Martin Hall on "The Spine Angle"

[GaryH]

Originally Posted by iacas

Uhhhh, yes. Sure seems that way.

I'm preparing for our 5SK school in the inferno that is San Diego right now so I don't have the time to read the article, but the bolded part about the right hip being higher is COMPLETELY bogus crap as demonstrated by virtually every PGA Tour player. Here are two pretty good players:

Can't argue with that, or indeed all the other photos.

Bizarre how a high profile instructor like Baker can publish stuff that is in contradiction of heaps of photographic evidence that he must've studied.

[Truegolf]

I think front  view  of the hip would be a better representation.

These pics are at the start of the downswing when the left heel feels downward pressure and left hips starts squatting.

Look at this video about hip tilt.

Negative hip tilt can be done but not optimal for driving, however can get away with it.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Truegolf

I think front  view  of the hip would be a better representation.

These pics are at the start of the downswing when the left heel feels downward pressure and left hips starts squatting.

Look at this video about hip tilt.

Negative hip tilt can be done but not optimal for driving, however can get away with it.

I disagree that "negative hip tilt" is bad or not optimal for driving.

I also think that you can tell negative hip tilt from virtually any angle: if the flex decreases in one knee and increases in the other (or any one of those two), then the hips will be at an angle. Simple geometry, unless of course one leg is longer than the other.

[cipher]

It appears from the videos that the shoulders pretty much follow the hips.  The more flat the hips are the more flat the shoulders appear.  The steeper the shoulder turn the more hip tilt you get.  Is this correct?  From my experience flat shoulders are not good...

[iacas]

Originally Posted by cipher

It appears from the videos that the shoulders pretty much follow the hips.  The more flat the hips are the more flat the shoulders appear.  The steeper the shoulder turn the more hip tilt you get.  Is this correct?  From my experience flat shoulders are not good...

Yes, we would point out that a lot of the "inclination" a player's chest/torso has is governed by the angle on which the hips are set and rotate or else they're forced to add or remove "extra" amounts of lateral flexion of the spine.

[mvmac]

Originally Posted by outlaw1984

so let me ask this.....does the shoulders mirror themselves on the golf swing......on the back swing-left shoulder down on the downswing- right shoulder down?????

Yes that is exactly what happens.  Left shoulder goes down and back (some people say in).  Can't find a picture of a good player with their left shoulder higher or level with their right at the top of the backswing.

Originally Posted by GaryH

Further to my above post:

The reason this thread is of particular interest to me right now is that I've noticed I'm side-tilting somewhat during my backswing.  I've actually found this a bit of a strain on the back and my back is currently a bit stiff on the right side.  This caused me to ponder if this tilting shouldn't be happening.

However, the two videos and the photos in the initial post indicates that what i'm doing is probably correct.  Similarly, as I've mentioned elsewhere, the 'deep hands' thread also corresponds very closely to the takeaway and backswing I'm currently being taught.  This type of affirmation is one of the main reasons why I love this place.  The knowledge on here is derived very scientifically so if it corresponds with what I'm being taught it gives me belief in what I'm doing.  Great stuff!

Every, or at least most, golfer has some amount of side tilt or side bend (different names for same thing), that how we get the "teeter toter" effect of the swing.  Here's Dr. Greg Rose from TPI talking about the hips during the swing.