I shot this golf stretch video to show you an effective hip rotation stretch you can do to increase the speed of your hip turn in your golf swing. This is a huge power generator, and most of the golfers over the age of 50 have diminished rotational flexibility in their hip joints.

As with all golf stretching exercises do them exactly as I show you, but make sure to ease into them, as to not pull or strain that muscle.

For those of you who have had a hip replacement, this is still a very good stretch for you. With a little consistency, even with a replaced hip, you’ll see dramatic improvement in your ability to rotate your hips through impact resulting in more power and distance.

Golf Hip Rotation Instructions

• In a standing position, get your feet much wider than shoulder width apart.
• Rotate left foot and hip outward.
• Do a side lunge feeling a stretch in your right hip joint.
• Hold for 10 seconds.
• Repeat the same for the other leg.

 
This stretch for your hip joints can be done daily in under ONE minute! There is no longer an excuse for lack of time, when you can do effective golf stretches like this one in the privacy and convenience of your home.

Senior Tour Golfers Hip Rotation Through Impact

I wanted to give you a visual example of how much the hips turn, or rotate through impact. I picked senior tour player Freddie Couples, who… even plagued with a bad back, is my example. I did not want to show you the young guns, as that is not a good comparison for the older golfers out there.

Look at the difference in his hips from address to impact. They have rotated open significantly, and that is one reason for his power even in his 50′s.

Most amateur golfers over 50 cannot physically achieve this unless they do golf stretches like the one in the video. So there is hope for you, as you get older, as long as you slow the aging process with golf training exercises like this one.

Fred Couples - Senior Tour Player At Address

Freddie Couples Hip Rotation Through Impact

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You see…if you do not get your club on plane, you will have to make additional compensations to hit the golf ball. Most likely with your hands in the form of a flip, or handsy release. This adds a timing component to your golf swing, in which sometimes you might hit it good, and others you’ll hit it terrible.

Your swing plane is dictated mostly by your address position (see below pic of Hunter Mahan). At address, you would draw a line from the clubhead, through the shaft, continuing up through y0ur body. This is the plane you should be coming into when you impact the golf ball. There is some variance as to being a little above that initial plane, or slightly below it, but you must keep it in a tight range either way.

If you look at the 2 pictures of Hunter Mahan, who is considered one of the best ball strikers on tour, in the halfway down position, he is slightly over the plane, which is completely acceptable. And, if he where slightly under that plane, that would also be acceptable.

The problem occurs when you are dramatically over or under the plane.

What’s The Solution?

If you’ve read any other articles on this site, you’ll know I’m a big believer in the use of training aids. Especially the ones that allow you to hit balls while using them. This is the fastest way to improve your golf swing plane.

I have seen success in my own swing using the golf swing plane trainer. If you’re frustrated with your results, I’d recommend taking a look at this training tool by clicking on the Learn More button below.

“The dog waggling the tail”

If you think of the above statement, you can directly apply it to how your arms move in your golf swing. The body should control the arms, not the arms control the body. When you apply the pivot of your body into your swing, you will be amazed at how consistent and powerful you hit the golf ball.

Golf Swing Takeaway

Look at the top of the page. This is Hunter Mahan. Here’s is where I mess up (but am getting better). When you start your takeaway, the ONLY thing you should be thinking about is your shoulder rotation back.

Look at the picture of Hunter Mahan I took from a youtube video. Hunter has one of the best swings in golf, so it’s a good one to model.

Look at the yellow triangle I drew between his shoulders, arms and hands, and look at how there is no independent movement of any these.

Your shoulders (upper body) pivot back rotationally to start your backswing. They do NOT move to the side, nor do you pick the club up with your hands (premature wrist cock), or an early bending of the right elbow (which is what I do).

Golf Backswing

Connected Arms Golf Swing

I want you to look at Hunter’s right elbow for a second. It has not started to bend even this far into his backswing. He has not picked up the club with his hands or arms.

Look how wide his swing is, which produces a ton of power. And also notice the separation between his arms. Look at all that space in there!

A common fault for amateurs (I do it), is we bend the right elbow too soon, which picks the club up, creating a vertical swing, that gets steep and off plane. So again, you are only thinking of continuing to rotate your shoulders at this point, no independent hands or arm movement.

Top Of Golf Swing

Hunter Mahan Top Of His Golf Swing

Again, with a longer club like driver, it would get to parallel, but the body and arm positions (and shoulder rotation) would look about the same. The left arm might be a bit higher at the top.

If you could see his right elbow it still is not bent that much, which makes it very easy to just rotate down into impact without having to time a release of his elbow. It’s not even close to 90 degrees bent.

So you can see that the arms are going along for a ride all the way to the top, driven by the pivot of his upper body, over a very stable lower body.

