Hip and Shoulder Myths

The movement and function of the hips and shoulders in the golf stroke is one of the most misunderstood actions in golf. Every golf article that I have read about the hips and shoulders states that the hips rotate through 45 degrees and the shoulders rotate through 90 degrees in the backstroke.

This is one of the best cases in golf literature of a statement being made, and no one making a very simple scientific observation to see whether it is true. Two complete system have been developed and promoted on this false assumption. They are the X-Factor by Jim McLean and the Triple Coil by Dr. Michael O'Leary and Milt Wallace.

The X-Factor states that the more you can rotate the right shoulder to the right hip, the greater the club head speed that can be produced. They make the statement that John Daly can rotate his right shoulder 48 degrees past his right hip in the backstroke. Medical literature shows that approximately 30 degrees is the maximum a human can rotate his right shoulder to his right hip. This is 18 degrees more than humanly possible.

The triple coil wants you to rotate your hips as little as possible and your shoulders a maximum.

Both systems want you to uncoil the lower body (hips) against the upper body (shoulders). Previous articles in this series has shown that club head speed comes from arm speed. Torquing of the hips to the shoulders produces back pain, not club head speed.

A simple scientific observation of the hips and shoulders during a golf stroke reveals that the shoulders work independent of each other. Stand erect and without moving the right shoulder, place your left hand on your right shoulder. You will notice that the left shoulder moved forward through about 45 degrees. To repeat, the shoulders move independent of each other.

The following is the actual movement of the hips and shoulders in an optimum golf stroke.

Address: At address both shoulders rotate forward between 30 and 45 degrees and the hips should be parallel to the target line.

Backstroke: When you take a backstroke, the hips should rotate around 45 degrees. The right shoulder will rotate back to and in some cases slightly past the right hip. In John Daly's case he lifts his arms upward and this give the appearance of more rotation. However, examination of the movement shows that the right shoulder is still only slightly rotated past the right hip. Because the shoulders work independent of each other, the left shoulder rotates an additional 45 degrees toward the right shoulder. This can give the illusion or false appearance of the 90 degree rotation that others see.

Impact: An optimum downstroke is initiated with the right hand moving away from the right shoulder. This causes the shoulders and hips to be in the impact position shown.

Moe Norman, The World's Greatest Ball Striker, is in this position at impact. Tom Lehman and Greg Norman are also very close to this position.

Golfers who have learned to rotate their lower body independent of the upper body (Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk) can still generate high club head speed in spite of their hip action. They have simply learned to hit the ball standing on their left foot - much like trick shot artist. Both Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk have great arm speed in spite of their lower body rotation.

Since Tiger Woods does not coil his shoulders to his hips and is one of the longest hitter on tour, he is a good example of correct upper body motion. Tiger's shoulders will follow the shoulder motion of the above model, even those his hips will be more rotated at impact.

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