The Turn

[moreira85]

When make the turn in the backswing, should you try to stabilize your hips and turn with your upper body to create resistance or should you be turning your hips as well in the turn???? I know they say your shoulders should turn 90degrees and hips 45degrees but should you try not to turn the hips?

[J.P.]

No!

Do not TRY to restrict hip turn away from target! I know what you've heard! I used to do it! Saw an excellent teacher & he teaches below!

Do take your stance, pinch in your knees a bit, then TURN/COIL your left shoulder down and away from the target until it is over your right foot - or further if you can . . . The right leg should be stable and solid. Let the left knee break inwards as you go - this provides real evidence here of the correct weight transfer to the back leg during backswing.

Do this correctly, and there will be plenty of power. Trust me.

Good Luck!

[Fisherdude]

No!

Unless you're a yoga practitioner, you will only make your chiropractor happy. Your scorecard will not be pleased.

You must let your left hip come around approximately 45 degrees, which it will do naturally if you don't try to stop it.

[ABPositive]

When make the turn in the backswing, should you try to stabilize your hips and turn with your upper body to create resistance or should you be turning your hips as well in the turn???? I know they say your shoulders should turn 90degrees and hips 45degrees but should you try not to turn the hips?

I think it depends on your level. I am a beginner and here's what my pro tells me.

For the *full swing*, I need a stable lower body. No swaying of the hips, and during the back swing and shoulder turn, let some resistance build up in the hips by not actively turning them (you do not want to freeze them though). For the *short game* (pitches, half wedges), the hips turn at the same angular speed as the shoulders, and provide the tempo for the swing. According to him, this is the only way to make consistent contact with shorter swings. I know that more advanced players use the legs and hips more actively, and that gives them an additional source of power. It is, however, dangerous for a high-handicapper to use the lower body actively, as it introduces a new layer of complexity. Not what you need when you are trying to make good contact.

[Mulligan26]

I rotate my hips as well as my shoulders...ABpositive is right in saying that beginners shouldn't add more complexity but let those hips move naturally. I try to add hip turn to supplement to my shoulder turn, creating more power. Just hit the range man and it'll become evident as to what you should be doing.

[moreira85]

you know you hear everything from restrict your hips to turn your hips!! I have always turned my hips, I am assuming it is OKAY to turn your hips and turn everything into a posted right leg as long as the right leg is stable. As you turn the hips the left knee should draw inward towards the right correct?

[frankm]

I wouldn't try to restrict hip rotation. I have experimented with it with inconsistent success. When I tried it on the course I end up pulling or hooking the ball.

[Fisherdude]

I wouldn't try to restrict hip rotation. I have experimented with it with inconsistent success. When I tried it on the course I end up pulling or hooking the ball.

That makes perfect sense.

Unless you're gifted with world class flexibility, when you try to restrict your hip turn you will also reduce your ability to turn your shoulders. This will result in an incomplete backswing turn, and an outside-in downswing path, and a pull.

[Mulligan26]

As long as you have solid legs and your hips turn instead of sliding then you should see some more consistant power and control.

[allin]

As long as you have solid legs and your hips

This is right on. Speaking as an aging golfer the trick is to keep the back Knee bent and stable. Let your hips turn as far as they go naturally. If your back knee has remained stable you will naturally turn around that leg. Another risk of restricting hip turn as the effort to do this seems to make golfers flat footed and they have trouble using their feet to initiate the downswing. They then tend to slide and overwork the upper body to get through the ball.

[milesdowsett]

A quiet lower body and a full turn creates resistance and power.