On The Tee with Hank Johnson

The Golf Swing Simplified

Second segment in a series - Rotation

Because the shape of the golf swing is circular, good swings contain a rotational component. The post your body represents must stay steady but it can rotate. Because the trunk is tilted forward at address the rotating post can be visualized as the trunks center line from top to bottom and this line should be seen as going into the ground behind the player’s heel line.
The shoulder turn and hip turn in the backswing and the hip turn and shoulder turn in the forward swing provide the rotation for the post. This rotation creates the circular shape of the golf swing. Highly skilled players learn to use their hip turn to accelerate their shoulder turn in the forward swing by creating separation or lag between the two. When looking at powerful golf swings, the shoulders turn back and pull the hips around. In the forward swing, the hips are turning through ahead of the shoulders. This results in a buildup of torque in the large muscles of the body. The shoulders eventually overtake the hips but only after impact with the ball.
A less powerful way for the post to rotate is for the hips and shoulders to turn back and through together with no separation. This sequence of movement is usually present in less athletically skilled players and players who suffer from lower back discomfort. It is possible to produce effective shots related to accuracy with this type of unified body rotation. They are just less powerful.
Common errors that would contribute to a golfers inability to rotate properly would include:
Poor posture
Lack of flexibility in the trunk and hips
Limited range of motion in the thoracic spine
Limited range of motion in the cervical spine
Lateral shifting of the hips in the forward swing in an attempt to create power
Lack of core stability
Lack of stability in the lower body
The rotating post is the power source of a good swing. Its motion stretches and releases the strongest groups of muscles in the body. These muscles include those in the thighs, hips and trunk. Developing the ability to create rotation around a stable center will give the player both power and accuracy.
Next segment: Connection
Hank Johnson, PGA