Starting downswing with hips?

[gripitnripit77]

Hi all, currently I'm struggling with starting my downswing with my hips. Here's the deal- Everything is perfect on the takeaway, alignment, grip.. etc and then when I get to the top of my backswing I start coming down with the arms and not the hips which leads me to either hook it left or hit a low weak fade. Any tips or drills to help me start the downsing with the hips would be great! Thanks.

[EverythingGolf]

Can you post a DTL and a FO Video of your swing.

Try this out.

[saevel25]

try swinging in slow motion, i mean slow. Take the club back, and then when the club reaches the top bump your knee and/or your hip towards the target.

[jpd5184]

here's a drill that i always liked.

take your normal backswing but pause at the top and count to 2 seconds then take your downswing. this will teach your brain that there is a pause at the top of the swing which should make you start your downswing with your hips.

i also like the this drill.

instead of taking a full 100 percent swing. take a swing at 50 percent of the speed and 50 percent of the effort. kind of like slo motion swing. this gives your brain enough time to notice were everything is during the swing and gives you enough time to think to start with the hips first.

[DeanS]

I have the same problem and can't seem to get away from it. My pro showed me that I was dropping the club to the inside on the downswing and gave me a step turn drill already stated here. Thats been great my 4 iron is now close to 200 yards up from 180 but I can't get the consistancey. So I'm thinking of giving up on hitting the ball straight and playing a push draw. As long as I'm swinging in-to-out I figure that will be a natural shot for me. Plus I've had good success with this shot on the course and at the range. The drawback is the tendancy to hit behind the ball and hitting a fade would be like winning the lottery. One swing thought that I did have success with was to have the club pointing down the target line at the top of the backswing. Anyway here the thread that explains the push draw.

http://thesandtrap.com/forum/thread/43037/ball-flight-rules-hitting-a-push-draw

[saevel25]

I believe Ben Hogan said that no one hits a straight ball... hit a curve, its more consistant to begin with

[DeanS]

Originally Posted by saevel25

I believe Ben Hogan said that no one hits a straight ball... hit a curve, its more consistant to begin with

Thanx for posting this tip. It's good advice. I'm thinking play the push draw with an effort or emphasis on the hip turn. As the turn improves the ball will begin to straighten. And then I can adjust to suit. This has been the most difficult change yet and I don't think there is an easy answer.

[saevel25]

Well i just thought of something today, while standing for my lunch to heat up.. I like to say i live golf, i think about it alot, OCD man.. But, i though of the exercise were you hold a medicine ball while standing upright and just rotating. Well thats basically the upper body turn in the golf swing. Now if i just flex my knees, but keeping my hands near my sides. Note i am not bent over into the gofl swing, i am standing pretty much upright, maybe a tade incline.. But, i turned like in my backswing, then i focused on bumping my hips left. The amazing thing was that i was able to notice how the arms get affected by that, they get closer to the body as torque is created in the mid-section. So its a bump then rotate to finish. Its easier to see it this way then in a golf set up, and trying to position mirrors or video.. and you get the same feeling..

[gripitnripit77]

Here is a down the line view of my swing... http://j.mp/fiCg7u

Hopefully that works but if it does can you check it out and watch my hips and see if you notice anything? Thanks.

[Harmonious]

One thing that may be related is that, at impact, you have lifted out of your spine angle to the extent that you are almost vertical.  Kind of hard to see against the white background, but you definitely don't seem to get to your left side. FWIW,  I would suggest that you work on maintaining that angle throughout the swing, and rotate around it more to the left through impact.

[EverythingGolf]

Originally Posted by gripitnripit77

Here is a down the line view of my swing... http://j.mp/fiCg7u

Hopefully that works but if it does can you check it out and watch my hips and see if you notice anything? Thanks.

Your back swing is perfect. Your hips do turn a good bit through impact and you seem to have hit that shot good. It did'nt look like you started the down swing with your upper body on that video.

[gripitnripit77]

Originally Posted by EverythingGolf

Your back swing is perfect. Your hips do turn a good bit through impact and you seem to have hit that shot good. It did'nt look like you started the down swing with your upper body on that video.

Then what do you think the problem good be? Notice any flaws?