Among the many swing flaws I frequently see in amateur players is too much hip sway.
When you set up over the ball, your body should remain largely static in its position, particularly your lower body. You want to avoid swaying the hips back away from the target on the backswing. Swaying makes timing the entire swing more difficult, adding a dimension that isn't necessary. It also costs you yards with each and every shot, as you lose of lot of potential energy.
If you can cut out swaying, then you'll not only hit the ball farther, but you'll also hit the ball more solid, more often.
So, how do you stop swaying? We have a good drill for you.
The easiest thought to avoid swaying is visualize a rod that runs all the way down your back leg -- the one farthest away from the target -- through the ball of your foot. Your goal is to feel like this leg is completely fixed and you are rotating your body around it.
Create this feeling by putting an alignment rod or umbrella into the ground at a parallel angle to your back leg, just a few inches away from your back hip. If you hit the device on your backswing, you are swaying. Take five swings with the rod, then five without. Take video of the 10 swings from the same face-on angle and see the results.
Also, remember that moving your hips toward the target in the downswing is an absolute must to unlocking your power.
Seth Hill is a contributor at Golf News Net and an instructor at Hozl, a golf instruction company based in Austin, TX that offers a personal swing coach at an affordable price.