The slight bending of the right elbow as he gets near a full turn is what gets the club to that perfect position at the top. He has not lifted it with his arms away from his body.

Golf Downswing Arm Motion

Hunter's Connected Arms Post Impact

When you stay connected in your golf swing, you are in perfect sync to rotate the heck out of your upper body. You’ll be on plane coming down, with a lot of lag.

Look at the through swing of Hunter Mahan (picture to right). It’s a mirror image of his early backswing (takeaway).

He has a perfect triangle between shoulders, arms, hands and club (connected arms). You can see he is still directing his swing with his pivot of upper body motion, not independent arms or hands.

If you can just think of swinging the triangle back and through, even with just partial shots to see how connected and solid it feels.

Here’s A Quick Way To Learn And “Feel” A Connected Arm/Body Golf Swing

I am a huge advocate of golf specific training to improve swing consistency and power. I’ve been using with a lot of success, the Connected Golf Swing Trainer, as I wear it when I hit balls to really feel my arms staying connected to my body as I swing the club and make contact with the ball.

You can click on the picture below to find out more!

Connected Golf Swing Trainer

If you are a right-handed golfer, your right wrist plays a critical role in your golf swing. I have struggled for the better part of my golf career with the dreaded golf flip. This is a premature releasing of your right wrist before impact, causing a whole host of swing faults (ie. thin, topped, fat, chunk, bladed, toe and heel shots).

Golf Wrist Position At Impact – Illusion

           

This picture (sorry for the lines, but got it off youtube) is of PGA winner Mark Wilson. Look at where his hands are in the second picture and where the clubhead is. It’s WAY back there. Look at the right wrist angle (no flip there). If it were to go another frame or two, you would see his hands beyond (or to the right) of his left leg. This is a mile from where us amateurs get, or think we need to be.

If you were to see your impact position from a video of your swing, I’m sure you’d be blown away, when you compare it to a professional golfer. It will be miles apart from their impact I can assure you.

Even after I was clearly informed (and shown) exactly what position my wrists, especially my right one should be at the point of impact, I struggle to get there, when I actually hit a ball. Does this sound familiar with you?

The correct position of your wrists at impact if you play right-handed is a very bent right wrist, and a flat left wrist, which promotes a forward lean of the club shaft, with your hands quite a bit ahead of the ball. When you get in that impact position, freeze it, and look down, you’ll be shocked at where your hands are relative to the ball.

When you look down at your hands they will look way to the left; even beyond your left thigh. So just imagine how much (and how long) you need to retain the right wrist angle coming in to and through impact to get your hands all the way to that point, while contacting the golf ball.

Stop Flipping Your Wrists

The flip is one of the most common faults in golf…period! The feeling that we need to “hit that ball” with our right hand, by unhinging our wrist before impact. This breakdown of the right wrist is the cause of fat, thin and bladed golf shots.

Unfortunately this is the exact opposite of what we need to do. We need to take the right hand out of the golf swing, and hit the ball with retained lag and our body pivot. This is more consistent, and much more powerful.

This is also a good thought for around the green. How many times have you flipped at your chip or pitch shots? I know I have more times than I can count, and it’s SO frustrating, you just want to scream!

How To Quickly Learn To Use Your Right Wrist For Maximum Power

I don’t know about you, but for me to ingrain a new feeling in my swing, I need to be able to hit balls knowing I’m doing it correctly.

Here’s how to stop the flip and hit solid golf shots in no time!

Take a look at this slick little aid. Slip this training device on in a matter of seconds and start hitting balls. This will be a feeling you probably have never felt before, but if you struggle with flipping or casting, this is the aid for you.

Just look at Tiger Woods below. This was take a few years ago when his golf swing was at its best. Look how his hands are ahead of the ball. Also, the forward lean of his shaft.

If you are a passionate golfer, you will agree with me that there is nothing better in golf than hitting the middle of the clubface, and effortlessly feeling the ball EXPLODE of your clubface going long and straight.

The only issue, if you’re like me, is we have the wrong sense or feeling of impact. I had never been taught what real impact in golf is. How it should look, and more importantly how it should FEEL.

Until now!

I came across this revolutionary golf impact training club called the Tour Striker. I have never, ever hit balls with a club like this! It changed EVERYTHING for me in an INSTANT. I am now hitting my irons 14 yards further, and for the first time, taking a nice divot AFTER the ball.

Highly Recommended

If you struggle with thin or bladed shots, as well as fat and heavy ones, you should take a look at the Tour Striker Impact Training club.

You can click on the image below to learn more.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll see a common theme. I’ve created simple, fun and very effective golf exercises and stretches you can do in the comfort of your home with minimal and very affordable equipment. There is no excuse not to work on your golf swing “off the course” like any other athlete would do in their respective sports.

If you’re looking for a complete Golf Exercise Program you can do in just 3 minutes a day, you’re in the right place.