Hi Jay,
Typically the limitation would be spine flexibility or kinesthetic awareness. The ‘windshield wiper’ exercise will only improve dissociation If the limiting factor to a person’s dissociation is internal hip rotation. Here’s the the ‘windshield wiper’: http://www.fitgolf.com/wp-content/uploads/Exercises/Reeducate/windshieldwipers.pdf
Jeremy Klinkhamer, PT
Jeremy, I was thinking of a different exercise. The one I was asking about is where you lay flat on your back, knees bent, feet flat on the floor, then rotate the knees all the way to the floor on one side and then the other side.
Hi Jay, thanks for the clarification. Yes, the exercise you just described definitely qualifies. Make sure to be strict with the upper back and arms and you’ll do just fine. Work on the standing exercise directly afterwards.
Jeremy Klinkhamer, PT
not good at moving hips without some upper body movement as well, in doing this drill can you over do it or is the more reps the better.any idea how long it will take for this movement to get ingrained if the exercise is faithfully done.
Hi Barry,
It’s impossible to guess when you’ll finally get the movement mastered. You really can’t over do it unless you’re getting pain or your exertion is too high. It is possible to get a sore lower back with this exercise if your pelvis is anteriorly tilted (belt buckle pointing down to the ground). If you feel this, try to lift your pelvis to neutral with your abdominal muscles so your belt buckle is pointing to the horizon. Keep it pointing to the horizon level as you rotate it left and right. Keep working on the ground first, then use the club for stability, then try without holding a club. Good luck.
Jeremy Klinkhamer, PT
Hi Jeremy, I can separate the lower from the upper as you show BUT can only turn either direction about 15 degrees. It appears to me that you have at least 30 degrees and probably more. How can I get that additional turn? I think I have better than average flexibility for a 74 year old everywhere except my hamstrings. Also, I am not as rhythmic or fluid in my motion as you are. Thanks for any suggestion to aid me.
Roy,
Good question. My recommendation is to do the exercise I showed, in the same video, with the Swiss Ball under your legs. That exercise will increase your range of motion… remember to keep the arms and upper back flat on the ground while you work on rotating the ball back and forth slowly (with the intent of gaining rotational range). As far at the “fluid motion” it takes practice. I show this test/exercise almost every day at my performance center when I work with golfers. I’ve certainly gotten better over the years.
Thanks for watching!
Jeremy Klinkhamer, PT
Hello Jeremy. Thanks for all the great drills. Taking your advice has greatly improved my game. I’ve just recently suffered a lat injury due to a dumb decision at work. It hurts to even swing a club. What is the best thing I can do to keep my game together while I recover?
Take Jeremy’s advice and take some time off to heal before you make it worse. Just chip and putt. If you do you will have a great short game by the time you are better. Once you are a little better just do easy practice swings at home working on my swing positions. Injuries can be great for working on the swing in the sense that you can’t keep whacking golf balls hard.
Sorry to hear about the accident, Clint. I wish I could help but I think you really need to see a physical therapist in your area. Even if the therapist isn’t “golf-specific” you need to be evaluated properly. You shouldn’t play with pain. Pain is an indicator that what you’re doing should be stopped. So, my advice is to stop swinging, see a proper medical professional in your immediate area and get your injury taken care of properly before you return. The chance of injuring yourself worse is too high if you don’t.
Jeremy Klinkhamer, PT
Jeremy , I practise the SWISS BALL exercise a bit differently from you ,which makes it easier:THE two legs are draped over THE ball at 10 0’clock and 2 o’clock .THE goal is to contact THE ground with THE outside of each knee .
I have a simpler one ,which I find more effective :lying on back ,two legs extended (N
Great tip. Really helpful. I have struggled with this for years and never knew the technical name for it. Also never had exercises to develop the disassociation. New I turned “like a gate” but have a hard time changing that. Thanks,
Hi Jeremy
I am struggling to get this lower body disassociation. I can’t get with the club also. So I am trying with Swiss Ball. With it can rotate my hips without moving my upper body from waist upwards. But I still can do the standing exercise immediately afterwards.
How many rotations should I do each time?
How many days it will take for me to get the hips rotation properly standing upright.
Hi Venu,
This one is tough for a number of people. As for the rotations with your legs on the ball… do 10-20 full rotations. You can also take the ball out but keep your legs in the same exact position and do the same exercise… you may not be able to do as many as this is a strength exercise without the ball present but you can get there with a bit of hard work. Your last question on a timeline to successful pelvic dissociation is impossible to answer… some people get it right away and others don’t.
Try this tip: When trying lower body (or pelvic) dissociation without holding on to anything… think about “grinding and twisting” your feet into the ground like you would in a sand bunker. This horizontal friction between your shoes and the ground is the missing piece to rotation for most of my golfer’s having a difficult time with this one. Your feet won’t actually move, but the energy from the friction to the ground should make it’s way up to your hips… put your arms out to the side for a bit of stability.
Hi Jeremy
After few days of exercise with swiss ball and following your tip now I am able to move my lower body without moving upper body as shown in your tip. However I am still not able to apply this to my golf swing properly. I mean still during the swing hips are not moving ahead of the club.
