While we all know that our knees and hips can have a disastrous effect on our swing when used improperly, they can actually help you hit a better drive when you use them the right way. Let's focus on each one and work on some exercises that will help you get that swing you've always wanted.
The Hips
Your hips can actually control the direction of the ball, even if you don't realize it. Most us have a tendency to raise our hips with our arms on our up swing. Try it in front of a mirror. Does one leg move slightly up, or do you notice that your heel comes up off the ground when you swing upwards? If it does, this will end up in pulling your shot to the right or the left. To fix this problem, here is an easy exercise. You want to be able to isolate your torso from your hips. Stand straight, with both feet planted firmly on the ground. Swing your arms around in front of you, raise them up, bring them back down and swing them in front of you.
The "Windmill" is a great technique that can help with isolation. Stand once again with your feet planted firmly and start spinning your arms around like a windmill. Keep going until you can do it without engaging your hips.
Now, you're ready to put it all together. Keep your feet planted firmly, knees a bit bent, and bring your club up. Do not move your feet! Now, bring the club down and as you do, rotate your hips in the direction of the shot. This will take a little practice, and you'll need to perfectly sync the two halves of your body. With time, this will give you added power that will add yards to your drives.
The Knees
Our knees are another common problem area. If your feet are planted, it's pretty tempting to want to lock those knees too. You need to keep your knees flexed at all times during your swing, but not overly so. Here's an exercise to help you get the feel.
Start with both feet facing forward, and firmly planted. Now, put both arms straight down by your sides. Keep your upper body straight and bend your knees until your fingertips are at about mid-thigh. If you have long or short arms adjust accordingly. Now, hold that position and bend slightly forward, bringing your hands up. You should be in about the same position as you would be if you were holding a club.
Keep trying this one until you get the feel for the position. Your knees should be relaxed, loose and facing forward. If you pull them to either side, it will affect your shot. Experiment a bit to find the right angle for your body. It may take a few tries, but with practice, you'll be able to line up your stance perfectly. If your knees are relaxed, and your hips are engaged properly, you will notice a big difference in the power of your swing.
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Originally posted 2008-11-22 17:38:10. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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