Paul,
I have been using my shadow for the backswing length and swing arc and it gives me a lot of feedback and confidence. I really like swing and look at my shadow.
I think I have good hip movement but I will add this to my repertoire to confirm.
Hi Paul. This is a good exercise to start everything with the lower body and not the arms, but the shadow part can be a problem in the Midwest. We don’t see our shadows from November through April! Sunny days are as rare as double eagles!
At the Titleist TPI center every pro and better player has the same sequence. It starts with the lower body. I would think if you have been dropping the right elbow you have trained it to do so therefore you no longer have to think about it.
Hi Paul
Can you clarify – for a right handed golfer – does the left leg start to straighten before you start to move hips.
Thanks for all the great tips.
Alan
No the left leg does not straighten before you turn your hips. You are thinking about straightening it from the top of the backswing. From the top to impact is 1/4 of a second. You cannot straighten the leg this fast. If you start to straighten it from the top it will be locked in the through swing when your right arm is parallel to the ground. In this process your weight has shifted and your hips have turned.
It sounds like you are not seeing this move right. It is a shift and a turn. I want the thought of doing this to be with one of the triggers:
1. Turn the left hip left.
2. Straighten the left leg.
3. Turn the belt buckle left.
4. Spring from the instep of the right foot.
No matter which one of these you choose the others still happen. To understand it just over hand a ball out in front of you with a narrower stance. When you overhand a ball you will see that your left leg will lock dead straight. You didn’t lock it then turn. It all happened together. So do this a few times then apply this very same feeling to your golf swing. Everyone has done this exact move before. It’s just in golf you have to tell yourself to do it. If you throw a ball you will do it without even thinking about it.
I can do this on the practice tee, but in the excitement of a real stroke, I rush the swing and by the end of the round I am pretty much swinging with my arms. Is there a good specific swing thought you would suggest to stop this?
You cannot do this on the course because you are thinking about hitting the ball and getting distance. If you are working on your swing work on your swing. Forget the ball and where is going. Play late night by yourself. Carry a few balls with you. Hit the shot working on your swing. If you hit a ball one pull out another ball. Make the swing and hold the positions. You need to do this enough that you can do the positions on the course.
About shadows in not so sunny places….A tips from right now “not so sunny Sweden”: Use a streetlight at night! Works perfect for seeing the move of hips in the shadow!!
Hi Paul great tips, you always manage to focus on something I’m doing wrong! Could you talk sometime about lag and any good drills? I could do with some direction.
Many thanks
I hope as is well with you. I played today and really got the hips involved and hit some awesome shots. I have been working on this for a while but the big breakthrough can when I realized my hip range of motion was limited. It’s tough to use the lower body when it has a very limited range and it is stiff. The motor range is just too small and the body
I did stretches and increased my internal hip rotation from 30 to over 60 degrees. This allows me to completely face the target with my hips at the end of my swing (with a flair on my left foot).
Frankly without increasing my hip range of motion, I don’t think I would ever get it.
Perhaps this is why getting the lower body drive is so hard for folks.
I run into people with tight hips (mine are super tight) and can’t turn through it all of the time. Once they lock the lead leg and get fully through it they loosen up and have no problems. Keep in mind I have people regularly saying they cannot do my touch the legs position. Then I have them throw a ball overhand and voila they can do it! Amazing. It is the same move you would do when throwing a ball. So anyone and everyone can do my swing positions. The problem is the ball. They are hitting. I am not. I am thinking of the position and physically touching my legs. If they person is hitting they stop the momentum of the body rotation which takes them through to the ending so they end up stopping short. This is yet another reason I tell people to do tons of practice swings. No ball = no hitting. Now they can think of the positions and master them.
Stretching can definitely help. That is why Jeremy is part of the site. Glad it helped you get to the position. Now you just have to keep regularly stretching so you don’t get tight again.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. AcceptRejectRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
20 Responses to “Use Your Shadow to Learn the Hip Turn”
February 15, 2013
WadeThamesPaul,
I have been using my shadow for the backswing length and swing arc and it gives me a lot of feedback and confidence. I really like swing and look at my shadow.
I think I have good hip movement but I will add this to my repertoire to confirm.
Thanks!
February 15, 2013
Paul WilsonWade,
That’s great. This is just an easy way to check it on your own.
February 15, 2013
RonCalabreseHi Paul. This is a good exercise to start everything with the lower body and not the arms, but the shadow part can be a problem in the Midwest. We don’t see our shadows from November through April! Sunny days are as rare as double eagles!
Best Regards, Ron
February 15, 2013
Paul WilsonRon,
Just remember it for those sunny days when you can see it. You could use a mirror too!
February 15, 2013
RaymondCHASTELDear Paul .What is the proper s
February 15, 2013
Paul WilsonRaymond,
You hips should be starting first in the downswing. The right elbow should be tucking on its own.
