There Is Lateral Motion In The Downswing

By Paul Wilson at January 23, 2013 | 12:19 am | Print

Sorry, this content is for members only.

Click here to get access.

Already a member? Login below…

Downswing Member Tips Swing Tips downswing hips, downwing, lateral hip downswing

« Previous

19 Comments

ERIABBERA, 4 months ago Log in to Reply

Hi Paul
The less a golfer has to think about during the swing, the better. Thanks.
- Paul Wilson, 4 months ago Log in to Reply
  
  Eriab,
  
  That’s right. The ultimate goal would be 1 thought.
JuleHerbert, 4 months ago Log in to Reply

Drove and hit the ball well today. I tend to bring the club too far inside on the takeaway. Can you give me a link on the backswing and how one should view or thing about the very beginning of the swing?
- Paul Wilson, 4 months ago Log in to Reply
  
  Jule,
  
  Here you go:
  
  One Piece Takeaway: http://ignitiongolf.com/master-one-piece-takeaway
  
  And:
  
  Coiling: http://ignitiongolf.com/learn-coil-backswing
MichelleRichardson, 4 months ago Log in to Reply

Hi, I tried today to turn my arms before my hips on the backswing rather than just turn the hips and I get so much more distance. This was a previous tip. Re today’s tip I push my right hip left instead of doing the legs. Is that OK? Thank you. Mimi
- Paul Wilson, 4 months ago Log in to Reply
  
  Mimi,
  
  On the backswing? If this is correct this is because your arms are going up a lot higher and you are turning more which is allowing you to hit hard in the downswing with the arms. Sure, this may give you more distance initially but you will be inconsistent because you are not basing your swing on torque you are just whacking at it. You’ll see what I mean in the future. If you want to keep doing it for a while do so then tighten up the backswing once you get some more distance. You do this by resisting the lower body. If you were mistaken in your comment then re-post it.
  
  Watch:
  
  Coiling: http://ignitiongolf.com/learn-coil-backswing
  
  And:
  
  Hips: http://ignitiongolf.com/turning-hips
  
  You can use the right hip if you want just so long as the left leg is locking, the left hip is turning and the weight is coming off the back instep. This is why there are choices for the trigger. Not everyone likes the same thing.
  - MichaelBlock, 3 months ago Log in to Reply
    
    Hi Paul:
    
    Thank you for the links. It got me thinking correctly.
RonCalabrese, 4 months ago Log in to Reply

Hi Paul. Thanks for the clarification on the lateral motion of the hips. I’ve read many times and been told to “bump” the left hip to initiate the downswing. Attempting this action always caused the slide you describe and weak pushes to the right. Removing that additional thought and the resultant confusion, definitely simplifies things.

Thanks, Ron
- Paul Wilson, 4 months ago Log in to Reply
  
  Ron,
  
  I am going to post a bump one tomorrow. Kind of the same tip but it should clarify it for the bumpers out there.
Hans-PederHansen, 4 months ago Log in to Reply

Hi Paul, It looks so easy – and it is to me also – without the ball in front !! On a flat terrain !! Uphill / downhill – I try to follow your techniques – never knowing where the ball ends up though.
In your Tips you teach “Turn” in stead of shift. I fully understand – and it is as easy as you describe when standing almost upright as in the video.
But bent over in my stance – turning without shifting is an athletic exercise almost impossible. I’m 60 – and started golfing only 2 years ago – maybe that is the reason. I do however totally agree with your techniques and applause and follow your teaching method – 110 %.
Could I perhaps move the top of my backswing position (Start of my downswing position) just a little bit forward (closer to my neck) to produce a more outside/in downswing – to zero-out the flaw caused by the initial partial shift of hip-position (caused by the old bones.) ?
Many thanks, HP
- Paul Wilson, 4 months ago Log in to Reply
  
  HP,
  
  This is not a tough move. I never have a problem getting people to do this. If you can do it standing up then keep doing it standing up until you are good at touching the legs. Once you are good at it slowly start to tilt down and keep doing the same move.
  
  Watch:
  
  DRILL: Sit On The Edge Of A Bar Stool To Set Up – Part 1 of 2: http://ignitiongolf.com/setup-edge-of-bar-stool/
  
  DRILL: How To Feel Torque In Your Backswing – Part 2 of 2: http://ignitiongolf.com/drill-feel-torque-backswing/
  
  Yes, you are a beginner. This would have something to do with it as well. Just keep practicing it as I suggested and you will get it. Age means nothing in this game. I have an 82 year old student who can hit it 260+.
  
