Lateral Hip Slide (Forward) -- Setup and Pivot

[Bonesy]

Is there a specific way to set up and pivot to avoid a large lateral hip slide. I've been battleing this all summer and I can't correct no matter what I try. I end up with a sore left hip and a sore left ankle after a round or a couple buckets. I don't think I'm doing my body any good and I'm certainly not doing my scores any good.

I'm a big guy (6' , 260) and I have big legs and likely a low center of gravity if that helps w/ your analysis at all.

It seems like I get to the top of the backswing and my first move is just a big lunge/collapse left. This moves my lowpoint forward and results in thinned shots and drivers that don't get higher than 10' off the ground.

I would love to hit a "normal" trajectory driver again. So frustrating..

 

[Matt 4-L]

My guess would be you are not turning/rotating in the back swing (probably because of your size) and so to generate any kind of power you have to slide and hit with upper body.

 

[dolanski]

I think Brian says that you should have about half a foot of lateral hip slide. On the range, then, you could stick an old shaft in the ground about six inches left of your left hip. If you hit that, then you probably have too much lateral slide.

 

[Burner]

Is there a specific way to set up and pivot to avoid a large lateral hip slide. I've been battleing this all summer and I can't correct no matter what I try. I end up with a sore left hip and a sore left ankle after a round or a couple buckets. I don't think I'm doing my body any good and I'm certainly not doing my scores any good.

I'm a big guy (6' , 260) and I have big legs and likely a low center of gravity if that helps w/ your analysis at all.

It seems like I get to the top of the backswing and my first move is just a big lunge/collapse left. This moves my lowpoint forward and results in thinned shots and drivers that don't get higher than 10' off the ground.

I would love to hit a "normal" trajectory driver again. So frustrating..

My guess is that you are not rotating on your back swing, merely dipping your left shoulder - reverse pivot like. This would account for your lunge at the ball from the top as you try to get your right shoulder down and out. All sorts of odd things happen when you do that.

As a drill when you are next at the range, place your ball a good bit more towards the target at address - far enough for you to have to really reach down, out and forwards to hit it.

Two things will happen here (hopefully) the first being that the ball is no longer so far back in your stance that you have to dip that left shoulder down just to see it as you move into your back swing. The second thing (resulting from a better back swing pivot) is that you will no longer have to come sharply down from the top (not really having the swing room you need ) but you will to get to the ball more efficiently because you have created the space in which a larger guy can, and needs to, operate.

 

[Bonesy]

My wife noticed tonight that my knees were very bent at setup. The left one more so than the right. Keeping them more rigid (but not locked) helped. Seems like the bend didn't allow my hips to turn and the pressure forced them left...

 

[Brian Manzella]

The Real Reason.

Here is the straight dope.

You need to face the ball more at address, and slide your hips more to your right, under a relatively motionless head (ala, Colin Montgomerie) on the backswing.

On the downswing, you need to UNWIND ONLY, no attempt to slide, make your right shoulder go down plane, or any of that.

Just make sure your legs finish together, with your left leg straight.

You HANDS need to move more outward to start the downswing, as well as your right shoulder.

 

[Wolfman]

I think I've read/heard that before

Parts of NHA?

My personal prescription for the underplane BPS.

 

[Bonesy]

I'll try it tonight. Thanks all.

 

[birdie_man]

Here is the straight dope.

You need to face the ball more at address, and slide your hips more to your right, under a relatively motionless head (ala, Colin Montgomerie) on the backswing.

On the downswing, you need to UNWIND ONLY, no attempt to slide, make your right shoulder go down plane, or any of that.

Just make sure your legs finish together, with your left leg straight.

You HANDS need to move more outward to start the downswing, as well as your right shoulder.

No idea, mostly.