Watch:
Flatten Plane 1: https://ignitiongolf.com/downswing-flatten-plane
Flatten Plane 2: https://ignitiongolf.com/downswing-flatten-plane-2
At the Titleist TPI center every pro and better player has the same sequence. It starts with the lower body. I would think if you have been dropping the right elbow you have trained it to do so therefore you no longer have to think about it.
February 16, 2013
AlanDohertyHi Paul
Can you clarify – for a right handed golfer – does the left leg start to straighten before you start to move hips.
Thanks for all the great tips.
Alan
February 17, 2013
Paul WilsonAlan,
No the left leg does not straighten before you turn your hips. You are thinking about straightening it from the top of the backswing. From the top to impact is 1/4 of a second. You cannot straighten the leg this fast. If you start to straighten it from the top it will be locked in the through swing when your right arm is parallel to the ground. In this process your weight has shifted and your hips have turned.
It sounds like you are not seeing this move right. It is a shift and a turn. I want the thought of doing this to be with one of the triggers:
1. Turn the left hip left.
2. Straighten the left leg.
3. Turn the belt buckle left.
4. Spring from the instep of the right foot.
No matter which one of these you choose the others still happen. To understand it just over hand a ball out in front of you with a narrower stance. When you overhand a ball you will see that your left leg will lock dead straight. You didn’t lock it then turn. It all happened together. So do this a few times then apply this very same feeling to your golf swing. Everyone has done this exact move before. It’s just in golf you have to tell yourself to do it. If you throw a ball you will do it without even thinking about it.
February 17, 2013
JuleHerbertI can do this on the practice tee, but in the excitement of a real stroke, I rush the swing and by the end of the round I am pretty much swinging with my arms. Is there a good specific swing thought you would suggest to stop this?
February 17, 2013
Paul WilsonJule,
You cannot do this on the course because you are thinking about hitting the ball and getting distance. If you are working on your swing work on your swing. Forget the ball and where is going. Play late night by yourself. Carry a few balls with you. Hit the shot working on your swing. If you hit a ball one pull out another ball. Make the swing and hold the positions. You need to do this enough that you can do the positions on the course.
Watch:
How To Take Your Swing From The Range To The Course: https://ignitiongolf.com/swing-range/
February 19, 2013
JuleHerbertThank you. Great link.
February 20, 2013
Paul WilsonJule,
Glad you liked it. Thanks.
February 17, 2014
LottaLiljegrenAbout shadows in not so sunny places….A tips from right now “not so sunny Sweden”: Use a streetlight at night! Works perfect for seeing the move of hips in the shadow!!
February 18, 2014
Paul WilsonLotta,
Great idea. I especially like the fact that this would suggest practicing at night and without a ball!
October 31, 2015
JonathanSchwabHi Paul great tips, you always manage to focus on something I’m doing wrong! Could you talk sometime about lag and any good drills? I could do with some direction.
Many thanks
November 1, 2015
Paul WilsonJohnathan,
I am everywhere watching everyone.
Here are a bunch of lag drills:
Lag
DRILL: Increase lag: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-lag
DRILL: Lag Ear to Ear: https://ignitiongolf.com/lag-release-drill
DRILL: Old But Good Lag Drill: https://ignitiongolf.com/old-good-lag-drill/
DRILL: Work On Lag Anywhere: https://ignitiongolf.com/work-on-lag-anywhere/
DRILL: Hold Lag Turn Hips: https://ignitiongolf.com/drill-hold-lag-turn-hips/
October 31, 2015
douglasmaikome and my shadow
November 1, 2015
Paul WilsonDoug,
It’s there why not use it!
November 1, 2015
PaulSacchettiHey Paul,
I hope as is well with you. I played today and really got the hips involved and hit some awesome shots. I have been working on this for a while but the big breakthrough can when I realized my hip range of motion was limited. It’s tough to use the lower body when it has a very limited range and it is stiff. The motor range is just too small and the body
I did stretches and increased my internal hip rotation from 30 to over 60 degrees. This allows me to completely face the target with my hips at the end of my swing (with a flair on my left foot).
Frankly without increasing my hip range of motion, I don’t think I would ever get it.
Perhaps this is why getting the lower body drive is so hard for folks.
What do you think?
Paul
November 1, 2015
Paul WilsonPaul,
I run into people with tight hips (mine are super tight) and can’t turn through it all of the time. Once they lock the lead leg and get fully through it they loosen up and have no problems. Keep in mind I have people regularly saying they cannot do my touch the legs position. Then I have them throw a ball overhand and voila they can do it! Amazing. It is the same move you would do when throwing a ball. So anyone and everyone can do my swing positions. The problem is the ball. They are hitting. I am not. I am thinking of the position and physically touching my legs. If they person is hitting they stop the momentum of the body rotation which takes them through to the ending so they end up stopping short. This is yet another reason I tell people to do tons of practice swings. No ball = no hitting. Now they can think of the positions and master them.
Watch:
It’s Like A Throwing Motion: https://ignitiongolf.com/like-throwing-motion/
Stretching can definitely help. That is why Jeremy is part of the site. Glad it helped you get to the position. Now you just have to keep regularly stretching so you don’t get tight again.