. My shoulders tend to get flat to the ground at the top and then I end up with what I think is too much of a reverse "C" at impact. My ball flight is a little too high and I'm looking to bring it down some.

Off topic but I would check out this video. Camera angle being too low was mentioned,  but I think you could use some more left bend.

[03SMURF]

I'm not a pro so I could be wrong, but I think you need much more hipslide. Probably help you reduce the flip too. Start a "my swing" thread so we can see your motion, it's hard to make a fair analysis based on stills.

I agree, thanks for the help.

Camera angle is really bad for "measuring" this kind of thing.

(Measuring in quotes for a reason - it's not really a "measurement" per se.)

I was paying my girlfriend in sunflower seeds, so I guess I can't expect too much. I'll try to get a better angle and video for a swing thread.

Dude you look crazy upright at the top and shoulders are too flat. You look like your coming toward the ball and up and out of the shot which may be why your left wrist and arm break down causing you to flip and hit it too high. You should try to get your left shoulder down more going back and instead of worrying about how much your hips slide try to turn your shoulders more through the hit... looks like your not rotating well through the swing.

That is what I was trying to say I'm working on now with my shoulders. After seeing some pics of my backswing, my shoulders rotate flat and I'm stuck behind the ball, leaving the flipping action the only way to hit it. My golf swing makes it too obvious I played baseball.

Off topic but I would check out this video. Camera angle being too low was mentioned,  but I think you could use some more left bend.

Thanks for the video. I've always struggled with a lot of head movement and I think once I can start rotating my shoulders properly my head movement should be reduced greatly.

Thanks for the help, all! I knew things had gotten way out of sync when I stopped getting any roll out of my 4.5* driver.

[shinobi18]

So after the range transitioned to the course and it was not good. I went from slicing to hooking the ball and topping it. Was a rough day I guess I will be going back to the range

[iacas]

So after the range transitioned to the course and it was not good. I went from slicing to hooking the ball and topping it. Was a rough day I guess I will be going back to the range

"Sliding the hips" is largely a Key #2 drill. If you're not sure what I mean by "Key #2" then check this thread out: .

If you could, please share with us how you tried to practice this, because odds are it could have been practiced more effectively.

[shinobi18]

Keeping my head still Weight forward Hips sliding before downswing begins Right leg bent in a bit.... On the range I had a few fades but mostly we're straight I'm not sure what Ido when I got to the course

[mvmac]

Keeping my head still

Weight forward

Hips sliding before downswing begins

Right leg bent in a bit.... On the range I had a few fades but mostly we're straight I'm not sure what Ido when I got to the course

That's not really the "how". What speed were you doing it at, what was the feel, were you using a camera, stuff like that.

For more on how to practice effectively

[shinobi18]

No camera I was doing full swing not slow... To be honest it felt awkward but I guess it's because it's new

[mvmac]

No camera I was doing full swing not slow... To be honest it felt awkward but I guess it's because it's new

Yeah it will probably feel weird in the short term. Recommend doing slower swings, will help ingrain the changes.

[TJBam]

Found this thread via search function and had to "bump" it with some of my thoughts.  I know it's old but there is good stuff here.

There is a lot of priceless info up there for anyone who has room to stand up and move their hips while reading.

I'd like to say that I've been reworking my drive to allow myself to get more power behind the ball.  In the past, I set up with a slightly open stance, slightly closed club face, aimed left side of the fairway, and cleared my hips in the downswing before clearing my hands.  This produced a 225-245 yard "power fade" that I grew accustomed to and "lived with."  The harder I swung the more it faded, often with bad results.

I did some range work and got help from a couple of scratch players and we reworked my swing so that when I begin my downswing, my hands are the first thing to move.  When leading my downswing with my hands my hips naturally follow and I can "slide" through impact.  It was rough at first but holy cow does it produce a straight drive.  Nothing like finding a gem like that on the range and then coming here to read up on it.

Thanks for the post!!

[JOHN ALAN]

Most People SLIDE, Then SPIN OUT, Causing A CUT ACROSS THE FACE, EVEN WHEN THEY TAG IT..., SHOULD BE LATERAL SHIFT, STARTS THE DOWNSWING, (helps to slot the club), KEEPING THE SHOULDERS SQUARE TO THE INTENDED BALL FLITE LINE... YOU CAN NOT SPIN OUT IF YOU DO THIS, Then Let the Hips Go & Let The Club Go... TO THE TARGET, (but not out of your hand LOL)...Jim Mclean Calls It The "X" Factor..."TONS OF TORQUE, & TONS OF CLUB HEAD SPEED"...

No BOGIES EY...

JOHNALAN

[saevel25]

Most People SLIDE, Then SPIN OUT, Causing A CUT ACROSS THE FACE, EVEN WHEN THEY TAG IT..., SHOULD BE LATERAL SHIFT, STARTS THE DOWNSWING, (helps to slot the club), KEEPING THE SHOULDERS SQUARE TO THE INTENDED BALL FLITE LINE... YOU CAN NOT SPIN OUT IF YOU DO THIS, Then Let the Hips Go & Let The Club Go... TO THE TARGET, (but not out of your hand LOL)...Jim Mclean Calls It The "X" Factor..."TONS OF TORQUE, & TONS OF CLUB HEAD SPEED"...

No BOGIES EY...

JOHNALAN

X-Factor is a myth. There is a reason why Jim Mclean barely mentions it in the 3rd edition of his book "The Eight Step" swing.

Also, most people do not slide enough. Most people get early extension. Sliding the hips actually helps against cutting across the ball.

[HawkNballs]

I find that if I swing too far in to out I will slide on the downswing to accomplish that swing path.  If I feel like I'm swinging a little to the left... my hips slide then turn as my body naturally gets out of the way.

This controversy will keep a lot of teaching pros employed.  ;)