Golf Swing - Setup - The Hips

An article by: Bobby Eldridge on 12-03-2007
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Bending at the Hips Correctly at Setup for a Golf Swing

If your chin is in the correct position, and your spine is long, and your knees are flexed the correct amount, the golf club will not sole correctly on the ground until you tilt or bend over from the hips. You do not want to bend at the waist. You always want to bend from the hips. The difference is if you bend at the waist your spine will bend (not good). If you bend at the hips you can maintain the spine angle and sole the club on the ground correctly (#22). If you do not bend at the hips, you will not be able to sole the golf club (#20).

When you bend over from the hips you have to make sure you do not straighten out or lock your knees. When you bend at the hips you have to pay close attention to making sure you do not bend at the bottom of the spine.

The Hips Help your Golf Alignment and Aim

The hips play another role not related to their posture position. Your hips must be parallel to the line of the ball flight at address (#25). If your hips are open at address (#24) you will have a tendency to open the hips too soon in the downswing. The clubface will be open at impact and the golf ball will start right. If your hips are closed at address (#23) the golf club will swing too much from the inside in the downswing and the golf ball will either start right or you will struggle with a quick hook left.

At address the hips are parallel to the ball flight line. As the golf club swings back down from the top, the first move from the top is for the left hip to move an inch or two parallel to the target line and then the left hip should begin to turn backwards out of the way so the golf club can swing back to the inside after impact.

The Hip Position at the Finish of your Golf Swing

When you arrive at the finish of the golf swing your belt and shoulders should be level to the ground. Your belt buckle will aim at the intended target and your hips are level to the ground.

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