How-to Series: How to move your hips on the backswing
This is the first installment in our How To Series — follow this plan to master the movements of the hips on the backswing!
Watch the series introduction here
This new series is all about helping you improve your golf swing quickly. We’re going to break the swing down into its component parts and give you specific practice direction — master these key elements of the swing and you’ll see improvement fast!
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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Ron Burgundy
Jan 26, 2020 at 12:59 am
Had anyone bought this? Is it any good?
geohogan
Dec 23, 2018 at 9:47 pm
@raybennett, if only it were true.
Bobby Jones turned his torso (from hips to sternum turning together), using his feet and knees. There is no sway to the right.
This video describes left hip moving closer to the ball. ie not a turn of the torso
but a slide of hips back toward the right, which can only happen when shoulders tilt , left shoulder down. Its the False backswing made popular with the one plane swing, that ended the career of Mike Weir and others.
Its easily proven. Stand straight and tilt the left shoulder down toward the ball. Note how right hip moves(sways to the right) and pelvis slides= FALSE BS TURN
Compare that to standing straight and turning to shake hands with someone to your right, with your left hand. Rather than right hip moving laterally to the right, it moves toward the left.
Kenny
Dec 21, 2018 at 11:29 pm
Trying to link movements of body parts together to try and make a swing is absurd.
Don Toth
Dec 18, 2018 at 8:40 pm
Really like Session 1 it’s a clear and simple plan for a start. Many students can get so far off track early in the swing motion. This give them a very clear plan to feel and execute right at the start of the movement.
Very Nice!!
Golf
Dec 18, 2018 at 8:18 am
I typically like Lucas but this is rubbish. Keep it simple and focus more on impact not the takeaway like Adam Young does. Better results, faster and simpler.
geohogan
Dec 17, 2018 at 11:17 pm
x Factor might be valid if shoulder joints were simply blobs on the top end of the spine.
The function of the scapula and clavicle allow a very free range of movement about the top of the torso.
That range of motion has lead some to think that X factor means restricting hip turn… they would be wrong, leading to spine issues for countless golfers.
Ray Bennett
Dec 17, 2018 at 4:48 pm
Spot on advice. This is exactly what Bobby Jones did to start his backswing which he described in his publication Bobby Jones on Golf. It is great to see the old school instruction returning to the game.
smz
Dec 17, 2018 at 5:50 pm
… but it only applies to swings with a whippy hickory shafted club…!
geo
Dec 17, 2018 at 9:14 pm
http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/553341-hickory-golf-clubs-shafts/
“hickory shafts generally run at stiffer frequencies than the steel shafts of the same
“flex”. Bobby Jones hickory shafts would rate X flex with very low torque, by todays
definition “
geohogan
Dec 23, 2018 at 12:32 pm
@raybennett, if only it were true.
Bobby Jones turned his torso (from hips to sternum turning together), using his feet and knees. There is no sway to the right.
This video describes left hip moving closer to the ball. ie not a turn of the torso
but a slide of hips back toward the right, which can only happen when shoulders tilt , left shoulder down. Its the False backswing made popular with the one plane swing, that ended the career of Mike Weir and others.
Its easily proven. Stand straight and tilt the left shoulder down toward the ball. Note how right hip moves(sways to the right) and pelvis slides= FALSE BS TURN
Compare that to standing straight and turning to shake hands with someone to your right, with your left hand. Rather than right hip moving laterally to the right, it moves toward the left.
Raymond CHASTEL
Dec 17, 2018 at 12:42 pm
Dear Mr Wald ,Nice and thorough presentation ,but I beg to differ:my right instep is firmly dug in the turf:then I start by pushing my left shoulder forward :I don’t move back as you show:my hips stay as straight as possible while the shoulders turn fully ,to create the differential HIPS-SHOULDERS (The X Factor ).The purpose is to coil the core to provide the maximum spring effect giving power.
I’m 84 ,average build,5fet 9 ,160 pounds ,I play three /four times a week to a 7 Handicap on the FRENCH RIVERA ,all year round ,no winter,no winter greens over here
gaspard
Dec 17, 2018 at 5:48 pm
… and you drink beaujolais spritzers on your fremch golf course for nourishment and to combat thirst…. 😮
Wyatt
Dec 17, 2018 at 12:07 pm
Too many moving parts for me. When I take my setup, I make sure my left hip is slightly elevated and then I make my normal inside to out swing. The hips make a normal turn when doing that.