Hi Jeremy,
Excellent tip. I showed the Swiss ball exercise to my coach at the gym and we added it to my fitness program. Also tried a variation by adding a medicine ball between the knees to increase the difficulty… Thanks.
Raoul
Thanks Raoul,
I like your idea of increasing the difficulty. If you put a medicine ball between the knees, like you said, you can also get rid of the physioball completely. Just move like it’s still there so your legs maintain the same proper position. Even more advanced is to put something between your feet and have your legs completely vertical (90 degree hips but straight knees)! You may not be able to rotate as much side to side but it’s a great challenge (you may have to work on hamstring flexibility though).
Jeremy Klinkhamer, PT
Your demonstration is amazing! I can do about half the movement you do (70 yr old male in decent shape) with the club in front of me for stability, but I’m definitely going to continue working on this. Awesome drill and thanks.
I am a 58-year-old playing golf for just two years. I can do the twisting of the hips on my own just fine. Although that big ball exercise looks like a really good way to stretch out!
My first year I just hit the ball with my arms and hands, but now with your exercises and Paul’s help I’m really learning “separation” with wrist hinging and unhinging, really feeling the new difference of swinging better
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31 Responses to “How To Increase Hip Separation In the Downswing”
July 26, 2012
DominicErbaexcellent Jeremy
July 26, 2012
Jeremy KlinkhamerThanks for watching, Dominic! I appreciate the shout out.
July 26, 2012
JaySchwarzDoes the ‘windshield wiper’ stretch also help develop disassociation?
July 26, 2012
Jeremy KlinkhamerHi Jay,
Typically the limitation would be spine flexibility or kinesthetic awareness. The ‘windshield wiper’ exercise will only improve dissociation If the limiting factor to a person’s dissociation is internal hip rotation. Here’s the the ‘windshield wiper’:
http://www.fitgolf.com/wp-content/uploads/Exercises/Reeducate/windshieldwipers.pdf
Jeremy Klinkhamer, PT
July 31, 2012
JaySchwarzJeremy, I was thinking of a different exercise. The one I was asking about is where you lay flat on your back, knees bent, feet flat on the floor, then rotate the knees all the way to the floor on one side and then the other side.
July 31, 2012
Jeremy KlinkhamerHi Jay, thanks for the clarification. Yes, the exercise you just described definitely qualifies. Make sure to be strict with the upper back and arms and you’ll do just fine. Work on the standing exercise directly afterwards.
Jeremy Klinkhamer, PT
July 26, 2012
barrybowernot good at moving hips without some upper body movement as well, in doing this drill can you over do it or is the more reps the better.any idea how long it will take for this movement to get ingrained if the exercise is faithfully done.
July 26, 2012
Jeremy KlinkhamerHi Barry,
It’s impossible to guess when you’ll finally get the movement mastered. You really can’t over do it unless you’re getting pain or your exertion is too high. It is possible to get a sore lower back with this exercise if your pelvis is anteriorly tilted (belt buckle pointing down to the ground). If you feel this, try to lift your pelvis to neutral with your abdominal muscles so your belt buckle is pointing to the horizon. Keep it pointing to the horizon level as you rotate it left and right. Keep working on the ground first, then use the club for stability, then try without holding a club. Good luck.
Jeremy Klinkhamer, PT
July 26, 2012
RoyMatthewsHi Jeremy, I can separate the lower from the upper as you show BUT can only turn either direction about 15 degrees. It appears to me that you have at least 30 degrees and probably more. How can I get that additional turn? I think I have better than average flexibility for a 74 year old everywhere except my hamstrings. Also, I am not as rhythmic or fluid in my motion as you are. Thanks for any suggestion to aid me.
July 26, 2012
Jeremy KlinkhamerRoy,
Good question. My recommendation is to do the exercise I showed, in the same video, with the Swiss Ball under your legs. That exercise will increase your range of motion… remember to keep the arms and upper back flat on the ground while you work on rotating the ball back and forth slowly (with the intent of gaining rotational range). As far at the “fluid motion” it takes practice. I show this test/exercise almost every day at my performance center when I work with golfers. I’ve certainly gotten better over the years.
Thanks for watching!
Jeremy Klinkhamer, PT
April 30, 2013
ClintHeadHello Jeremy. Thanks for all the great drills. Taking your advice has greatly improved my game. I’ve just recently suffered a lat injury due to a dumb decision at work. It hurts to even swing a club. What is the best thing I can do to keep my game together while I recover?
Thank you,
Clint
April 30, 2013
Paul WilsonClint,
Take Jeremy’s advice and take some time off to heal before you make it worse. Just chip and putt. If you do you will have a great short game by the time you are better. Once you are a little better just do easy practice swings at home working on my swing positions. Injuries can be great for working on the swing in the sense that you can’t keep whacking golf balls hard.
April 30, 2013
Jeremy KlinkhamerSorry to hear about the accident, Clint. I wish I could help but I think you really need to see a physical therapist in your area. Even if the therapist isn’t “golf-specific” you need to be evaluated properly. You shouldn’t play with pain. Pain is an indicator that what you’re doing should be stopped. So, my advice is to stop swinging, see a proper medical professional in your immediate area and get your injury taken care of properly before you return. The chance of injuring yourself worse is too high if you don’t.
