Help with training drills and exercises

[atomheartmother]

I've got a few topics/questions to ask:

1. What are some good drills for working on a fluid downswing, particularly focused on clearing the hips? At my lesson yesterday, this is the swing problem that my instructor identified. Since I started in golf in April, I had always primarily used my arms for a the downswing. Consequently, I paid to correctly using my hips to initiate the downswing and allowing my "core" to power through the swing rather than my arms. I just can't seem to coordinate all of these muscle groups and get them to fall in order. When I focus really hard on letting the hips clear my lower body before my arms come through, it feels like my arms are flailing behind with less control.

As a result, all of my shots during my lesson resulted in short, low shanks. I appear to be topping the ball pretty consistently. My instructor said I must be coming up at impact and follow-through. Any tips on staying down and hitting down on the ball?

It was really frustrating to go from hitting the ball okay (albeit with incorrect form) to not being able to hit it at all, even after an entire lesson with an instructor.

2. What is a good, simple exercise routine for strengthening your core and other muscles important to a solid swing? Ones I could do at home are great, but my apartment complex also does have a basic fitness room. I do a stretching routine with 10 or so stretches that I do every time before golfing (or the range), which includes these and a few picked up from golf digest.

http://golf.about.com/od/fitnesshealth/ss/warmupstretches_2.htm

But what are some stretches and exercises that I can do at home between golf sessions to help.

Thanks for the help!

[Goat Green]

I picked up a good one from my lesson yesterday.

On the range, place a ball slightly behind the ball you are about to strike. On your backswing, slide the rear ball back with the club until rolls to the rear edge of the mat, then follow through with the swing. This drill and the toe-up drill seems to get me back on track when I feel lost again, which is very often, haha.

Hope this helps!