The golf swing and your hips.

I know to begin the downswing you are supposed to start with the hips and when you do this your shoulders and arms will follow. The problem is I can't tell if I am beginning the downswing with my hips or shoulders. Is there a drill or a certain feeling I should get to know I started the downswing right?

This may help your understanding, it has helped others. Make your own mind up.

http://www.golf.com/golf/instruction...593284,00.html

I remember reading about the O- Factor in golf magazine a month back. It was very interesting. The problem I have is I cant feel if I am actually starting the downswing with my hips or not.

You probably cannot feel that you are starting the golf swing with your hips because you are not. I had this problem for a very long time. I would see the suggestion about bumping the hip laterally towards the target to begin the downswing again and again and again. I would try it but just couldn't feel it because I had two opposing forces competing for control of that first move. One force was the hips and the other the arms, hands and shoulders (which for purpose of discussion we will consider one unit). If your arms and shoulders are tight, rigid they tend to want to control that first move down. You need to give up control to your hips. The following article was key in my understanding.

http://www.paulwilsongolf.com/golf_tip_16.htm

It will be ackward but you need to completely give up control of swinging your arms around your body to the hip and shoulder turn. Let the arms hang loose at set up and primarily use the shoulder turn to get the club to the top. You probably cannot use the shoulders 100% to get the club to the top but pretty close. Set your wrists and then just relax while the hip turn whips your arms down and around your body. If you have your shoulders, arms and hands relaxed when you get to the top you will feel those hips pull the arms down on that first move. Keep turning the hips which turns the shoulders and then arms turn freely around your body. Now I can't say that during the entire forward swing that one doesn't also turn the shoulders and use the arms a bit but definitely less consciously. You just don't want to guide your arms around your body in my opinion. Just let them fly as freely as possible so that the follow through just happens.

Do some practice swings without a ball. Relaxy those arms and turn those hips and try to whip the arms around the body without consciously manipulating the club with your arms.

Now the "O-Factor" mentioned in the article Brian links gives you some good ideas about turning the hips and maintaining your swing plane. Goes hand-in-hand with what I am talking about here.

That's my two cents.

Jambalaya:

The part of your post that struck me was your "two opposing forces" comment...that's the feeling that's kept me from really working on this.

My old swing (casting problems) at least felt somewhat smooth but as you mentioned, giving up control to the hips really does feel awkward.

I was having trouble describing the feeling...until I saw your post. It really feels like two opposing forces and my swing feels very awkward and jerky but I'm assuming it's because it's different and new and it'll become more comfortable over time.

Thanks for the information.

- Andy

I'm not sure you necessarily feel the initial move through the hips, after all, the swing should be pretty fluid. However, you should be aware of a transfer of weight to the left side. This in itself should get the hips moving.

Incidentally, I think it is important to have the right hip marginally below the left at address. When I do that, I get a good weight shift onto my right side yet can easily transfer back again on the downswing. This hip alignment (i.e. not letting the left hip dip below the right) also helps with the release through the ball.

Give that a try. I think you'll then find the hips generally are working correctly.

I think you can feel it but another way of thinking about it is that the hip and arms/hands should be connected. Hip bumps=>Hands/arms start to drop into place. If you bump and the hands/arms do not noticeably drop the shoulders and arms are too tight and moving indepedently which will get one out of sync in my opinion. Good point about the hip angle, that certainly helps.