Today’s Golfer UK — December 2017

38

FULL SWING

Fault: Slices and pulls from starting

down ‘over the top’

Fix: Improve your ability to work the

lower body independently

Watch the best players in the world as

they start the downswing and you’ll see

a definite sequence to their movement.

In a nutshell, the lower body begins to

rotate while the upper body briefly

remains turned – a separating of the

upper and lower halves. This is

important if you are to deliver the club

on a good path into the ball. If you are

physically unable to do this, chances

are you will come over the top and

slice the ball. This article explains why.

There is also a test for you to try to see

if it’s your problem, and a drill to help

you improve.

Kill ‘over the top’

That feeling could be traced to a lack of

flexibility. Here’s what you can do about it

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Quality, not quantity

You don’t need to see massive hip rotation

here; we are simply looking to see if you are

able to rotate your hips at all without your

shoulders moving – what’s called upper/

lower body disassociation.

Monitor shoulder turn

As you try this test, the important

thing is to keep that upper body

steady; it should look as if you are

doing the twist with no shoulder

motion. If you cannot rotate your

hips without your shoulders

turning, lack of flexibility could be

at the root of your slice.

Screen

test

Pelvic

rotation

Hips turn,

shoulders don’t

Hold a club against your

shoulders, and take your

regular stance. Now, simply

try to rotate your hips back

and through without the

shaft – and your shoulders –

moving. I’m using a cane to

represent this hip rotation.