Malaska Golf // Body Rotation and Speed - Initiate with Your Hips or Upper Body

I am experiencing pain in my hips and lower back when doing a full swing. My Pilates instructor believes I should be using my thoracic muscles to initiate and generate the turning movements in the swing as opposed to initiating with my hips. She says my hips will follow correctly if led by my muscles right under my breast bone.

Of course, there are different ways to initiate rotation in your downswing. What's going to be the most consistent for you and cause the least amount of stress on your lower back is what I believe is key.

[marklawrence]

I watched an older session 2 days ago on this concept of the legs moving through a straight line to push the hips out of the way. That is how I understand it. (Backs hurt and so do knees if you seek a big turn)
I have never hit the ball straighter than yesterday or felt more in control of where the club was going.
For me turning the hips has been a 40 year journey and still doing so, I realise now, creates a rounder swing. For me this promotes a swipe across the ball that pushes the ball out to the right even with a reasonable swing.
If you get what Mike is saying you move the right hip out of the way, have room to swing inside the right hip and moving the left hip away adds speed and room to finish the swing and keep the club on plane.
Can't wait to get out there tomorrow to see if this "super tip" has the legs I think it does.

[niguel]

This key element of the swing has always eluded me. I have tried everything but it’s always felt awkward and unnatural. So I tried this yesterday with minimal practice and I drove the ball farther than ever. I didn’t have to think too much about it because it felt right and sort of natural. I’ve managed to get down to 9 handicap without this technique. Now I’m raring to go again to bring my handicap down. Brilliant, thank you. It’s all about the feel!

[Andyvg]

Mike, I love your statement that as your left leg straightens, your left hip turns away from the ball to give you the room you need to properly swing through. This is a game-changer for me.

[baronjohna]

This guy has the 'wisdom' the vast majority of teachers I've experienced don't have.

[guitar]

Saw an interview of Rory McIlroy and he was asked about his fast hips. He said he never has thought about his hip turn.

[googledemo]

Great video, I just came across these videos about a week ago and wish I would have done so years ago!!! I was stuck at a 20 handicap and that was with professional lessons from multiple certified golf coaches. It wasn’t until I found one golf coach who stressed to focus on the feel of the swing not so much the sequence that I dropped down to a 15 handicap within a month then an 8 handicap within another 2 months. You become a whole lot more consistent when you are repeating a “feel” instead of trying to go through a mid-swing check list.

[TheMemoryShop]

The right leg pushing the left hip out of the way gives you that Jack Nicklaus motion of firing the entire right side through the ball. I have a broken back and recent left hip replacement and this move allows me to sustain compression on the ball resulting in solid strikes. Another gem from MM...

[gdlblues]

Thanks Mike, I did the same thing ( firing the hips) when I was younger got away with it at times ( very inconsistent )..Now that I'm older...nothing but lower back pain.Now I'm working on what you are teaching.... it's going to take awhile but it's so SIMPLE and my lower back is not killing me after a around of golf.I'm hoping my distance comes back also.

[aw]

MM is the Best golf instructor out there! I was stuck at 14-16 HCP for years. 4-6 HCP now since joining the site. OMW to 0-3. FInd the right instruction and the game becomes fun again. I'm always buying lunch....using $OPM....LOL....thx MM!

[joesmith]

Mike knows more about the swing than 99% of all coaches out there. And he doesn’t sugar coat anything.

[dougierobertson]

I’m having lessons and the pro wants me to start the downswing by pulling my left pocket back. I can’t do it. Your method sounds easier to visualise and I can’t wait to try it. Thanks.

[mattbennett]

Great video Mike. Wish I had discovered your coaching a long time ago

[crimsontide]

Mike and my Pilates instructor agree that if you initiate the swing with the torso the hips will follow although Mike clarifies that the feet/legs push the hips away. Mike has helped me tremendously with the irons and hybrid and now I’m integrating the 3 wood and driver. I wish I could go see him for a week.

[Murf]

Idk when Mike it all seems to happen naturally when iam swinging correctly, , never yhink about it and just happens!!! Like you say during down swing the left hip gets pushed out of way and that's when the speed comes in so easily!! That last hip and your timing at contact with the ball that's when I hear that swooocchh sound, ,, major its amazing ! Ty Mike again you've made the game unbelievable enjoyable!!

[greatgramo]

My pro teacher tells me to swing my hips, but the best swings i have i never had to do that. I like what Mike said, the golf swing is invisible. That is how i feel when i hit good shots.

[BamaPaul]

Enjoy the video folks this method works. Watch his videos then watch them again. Been using this method it’s a game changer. Remember feel is not real .👍

[shvetasohrab]

Tha k you so much. At last an honest video. I lost all control when I changed my swing to twist my hips. back to using my hands and torso - gone back to a single handicap. It’s bizzare how coaches keep teaching the stupid hip rotation - it’s the worst thing woth absolutely no control and worst is all coached only talk about hip rotation and nothing else.

[maamold]

What people feel is so different. My feeling is that I'm standing up on my left heel. Which starts the weight transfer and turns my hips and lets my arms drop into impact position. Watching a video it does seem like I'm doing any of that, but my feeling works. If I hit a fat or thin shot I know immediately that I didn't stand up on that left heel fast enough.

[brianrizza]

I've found out if I focus on using my hips I have a 50% chance of hitting 6in behind the ball. If I focus just take away with shoulders and feel I start the downswing with my hands and arms my lower body fires automatic and I have basically eliminated fat shots my miss is a little thin or a little pull

[Bossanovawitcha]

“Firing hips” rekt my back and ruined my game for a 5 years. Quit for three years, now just trying to get back.