All golf coaches agree that a shoulder turn in the backswing is very important.

They may not agree on the amount of shoulder turn or the reasons why the shoulder turn is important but they all recognise that it is a key element in all good swings

A few reasons why it is important are: -

It is not possible to move the arms and club back in plane without a shoulder turn.

Turning the shoulders in the backswing allows the shoulders to turn in the downswing and this assists in creating club head speed.

A good shoulder turn automatically moves the weight into the right side so the weight can then shift to the left side in the downswing.

The most compelling reason of all however is that I have studied all of the best golfer’s swings over the last 100 years and disregarding the change in attire and materials used in the clubs they have ALL turned their shoulders.

This article is not however about the shoulder turn.

A quote in 1974 from Jack Nicklaus, currently still the greatest golfer ever, is as follows: -

"I understand there’s a theory today that the hips shouldn’t turn on the backswing. The idea seems to be that the less you turn your hips while still turning your shoulders, the more leverage you’ll generate.

It’s hogwash and here’ why. Stand erect with your arms at your sides and keep them there. Now hold your hips still and turn your shoulders. Impossible, right? Even the slightest shoulder turn forces some hip turn and the more the shoulders turn the more the hips are forced to turn, right? Of course because that’s the way homo sapiens is made, unless of course he’s incredible supple or some kind of contortionist." 

I agree 100% with Jack Nicklaus.

In the June 2007 edition of Golf International the highly respected professional Tony Johnstone said: -

 "Much of the modern teaching these days focuses on the restriction of the hip action to make for a ‘tighter ‘ and more powerful coiling up of the upper body over the lower body – fine if you are a lithe 20 year old something athlete but not necessarily good advice for the majority of us mortals."

I agree 100% with Tony Johnstone.

Bobby Jones was so good at playing golf that he retired in 1930, at the age of 28, from competitive golf having won as an amateur the British Amateur for the first time, the Open Championship for the third time, the U.S. Open for the fourth time and the U.S. Amateur for the fifth time.

What a record!

Bobby Jones said back in the 1920’s.

“I get my hips underway before my hands have made any attempt to swing the head of the club” he said “ If the hands start the swing first, there will be a tendency to leave the hips behind – not to make a full turn – which is one of the most common faults in golf.”

I agree 100% with Bobby Jones

The hips really do have to turn and crucially they have to turn immediately.

The following modern golfers have an immediate hip turn and to prove this watch them live or on the television and focus on their hips and you will see they turn them immediately.

Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Anika Sorenstam, Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Vijay Singh etc etc.

Many of my pupils have benefited from understanding the importance of the hip turn.

A pupil from Brokenhurst Manor had his hands to high in the backswing – solution- more hip turn so the are hands automatically moved in to plane  – result – he won the 2006 British Mid Amateur Championship.

Another pupil from Parkstone Golf Club was inconsistent – solution practice with the right hip against a table so the hips have to turn rather than move to the right (sway) – result 47 points in the next competition and a reduction of three shots in his handicap (16 to 13).

A third pupil scored a gross 66 whilst winning a Devon professional medal after I proved to him that not only do the hips have to turn but the right hip actually turns slightly upwards.

If your arms are both the same length (I have a tape measure in my studio for people who are not sure) and your right hand is below the left hand on the club the right shoulder will have to move down.

To move the right shoulder down your hips and knees will have to move slightly to the left.

Photograph No. 1 shows the right side is below the left with the outside of the right hip inside the right heel so the weight is inside the right foot.

Also at address your upper body will be leaning forward with your hips outside your heels as photograph No.2 shows.

As the hips and the shoulders turn the right hip and shoulder will move upwards as photograph No.3 shows.

If the right side and left side of your body are attached the left hip and shoulder will move downwards as Photograph No. 4 shows.

You can use either side to make the turn – it really does not matter which side you use just so long as you turn immediately.

With your feet positioned correctly (right foot at right angles to the target line with the left turned out so a line across your toes point to the left of your target line) and providing you keep your right leg flexed you should turn your hips as far as you need to turn them so your shoulders to turn a maximum of 90 degrees.

A few key thoughts that I use every day in my studio to help my pupils create a good hip and shoulder turn are: -

Right hip slightly up and towards the target.

Left shoulder down towards the right knee.

Left hip down and away from the target.

Right shoulder up and towards the target.

Turn the middle of the chest.

Feel the weight being moved to the inside of the right heel.

Keep the left knee reasonably still.

Tom Watson had as his key thought ‘turn the right hip’.

Greg Norman said ‘ pull back the right hip pocket’.

They all work just choose the best one or the best combination for you.

One last thought –

In 1968 Alistair Cochrane and John Stobbs wrote a scientific book on golf called “The Search for the Perfect Swing”.

They studied the hip movement in the downswing and concluded: -

‘ The movement of the hips is neither a simple rotation nor a simple lateral movement, but a combination of both.

It is a very powerful movement indeed and one that must be fully and correctly accomplished by anyone aspiring to hit the ball long distances.

If there is a secret to long driving this is it.

So you need to set the hips at address, ensure they move correctly in the backswing so they can move correctly in the downswing.

They are YOUR hips and YOU are in CONTROL.

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