  Not sure what you mean about moving your starting down position. Sometimes I let people get away with things for a while if it gives them a little confidence and gets them hitting it better. Then we go back to the fundamentals.
  
  Keep in mind you can always get us to look at your swing. We do provide this service which I so many more people should be using.
  
  You can find out more here: http://paulwilsongolf.com/las-vegas-golf-lessons/video-golf-lessons.htm
BryanRhoades, 4 months ago Log in to Reply

Hey Paul….how flat do you feel when swinging the driver vs your lower lofted and mid irons?
- Paul Wilson, 4 months ago Log in to Reply
  
  Bryan,
  
  My golf swing feels the same no matter what club I am hitting.
MichaelBlock, 4 months ago Log in to Reply

Hi Paul

On the back swing I heard “Shift and Turn”.
Would that then mean on the forward swing “Shift and Turn”?
- Paul Wilson, 4 months ago Log in to Reply
  
  Michael,
  
  No you didn’t hear either of those things.
  
  In the backswing you are coiling your shoulders and allowing the weight to shift to the instep. Once coiled you are uncoiling (turning) knowing full well your weight will be shifting.
  
  Watch:
  
  Coiling: http://ignitiongolf.com/learn-coil-backswing
  
  Uncoil 1: http://ignitiongolf.com/uncoil
  
  Uncoil 2: http://ignitiongolf.com/uncoil-follow-up
RodThompson, 4 months ago Log in to Reply

Paul,
I am having a horrible time after practicing in my garage. Seem to be completely out of sync the next day at the range. Is this a common problem?
I now have the book, cd’s and these daily tips. Seems like two forward one back so much of the time.
66 playing for 42 years and want to get rid of bad tricks for some new ones. Thanks for helping. I really appreciate your answers back!
Aloha,
Rod
- Paul Wilson, 4 months ago Log in to Reply
  
  Rod,
  
  Developing a great golf swing takes understanding, time and effort. If you are hitting balls in your garage you are hitting balls. This is why I tell people to do practice swings (no ball) working on the swing positions. No ball means there is nothing to hit. With nothing to hit you can focus on doing the correct positions. You do this by understanding the position and looking for the feedback associated with the position. You touch your legs first until you are good at it. You then touch your head making sure it is perfect. Then you work on coiling and finally you work on hinging. I am leaving out the spine angle because this will take care of itself if you work on the other positions.
  
  If you are already doing the practice swings on your garage then going to the range and are out of synch there could be various reasons for this:
  
  1. You are having a bad day (go home).
  
  2. You are hitting the ball too hard so you are getting too tight.
  
  3. You are thinking of hitting the ball instead of thinking of doing your swing positions.
  
  4. You are not doing practice swings at the range. Instead, you are beating balls.
  
  When you go to the range you should still be working on your swing positions. You are not to be out there trying to hit every shot great. In fact, i don’t want you to hit it great. Why? Because you should be working on something. If you are working on something you are working on that something. This means you are not even doing the whole swing. You have the thought of that thing in mind and you do it with a ball in front of you. No matter where the ball goes if you do the position you accomplished your goal. The golf swing is a puzzle. You work on one piece at a time until you see the whole picture.
  
  So work on the practice swings at home. Go to the range and hit a few balls (focusing on one or two things) then you back up and do 3 times as many practice swings as ball that you hit. If you do it this way you will be doing it right at least 3:1. If you get this ratio you will make the changes and develop a great swing. If you just beat balls you will never get it. So change your practice. Forget the ball and focus on developing a great swing. Take it one step a a time and you will get it.
MichelleRichardson, 3 months ago Log in to Reply

Hi, thank you for your answer re right hip to left, it works well.
I meant that if my swing my arms back and then turn my hips back rather than only turn my hips back and let the club swing around then of course move my right hip fast left without doing anything to the arms I get more distance precisely because of the torque. I used to only turn my hips till I saw your tip re swinging the arms back first. It works so well. Mimi
- Paul Wilson, 3 months ago Log in to Reply
  
  Mimi,
  
  I understand now. This is correct. You should be starting the arms and shoulders first. Keep doing it.