Drills for rotation and sequencing

What you'll learn

• Understand why stalled hips force the arms to take over
• Train the hips to rotate through impact with the Hip Clearance Drill
• Groove weight transfer and sequence with the Step Drill
• Build the balance and posture a repeatable finish needs

Before you start

• Golf selected, and a Diagnose read if you want to confirm early extension or a hip stall.
• Room to make full swings and finish in balance; no equipment needed for the bodyweight drills.

Step by step

1. 1

   See where power leaks start

   Power leaks usually start below the belt: when the hips stall, the arms take over and the strike gets wild. These drills put the lower body back in the lead.

   Why it matters:Why

   Fixing the sequence at the source is more durable than patching the arms.

2. 2

   Hip Clearance Drill

   Rehearse rotating the lead hip back and around through impact instead of sliding toward the ball or stopping. Feel the belt buckle turn toward the target.

   What good looks like:Good

   The lead hip clears and the trail side follows, rather than the hips sliding forward.

   Common mistake:Avoid

   Sliding the hips toward the ball (early extension) instead of rotating — turn, do not thrust.

3. 3

   Step Drill

   Start with feet together, step toward the target with the lead foot, plant, then swing. Step, plant, then swing — so the lower body leads the sequence.

   What good looks like:Good

   You feel the weight move to the lead foot before the arms fire.

   Common mistake:Avoid

   Swinging before you plant — the step must lead the hands, not happen at the same time.

4. 4

   Single-Leg Balance Hold

   Swing and hold your finish on the lead leg for three seconds. If you cannot hold the pose, the swing was out of sequence or off balance.

   What good looks like:Good

   You finish tall and balanced on the lead side and can hold it.

   Common mistake:Avoid

   Falling out of the finish — ease off speed until you can hold three seconds.

5. 5

   Hip Hinge (bodyweight)

   Without a club, hinge from the hips into your setup posture and rotate. This sets the posture that makes rotation possible — a great no-gear rep at home.

   What good looks like:Good

   You feel the hinge in the hips, not a rounded lower back.

   Common mistake:Avoid

   Bending from the waist instead of hinging from the hips.

6. 6

   One drill per session, then retest

   Work one drill per session and finish every rep in balance before you add speed. Retest when your finish feels repeatable — sequence shows up as consistency before it shows up as distance.

   Why it matters:Why

   Balance and sequence are the foundation; speed added on a broken sequence just scatters the strike.

Common mistakes

• Sliding the hips toward the ball instead of rotating (early extension).

  Use the Hip Clearance Drill — feel the lead hip turn back and around, not thrust forward.

• Adding speed before the finish is balanced.

  Pass the Single-Leg Balance Hold first; speed on a broken sequence just scatters contact.

• Chasing distance to measure progress.

  Judge sequence by consistency and a repeatable finish — distance follows once the strike settles.

What happens next

Continue your path

The next lessons that build on this one.

Frequently asked