Gary Slatter PGA
Dec 17, 2018 at 12:02 pm
1 and 2 were OK, I disagree with consciously turning your hips. They turn in response to your knees and shoulder turn, in my opinion.
smz
Dec 17, 2018 at 5:52 pm
…. and for some it’s the m a s s of the a s s according to Snead with his backswing squat that he carries into his downswing…..!
Jim
Dec 18, 2018 at 10:05 pm
No, turning shoulder pulls your ribs & torso. Does NOT necessarily make the hip turn. Bigger muscular golfers must make a coordinated hip turn to achieve the most they can get – and thin flexible people can get 100° of turn and not even notice they barely turned 25 degrees with their hips.
MDH
Dec 17, 2018 at 11:29 am
I think you should demonstrate the hip turn showing it from the front and back view.
smz
Dec 16, 2018 at 1:40 pm
WARNING: If your pot belly covers your belt buckle do not, I repeat, do not rotate your hips because that will twist your spine and your hanging pot belly will overstress your spine and cause lower back pain. Even a smaller protruding gut will hurt your spine sfter too many practice swings. You have been warned.
geohogan
Dec 17, 2018 at 9:09 am
HIps dont rotate. The knees move the hips.
Prove it to yourself by tying a belt around your thighs above the knees so knees cant move.
Now try turning your hips.
Golf instruction that doesnt involve the knees leading the hips, is advocating shoulder tilt and hip slide…. a fake turn.
smz
Dec 17, 2018 at 5:45 pm
Okay, matey…. it’s the legs first that move the hips in a rotatory motion. Happy?
geohogan
Dec 17, 2018 at 8:44 pm
@smz, the legs move the torso. Hips happen to go along for the ride.
Gary “The Swings the Thing” Slatter PGA knows.
smz
Dec 17, 2018 at 10:38 pm
torso –the trunk of the human body without, or considered independently of, the head and limbs.
Hips are part of the torso… and the semi-flexible core separates the shoulders from the hips… called the X-Factor.
geohogan
Dec 17, 2018 at 11:14 pm
x Factor might be valid if shoulder joints were simply blobs on the top end of the spine.
The function of the scapula and clavicle allow a very free range of movement about the top of the torso.
That range of motion has lead some to think that X factor means restricting hip turn… they would be wrong, leading to spine issues for countless golfers.
Kenny
Dec 21, 2018 at 11:35 pm
X factor is nonsense.
geohogan
Dec 18, 2018 at 3:14 pm
http://www.oandplibrary.org/reference/uclamanual/UCLA-02.pdf
When we use the full range of motion of the scapula and shoulder joint
combined with turning of the torso 40-50 degrees, the so called X factor is easily
achieved with sternum consistently aligned with the sagittal plane.
ie little or no twisting of the spine.
geo
Dec 18, 2018 at 3:37 pm
http://www.oandplibrary.org/reference/uclamanual/UCLA-02.pdf
The torso can be turned 40=50 degrees by the legs, knees and feet.
The balance of BS, can be made by the shoulder joint and scapula without twisting the spine.
ref. ROM above
If the so called X factor is achieved by turning the upper torso more than the lower torso, injury to the spine will result.
Kenny
Dec 21, 2018 at 11:33 pm
Correct in that the hips don’t rotate independently, but the knees don’t move the hips. All motion stems from the feet. Sequence of motion in the joints is feet, ankles, knees, pelvis.
geohogan
Dec 23, 2018 at 12:16 pm
@kenny, agree totally, the hips dont rotate independently.(Hips have no means to move independently of lower limbs.)
Suggest that sequence is feet, ankles, knees, torso(hips are moved with the torso).
Once we understand this simply basic of human physiology, we must understand how foolish it is to think that we can possibly , “fire the hips”.
Bert Gwaltney
Dec 15, 2018 at 9:25 am
OK, found the first segment. Thanks
Bert Gwaltney
Dec 15, 2018 at 9:16 am
Introductions are OK, but should have included the first segment. I lost interest quickly.