Overthinkering

I think everyone understands that golf is a game of precision. I’ve been trying to find ways to improve my ability to get the club to the ball with more intention. That means more power and a better strike. One of the major issues I’ve faced is my hips sliding in the downswing. Whether I’m driving, chipping or putting, this makes it difficult for me to get consistent results.

So, what exactly is hip slide? It’s when my hips move laterally towards the target during the downswing instead of turning and rotating. This throws off the balance and timing of my swing, leading to poor contact with the ball. For me, the feeling of my hips sliding has been very natural and difficult to change.

When my hips are sliding, I feel:

• Trail leg push: Pushing towards the target prevents a stable base to use the ground.
• Softened lead knee: An unstable lead leg limits my ability to generate power.
• Handle dragging: Minimal release near impact causes steep angles and low point control issues.
• Open face: Leaving the club behind the hands keeps the face open, reducing speed benefits.

Getting rid of hip slide hasn’t been easy. It’s taken a lot of conscious effort and practice. I’ve tried different techniques and drills to fix this. One thing that’s really helped is focusing on pushing back on my lead leg. By stabilizing my lead leg, I’ve found that I can get more extension and a better turn through the ball.

When I push back on my lead leg, several positive changes happen in my swing:

• Enhanced Extension: Posting up helps me extend my arms fully, allowing for a more powerful and controlled swing.
• Improved Turn: With a stable lead leg, my body turns more efficiently, resulting in better rotational movement.
• Reduced Chicken Winging: The dreaded chicken wing, where the lead arm bends awkwardly, is minimized, leading to cleaner ball contact.
• Higher Ball Flight: My attack angle is improved and I’m able to deliver more loft with more speed.

Dealing with hip slide has been a tough journey, but with persistence and targeted practice, I’ve been able to make some improvements to my swing. Reducing my hip slide has been great for achieving better extension, turn and overall consistency.