My buddy has been working on wrist hinge and to me it looks like he’s getting into a great position at the top. But it seems like he has trouble engaging his hips and often scoops/flips to compensate. Any tips drills or thoughts to get him more synced up?
by jwoke77
4 Comments
Tell him to start the swing by rotating his hips to pick up the club and not lifting his arma to initiate the backswing.
Hips work better than mine. Looks like he is taking it away to the inside but thats about it. He is spinning out a little because his hands have nowhere to go from the top. Coming straight back at first and then rolling to the top will give him room and help keep that right elbow from chicken winging out
My instructor had me put a driving range basket behind my lead leg barely touching the calf. I had to knock it over during my swing. Got me to learn to pivot on that lead leg and turn/engage the hips. I previously was barn dooring them.
Looks like he’s late getting to the left side and late opening the hips. He does get there but it’s too late, so the full ground force isn’t used to accelerate the club. Legs should push the hips, hips pull the shoulders, shoulders-arms, and on down to the clubhead. Remember, you want peak speed at impact, which means peak acceleration has to happen way before that.
The other problem is that his hips and shoulders rotate together. Ideally, they should separate. The twist of the hips independent of the shoulders puts tension across the back/lats and helps add speed to the the shoulders when they finally rotate/open. Think rubber band stretching.
First, he has to start moving left/pushing down with his left foot earlier, during the end of the backswing. This is important, but counterintuitive. It’s weird to be moving left during the backswing.
Next, start rotating/opening the hips by pushing off the ground with the left leg before the shoulders move. Look up the TPI chair drill for how this should feel. It’s critical to do this while keeping the hips back away from the ball to create space. If not, he’ll flip the club at best, shanks at worst. Again, this movement will feel weird.
Long story short, this is a process best managed under the guidance of a professional. It can be done, but it’s an ugly process where timing gets knocked come out of whack before it gets better.