Jeremy Klinkhamer, PT
July 19, 2013
RaymondCHASTELJeremy , I practise the SWISS BALL exercise a bit differently from you ,which makes it easier:THE two legs are draped over THE ball at 10 0’clock and 2 o’clock .THE goal is to contact THE ground with THE outside of each knee .
I have a simpler one ,which I find more effective :lying on back ,two legs extended (N
December 11, 2014
BillFreemanGreat tip. Really helpful. I have struggled with this for years and never knew the technical name for it. Also never had exercises to develop the disassociation. New I turned “like a gate” but have a hard time changing that. Thanks,
Bill
December 11, 2014
Jeremy KlinkhamerHi Bill,
So glad you like it. Keep at it!
Jeremy
December 11, 2014
LenKoblenzVery interesting tip. I think it will take awhile to get the flexibility you have. BTW, do you moonlight as a Hula dancer? Looks like you could. 🙂
Len
December 11, 2014
Jeremy KlinkhamerHey Len,
You may be more correct than you think… https://ignitiongolf.com/stop-flipping-hula-hands-drill/
Aloha,
Jeremy
May 19, 2015
VenuKoosuriHi Jeremy
I am struggling to get this lower body disassociation. I can’t get with the club also. So I am trying with Swiss Ball. With it can rotate my hips without moving my upper body from waist upwards. But I still can do the standing exercise immediately afterwards.
How many rotations should I do each time?
How many days it will take for me to get the hips rotation properly standing upright.
Thanks
May 19, 2015
Jeremy KlinkhamerHi Venu,
This one is tough for a number of people. As for the rotations with your legs on the ball… do 10-20 full rotations. You can also take the ball out but keep your legs in the same exact position and do the same exercise… you may not be able to do as many as this is a strength exercise without the ball present but you can get there with a bit of hard work. Your last question on a timeline to successful pelvic dissociation is impossible to answer… some people get it right away and others don’t.
Try this tip: When trying lower body (or pelvic) dissociation without holding on to anything… think about “grinding and twisting” your feet into the ground like you would in a sand bunker. This horizontal friction between your shoes and the ground is the missing piece to rotation for most of my golfer’s having a difficult time with this one. Your feet won’t actually move, but the energy from the friction to the ground should make it’s way up to your hips… put your arms out to the side for a bit of stability.
Let me know how that goes,
Jeremy Klinkhamer, PT
July 10, 2015
VenuKoosuriHi Jeremy
After few days of exercise with swiss ball and following your tip now I am able to move my lower body without moving upper body as shown in your tip. However I am still not able to apply this to my golf swing properly. I mean still during the swing hips are not moving ahead of the club.
Any ideas how to take it the swing.
Regards
Venu
February 27, 2016
Raoul BintnerHi Jeremy,
Excellent tip. I showed the Swiss ball exercise to my coach at the gym and we added it to my fitness program. Also tried a variation by adding a medicine ball between the knees to increase the difficulty… Thanks.
Raoul
February 29, 2016
Jeremy KlinkhamerThanks Raoul,
I like your idea of increasing the difficulty. If you put a medicine ball between the knees, like you said, you can also get rid of the physioball completely. Just move like it’s still there so your legs maintain the same proper position. Even more advanced is to put something between your feet and have your legs completely vertical (90 degree hips but straight knees)! You may not be able to rotate as much side to side but it’s a great challenge (you may have to work on hamstring flexibility though).
Jeremy Klinkhamer, PT
January 11, 2017
BruceBergYour demonstration is amazing! I can do about half the movement you do (70 yr old male in decent shape) with the club in front of me for stability, but I’m definitely going to continue working on this. Awesome drill and thanks.
January 12, 2017
Jeremy KlinkhamerThank you so much! Enjoy.
Jeremy
January 12, 2017
JohnBensonI am a 58-year-old playing golf for just two years. I can do the twisting of the hips on my own just fine. Although that big ball exercise looks like a really good way to stretch out!
My first year I just hit the ball with my arms and hands, but now with your exercises and Paul’s help I’m really learning “separation” with wrist hinging and unhinging, really feeling the new difference of swinging better
January 12, 2017
Jeremy KlinkhamerWe love hearing this. Better swing mechanics and a workout that compliments it is such a great combination.
Jeremy
January 12, 2017
Bill FreemanJeremy,
I’m excited. This is definitely an area I struggle with and your exercises look great! Haven’t tried them yet, but I can see the promise.
Thanks,
Bill Freeman
January 12, 2017
Jeremy KlinkhamerGlad this hits home for you. Hope it goes great for you once you get going.
Jeremy
June 15, 2019
AnnikenStromGreat tip Jeremy.
What size swiss-ball do I need when I’m 5″4 tall.
Regards Anniken
March 7, 2024
BillFreemanJeremy, Thxs so much!! This addresses a big issue for me and, I think, will be most helpful, Got a plan!!
Bill Freeman